Quick answer
Anglers Country Park is a free Wakefield Council country park near Wintersett and Crofton. It has a central lake, bird hides, a Room on the Broom trail and a children’s playground. It suits walkers, buggy pushers and little nature spotters. It is outdoors, so it is not a rainy day pick. Car parking costs £1 for up to 2 hours between 9am and 6pm. Experience Wakefield says the playground will be replaced in the coming months, with no dates given. Keep children well away from the lake edge.
Is it right for my child?
- Story fans: the council’s Room on the Broom Adventure Trail has statues, footsteps, activities and key scenes from the story. It is a circular route around the lake.
- Bird watchers: the council lists bird hides and bird feeding stations. Its map marks three hides, one on the lake’s west shore and two by the Pol, a smaller pond.
- Walkers: Experience Wakefield describes a two mile lakeside path. The council lists walking routes, nature trails and cycle routes.
- Playground lovers: the council page lists a children’s playground. Experience Wakefield says a brand-new play area will be installed in the coming months, with the existing equipment removed. Neither page gives dates.
- Curious minds: the council says the Visitor Centre shows how it manages and improves habitats for wildlife.
- Toddlers and under 5s: Experience Wakefield describes the lakeside path as pushchair friendly. The council’s general advice for its parks is to stay well away from the banks of the water. Our own advice, not a council rule, is to keep under 5s close and supervised on the lakeside path.
Plan your visit: a parent’s checklist
- Display a valid parking ticket in your vehicle on arrival. Charges apply from 9am to 6pm, 7 days a week. The official pages do not say how to pay.
- Pick up a Room on the Broom trail activity pack from the Visitor Centre for £2. The Visitor Centre is open Tuesday to Sunday, 10am to 4pm.
- Talk about the water before you set off. The council says open water in its parks is never safe to go in or on, even for strong swimmers.
- Pack wellies and warm layers for a November or December walk. The council warns that frozen water may look safe to walk on, but it is not.
- Check the playground first if it is the main reason for your trip, because replacement works have no published dates.
Prices and tickets
Entry to the park is free. The council says Anglers Country Park is open 24 hours, and Experience Wakefield lists it as free entry.
Car park charges: up to 2 hours £1, up to 4 hours £2, up to 24 hours £4. The council says charges apply between 9am and 6pm, 7 days a week. A valid ticket must be displayed in your vehicle on arrival.
Trail pack: the Room on the Broom trail activity pack costs £2 from the Visitor Centre.
Workshops in the window: the council’s TicketSource box office listed paid craft workshops at the Visitor Centre at £5 a ticket. On 13 November 2026 it showed:
- Enchanted Woodland Workshop, Saturday 21 November 2026, 11am to 1pm and 1.30pm to 3.30pm. Both sessions were sold out.
- Santa’s Little Makers: Christmas Decorations, Saturday 5 December 2026, 11am to 1pm (1 ticket available) and 1.30pm to 3.30pm (sold out).
- Santa’s Little Makers: Handmade Gifts, Saturday 12 December 2026, 11am to 1pm and 1.30pm to 3.30pm. Both were sold out.
Experience Wakefield pitches Santa’s Little Makers at children aged 3 and over and their families.
Pushchairs, babies and toilets
- Paths: Experience Wakefield says the path around the lake is wheelchair and pushchair friendly. The council says the Room on the Broom trail is accessible by foot, cycle, buggy or wheelchair.
- Toilets: the council’s park map marks toilets next to the Visitor Centre and café. The official pages give no separate toilet hours.
- Baby changing: Experience Wakefield lists baby changing facilities and an accessible toilet. The council page does not mention them.
Food and drink
The Woodland Café is open 9am to 4pm daily, the council says. Experience Wakefield says it serves food and hot or cold drinks. The official pages do not publish a menu or prices.
On dogs, the council page says visitors can bring their dogs in to order, but the dogs cannot stay while food is eaten.
For picnics, the council map marks two picnic areas. One is by the Visitor Centre and one is near the south-west tip of the lake.
Getting there and parking
The council gives the location as Haw Park Lane, Wakefield, WF4 2EE. The Visitor Centre’s address is Haw Park Lane, Wintersett, Wakefield, WF4 2EB. Experience Wakefield says the park is 4 miles south-east of Wakefield.
- Car park: the council map marks one car park, at the south-west corner beside the main entrance and the Visitor Centre.
- Accessible parking: Experience Wakefield lists accessible car parking. The council page does not mention Blue Badge rules, so check the signs on arrival.
- On foot or by bike: the map shows entrances from Hare Park, Crofton, Wintersett and the Waterton Trail. The council lists cycle routes.
- Bus and train: the official pages do not give public transport details.
When to visit
The park is open 24 hours, the council says. The Visitor Centre is open Tuesday to Sunday, 10am to 4pm, so it is closed on Mondays. The Woodland Café opens 9am to 4pm daily.
The official pages do not mention Christmas or New Year arrangements for the Visitor Centre or café. Check before you travel.
Experience Wakefield says the park is a haven for wildlife, including many migratory birds. The park does not suggest a visit length.
Additional needs and disability support
Experience Wakefield lists several access facilities for the park, and the council describes an accessible trail.
- Accessible trail: the council says the Room on the Broom trail is a circular route around the lake, accessible by foot, cycle, buggy or wheelchair.
- Free mobility scooters for use within the park, last hire 2.30pm, Experience Wakefield says.
- Listed by Experience Wakefield: accessible car parking, an accessible toilet, a Changing Places facility, a hearing aid loop and baby changing. Assistance dogs are welcome.
- Service dogs: the council lists service dogs as welcome.
- Not mentioned: the official pages do not mention sensory guides, quiet times or relaxed sessions.
Frequently asked questions
Is Anglers Country Park free?
Yes, entry is free and the park is open 24 hours. Parking is £1 up to 2 hours, £2 up to 4 hours and £4 up to 24 hours. Charges apply 9am to 6pm daily.
Is there a playground at Anglers Country Park?
The council page lists a children’s playground. Experience Wakefield says it will be replaced with a brand-new play area in the coming months, and neither page gives dates. Check before you travel if the playground matters most.
Can you take a pushchair to Anglers Country Park?
Yes. Experience Wakefield says the lakeside path is pushchair and wheelchair friendly. The council says the trail around the lake suits buggies.
Can children swim or paddle in the lake?
No. The council says open water in its parks is never safe to go in or on, even for strong swimmers. It also warns that frozen water is not safe to walk on.
Can you take dogs to Anglers Country Park?
Experience Wakefield lists the park as dog friendly. For all its parks, the council advises keeping dogs on a lead in icy weather or when blue-green algae is in the water.
Is the Visitor Centre open on Mondays?
No. The council says the Visitor Centre is open Tuesday to Sunday, 10am to 4pm. The Woodland Café is open daily, 9am to 4pm.
Checked on 13 November 2026 against the official Wakefield Council pages for Anglers Country Park, story trails and water and fire safety, the council’s Experience Wakefield record and its TicketSource box office. Prices and times can change, so check before you travel.
