Meanwood Park

Split down the middle by Green Road, Meanwood park is located just 4-miles north of Leeds city centre. The 29-hectares of grassland, woodland, meadows and streams showcases Meanwood Valley and its industrial past.

On the other side of Meanwood Beck, Meanwood Park opens up to Beckside gardens – a patch of grassland and footpaths that lead to Meanwood Valley Trail.

Meanwood Park is a lovely day out for all the family, dogs included.

Meanwood Park is a free to use park owned by Leeds City Council and managed by the Parks and Countryside Service. There are picnic benches located around the park, a children’s playground and a café. And a range of sport and physical activity courts and spaces.

Great place to exercise!

For the sports enthusiasts, why not take advantage of the park’s multi-use-games-area which works well with basketball and futsal – a Brazilian style of football, table tennis or tennis on a hard court. There is also a bowling green which is open to new members.

Tennis Courts

There are two tennis courts in Meanwood Park that are free to use. Bring your own rackets and balls.

Do I need to book a tennis court?

It’s free to use the tennis court but you will need to book a court space on the LTA clubspark website.

Run in Meanwood Park

Meanwood is at the centre of many great run routes. Our friends over at Run Leeds have pulled together several of these routes. The Weetwood loop is a great 6km starter route that takes you through Meanwood Park, over the Leeds University playing fields and past the Hollin Allotments.

For something slightly longer, the Weetwood Runnings route is almost 10km and it takes in the Meanwood Valley trail, Adel Woods, and the university campus.

Dog Friendly

If you are looking for somewhere nearby to walk the dog, this is the perfect place! With lots of wonderful scenery to explore your fluffy companion will be keen to get off the lead, scurry in the undergrowth and take a paddle in Meanwood Beck.

Meanwood Valley Hike

Meanwood Park has many footpaths to wander down. Fancy something a little off the beaten track? Why not venture down the Meanwood Valley Trail. The 7-mile linear walk is described as a ‘green artery’ taking you on a beautiful journey through the natural and cultural history of the valley. It is the perfect way to explore the beautiful Meanwood Valley Nature Reserve that showcases a beautiful range of flora and fauna.

If you make it to the end of the 7-mile walk you’ll find yourself in the glorious Golden Acre Park – another fabulous day out!

Take a look at the map and route of the Meanwood Valley Trail.

Volunteering at Meanwood Park

Want to support your local community? Cared for by Friends of Meanwood Park offers volunteering opportunities to support the local wildlife.

Take a look at the Facebook group to see when they meet up. A great way to meet people and get stuck in with pond maintenance, gardening and litter picking.

Playground

In 2023 the Meanwood Park playground saw a complete transformation thanks to the fundraising efforts of local residents.

The newly revamped playground has incorporated bio diversity into the play equipment. Planting and bug hotels combine with spaced out play installations

Some of the new equipment has been installed based on its accessibility for children with additional needs – such as a disability swing with adjustable harnesses.

Meanwood Park playground is a fantastic combination of play and alternative education. There will be play sessions and interactive workshops organised by Leeds City Council Park Rangers, making it one of the more educationally enriching playgrounds for a toddler and child in Leeds.

Take a look at our break down of the best playgrounds in Leeds.

Between the 16th and 19th centuries water from Meanwood Beck was used to power machinery used for the production of corn flax, dye works, tanneries and paper mills. You can still see glimpses of the areas industrialised past when venturing around the park.

There is a war memorial by the entrance to remember the 48 Meanwood men lost in World War 1. In 2014 an avenue of 48 oak trees were planted along the West bank of Meanwood Beck to commemorate them.

Where Does The Name ‘Meanwood’ Come From?

Meanwood Park gets its name from the 12th century ‘Meene Wude’. Anglo-Saxon for ‘the common wood’, which was the woods to the east of Meanwood Beck.

With lots of benches and bins dotted around the park, Meanwood park is the perfect place to picnic.

Public toilets are located a short walk from the park entrance. Customer toilets with disabled access can be found at the Three Cottages Cafe.

Come rain or shine, the independent Three Cottages Café situated in the heart of Meanwood Park offers a delightful range of house coffees, brunch, lunch, cakes and deli options.

If it’s a beverage or pub grub you fancy, why not head to the Myrtle Tavern? Set just off the Meanwood Valley Trail it’s no wonder it’s been voted one of the best Beer gardens in Leeds.

A short distance from the park is the centre of Meanwood hosting a range of great eateries and drinking establishments including: Zucco, The Hungry Bear, East of Arcadia and Terminus Taproom. 

Parking is free with the main car park situated off Green Lane offering two disabled parking bays. The car park is positioned at the bottom of the park next to the café. Postcode for parking is LS6 4LT (Google Map Link).

The main footpaths in the park are suitable for wheelchairs and pushchairs however, caution may be required on uneven woodland surfaces.

The park’s main entrance is located on Green Road, LS6 4LE (Google Map Link). The park can also be accessed from via Hollin Lane, down Weetwood Mill Lane, and from The Hollies.

For those travelling by public transport, bus routes 27,51, 52 and 91 will get you closest to the park.