Merrion Gardens

Merrion Gardens is located on the edge of Leeds city centre. You will find it just off Merrion Street, tucked between St Johns Church and St Johns shopping centre.

Although a small patch of land, the Merrion Gardens are a great place to escape the bustle of the city. Come with your lunch, or a book and relax for a moment or two.

Playground

The playground is best placed as a playful escape from the grind of a day out shopping with the kids.

Designed in a linear style the playground uses steps, balance boards and a wobbly bridge go from A to B. Despite the lack of typical play equipment – swings and slides! – this little play area will test your child’s balance and coordination, and more importantly give them some focus and attention.

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

Picnic

For those working in and around town (or you might be visiting for the day!) the Merrion Gardens is a suntrap spot that’s perfect for a picnic. If you’re working in the city centre, why not leave the office and pop down to stretch your legs and have a bite in the sun?

Admire the Guerrilla Art

Spread around the park are some vibrant examples of guerrilla art that brighten up the makeup of Merrion Gardens. Benches, bins and fencing have all been used as canvases to showcase portraits and shapes.

Have a Sunbath

Due to its position the sun regularly beats down on the open grass areas of Merrion Gardens. Alongside taking a break from the humdrum of the city, we recommend you soak up the sunrays with a bit of sunbathing.

Merrion Gardens, also known as the Garden of Rest, was originally created out as a memorial to Thomas Wade. He passed in 1530 and left a will which stipulated that the money be used to benefit the people of Leeds. The 0.75 acres of land that now makes up Merrion Gardens was donated by the Wade Charity to the City of Leeds.

Old photographs show that the layout of the space has not really changed since its opening in 1933. However, the perimeter trees had since grown and their roots had lifted the original Yorkstone flag paths rendering many paved areas unsafe to the general public. The garden was then renovated in 2006 winning a Landscape Award.

St John’s Church, the oldest of the surviving city churches borders one side of the garden with the mock-Tudor style St John’s House (1930), Merrion Street and Wade Lane creating the other three boundaries. Wade Lane was redeveloped into St John’s Shopping Centre in 1985.

There are a few bins on site. There are no toilets, but as the gardens are in the city centre you don’t need to walk far to come across a bar or pub!

Smack in the middle of Leeds, you are spoilt for choice when it comes to food or drink. However we do have a few suggestions!

If you are looking for a bite to eat, why not head across to Nam Song. A really lovely Vietnamese coffee house bar and kitchen. And if you are wanting a drink, then most definitely try out Belgrave Music Hall.

Paid parking can be at Trafalgar Street car park, postcode: LS2 7BF (Google Map Directions)

The park is small, and has concrete and slab pathways. No issues for wheelchairs or prams here.