Banstead Park

Banstead Park is one mile north-east of Leeds city centre. It is roughly 2-hectares in size and is nestled between two blocks of red brick terrace housing.

Playground

There are two playgrounds in Banstead Park. One is suitable for toddlers, located next to Elford Place; and the other more appealing to a child, situated next to Banstead Terrace.

The playgrounds are equally kitted out with swings, roundabout, climbing frame and slide. Strikingly, the toddler playground has a huge spider marking on the cushioned floor.

Multi-Use-Games-Area

On the Harehills Road entrance of the park you won’t miss the super sized concrete MUGA or multi-use-games-area. This unique space is suitable for a large game of basketball or football. It’s unique because it has extra width and length, and with the 360 fencing, is perfect for a fast paced game.

Cricket

In the centre of the park there is an all weather cricket wicket that’s suitable for a big game. What’s more the green space around it is shaped a like a cricket boundary, in the fashion of an oval.

Exercise Trim Trail

Alongside the concrete path around the outer edges of the park is an exercise trim trail. On this route you can walk, jog or run between a variety of equipment that tests your push, pull and pedal strength.

Sit in the Urban Garden

Towards the bottom end of the park you will notice the interlinked hexagon shaped garden space. The flower beds make it a perfect place to take 5 away from the hustle and bustle of Harehills.

Take a Panoramic Picture

Banstead Park sits on a slope looking down into the centre of Leeds. When stood at the Harehills Road end you’re in view of taking a decent panoramic picture of the cityscape. With the sun setting in the west you’re able to capture some pretty lush sunset shots too!

Banstead Park came into existence in the early eighties after Leeds City Council cleared several streets of dilapidated houses.

Instead of replacing it with more housing, a grant of £186,000 (not far off  1 million in todays money) was successfully acquired to create the park.

The nearest public toilet is at Aisha’s Cafe – over the road from the park.

Rubbish and dog waste bins are dotted about.

There are plenty of benches in the park.

On Roundhay Road opposite the bottom end of the park is Aisha’s Café.  This little independent serves a fusion Asian and British comfort food.

Park for free next to the park on the residential road of Banstead Terrace, LS8 5PX (Google Map Directions)

Banstead Park is fully accessible to a wheelchair and pushchair user. There are a couple of sections of sloping path that could prove more difficult for manoeuvrability.