Exploring the Best Parks in Manchester

Manchester parks are a place to get out of the crush, to touch grass and get some fresh air. If you’re tired of the shops and done with the bar scene, it’s time you discovered outdoor Manchester and the beauty, peace, and calm that’s on your doorstep.

They might not be what the city is best known for, but in Manchester, green spaces are plentiful and waiting for you as soon as you step out the door of your UNCLE apartment.

The 10 Best Parks in Manchester

Whether you want to find the best family parks Manchester has or dog-friendly parks for Manchester mutts, here are our picks.

Now, the idea of the best parks in Manchester is going to be subjective, but we believe that these five Manchester green spaces have everything you could want and more just a short distance from your UNCLE apartment.

Heaton Park

One of the newest and largest parks in the North West, Heaton Park is jam-packed with things to do, making it one of the best family parks in Manchester. Not only does the park hold regular fun fairs and running clubs, there’s also a stargazing group, beekeeping, and even a tree-top adventure site. The park also hosts live music, including an upcoming date on the Oasis reunion tour.

If you’re looking for a more sedate wander, then Heaton Park is also the site of Heaton Hall. A grade I-listed, 18th-century country house, Heaton Hall occasionally opens to the public as a museum and events space. Even if the hall isn’t open, the grounds are worth a visit, especially if you’re searching for dog-friendly parks in Manchester. 

St Michael’s Flags & Angel Meadow Park

It might be a bit of a mouthful, but there are a few more historical sites than St Michael’s Flag and Angel Meadow Park. The church that once stood in the park accommodated over a thousand worshippers (although it was described by the Manchester Guardian in 1808 as one of the ugliest churches in the city), and many of the gravestones are still standing alongside the building’s flagstones.

If history’s your thing, you’ll love this place. But mixed with the urban surroundings, there are some beautifully quiet walks in the 7.4 acres. Plus, much of the park has smooth, flat paths, so it’s perfectly accessible for everyone.

Boggart Hole Clough

Stretching over 190 acres, Boggart Hole Clough’s steep ravines and wooded valleys make it one of the most serene and picturesque family parks Manchester has to offer. There are plenty of things for the kids to do - there’s even a boating and fishing lake. The site has a history of activist gatherings, although these days it is better known for its athletics areas and delightful cafe, as well as the annual bonfire and fireworks displays. Oh, and local legend says it may be haunted by a mischievous spirit known as a boggart if you’re brave enough to look for it. 

Highfield Country Park

If you really want to connect with the wilder side of nature, then you should be adding Highfield Country Park to your list of places to visit. This beautiful, natural green space spans 70 acres, and it’s a true escape from the city. 

70 acres may not sound like much. However, when you find yourself walking the small paths, the crowds and noise begin to disappear, and the urban landscape gives way to nature’s beauty. You can even get up close to the owls, buzzards, woodpeckers and more that call the woods home.

Fletcher Moss Park

With multiple awards from both the Royal Horticultural Society and Fields in Trust, there are few places as lush and verdant as Fletcher Moss Park. There are over two hundred types of trees in the park and surrounding areas, and each is annotated for walkers and budding dendrophiles (that’s tree fans, to you and me) to find out more. 

As The Croft at Fletcher Moss Park was once home to Emily Williamson, co-founder of the RSPB, it’s unsurprising that there’s an abundance of wildlife at the park, including birds, butterflies, and woodland creatures. Even less surprising is that there are growing conservation efforts to keep them all safe and happy for a long time to come. 

Parsonage Gardens

Should you find yourself in the city centre and craving a touch of nature, then Parsonage Gardens might be the perfect little touch of respite. It’s not really a park, more of a small island of calm in a sea of shops and offices, but there are benches and space for dogs to do their important business if you happen to have brought man’s best friend into town for the day.

Parsonage Gardens is connected to Fletcher Moss Park. Both can comfortably be explored in an afternoon and are wild paradises close to the city centre, full of amazing flora and fauna. You can even get married in Parsonage Gardens and there’s a local art gallery that is always worth a visit. 

Debdale Park

Not everyone is heading into outdoor Manchester to relax, some people want to get their heart pumping. Sounds like a bit of you? Well then, Debdale Park could be perfect. Debdale is positively stuffed with things to do, including a skate park, a games area, and a tennis court. There’s even space for more leisurely pursuits, with a bowling green and a couple of large reservoirs that are perfect for fishing.

If you’re taking the kids, don’t worry; the park has accessible toilets and a host of activities. Although the perfect way to spend the day in Debdale almost always includes feeding the many water birds that call the reservoirs home.

Platt Fields Park

A space for the most active of Manchester’s denizens and visitors, Platt Fields Park pretty much has it all. With (deep breath) a 5-a-side pitch, basketball courts, BMX track, boathouse, skatepark, bike hub, play area, lake, boathouse, and tennis courts, Platt Fields Park is unsurprisingly a hit with students as well as being one of the best-enjoyed family parks in Manchester. 

Platt Fields Park is also one of the many dog-friendly parks in Manchester, but it must be noted that man’s best friend has to stick to the walking routes and not stray onto any of the sports and activity zones or manicured areas like the Shakespearean Gardens.

Alexandra Park

Alexandra Park, Manchester, first opened to the public in 1870. Once home to two lodges at its Victorian peak, the park still boasts two lakes and a sunken bowling green. Back in the day, Alexandra Park was Manchester’s garden, supplying plants to other parks and Manchester green spaces from its extensive greenhouses.
In Alexander Park, Manchester has often found a hub for civil demonstrations, with the campaign for Women’s Suffrage and Rock Against Racism among others taking over the Park over the years. These days, Manchester’s black history is enshrined with a trail across the park, while the annual Manchester Carribean Carnival has been held there since 1971.

Whitworth Park

Home to the Whitworth Art Gallery, Whitworth Park is Manchester’s tribute to the pre-eminent engineer, Sir Joseph Whitworth. Unsurprisingly, given the gallery on its grounds, Whitworth Park has several art trails and interesting pieces, such as a statue of King Edward VII by John Cassidy and a hoax plaque commemorating a fallen meteor by the visual artist Cornelia Parker. 

Elsewhere, Whitworth Park has an abundance of birds, including parakeets, and 18 acres of green space. Nestled on the edge of the city centre, it’s an ideal spot for a breather with the family.

Of course, those are just a few of the top pics. As you can see, Manchester is blessed with an abundance of parks and green spaces to suit all needs and tastes. It might be one of the UK’s biggest cities, but you’re never short of fresh grass and even fresher air in Manchester. If you’re well acquainted with our favourites already, then why not check out Peel Park, Wythenshawe Park, or Chorlton Water Park. Any one of them could be the site of your next perfect day out.

Let's wrap this up

There’s a lot more to Manchester’s parks than most people realise. With miles of walks, a huge amount of wildlife, and scenery to die for, you really can’t go wrong with any of the parks we’ve picked out for this article. But you know what? That’s not all of them. We’ve only scratched the surface. 

Take this as your guide to get started, to find some of the historic sites and nature reserves that we’ve pointed you towards. After that, why not go exploring and find your own piece of peace in Manchester’s green spaces?
And if you’re looking to move to Manchester? Well then, UNCLE has your dream apartment to rent ready for you. Check out our apartments across Manchester today.