Roundhay Park

Is it right for my child?

• Young children: Tropical World’s FAQ says the park has 2 playgrounds. The largest is next to the Tram car park, off Princes Avenue.
• Trail fans: the Friends of Roundhay Park, a supporters’ group named on the council page, offer Little Friends adventure trails to download. They list two for children aged up to 5 and two for ages 6 and over.
• Wildlife spotters: the council’s sculpture trail has eight carved beech tree sculptures of park wildlife. The same page says hundreds of mute swans live in the park.
• Older children: the council lists a skate park, sports pitches including tennis, a grass cycling track and a public golf course.
• Little legs: a land train runs from the Lakeside Cafe to the park gates and back, on set days only.
• Water warning: the park has lakes and streams. The byelaws ban bathing or swimming in any waterway without reasonable excuse, and stepping onto any frozen water.

Plan your visit: a parent’s checklist

• Download the Little Friends trail sheets before you go. The Friends say all four start at Canal Gardens, outside Tropical World.
• Bring a contactless card or the PayByPhone app for the car park.
• Plan around the specialist gardens’ hours: 9am to 3.30pm daily.
• Talk to children about the lakes before you set off. In icy weather, keep everyone off frozen water.
• Bringing a dog? Children’s playgrounds are dog exclusion areas under Leeds rules.
• Book a free mobility scooter in advance if you need one, as numbers are limited.

Prices and tickets

The council lists no entry charge for Roundhay Park. The Friends’ trails page says its two original trails are free to access for all.

• Car parks: up to 2 hours £1.20, up to 4 hours £2.70, up to 12 hours £4.50. Charges apply Monday to Sunday, 8am to 8pm. The maximum stay is 23 hours, with no overnight camping.
• How to pay: pay and display takes contactless card payment, or use PayByPhone with the zone number for your car park.
• Season tickets: £10 a month or £85 a year, valid at all the council’s chargeable park car parks. Each vehicle needs its own.
• Land train: £1.50 single or £2 return, with an 8 minute journey. It starts at about 11am and runs every 15 minutes, weather permitting, on Saturdays, Sundays and in school holidays.

Pushchairs, babies and toilets

• Paths: the council says entrances and all paths are wheelchair accessible, but there are some inclines within the park.
• Trails: the Friends describe the two under 5s trails as fully accessible for wheelchairs and pushchairs.
• Toilets: the council lists toilets in the park. Tropical World’s FAQ says the public toilets are next to the Mansion, at the bottom of Mansion Lane.
• Accessible toilets: the council lists them in the Tropical World cafe and the Visitor Centre, plus one at the Lakeside Cafe.
• Baby changing: the council’s park page does not mention baby changing, so bring a changing mat.
• Toilet hours: the official pages we checked do not give opening times for the park toilets.

Food and drink

The council lists two cafes: the Lakeside Cafe, which it says is not run by the council, and the Tropical World cafe.

• Lakeside Cafe: its own website describes a family run independent cafe on the edge of Waterloo Lake. It lists Monday to Friday 10am to 5pm and weekends 9.30am to 5pm, with a takeaway kiosk on the same hours. It adds a 4pm weekday close in winter, from “Monday 31st October” to mid February. That note gives no year, so phone to check.
• Tropical World cafe: open 10am to 3.30pm in winter, with hot food until 3pm and children’s lunches with a drink. Only food and drink bought at Tropical World can be eaten in the cafe. Its page gives no Christmas hours.
• Christmas: the Lakeside Cafe’s festive hours list gives no year, and its dates do not match December 2026. Phone the cafe on the number on its website, 0113 265 7338, before a visit between 24 December and 1 January.

Getting there and parking

• Address: Mansion Lane, off Princes Avenue, Leeds LS8 2HH, 3 miles north of the city centre.
• Car parks: the council lists 4. They are off Wetherby Road, by the Lakeside Cafe, by the old tram station off Princes Avenue, and by the Mansion.
• On-street: parking is also available on Mansion Lane, which the price list includes in the Roundhay Park charges.
• Disabled parking: 3 disabled bays on Mansion Lane, plus a large bay outside Tropical World for 5 cars. The price list does not mention Blue Badge exemptions.
• Buses: the council points to West Yorkshire Metro. Tropical World’s page says buses 2 and 12 stop outside its door on Princes Avenue.

When to visit

• Opening times: the council’s park page gives no hours for the open parkland. Visit Leeds says Roundhay Park is open 24 hours.
• Gardens: the specialist gardens open 9am to 3.30pm daily, and the council says spring and summer show them at their peak. The byelaws list Canal Gardens as a secure ground, open only during the hours on a notice at its entrance.
• Weekends: the land train runs on Saturdays, Sundays and in school holidays, weather permitting.
• Christmas and New Year: the official pages we checked do not mention Christmas or New Year arrangements for the park itself.
• Next door: Tropical World, a separately ticketed council attraction, sits beside Canal Gardens.

Additional needs and disability support

The council lists these access features at Roundhay Park.

Frequently asked questions

Is Roundhay Park free?

The council lists no entry charge. The car parks charge from £1.20 for up to 2 hours, 8am to 8pm every day.

Where is the playground in Roundhay Park?

Tropical World’s FAQ says the largest of the 2 playgrounds is next to the Tram car park, off Princes Avenue. The council says a playground near the Tram car park has accessible play equipment.

Can you take a pushchair round Roundhay Park?

The council says entrances and all paths are wheelchair accessible, with some inclines. The Friends say their two under 5s trails suit wheelchairs and pushchairs.

Are there toilets at Roundhay Park?

Yes. Tropical World’s FAQ places the public toilets next to the Mansion, at the bottom of Mansion Lane. The council lists accessible toilets at the Tropical World cafe, the Visitor Centre and the Lakeside Cafe.

When does the Roundhay Park land train run?

From about 11am, every 15 minutes, on Saturdays, Sundays and in school holidays, weather permitting. A return costs £2.

Are dogs allowed in Roundhay Park?

Leeds rules let dogs off the lead in parks except where signs say otherwise, under close control. Leeds lists children’s playgrounds among its dog exclusion areas. Its dog order names Canal Gardens as a dog exclusion area, and the specialist gardens as Dogs on Leads, where signed.

Checked on 12 November 2026 against the official Leeds City Council pages for Roundhay Park, parking prices, the specialist gardens, parks byelaws and rules for dogs, the council’s sculpture trail, cafe and FAQ pages, the Lakeside Cafe, the Friends of Roundhay Park Little Friends page and Visit Leeds. Prices and times can change, so check before you travel.