Points of Interest
Birmingham Wildlife Conservation Park
Pershore Road
Birmingham, United Kingdom
Birmingham Wildlife Conservation Park is home to a unique collection of animals from across the world, including red pandas, lemurs, reptiles, meerkats, otters, birds, wallabies, and a large collection of monkeys. Some of the animals are endangered in the wild and the park plays an important role their species’ conservation by participating in endangered species breeding programs. Visitors can sponsor an animal and help wth the park’s mission. Groups and children’s parties can be accommodated.
– Information provided by Birmingham City Council
Alton Towers
Farley Lane
Alton, Staffordshire, United Kingdom
Opened in 1980, this theme park boasts a number of adrenaline-pumping rides. The Nemesis is Europe's first inverted roller coaster, from which people hang with their legs dangling down from the floorless cars. Oblivion is a vertical drop roller coaster while Rita, known as the Queen of Speed, accelerates from 0 to 60 mph in 2.5 seconds. Other attractions include an entertainment area with a medieval England theme, the Tower Street with shops and fast-food joints, Gloomy Wood (featuring a ghost and monster theme), and much more.
Aston Hall
Trinity Road
Aston, Birmingham B6 6JD, England, United Kingdom
Built from 1618 to 1635, Aston Hall is a grand Jacobean manor house designed by John Thorpe. After being purchased by Birmingham City Council in the mid-19th century, Aston Hall now serves as a museum and public garden. Visitors can tour more than 30 rooms such as Long Gallery, King Charles’ chamber, a butler’s pantry, and servants’ hall. Other impressive sights include the Great Stairs and decorative ceilings. Outside, guests can explore Lady Holte’s Garden. There also is a café and gift shop available. Guided tours are offered, including torchlit ghost tours.
Barnett Demesne Park
Entrances at Milltown Road, Dub Lane, or Shaw’s Bridge
Belfast, United Kingdom
The park's main feature is Malone House, which commands stunning views over acres of magnificent parkland, Lagan Valley and the Belfast hills. Barnett Demesne is also home to an arboretum, daffodil garden and a number of woodland and wildflower meadows. Mountain bike trails and a jumps park have also been installed in the park. The park includes 12km of bike trails for all levels, a dirt jump area and associated infrastructure.
Barnett Demesne also features an ecotrail, orienteering routes and a children’s playground (near Shaw’s Bridge). Refreshments are available in the Barnett Restaurant in Malone House. The park has several walking routes, several of which link with the Lagan Towpath, Clement Wilson Park and Mary Peters Athletics Track. Barnett Demesne is also home to Belfast Activity Centre, which is located in the old stable yard and offers personal and social development opportunities for young people, as well as many pieces of public art.
– Information provided by Belfast City Council
Battersea Park
Albert Bridge Road
London SW11 4NJ, United Kingdom
A large, 81-hectare (200-acre) Victorian park, Battersea Park was built between 1854 and 1870. It features a lake, Thames riverside promenade, bandstand, playgrounds, gardens, sports fields, Pump House Gallery, and Battersea Children’s Zoo (www.batterseaparkzoo.co.uk). Some of the animals on display include otters, monkeys, parrots, wallabies, frogs, ponies, rabbits, spiders, pigs, donkeys, owls, hedgehogs, and more. Popular activities at the park include picnicking, walking, and playing sports. It also hosts a variety of events such as festivals and live music.
Belfast Zoo
Antrim Road
Belfast, United Kingdom
Though not terribly different from most zoos you've visited before, Belfast Zoological Gardens is set on a sprawling 223,000-square-meter (55-acre) site and makes for a lovely outing. The zoo houses some 140 species, and all of the usual animals are present, including giraffes, elephants, and lions, as well as some unusual additions, such as spider monkeys and Malayan sun bears. The zoo, which lies northwest of Belfast in Newtownabbey, is open daily and has a cafe.
Birmingham Botanical Gardens
12 Westbourne Road
Edgbaston, Birmingham, United Kingdom
Located not far outside the city center, these gardens opened to the public in 1832. John Claudius Loudon, a Scottish landscape gardener and prolific writer, designed them. Loudon's name came to the administrators' attention in part because his wife was from Birmingham, but the city got lucky in the Scot, a man decades ahead of his time in his thinking about urban space. Titles on solar power and designing green belts in and around cities appear in his extensive list of publications. The Botanical Gardens encompass four greenhouse zones that include both cash crops and more ornamental plant species. The tropical zone packs in the expected hibiscus, flamingo flowers, cassava, and sugar cane. The subtropical area hosts Japanese climbing and maidenhair ferns, while the Mediterranean sports sundews, Venus flytraps, and bladderworts. Finally, the arid zone blooms with sisal, cacti, and aloe vera. The gardens are open every day of the year except Christmas Day.
Botanic Gardens
College Park, Botanic Avenue
Belfast, United Kingdom
One of Belfast's loveliest outdoor spaces, the Botanic Gardens also feature several unique buildings that play an important role in the preservation of Belfast's Victorian heritage. The greenhouse was one of the first such structures ever built and exhibits a graceful steel and curved glass design. Various plants and trees can be found within several gardens here, including a rose garden, a bowling green, and an alpine garden. The Gardens are located just east of the Queen's University campus, making for a great stop on a walking tour of the area.
Cannon Hill Park
Russell Road
Moseley, Birmingham, United Kingdom
Cannon Hill Park is a fantastic place to start a new adventure. There’s so much to do, from outdoor sports, games and rides, to shows and exhibitions, crafts, wildlife, and more. The park itself includes 32 hectares (80 acres) of formal parks, as well as 48 hectares (120 acres) of conservation and woodland. It’s a brilliant place to enjoy a walk, run or cycle, or just to sit and relax. There are two play areas, one by the MAC and the other by the Pershore Road car park, and they’re fully equipped with slides, swings, and all you’d expect from a children’s outdoor play area.
– Information provided by Cannon Hill Park
Castlefield Urban Heritage Park
Duke Street
Manchester, United Kingdom
Castlefield Urban Heritage Park offers 2.8 hectares (7 acres) to explore, including the ruins of an old Roman fort. Walk along canals and refurbished warehouses or bring a picnic, balls, and games to the landscaped open spaces. The city’s Museum of Science and Industry is located on the grounds as well and there are many restaurants for taking a break and grabbing a bite.
Chessington World of Adventures Resort
Off of Leatherhead Road/A243
Chessington, Surrey, United Kingdom
This family theme park and zoo has diverse attractions ranging from the Dragon's Fury roller coaster to family rides like the Bubbleworks. Many of the park's animals can be seen from the rides. The walk-through on the west side of the park takes visitors close to enclosures that house the big beasts, like gorillas, tigers, and lions, while the enclosures on the east side include otters, capybaras, monkeys, and birds. Bash Street and Dennis's Madhouse, wherein young visitors shoot each other with soft foam balls, are popular attractions. Other popular attractions include the Land of the Dragons, Mexicana, and the Forbidden Kingdom.
Chester Zoo
Caughall Road
Upton-by-Chester, Manchester, United Kingdom
An hour's drive along the M56 motorway towards Chester is Britain's largest zoo, covering a staggering 44.5 hectares (110 acres). There are hundreds of species on show as well as dozens of interactive exhibits, including the Children's Farm, Tropical House, Penguin Pool, and Chimpanzee Island. Disabled access, restaurants, fast food stalls, and souvenir shops are all available on site. The friendly and helpful staff can answer your questions, and there are regular guided tours and demonstrations pertaining to the attractions.
Chorlton Water Park
Maitland Avenue
Chorlton, Manchester, United Kingdom
Chorlton Water Park is a nature reserve comprising a lake surrounded by grasslands and woodlands. Parents can bring their children to a small playground, relax on picnic benches, and explore a network of accessible paths. Fishing is allowed with the purchase of a day or season ticket, though swimming is not allowed in the lake.
– Information provided by Manchester City Council
Codona's Amusement Park
Beach Boulevard
Aberdeen, United Kingdom
With a variety of rides including the Disco Waltzer, Log Flume, and dodgems, plus a range of indoor golf and nine-ball pool options, Codona's Amusement Park spices up this part of Aberdeen. Billed rather grandly as "Scotland's greatest indoor and outdoor family entertainment complex," it is open most weekends between March and October, although its main season comes in July and August, when it is open every day. The Codona family was originally an Italian circus family who toured Scotland in the 19th century (one branch of the family headed west to America, eventually finding a measure of fame in Mexico as the "Flying Codonas"). Changing with the times, the family opened cinemas before switching to run steam-driven fairground rides such as the Wall of Death and the Jungle Ride. Operating in its current location since 1969, the business is now managed by the third generation of Codonas.
Doonies Rare Breeds Farm
Coast Road
Aberdeen, United Kingdom
The aim at Doonies Rare Breeds Farm is to provide people of all ages with a fun and informative visit and educate visitors about farming. Doonies Rare Breeds Farm covers 54 hectares (134 acres) on the southern side of Aberdeen from Nigg Bay to Cove. Doonies Rare Breeds Farm is a member of the Rare Breeds Survival Trust (RBST) and is one of only two farms in Scotland to be awarded “ Approved Conservation Farm Park Status.” The farm helps preserve rare and endangered native farm animals and works closely with the RBST to increase the population of these endangered animals. Visitors will see and learn about rare breeds of sheep, goats, ponies, pigs, and cows.
– Information provided by Doonies Rare Breeds Farm
Drayton Manor Theme Park
Off of Drayton Manor Drive
Tamworth, Staffordshire, United Kingdom
This family theme park, which offers both mild and extreme rides, is the fourth most popular theme park in Britain and has received many tourist awards. The park is home to Shockwave (Europe's only stand-up roller coaster) and offers several other thrilling rides, including Storm Force 10, Apocalypse (a free-fall�tower), Pirate Adventure (based on Disney's "Pirates of the Caribbean"), Pandemonium (an inverted swing ride), and Maelstrom (a gyro swing ride on a circular gondola). The Haunting, a walk-through attraction with a haunted swing, and Excalibur, a boat ride with medieval setting, are also among the park�s attractions.
Duthie Park
Polmuir Road
Aberdeen, United Kingdom
If the weather turns, one city sanctuary is Duthie Park, 1.6 kilometers (one mile) south of the center. Though the 17.8 hectares (44 acres) of parkland nestled within a bend of the river Dee are open to the elements, there's a substantial glasshouse containing the winter garden (named after park director David Welch), which is both full of interesting horticulture and welcomingly warm. The park's name derives from Lady Elizabeth Duthie, who gave the estate to the city in the 1880s. Contemporary gardening fans will be magnetized by the bromeliads, cacti, and the Japanese garden. But even if you're not green-fingered, there's plenty to do here for all ages, from the strenuous (trampolining) to the cultural (concerts in the summer), from the sporting (cricket) to an activity as tranquil and mundane as feeding the ducks.
Edinburgh Zoo
134 Corstorphine Road
Edinburgh, United Kingdom
In 1914, a year after Edinburgh Zoo opened, a Norwegian whaling expedition docked in nearby Leith, bringing with it three King Penguins from the Antarctic. As a result, the zoo became the first in the world to feature the iconic black and white birds. In 1950, several birds slipped out of their enclosure, but the escapade was so popular with visitors that a daily penguin parade immediately became part of the program. The zoo has a strong scientific and conservation department, with a good reputation for research into animal behavior and breeding endangered animals. Always a hit with families, the zoo attracts over 600,000 visitors every year, making it the second most popular paid attraction in Scotland. Other featured species include Asiatic lions, jaguars, pygmy hippos, red river hogs, Azara's agoutis, laughing kookaburras, long-nosed potoroos, and Visyan warty pigs.
Flamingo Land
Kirby Misperton Road
Malton, North Yorkshire, United Kingdom
Flamingo Land incorporates a theme park, zoo, and holiday resort, all in one location. Set in an area of 152 hectares (375 acres), the park offers more than a hundred exciting rides, slides, and animal shows, of which the sea lion performance is a particular favorite. The zoo shelters over 1,000 varieties of exotic animals, including bottlenose dolphins, okapis, mangabeys (species of monkey), and sperm whales housed in expansive enclosures. The African animals can be viewed through a ride across savanna-style grasslands. The park has a large holiday village with stationary caravans, log cabins, leisure facilities, a nine-hole golf course, and much more.
Fletcher Moss Botanical Gardens
Millgate Lane
Manchester, United Kingdom
Surely the most biodiverse spot in Manchester, these gardens feature a fascinating plethora of trees and shrubs including Chinese dogwood, mulberry, Chusan palms, swamp cypress, and dawn redwood. More easily cultivated species such as abutilon grow in the special microclimate of the rockery, which is fed by a pleasant stream. Fish and terrapins can be seen frolicking in the clay pond fringed by cabbages, irises, and royal ferns. The Old Parsonage is the main building of interest in the gardens, and while not open to the public, it is nonetheless an attractive sight amid the walnut trees and tulips. What was once a bowling green is now a pergola garden lined with climber plants growing on wooden arches.
Glasgow Botanic Gardens
730 Great Western Road
Glasgow, United Kingdom
Orchids, cacti, and begonias are among the species well represented in this urban garden, founded in 1811. Green-thumbed visitors and gardeners won't want to miss a handful of venerable specimens, including Australian tree ferns from the 19th century and the botanic garden's famous Weeping Ash-200 years old and only getting older. The park's undisputed highlight, however, is the Kibble Palace, a cathedral of cast iron and glass gifted to Glasgow by the bizarre, brilliant John Kibble. A 19th-century polymath, Kibble was the scion of a wealthy warehouse owner who made his fortune selling wire. Son John became an engineer, photographer, and inventor (among his creations was a floating bicycle which, legend has it, he pedaled across Loch Long). He designed this observatory for his loch-side home, before bequeathing it to the city in 1871.
Glasgow Green
Greendyke Street
Glasgow, United Kingdom
As the oldest park in the city, this ancient meadow has seen it all, from domestic duties to royal rebellion. In the 15th century, it was simply a collection of fields, used for farm pasture as well as a communal laundry site. During the Jacobite Rebellion of 1745, Bonnie Prince Charlie (eponymous hero of the nursery rhyme "My Bonnie lies over the ocean") camped here with his army. Charlie's lead has been followed by protestors and dissenters ever since, from the Chartists of the 19th century to the Suffragettes of the early 20th century and the anti-war campaigners who marched against the militarists' drums during World War I. More recently, the biggest pyrotechnics heard on the Green have been for rock concerts, with acts including Michael Jackson, the Stone Roses, and Metallica. In decent weather the Green is a great place for soccer, cycling, picnicking, or just a quiet wander.
Hazlehead Park
Hazlehead Avenue
Aberdeen, United Kingdom
Hazlehead Park is one Aberdeen’s oldest historic properties. It was originally part of the great hunting forests of Stocket just outside the city and now covers 180 hectares (444 acres). Hazlehead Park encompasses both city and countryside with its formal garden layouts, woodland walks, nature trails and bridleways. This park truly has something for all the family including two golf courses, a maze, a large children’s playground, and a miniature zoo. Among the garden areas are two formal rose gardens, the Queen Mother’s Rose Garden and the North Sea Memorial Rose Garden. The Park Cafe offers a range of food and refreshments as well.
– Information provided by Aberdeen City Council
Heaton Park
Middleton Road
Manchester, United Kingdom
Heaton Park covers 242 hectares (600 acres) and has two specifically-designed play areas for children. One is close to the Hall and Farm Centre in the north of the park, and the other one is Lakeside Adventure by the boating lake. The park includes an 18-hole golf course, fields to play soccer or football, bowling greens, walking and running trails, and an orienteering course. Treetop Trek and Treetop Net is located in the park as well, offering the option to climb nets located high up in the trees and zoom along 14 ziplines.
– Information provided by Manchester City Council
Horniman Museum and Gardens
100 London Road, Forest Hill
London SE23 3PQ, United Kingdom
There is a lot to see at Horniman Museum and Gardens, with something of interest for every age. The museum has around 350,000 objects in collections focused on natural history, anthropology, and musical instruments. Its living collection is featured within an aquarium, butterfly house, animal walk, and gardens. Some of the creatures on display include alpacas, goats, sheep, chickens, rabbits, guinea pigs, jellyfish, frogs, and fish. In addition, hundreds of butterflies and moths fly freely within a tropical indoor garden. A café and kiosks offer refreshments.
Hyde Park
Off of Park Lane, between Bayswater and Kensington Roads
London, United Kingdom
Although it began life as Henry VIII's royal hunting park, seized from the monks of Westminster Abbey, Hyde Park's history is a democratic one. During the Great Plague of 1665, Londoners camped out here to try and escape the disease. In 1814, thousands gathered to celebrate victory over Napoleon, while the 19th century saw protesters parading through the park. Speakers' Corner, near Marble Arch, remains a contemporary legacy of those early political firebrands. Anyone can stand and speak their mind, soapbox or not. Spread out throughout the 350 acres and 4,000 trees are numerous cultural highlights, including the Serpentine Gallery, the Princess of Wales Memorial, the ride of the Horse Guards, the Holocaust Memorial, and the statue of Peter Pan, placed on the site where author J.M. Barrie first met the small boy who inspired him to create the ever-young hero.
Innoflate Aberdeen
1A Beach Esplanade
Aberdeen, United Kingdom
Innoflate is Scotland's first inflatable theme park based in Aberdeen. Family leisure activities have never been so thrilling. Innoflate has taken the best in inflatable activities and joined them together so you can bounce between everything. Areas include Inno-wall, Inno-bubbles, Inno-race, Inno-hoops, Inno-bash, and Inno-drop, among others. As part of the classes and sessions, find fitness classes, adult only sessions, disco sessions, Nerf War sessions, relaxed sessions for people who require additional support and inno-tots (just for the little ones). The Inno-cafe sells a variety of food and drinks, and birthdays and groups can be accommodated.
– Information provided by Innoflate Aberdeen
Kelvingrove Park
6 Professors' Square
Glasgow, United Kingdom
Kelvingrove Park is a 34 hectare (85 acre) site and a classic example of a Victorian park. Its design and setting on the banks of the River Kelvin enhance and complement the many magnificent buildings which surround the world renowned Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum prominently featured within it. Kelvingrove Park includes a skatepark, three children’s playgrounds, four tennis courts, bowling greens, an orienteering course, and a bandstand for seasonal events and concerts. There are also three cafes and public restrooms.
– Information provided by Glasgow City Council
Kew Royal Botanic Gardens
Brentwood Gate
Richmond, London, United Kingdom
The gardens are a renowned botanical research and educational institution. Besides being an important center for the study of plant diversity and economic botany, the garden traces the evolution of the art of gardening from the 18th to 20th centuries and trains professional gardeners. The garden houses conservatories, a herbarium, library, and a seed bank. To offset the prevailing adverse conditions (high levels of pollution, dry soils, and low rainfall), Kew has established two out-stations, one at Sussex, and the other at Kent. The library and archives, known to be one of the largest botanical collections in the world, hosts over half a million items, including books, illustrations, photographs, maps, manuscripts, and periodicals.
Lake District National Park
Off of A591
South of Keswick, Cumbria County, United Kingdom
This park encompasses one of England's few mountainous regions and includes lakes, fells, beaches, villages, and towns. Established in 1951 to protect the picture-perfect scenery of the mountains and lake, the park is spread over 2,292 square kilometers (885 square miles) and includes verdant valleys, hidden tarns, and splendid waterfalls. In the fall, the red oak forests offer a dramatic contrast to the brown bracken of the slopes and the beginnings of milky-white frost on the mountain peaks. The park is definitely a trekker's delight. The beauty of the Lake District has inspired many artists and writers, such as William Wordsworth and his sister Dorothy, Samuel Taylor Coleridge, and John Ruskin, to name a few.
Lancaster Park and Animal Farm
Middleton Road West
Oldham, United Kingdom
Lancaster Park and Animal Farm is a family run childrens’ petting farm. Visitors are invited to meet, touch, and feed the animals. The farm has a range of animals from horses and sheep to rabbits, chickens, and many more. There are two play areas with swings, slides, and ziplines dotted along a scenic Nature Walk. Ride on the Caterpillar barrel ride, drive our mini quads on the Rooster Rally, dig up the sand pit at Digger Island or maybe you can take on the pirates at our Pirate Shoot-out! Please feel free to bring your own picnic to eat at the picnic benches. Find Lancaster Park and Animal Farm in Oldham, about 40 minutes northeast of Manchester.
– Information provided by Lancaster Park and Animal Farm
Lickey Hills Country Park
Warren Lane
Rednal, Birmingham, United Kingdom
Lickey Hills Country Park is one of Birmingham’s most varied and treasured parks. It covers 212 hectares (524 acres) and is located just 16 kilometers (10 miles) southwest of Birmingham. Lickey Hills has a complex and interesting geology which has created a variety of habitats. These include woodlands, heathland and grassland, which are home to an incredible diversity of wildlife. Beacon Hill is the highest point, rising to a height of 297 meters (975 feet). “The Beacon” is one of the most popular landmarks on the Hills, with panoramic views over Birmingham and the Black Country and to the south west over Worcestershire towards the Malvern Hills and beyond.
– Information provided by Birmingham City Council and Lickey Hills Country Park Facebook Page
LOVE Gorgie Farm
51 Gorgie Road
Edinburgh, United Kingdom
LOVE Gorgie Farm showcases farming methods from Scotland and beyond. Get hands-on, practical knowledge of how to keep farm animals happy and how to care for them properly. Come and meet all the adorable animals, from domestic pets to fluffy alpacas. See pygmy goats, turkeys, ferrets, pigs, sheep, a variety of guinea pigs, and many more. A cafe sells a variety of treats and includes an outdoor play area for kids.
– Information provided by LOVE Gorgie Farm
Marwell Wildlife
Thompson's Lane,
Colden Common, Winchester District, Hampshire, United Kingdom
Opened in 1972, this 40-hectare (100 acres) zoo was one of the earliest in Europe to adopt the policy of conservation, with particular emphasis on ungulates (hoofed animals). The heavyweights of the zoo include giraffes and Amur Tigers, the largest tiger species in the world. The zoo's logo is the oryx, and more than 200 calves have been bred here since 1972. Many of them have been introduced to their natural habitat. Other attractions include snow leopards, white rhinoceroses, red pandas, and hippopotamuses. The Aridlands area includes species of rare desert antelope and sand cats, while the Encounter Village houses domesticated species ranging from camels to guinea pigs.
National Sea Life Centre
3 Brindleyplace
Birmingham, United Kingdom
Designed by Sir Norman Foster, this aquarium opened for business in 1996. The stars of its million-liter tank include some recently acquired hammerhead sharks and two giant green turtles named Gulliver and Molokai. The space encompasses 60 other displays, including a section on otters, the bay of rays, kingdom of the seahorse, and shark lagoon. Black-tipped sharks, giant Pacific octopi, horseshoe crabs, and lobsters fill out the roster. In 2009, the aquarium introduced a "4-D" family-friendly cinema: while playing 3-D films on subjects such as the life of a turtle, the cinema can also expose audiences to wind or tangy sea spray. As well as being a commercial attraction, the center has developed a program to breed seahorses.
Parc Bougainville
Boulevard Pomare
Papeete, United Kingdom
Though originally named after Belgian king Albert, this pleasant park was renamed after Louis Antoine de Bougainville, the first Frenchman to sail round the world. Soldier, sailor, explorer, circumnavigator, lawyer, mathematician, and senator, Bougainville was an extraordinary figure in 18th-century France, contributing greatly to his country's long war against Britain, but also playing a substantial role in ethnographic and scientific progress. Look out for the bust of the great man, which dates from 1909. Keep your eyes open also for two naval cannons. They're not relics of Bougainville's naval escapades, but ordnance surviving from World War I. One is from the Zélée, a French gunboat sunk by German heavy cruisers. The German flotilla had intended to resupply with coal at Papeete, but the French commander, Lieutenant Destreme au, destroyed the fuel source, an action for which his vessel was sunk by shelling.
Peak District National Park
Off of B6465/Ashford Lane
Southeast of Manchester
Derbyshire, United Kingdom
This park is one of the earliest national parks in the British Isles, designated in 1951. An area of remarkable biodiversity, it encompasses the moorland and grit stone geology of the northern Dark Peak and the limestone-based southern White Peak. The park offers a host of outdoor activities, including hiking or hill walking trails stretching for over 3,000 kilometers (1,865 miles). Mountain bikers and horse riders make extensive use of bridle paths, like the Tissington Trail, converted from former railway lines. The park's reservoirs afford sailing, fishing, and canoeing, and the grit stone formations offer fine rock-climbing experiences. Hang gliding, paragliding, birdwatching, and cave explorations are also popular.
Piccadilly Gardens
M1 1AF
Manchester, United Kingdom
Piccadilly Gardens is the green and pleasant outdoor centerpiece of Manchester. Built on the site of the old Manchester Royal Infirmary 250 years ago, the gardens are today sandwiched by the busy shopping area of Market Street and the modish Northern Quarter. There's a whole range of things to do here, from picnicking to admiring the listed buildings and Piccadilly Plaza to watching one of the many concerts or festivals that take place in the summer. Some of the best bars and restaurants in the city are located hereabouts.
Platt Fields Park
M14 6
Manchester, United Kingdom
Platt Fields Park was established at the height of Manchester's pollutive industrial development. It was well cared for, attended to by 50 gardeners, until the late 20th century, when it fell into neglect. Thankfully, it gained the investment to rejuvenate and is today a beautiful expanse of wooded glades, rose gardens, orchards, and tall hills from which people fly kites. You can row a boat on the lake, bird-watch, or conquer the labyrinth that could be straight out of a Victorian children's story. Platts Field Park is also a great place to meet a rich diversity of people-a recent survey found that over 40 languages are spoken there. The small "eco-garden" occasionally offers educational talks and tours, which are free to the public.
Pollok Country Park
2060 Pollokshaws Road
Bellahouston, Glasgow, United Kingdom
The park is Glasgow's largest park and the only Country Park within Glasgow. Its 146 hectares (360 acres) include extensive woodlands, and gardens provide a quiet sanctuary for both visitors and wildlife including Highland cattle. The park is rich in rural history, formerly being part of the Old Pollok Estate and ancestral home to the Maxwell Family. The park is also home to the world famous Burrell Collection. The park offers walled gardens, a play park, wildlife garden, an orienteering course, picnic areas, and more. Pollok Country Park is in Bellahouston, a southern suburb of Glasgow.
– Information provided by Glasgow City Council
Princes Street Gardens
54 Princes Street
Edinburgh, United Kingdom
Princes Street Gardens lies at center of Edinburgh's World Heritage Site, within New Town and Old Town Outstanding Conservation Areas. It is listed in the Inventory of Gardens and Designed Landscape in Scotland and has geological and botanical scientific interest. The gardens are set in the valley between the old and new towns with Edinburgh Castle on its rock towering above the western end. The world renowned Floral clock was first planted in 1903, using thousands of dwarf plants and flowers. There are a diverse and fascinating collection of public monuments and memorials, commemorating those who have died fighting in wars, including the Royal Scots Regimental Memorial and the Scots American War Memorial. Princes Street Gardens, between the Old and New Towns, is in the very centre of Edinburgh's World Heritage Site.
– Information provided by The City of Edinburgh Council
Reddish Vale Farm
Country Park, Reddish Vale Road
Stockport, Greater Manchester, United Kingdom
Originally established as a livery and riding school, Reddish Vale Farm has evolved into one of the finest family attractions in the Manchester area. Here you'll find numerous species of animal native to Britain (ducks, rabbits, chickens, cows, guinea fowl, and horses), not to mention foreign species such as llamas. Demonstrations and talks about the wildlife take place in the Education Center inside the farm. Qualified instructors teach visitors how to ride horses and run stable-management courses throughout the year. Younger visitors who aren't so enamored of the animals can enjoy the bouncy castle and the souvenir shop that sells Reddish Vale-themed toys, clothing, and candy.
Royal Botanic Garden
20 Inverleith Row
Edinburgh, United Kingdom
Founded in 1670 to investigate plants with medical uses, this botanical garden north of the city's New Town neighborhood has grown over the years. Spread over 29 hectares (69 acres), it now holds more than 15,000 plant species as well as three million preserved specimens. Committed to conservation and biodiversity, The gardens have a particular emphasis on Scottish species, for example in the Heath Garden section, which recreates the heather-lined Highlands. Other highlights include the Chinese Hillside (created in collaboration with Lijiang Garden), the oak lawn of the Arboretum, the mossy Cryptogamic Garden, and the Queen Mother's Memorial Garden (opened in 2006), featuring a maze of myrtle in the shape of the Eassie Cross of Glamis.
Sea Life London
Westminster Bridge Road
London SE1 7PB, United Kingdom
The city’s only public aquarium, Sea Life London is located along the southern bank of the River Thames, just north of Westminster Bridge. It is home to more than 500 species of marine life in 14 themed zones such as Rockpool, Polar Adventures, Ocean Invaders, and Coral Kingdom. Animals on display include penguins, jellyfish, sea stars and anemones, sharks, turtles, octopus, stingrays, frogs, clownfish, and seahorses, among others. Check the aquarium’s website for hours and feeding times.
Sea Life Manchester
Barton Square, Trafford Centre
Manchester, United Kingdom
Prepare for a world of glittering scales, humongous tentacles, and inquisitive sea turtles. Sea Life Manchester offers encounters some of the world's most incredible animals, including magnificent sharks, colorful clownfish, thousands of tropical fish and much, much more. Zones include Turtle Beach, Rocky Hideout, Jellyfish Seas, Shark Shipwreck, Coral Reefs, Stingray Bay, and Ocean Tunnel. Meet marine creatures up close including giant Japanese spider crabs. The museum hosts seasonal special events and VIP Experiences including snorkeling with sharks and turtle feedings.
– Information provided by Sea Life Manchester
Seaton Park
Don Street
Old Aberdeen, Aberdeen, United Kingdom
Seaton Park is located on the banks of the River Don and covers 27 hectares (66 acres), making it one of Aberdeen’s largest parks. It is surrounded by historical architecture and agriculture. Included is the Wallace Tower, with a motte (an artificial mound with a fortified tower called a keep built on top) and a mound that dates back to the Bronze Age. Near the park’s south gates are the fortified towers of St Machar’s Cathedral, which forms the backdrop to the Cathedral Walk, a formal arrangement of spring and summer flower beds. Seaton Park is also home to Mr Therm, a former steam engine which was used to transport coal from Aberdeen Harbor and is now a play sculpture popular with children. Paths for running or walking are found on both sides of the river.
– Information provided by Aberdeen City Council
Shrek’s Adventure London
The Queen’s Walk
London SE1 7PB, United Kingdom
Situated along a popular stretch of the River Thames’s south bank, Shrek’s Adventure London is a theme park based on the popular DreamWorks animated Shrek films. Visitors search for clues throughout the park that will lead them to Shrek. Along the way they will go on a 4D adventure with Donkey, visit Shrek’s swamp, talk to Puss in Boots, journey through a maze of mirrors, play a game to save Pinocchio, and create a magic spell with the Muffin Man. There also are interactive fairy tale shows available. A gift shop sells souvenirs. Find the venue just north of Westminster Bridge.
Victoria Baths
Hathersage Road
Manchester M13 0FE, England, United Kingdom
First opened in 1906, Victoria Baths was a public bathhouse that was closed by the city in 1993 after falling into disrepair. Then after 14 years, the structure was nominated for a BBC reality show called Restoration and won a 3-million-pound grant. Since being renovated, Victoria Baths has reopened as a venue that not only offers swimming, but also hosts community events such as concerts.
West Midland Safari Park
Spring Grove
Bewdley, United Kingdom
Are you ready to go on safari and get up close to incredible animals from around the world? West Midland Safari Park offers a safe, entertaining, and memorable day out for all, with fantastic wildlife, exhibits, and Adventure Theme Park. The drive-through safari wanders through African Plains, Wild Asia, Carnivores, The Borderlands, and Elephants. Ride family-friendly rides for a range of ages and play arcade games in Adventure Theme Park or get a 4D experience on the virtual reality jungle boat ride. See the UK’s largest animatronic dinosaur attraction and act as a paleontologist at Dino Dig. Visit the Ice Age area and an African village, or wander the Discovery Trail and see the red panda retreat, penguin cove, sea lion theatre, aquarium, reptile world, lorikeet landing, and more. Boj’s Giggly Park is just for the smallest visitors and includes multi-sensory play areas with five interactive zones. Find West Midland Safari Park about 45 minutes southwest of Birmingham in Bewdley.
– Information provided by West Midland Safari Park
ZSL London Zoo
Regent's Park, Outer Circle
London, United Kingdom
Established in 1828 under the aegis of the Zoological Society of London, this zoo was initially meant to be a center for scientific study. Currently, the zoo houses more than 650 species of animals and includes a reptile house, aquarium, insect house, and children's zoo. Among the many new enclosures and better settings are the African Bird Safari, monkey walk-throughs, Butterfly Paradise, Gorilla Kingdom, and the Clore Rainforest Lookout. A.A. Milne, creator of Winnie the Pooh, supposedly drew inspiration from Winnie, an American black bear and resident of the zoo.
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