20 Free Adventure Play Areas in Bristol & Bath

Hengrove Play Park, South Bristol

Hengrove Play Park is one of Bristol’s best adventure playgrounds. It is great for a range of ages – the dome is the star of the show for older children, whilst sand play is perfect for younger children!

Exciting news! Work is currently underway to install a water play area (some areas may have limited access during works – check for updates).

You’ll also find The Beach Hut Cafe and toilets.

🚗 There is no dedicated parking, but free parking is available at Hengrove Leisure Park (check time restrictions).

⏰ Opening times apply check here

📍 Hengrove Leisure Park, Hengrove Way, Bristol, BS14 0HR

Kingsgate Park, Yate

Kingsgate Park in Yate has fantastic wooden adventure play areas in the treetops and some lovely play equipment for younger ones. It was refurbished in 2024! There are swans and ducks to feed on a small lake, picnic opportunities, a stream for paddling and public toilets.

The Vintage Birdcage Cakery is just outside the park – a beautiful cafe with floral decor and dog friendly. Highly recommend!

🚗 There is a small car park at the park, or you can park in the cafe car park if you are visiting. Otherwise, try residential roads nearby.

📍 Park car park: Elmwood, Yate, BS37 4JB, Cafe car park: Stanshawes Ct Dr, Yate, BS37 4DZ

⏰ Open 6am-10pm every day

Blaise Castle, North Bristol

Blaise Castle is a beautiful Grade II* registered parkland with a huge adventure play area, museum and folly castle. The play area is great for all ages, with some swings that go impressively high! Next to the play ares you will find a cafe and public toilets. The estate is lovely for a riverside and woodland walk.

📍Blaise Castle, 19A Kings Weston Rd, Henbury, Bristol, BS10 7QT

🚗 The main car park is located next to the play area and cafe: Henbury Lodge Car Park, 82 Henbury Rd, Henbury, Bristol, BS10 7AA. Charges: £1 for 1 hour, £2 for 2 hours, or £3 for 5 hours

🚗 There is also a free smaller car park – Coombe Dingle Car Park, 14 Grove Rd, Coombe Dingle, Bristol, BS9 2RQ – but note it’s a much longer walk to the play area and cafe (around 26 minutes).

⏰ The car park opens daily from 7.30am, closing times vary: check here

The Wave, North Bristol

The Wave is an inland surf destination in North Bristol. It is free to visit as a spectator and has a fab sandy play area. As well as this, you can watch surfing in action (or book a session – including child friendly sessions). Visit the modern glazed cafe with great views. There is a skate ramp and often garden games. A bonus for little ones is the railway line behind the play area which is fun for train spotting!

🚗 Free parking is available and it is approximately a 10 minute flat paved walk from the car park to The Wave, which is perfect for scooters, bikes and skateboards! There is play equipment dotted along the route which is great for entertainment on the way.

📍 The Wave, Washingpool Farm, Main Road, Easter Compton, Bristol, BS35 5RE

⏰ Opening times and days vary throughout the year. Check here

Victoria Park Play Area, Bath

Victoria Park Play Area is Bath’s largest playground, with a spacious layout and plenty of equipment for a range of ages. I remember driving past as a child and thinking how amazing it looked! During the warmer months, you might find a carousel and bouncy castle (fee required).

There is a cafe (open daily 8am – 5pm) and toilets (20p) close to the play area. Elsewhere in the park you’ll find Botanical Gardens, a skate park and crazy golf.

📍 Royal Victoria Park, Bath, BA1 2LZ

🚗 Parking is on-street (free for up to 1 hour) or the closest car park is Charlotte Street a few minutes walk.

Sydney Gardens, Bath

Sydney Gardens has a great wooden play area, sand play and seasonal water play. The water is usually switched on from around April. There is a small enclosed football pitch, so it is worth taking a ball with you!

The gardens are located next to the Holburne Museum, which is nice to combine a visit to (entry fee applies). There is often some crafts on the ground floor.

You’ll find a coffee kiosk within Sydney Gardens, plus a cafe inside the Holburne Museum. There are toilets in the gardens (20p) and at the museum.

📍 Sydney Gardens, Sydney Place, Bathwick, Bath, BA2 6NH.

🚗 Parking: Pay and display car park at the Holburne Museum. Limited on-street parking is available on Sydney Road and Walcot Street.

Seafront Playground by Clevedon Marine Lake

The Seafront Playground near Clevedon Marine Lake is a spacious play area with sand play and a coffee hut nearby. Public toilets are located close to the marine lake.

Clevedon Seafront is perfect for a scoot or stroll, with beautiful views of the Bristol Channel and Clevedon Pier! You can also swim, paddle, crab, SUP or canoe at Clevedon Marine Lake, and visit the Pier itself (entry fee applies). My children love heading down onto the beach to collect shells and crystals.

📍Salthouse Fields Car Park, Salthouse Rd, Clevedon, BS21 7TR

🚗 Pay and display parking at Salthouse Fields Car Park

Cribbs Causeway, North Bristol

Cribbs Causeway has a fun play area, located just outside of Boots. It has a good variety of play equipment and it is very convenient to combine with doing some shopping!

Cribbs also has a wonderful free water play area – just bear in mind this is open seasonally.

📍 Cribbs Causeway Playground, Patchway, Bristol, BS34 5BW

🚗 Free parking

Bath City Farm, Bath

Bath City Farm has a hilly play area right next to the cafe, with benches overlooking it. This is a great spot for kids to play and eat, and if they are independent enough, parents can relax with a coffee whilst keeping an eye on them!

The farm itself is free to visit, and has a lovely selection of animals (some interesting breeds!), stunning views across Bath and animal feed is available to purchase. It is a lovely and relaxed family day out!

📍 Bath City Farm, Kelston View, Whiteway, Bath, BA2 1NW

🚗 Free parking

⏰Subject to opening times check here

Rainbow Wood, Bath

Rainbow Wood is an unexpectedly special walk with fairy doors and a pirate ship play area! Find out more about it on this post.

📍Rainbow Woods, Claverton Down Road, Bath

🚗 Free parking on the road at BA2 7BR

Alice Park, Bath

Alice Park has a brilliant mini cycleway, which is a fantastic place for children to practice cycling and road safety on a pretend road system, or simply to enjoy some roleplay! The cycleway has a mini roundabout, pedestrian crossing, road markings and signs.

The Alice Park play area has recently been refurbished. You’ll find new swings, slides, climbing equipment, roundabout and sandpit. This is phase 1 of a bigger refurbishment project. Phase 2 will follow at a later date, after more fundraising has taken place.

There is an excellent cafe right next to the play area with indoor and outdoor (covered) seating. There are 20p toilets next to this.

Elsewhere in the park there is a skate park and boules area.

📍Alice Park, Gloucester Rd, Bath, BA1 7BL

🚗 Free car park, and some on-street parking on Gloucester Road

Vassall’s Park, East Bristol

Closed for refurbishment until early March 2026 (if no delays)!

Vassall’s Park is a good sized park situated in Oldbury Court Estate. It has a sand play area and good range of play equipment. There is a cafe and toilets on site.

Oldbury Court is connected to Snuff Mills via lovely riverside walks, perfect for a stroll before or after a play.

📍Vassall’s Park, Oldbury Court Car Park, Bristol, BS16 2JW. Open from 8am Mon-Fri and 8.30am at weekends, and closing at dusk.

🚗 Pay and display car parking at Oldbury Court Car Park

There is also a smaller car park at Snuff Mills BS16 1DL, but it is a 22 minute riverside walk to get to the play area. The route is flat and suitable for some buggies, but it can get muddy after wet weather.

Felix Road Adventure Playground, East Bristol

Felix Road Adventure Playground is a vibrant city playground run by a local community focused charity. It aims to create a safe space for children and families to play.

📍Felix Road Adventure Playground, Felix Rd, Easton, Bristol, BS5 0JW

⏰Subject to opening times and specific sessions check here

Page Park, East Bristol

Page Park is a scenic park in east Bristol with two main play areas to explore. The park is flat so it is perfect for scooters and riding a bike. You’ll also find the Bean Tree Cafe and toilets, and a Band Stand where there is usually free concerts in the summer.

📍Page Park, Park Road, Bristol, BS16 5HG

🚗 On-street parking is free

⏰ Open Summer (April – Oct) : 6am to 10pm, Winter (Nov – March) : 6am to 9pm

St Andrews Park, North Bristol

St Andrew Park has a fun play area with lots of equipment and sand play. What sets this park apart is the paddling pool which opens seasonally (usually by May Half Term – September) and its a popular spot on warm days! (Free to visit!) There is also a cafe kiosk with coffee, ice cream, snacks and light lunches. Toilets are available (although not sure these are the nicest!)

📍St Andrews Park, Maurice Road, Bishopston, BS6 5BZ

🚗 On-street parking

Clifton Suspension Bridge Playground, Clifton

Clifton Suspension Bridge playground features lots of wooden adventure play equipment. This is the only playground I have found that is not enclosed, so your dog can go too! It is located close to the Suspension Bridge and it is worth combining with a visit to the Clifton Observatory cafe and taking in the view from there.

Toilets are available by the suspension bridge (paid but takes contactless card)

📍Clifton Suspension Bridge Playground, Clifton, BS8 3LT

🚗 On-street parking – this can be busy and does cost. I would recommend parking directly north of the play area on Clifton Down (Road).

Grimsbury Farm, Kingswood

Grimsbury Farm has a lovely adventure play area for younger children. There is a play tractor, climbing frame, swing and slides. It is free to visit, alongside the farm (donations are welcomed). The main cafe is close by, and there is a kiosk in the park which is open during peak season. Toilets are available on site.

📍Grimsbury Farm, Baden Rd, Kingswood, Bristol BS15 9SE

🚗 Free car park

⏰ Subject to opening times – check here

Chew Valley Lake Playground

Chew Valley Lake Playground features a fun adventure course and some other apparatus. It is ideal to combine with a scoot/walk around the lake and spot the ducks and geese. Bird seed is available for £1 from Salt and Malt.

Salt and Malt’s fish and chips are a great option for lunch (owned by Michelin-star chef Josh Eggleton), with toilets located just behind. There are plenty of picnic opportunities here as well!

📍Walley Lane, Bristol, BS40 8SZ

🚗 Fee for car park £2 for 2 hours, or £4 all day

⏰ Open during daylight hours

Redcatch Park, South Bristol

Redcatch Park has a good sized playground and a lovely play space in the community garden (as pictured). The main playground features a large fenced off area, which is perfect for families wanting to have a picnic. The play spaces are best suited to younger children. The Community Garden has a cafe, plenty of seating, and a lovely setting.

📍Redcatch Park, Broad Walk, Knowle, Bristol BS4 2RD

🚗 Free car park

⏰ Redcatch Park open at all times, but Redcatch Community Garden is usually open 9.30am-4pm. Check for updates