Quick answer
For free play in Hull, head to the council playgrounds at East Park, West Park, Pearson Park or Pickering Park. East Park and Pickering Park add free animal centres. Near Hull, Humber Bridge Country Park in Hessle and Beverley Westwood in Beverley suit a walk more than a playground. None of these places lists an everyday entry charge. The council lists water play for summer only, and lakes, ponds and grazing animals need watching.
East Park: play, a free zoo and the boating lake
East Park on Holderness Road is Hull’s largest park, and the council lists no entry charge. It describes a large play area with modern equipment designed for all ages and abilities.
- Hours: the council’s provisional table gives 8am to 4pm for every week ending 8 November to 27 December 2026. It does not list Christmas Day or Boxing Day separately.
- Animals: the Animal Education Centre is a free zoo, open daily from 10.30am to 3.45pm, with last entry at 3pm. Under 16s must be with an adult.
- Water: the Ferens boating lake, a model yacht pond and a waterfall, so keep young children close. The council does not say whether the splash boat or swan boats run in November and December.
- Toilets: behind the boathouse, next to the Animal Education Centre, open daily. There is a Changing Places toilet in the Central Pavilion. Baby changing is not mentioned.
- Getting there: drive in through the Woodford Leisure Centre car park. The council lists no parking charges. Only assistance dogs may enter the play area.
West Park: a large play area and a skate park
West Park sits between Walton Street and Anlaby Road. The council describes a large play area for children and young people. It also lists a skate park, a multi-use games area, an outdoor gym and a wildlife aviary. The official pages list no admission charge.
- Hours: the council says the park is staffed daily, but publishes no opening hours. The aviary’s hours are not given either.
- Toilets: a block next to the paddling pool has child and disabled toilets, open daily. Baby changing is in the disabled toilet.
- Food: the official pages do not mention a café, so pack snacks.
- Match days: the MKM Stadium is near the park. The council’s park page does not mention parking, and Travel Hull lists matchday parking at Walton Street car park.
- Dogs: only assistance dogs may enter the play area.
Pearson Park: a Victorian park with a lakeside playground
Pearson Park, between Princes Avenue and Beverley Road, lists no admission charge. The council says the play area sits across from the serpentine lake. It names Pearson Park among the play areas refurbished and modernised in recent years.
- Pond warning: on 1 July 2026 the council reported blue-green algae in the pond and strongly advised avoiding contact with the water. The pages we checked do not say the warning has ended, so keep children and dogs away from the water.
- Toilets: one block next to Penna’s Cafe and one in the children’s playground, both open daily. Baby changing is not mentioned.
- Extras: the duck feeder takes contactless payment only. The council gives no café hours or park hours, but says the park is staffed daily.
- Dogs: only assistance dogs may enter the play area.
Pickering Park: play, meerkats and a fishing lake
Pickering Park in west Hull lists no admission charge. The council says its play area has swings, a spinning bowl and a multi-play activity centre for children of all ages. There is also a bike track and an activity trail.
- Aviary: free, with African birds, meerkats, porcupines and tortoises. Live It Hull lists it as open every day, 10.30am to 3.45pm, with last admission 45 minutes before closing.
- School visits: schools get exclusive access to the aviary during their visit, so ring 01482 300 300 before a weekday trip.
- Water: the fishing lake is a real hazard for toddlers.
- Toilets and food: a block next to the paddling pool is open daily, with baby changing in the disabled toilet. No café is mentioned, but there are picnic benches near the bandstand.
- Parking and dogs: the council page does not mention a car park. Only assistance dogs may enter the play area.
- Santa Run: on 13 November the Friends of Pickering Park listed a Santa Fun Run and Walk in the park on Sunday 6 December 2026. Entrants pay, and under 16s must be with an adult.
Humber Bridge Country Park, Hessle: trails by the bridge
Humber Bridge Country Park in Hessle is a free Local Nature Reserve of woods, meadows, ponds and chalk quarry cliffs. Three nature trails are waymarked with carved owls, rabbits and frogs. The Country Park record lists no playground. The separate Hessle Foreshore record mentions a small children’s play area by the toilets next to the Black Mill.
- Safety: swimming and paddling in the ponds are not permitted. The July 2020 leaflet says not to climb the cliffs.
- Pushchairs: the Hessle Foreshore entrance is the only step-free one. Entrances from the upper car parks have steps.
- Parking: the council’s Hessle Foreshore record lists free parking for 100 cars along the Foreshore and at the Old Black Mill.
- Toilets and food: toilets on the foreshore near the Black Mill and in the upper car park, with no hours given. Baby changing and a café are not mentioned, so bring a picnic.
- Dogs: keep them under close control in the park. On the neighbouring Hessle Foreshore, the council says dogs must be on a lead at all times.
Beverley Westwood, Beverley: open pasture, not a playground
Beverley Westwood is about 600 acres of common pasture on the edge of Beverley. The Beverley Pasture Masters’ pages list no entry charge and no opening hours. The official pages do not mention a playground, toilets or baby changing.
- Livestock: cattle and sheep may graze until the grazing season closes in December. The Pasture Masters had not given the 2026 closing date on 13 November. Keep dogs on leads near the animals and shut every gate.
- Rules: cycling is not permitted on the Westwood, and barbecues and bonfires are banned on all the pastures.
- Traffic: motorists drive across the pastures, and there is a golf course and a racecourse.
- Parking: the byelaws limit parking on the pastures to 4 hours in any 24 hours, with no return within that period.
Which place suits your family?
- Animals plus play: East Park’s Animal Education Centre, open until 3.45pm, or the Pickering Park aviary.
- Skaters and teens: the West Park skate park and multi-use games area.
- A trail to follow: the carved animal waymarkers at Humber Bridge Country Park, starting from the step-free Hessle Foreshore entrance.
Frequently asked questions
Which Hull parks have a playground?
East Park, West Park, Pearson Park and Pickering Park all have council play areas. Hessle Foreshore, next to Humber Bridge Country Park, has a small children’s play area.
Are Hull parks free?
None of the places in this guide lists an everyday entry charge, and both animal centres are free. The duck feeder at Pearson Park takes contactless payment, and the Pickering Park Santa Run has an entry fee.
Is the water play open in winter?
No dates are given. The council’s water play page lists East Park and West Park water play from the end of May to the beginning of September. The council lists Pickering Park’s paddling pool for the school summer holidays and gives no winter opening.
Which parks have animals to see?
East Park’s Animal Education Centre and the Pickering Park aviary are both free. West Park has a wildlife aviary, but its hours are not published.
Which parks have a Changing Places toilet?
East Park has one in the Central Pavilion. The official pages for the other places in this guide do not mention one.
Checked on 13 November 2026 against the official websites, through our Hull venue pages. Prices and opening times change, so check before you travel.
Photo: Bernard Sharp, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.