Heaton Park

A last minute decision on a damp, drizzly winter Sunday, but a good one. Forgot how vast this place is!

Walked down the hill past the hall and round the lake, slowing to admire the signets and stop the dog munching all the food left for the birds!
Round the other side of the lake, the woods are incredibly quiet; it's easy to forget you're right on the edge of such a large city and the motorway is about a mile away. This is the highest point in the city and the views are amazing.

To celebrate St George's Day in 2016, I've decided to finally review Heaton Park, which is the largest municipal park in England and its' grounds even contain a Grade I listing building in a 18th century hall, Heaton Hall.

Heaton Park opened in 1902, not long after Edward VIII became King of England and a few months after the death of Britain's then-longest serving monarch, Victoria.

Access to Heaton Park is quite good, with a Metrolink Station at either end of the park, one more towards Pretswich way, and one more towards the Premier Inn and Beefeater, as if you were going into Cheetham Hill, where you can get tram services into the city center of Manchester and near-enough all around Manchester, with links into other train and tram stations where other links, and further locations are available. There are also buses available, but they don't seem to cover a great distance or come too regularly, around here, so the tram is probably the best route here

Also nearby, is a Premier Inn Hotel and Beefeater Resturaunt, as well as the HQ for a local taxi company, a few pubs and takeaways, a small newsagents and a Sainsbury's, but not much of these are too impressive unless you're a local and most of these places, a tourist visiting Heaton Park probably wouldn't even need.

Heaton Park is also located near enough next to the M60 motorway, with connections to Manchester Airport, London and Birmingham and is one of the local motorway stops to Middleton, just down the road from Middleton city center and a drive-thru KFC.

Overall, over than its' size, the park is just average for a park, obviously not as impressive as Green Park or as beautiful as a lot of other parks across the world, it is still quite a nice, large park.

Heaton Park often hosts events throughout the year including the dreadful Parklife, where tickets can sell for hundreds of pounds, as well as being 2 whole days and nights of noise pollution and extra traffic, which is inconsiderate to the local area, and even people who live closer to Middleton city center, as the noise carries on to pollute the rest of the nearby towns, even miles away. Some nicer events include a large bonfire on Bonfire Night, and a Firework display.

I'm from North Manchester, so find Heaton Park quite an impressive, large park to have in my own backyard, but due to its' extreme size, I don't think they have made the most of it, making it more profitable and better for visitors, hence increasing the number of visitors all year round, while also considering a lack of staff about the park at most hours, making sure it is kept nice and due to the park being simply average, but still due to its' size and the fact is is probably better than most other parks in Manchester, I feel it has just done enough to get a solid three star rating.

Surprisingly first time here. Nice park, only there for short while and checked out farm and also got some ice cream. The farm - its not bad, not the biggest farm but OK.

We had already paid £1.50 for the car park by the golf, so didn't need to pay - although here was no one there checking.

When the sun is shining; it is perfect for a run, play, picnic, day out.

You have a big park, with beautiful sights, such as the Heaton Hall, and animal park.

Fancy a picnic in Manchester? Don't look at me like I've escaped from a mental unit, there's plenty of places to take a basket, blanket and a punnet of Scotch eggs in the city. If you don't believe me, you've clearly never seen the rural idyll that is Heaton Park.

Easily accessible by the Metrolink from the city centre, Heaton Park in Prestwich is historical, green and gorgeous. It's home to a golf course as well as Heaton Hall, a beautiful manor which you can view by partaking in guided tours, the exciting kind where people wear costumes. There is literally far too much going on here for me to include in this little introduction but some noteworthy events include Oasis's huge homecoming gigs where they decked Heaton Park out like a festival. Technologically it was a nightmare, but good old Noel Gallagher promised refunds if they didn't get the sound sorted.

Another thing you must, MUST do in Heaton Park is try and catch an open air Shakespeare production. They make the most incredible use of the surroundings, but an insider's tip is to bring a mackintosh, umbrella and perhaps even a flask and foldable chair. The former two are obviously due to the inclement Manchester weather, the latter... well, we all need our home comforts. Actually, add some kind of chewy sweets to that list, you choose your favourites. Just don't rub it in, the poor actors have to do this in all climates and are probably dying for one of your Skittles.

Anything more I can add? Relay races for dogs (I'm totally serious, it's an opportunity for dog owners to meet and interact), health walks, horse riding, learning activities... the list goes on and on, and look out for the festivals and music performances. Heaton Park is a buzzing, thriving community all its own, so if you fancy some fresh air and culture, hop on the tram and bring sensible shoes. You'll love it here.

Heaton Park is a huge park in the north of Manchester, and it really proved an excellent place to visit during our trip. Despite being in Greater Manchester, the park is large enough that it feels rural and you certainly can't hear or see any of the road traffic from inside the park.

There are loads of walking paths, and one can visit a lake (complete with café), a large manor house, some beautiful gardens, and a so-called "temple", from where there are excellent views over the entire area. The temple is actually located at the highest point in Manchester (factoid alert).

The park is popular, and you are sure to meet plenty of people walking in their dogs or enjoying an ice-cream by the lake. After spending a few days amidst the hustle and bustle of the city, it was great to do some walking and get some fresh air in the beautiful Heaton Park. Recommended.

Love this place!
Loads of free car parks with loads of spaces even when its busy.
Great place to walk a dog, loads of walking areas even when the fair is on.
There is also a lovely cafe next to the boating lake and up by the house. The place really is massive, every time I go I discover something new!

I am running across the field. My papers and clipboard in my left hand. How many cows are there? Are they looking at me? Running too fast to tell. Are they coming towards me? I am eleven. My right bright yellow trainer gets stuck in the mud. There is still half the length until I reach the gate and path. So I carry on running. One shoe on, one shoe off.

Heaton Park is, I believe, the biggest municipal park in Europe. There are tennis courts (you have to pay), horse riding facilities, a golf course, a children's farm and all the usual: play park, ice cream vans, plenty of grass if you're pretending to revise for exams..

Their Bonfire Night is also something special. I have been almost every year. When I was in London last year standing outside Temple station the fireworks over the Thames just didn't quite cut it. Heaton Park gives you big expectations. There is plenty of room and they are right over your heads. The Bonfire is absolutely huge and the smoke seems endless. And they have fun fair rides. Good, clean fun.

In my experience also good for: treasure hunts if they are meticulously organised by parents, getting tackled by boys in a game of American Football when drunk and having heart to hearts on the bandstand on rainy days.

And, yes my yellow trainer was retrieved and I made it out of there alive.

I love Heaton Park. Being a North Manchester girl I've been coming to Heaton Park pretty much since I was born - my parents have photos of me playing on the park as a toddler - and it's amazing to say that I enjoy it just as much as an adult.

It's huge - perfect for a really long walk and has some really lovely scenery. There is a lot of greenery and grassy areas, so in summer i frequently come here for family picnics. There's also a large hill that my nephew and niece insist we ALL roll down. I always win. Ha.

There's an animal farm complete with donkeys, goats and other farmyard animals which is so much fun to visit. There's a cafe here too which has some good sandwiches.
The cute boating lake is also lovely in the summer.

There's plenty to do here, with 2 or maybe even 3 large playgrounds for kids - one of which has the tallest slide I have ever seen!! :/

They also have funfairs and themed events at Heaton Park too - bonfire night is always fantastic here!

Enjoyed a pleasant cuppa with a cake at the Stables café after a nice afternoon exploring Heaton Park. The cakes all looked yummy, however they were not clearly price marked so I had to ask how much everything was. I had a pot if tea for one with a scone, butter, jam and Cornish clotted cream. My mate had a latté with an apple turnover. It was all delicious. Total cost just over £8. The café is nicely laid out and appears to be kept very clean.