Thornes Park
Thornes Park
4
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
Monday
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
Tuesday
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
Wednesday
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
Thursday
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
Friday
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
Saturday
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
Sunday
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
About
Thornes Park is Wakefield's main open space, less than a mile from the city centre. The park has 60 hectares of open space to explore and enjoy. There is a mound in the centre of the park which was once the site of a castle and now provides spectacular views of Wakefield.
Suggested duration
1-2 hours
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Detailed Reviews: Reviews order informed by descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as cleanliness, atmosphere, general tips and location information.
Popular mentions
4.0
42 reviews
Excellent
16
Very good
18
Average
2
Poor
5
Terrible
1
Marveloussnessess
Wakefield, UK63 contributions
Jul 2022
Love this place.
One of the last open green spaces in wakefield to be able park for free, so a family of 1-6 or more can happily enjoy a few hours de stressing , a walk to see the ducks, swans and geese , rose garden , secret garden, skateboard park, playground and lovely field to play a game of football, catch or other sport. If areas like this continue then the health of the population will thrive, l hope it remains like this and free of threats of commercial takeovers.
One of the last open green spaces in wakefield to be able park for free, so a family of 1-6 or more can happily enjoy a few hours de stressing , a walk to see the ducks, swans and geese , rose garden , secret garden, skateboard park, playground and lovely field to play a game of football, catch or other sport. If areas like this continue then the health of the population will thrive, l hope it remains like this and free of threats of commercial takeovers.
Written July 28, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Guide55518243847
1 contribution
Dec 2021 • Family
What a beautiful park there’s a secret garden , a aviary with so many different species of birds And there’s a coffee bar also a restaurant for a snack or a meal . Lots of good walking paths . Worth a visit
Written December 19, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Wideparting
Leeds, UK192 contributions
Jan 2020 • Couples
A great park to go for a walk around. Visit the aviary or the pond. If you are a bit more energetic then you can go on the tennis courts or use the bowling green to a nominal fee.
There's a couple of free carparks around the site.
This park is great for dog walking. The old lodge by the park entrance is a great cafe. The food and service are first class and you can take your dogs in, intact you'll probably find more dogs than people in.
The best thing is your dog will be offered a sausage, cut up, in a dish with a serviette lol.
Well worth a visit.
There's a couple of free carparks around the site.
This park is great for dog walking. The old lodge by the park entrance is a great cafe. The food and service are first class and you can take your dogs in, intact you'll probably find more dogs than people in.
The best thing is your dog will be offered a sausage, cut up, in a dish with a serviette lol.
Well worth a visit.
Written January 8, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
shirl 94
2 contributions
Feb 2020
We enjoyed walking round the park, and the lake with so many geese and birds was a delight, also the aviary was really nice. The only downside was there were no public toilets. You can go to the cafe by the entrance, and can use the toilet there, if you purchase food. They only take cash, which is good to know before you visit
Written March 5, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Benzade
England, United Kingdom23 contributions
Jan 2020
Visited Thornes Park in Wakefield recently for a day out with my 14 month old son whilst my wife was on a work related course elsewhere in the city and we really enjoyed our visit. I was particularly wanting to visit 'The Secret Garden' which I had head so much about and is tucked away in a corner of the park not far from the Sports Arena.
The park overall is well maintained and there is a large car park which is free but I should imagine that it quickly gets full in the summer and school holidays. Unfortunately we didn't get to explore the park and what it has to offer fully due to a puncture (received elsewhere) on one of the wheels of my sons pram so we had to stick around the Sports Arena and Children's Play Area but we still had a good time and will return if we are ever in the area again.
The only negative and what has prevented me from rating this park as 'Excellent' is the public toilets are not signposted on the parks noticeboard and I had to ask two women with small children in pushchairs, whom I presumed were local if there was any baby changing facilities nearby.
Amazingly for a park that encourages people to visit with small children there aren't any and the only public toilets available are next to the Sports Arena which is located behind a large metal fence and gates.
Needless to say it wasn't nice trying to change my wriggling son in a disabled toilet in his pram and I'm sure it wouldn't cost Wakefield Council much to install a foldable baby changing table in the disabled toilet like you see in many others.
That said a most enjoyable day and as I've already said we would visit this park again given the opportunity.
The park overall is well maintained and there is a large car park which is free but I should imagine that it quickly gets full in the summer and school holidays. Unfortunately we didn't get to explore the park and what it has to offer fully due to a puncture (received elsewhere) on one of the wheels of my sons pram so we had to stick around the Sports Arena and Children's Play Area but we still had a good time and will return if we are ever in the area again.
The only negative and what has prevented me from rating this park as 'Excellent' is the public toilets are not signposted on the parks noticeboard and I had to ask two women with small children in pushchairs, whom I presumed were local if there was any baby changing facilities nearby.
Amazingly for a park that encourages people to visit with small children there aren't any and the only public toilets available are next to the Sports Arena which is located behind a large metal fence and gates.
Needless to say it wasn't nice trying to change my wriggling son in a disabled toilet in his pram and I'm sure it wouldn't cost Wakefield Council much to install a foldable baby changing table in the disabled toilet like you see in many others.
That said a most enjoyable day and as I've already said we would visit this park again given the opportunity.
Written January 30, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Dwight B
1 contribution
Feb 2023 • Friends
The park is offering free tennis lessons to players under 13 on WEEKENDS. Not sure how long they last or if over the half terms. And not just a turn up and try session. The coach is engaging, fun and really motivated the kids.
There's also an adult session afterwards... Just as good but it does cost.
There's also an adult session afterwards... Just as good but it does cost.
Written February 6, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Rhia T
Cheltenham, UK523 contributions
Aug 2019 • Friends
Massive park, clean and well kept. Gardens are beautiful and the lake. Pathways to walk around the whole park. Lots of joggers and kids enjoying themselves. Very busy but was summer holidays and kids out of school. Good atmosphere. Was lovely just listening to different accents.
Written January 17, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
AndyN5865
Wakefield, UK25 contributions
May 2018 • Family
WE have visited on many occasions to walk with family both around the main larger park and the smaller one with duck pond,aviary and cactus greenhouse.
there is free parking available on both sides of the park,the larger park is quite hilly whereas the smaller park is entirely flat and more suitable for pushchair/strollers the smaller park has a coffee shop- next to the tennis courts and pitch/put golf - equipment is available to hire.
As per previous reviews the park could do with a little bit of attention but if you can ignore the "Occasional crack "the the overall picture lends itself to a pleasant afternoon or morning.
there is free parking available on both sides of the park,the larger park is quite hilly whereas the smaller park is entirely flat and more suitable for pushchair/strollers the smaller park has a coffee shop- next to the tennis courts and pitch/put golf - equipment is available to hire.
As per previous reviews the park could do with a little bit of attention but if you can ignore the "Occasional crack "the the overall picture lends itself to a pleasant afternoon or morning.
Written August 28, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
uni101
Leeds, UK38 contributions
Jul 2018 • Couples
I took my grandchild to feed the ducks here and what a dump it is! The lake is so dirty and smelly, loads of rubbish in it (traffic cones, paving slabs old trees ect) at the end near the park there was a massive large rat eating a dead fish in the debris, I know they cannot help bird droppings all over the path but surely they could try to clean it a bit? The rose gardens are not half as nice as they used to be (I know we have had no rain as of late) but tatty and the flowers needed deheading the fountain was running but also was grubby. One good thing was the avery was very clean and tidy and a credit to the people who look after these birds. Will I be going to the park in the near future? NO not at all until the lake is cleaned up
Written July 19, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
sylvie076
Wakefield, UK134 contributions
May 2018 • Couples
Went to the May Day Gala on a lovely sunny day and thought it was nice to sit out. Its quite a nice park though seems to be split into two halves - one side with the bandstand, duck pond, tennis court ,gardens etc then way over the other side (with no signage so you know how to get there) is the skatepark, playground and stadium.
My bugbear though is that this seems to be the only park I've ever been to with no toilets! On asking I was told its the stadium (10 minutes walk away that is when you can find it- but 1 toilet was blocked, the other almost overflowing - disgusting, or go to the toilets at the nearby pub (sure they're happy about that -not!).
In the end had to leave early which was such a shame. I'm surprised that when the music festival is on portaloos are provided, but yet at the gala which I think has more people there are none. What a pity.
My bugbear though is that this seems to be the only park I've ever been to with no toilets! On asking I was told its the stadium (10 minutes walk away that is when you can find it- but 1 toilet was blocked, the other almost overflowing - disgusting, or go to the toilets at the nearby pub (sure they're happy about that -not!).
In the end had to leave early which was such a shame. I'm surprised that when the music festival is on portaloos are provided, but yet at the gala which I think has more people there are none. What a pity.
Written May 10, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Sue B
Mirfield, UK
Can you fish in the lake ? Only 8 years old ! Can nets be bought at the shop
thedavewmac
Wakefield, UK71 contributions
Not too sure. Sorry I'm unable to help.
iamleebarryrating
24 contributions
What's the parking situation like? Are the plenty of spaces and how much is it? Thanks
Benzade
England, United Kingdom23 contributions
I know that this is a late reply but for anyone else who wants to know about the parking situation at Thornes Park in Wakefield as of writing in January 2020 there is a large car park across from the Sports Arena which is accessed from Horbury Road (ignore sat navs that say Clarence Walk).
The car park is free and there are plenty of spaces but I should imagine that it fills up quickly in the summer months and/or school holidays.
Thornes Park (Wakefield) - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go
Frequently Asked Questions about Thornes Park
- Thornes Park is open:
- Sun - Sat 12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
- Hotels near Thornes Park:
- (0.38 mi) Holmfield Arms Hotel
- (0.80 mi) Holiday Inn Express Wakefield, an IHG Hotel
- (1.69 mi) Premier Inn Wakefield City North hotel
- (0.74 mi) York House Hotel
- (2.67 mi) The Mews Hotel
- Restaurants near Thornes Park:
- (0.25 mi) Mother Hubbard's
- (0.18 mi) Cross Lane Fisheries
- (0.36 mi) Bear Kitchen
- (0.39 mi) The Holmfield
- (0.69 mi) Dolce Vita Restaurant