Roundhay Park is located about 3 miles north of Leeds City Centre and contains over 700 acres of rolling hills, lakes, woodlands and gardens
The Park includes scented gardens for the blind, National Plant Collections, Canal Gardens, the Monet and Alhambra Gardens, plus Tropical World (also known as Butterfly Gardens and Butterfly World) which attracts visitors all year round. Newly opened in 2005 is the Friends Garden, located alongside Canal Gardens and the Rainbow Garden. There is no charge to enter the park.
Woodpeckers, common warblers in spring and summer, mute swans, visiting whooper swans, great-crested grebes and herons can all be found at the park. The Upper Lake is maintained as a wildlife area, and the larger Waterloo Lake is used for fishing. The Park Arena is a natural amphitheatre which provides the venue for many special events ranging from sports days to major pop concerts and the spectacular bonfire and firework displays on 5th November. Facilities at the Park also include tennis courts, skateboard ramps, sports pitches, bowling greens, a sports arena, a golf course, and fishing.
Directions: To get to Roundhay Park take bus 2 or 12 from bus stops V2 or V4 on New Market Street (opposite Kirkgate Market) in Leeds city centre and alight opposite the entrance to Tropical World. You can get bus timetables and prices here.
NEW: Take a walk in the Park - guide map here. Roundhay Park History.
Roundhay in the 13th century was a three square mile hunting park for the DeLacy family of Pontefract Castle. The entire estate was purchased by the City of Leeds in 1872 and opened as a public park by His Royal Highness Prince Arthur on the 19th of September 1872. At the time, the then Lord Mayor John Barran of Leeds was ridiculed for buying a 'White Elephant' - in that the park was too far out of the city for the majority of the population to enjoy, and in any event the park had just one access road - an old 'turnpike' road dating from 1808.
In June 1907 an open air swimming pool 'lido' opened, at a cost of just over £1,600. It was built mainly by unemployed citizens. During the 1950's and 1960's about 100,000 people a year visited the 'swimming baths'.