Named one of the best parks in the UK, Heaton Park is a green space north of Manchester that’s brimming with things to do – so much so, you might end up spending the whole day there. It may be best known for hosting Parklife Festival every year and more recently the Oasis homecoming gigs, but Heaton Park is one of the region’s most popular picnic destinations and is quite the summer hotspot thanks to its vast greenery. As Manchester’s biggest park, it boasts acres of green space to get lost in – so popular, an estimated 3.2m people visited the park over the past year – and with so much to do and see, we’ve created the ultimate guide on what to get up to and how to navigate Heaton Park.
The biggest park in Manchester
Boasting nine listed structures and sprawling across 600 acres, the Grade II-listed Heaton Park is not only the biggest park in Manchester, but also the biggest park in the Greater Manchester region and the largest municipal park in Europe. The Heaton Park estate was owned by two families, the Hollands and the Egertons, between the mid 17th and start of the 20th century.
The park remained in the Egerton family until 1902 when the fifth Earl of Wilton sold it to the Manchester Corporation for £230,000. Towards the end of the 20th century, the park landscape and four listed buildings were restored in partnership with the Heritage Lottery Fund.
Things to do at Heaton Park
Heaton Hall
Heaton Park is not only home to plenty of greenery but also Heaton Hall, a Grade I listed country house designed by architect James Wyatt in 1772 for Sir Thomas Egerton. The hall features a traditional Palladian design, an Orangery (currently closed to the public) and the ground floor rooms on the north east front have been converted to a space for exhibitions.
At the top of the park’s hill, where you’ll find Heaton Hall, is a great spot for uninterrupted views of the Manchester city centre skyline. The hall also opens to the public on selected times of the year for public tours.
Animal Centre
Despite its location being pretty close to Manchester city centre, you’ll actually find plenty of cute creatures at Heaton Park. The animal centre, which is open all year and free to visit, is a great day out for families, children and schools with lots of great things to see.
Here, little ones can meet a variety of animals including cows, alpacas, goats, sheep, rabbits, guinea pigs and poultry. Out in the park, you’ll also be able to spot some Highland cattle with their long horns and long rusty red coats in one of the fields.
Zip World
The fun never stops at this green space as you can swing through the trees of this north Manchester park at the stunning woodland adventure park, Zip World, within. Choose from the Full Trek or Mini Trek high ropes courses where you can hang for hours in the trees, tackling all kinds of obstacles and zips.
With the Full Trek, you can scale the heights of the treetops at 18m, balance, leap and dash along 20 obstacles and fly along 14 zip lines in the trees. There’s also Treetop Nets, a bouncy trampoline-style adventure in the trees where you can leap and explore.
Heaton Park Garden Centre
If you fancy creating your very own green oasis then you should take a wander around Heaton Park Garden Centre. Located in the Earl of Wilton’s old kitchen garden, you can buy a range of plants from the garden centre’s nurseries and get advice from staff.
You can also enjoy a hot or cold drink and slice of homemade cake at the garden centre’s Hidden Gem Cafe. Whilst enjoying some respite, be sure to look out for the garden centre’s unique grape vine which has been growing here for 800 years.
Park Run
Every Saturday, Heaton Park hosts Park Run, a 5km community run around the park where everyone of all abilities and ages can get involved in. You can sign-up here.
Golf course
Fancy a game of pitch and putt? Whether you’re a beginner or a professional, there’s a full 18-hole golf course to play on. Newbies, families and juniors can also give golfing a go on the club’s par-3 course.
Boating Lake
The 12-acre boating lake at Heaton Park was not part of the original estate, but was constructed between 1908 and 1912 on the site of the Earl of Wilton’s race course. Here, you can hire 4-seater electric cruiser boats, rowing boats and 4-seater swan or 2-seater pedal boats.
The rowing boats are available for hire daily from April to the end of September, from 10am until 4pm on weekdays and 10am until 6pm at weekends, with prices starting from £15.50. From October onwards boats will be available to hire on Saturday and Sunday only. You can book boat hire here.
Where to eat at Heaton Park
There are four cafés at the park:
- The Stables café and the Lakeside café serve coffee, milkshakes and smoothies, as well as breakfast, lunch and snacks. Both cafés are open every day, but opening hours vary, depending on the season and the park closing times.
- The Hidden Gem cafe at Heaton Park Garden Centre serves coffee and teas with cakes and pastries. Open 9.30am to 4.30pm every day.
- The cafe at Heaton Park Golf Centre is open 8am to 4pm every day and is open to non-golfers too. They serve breakfast baps, sandwiches, soup and burgers.
Or, you’re welcome to bring your own picnic to enjoy in the park – however, barbecues are not permitted and please take your litter home with you.
How to get to Heaton Park
Given its proximity to both Prestwich and the city centre, Manchester’s Heaton Park is pretty easy to get to whether it be walking, by car or via public transport.
Entrances to Heaton Park
All entrances to Heaton Park can be accessed by foot or bike and are located on St Margaret’s Road, Bury Old Road, Sheepfoot Lane and Middleton Road.
Public transport
Heaton Park and Bowker Vale Metrolink tram stops are within just a few minutes walking distance of the park. Heaton Park is also served by the x35, 59, 90, 135, 149, 156, 164 and 484 buses.
Car parking
For car park access use either Sheepfoot Lane, Smithy Lodge or St Margaret’s Road entrances. Disabled parking is available in all our car parks.
Postcodes for Sat Nav users, with approximate parking capacity in brackets:
- M25 0DL: Lake Car Park (263) with seasonal overflow (1500)
- M25 2SW: Golf Car Park (85)
- M25 2GT: Garden Centre Car Park (9) with overflow car park (50)
- M25 2GT: Hall Car Park (252)
- M25 2GT: St Margaret’s Road Car Park (126)
Pay and Display charges apply every day between 10am and 5pm. The maximum daily cost is £3.50.
Heaton Park opening times
Park
The park opens daily at 8am and all park gates are locked by dusk.
Animal Centre
The Animal Centre is open every day.
Easter – September: 10.30am to 6.30pm during school holidays, 10.30am to 4.30pm during term time.
September – March: 10.30am to 3.30pm during school holidays and term time.
General Office
The office is staffed from Monday to Friday, 9am to 4pm.
Garden Centre
The garden centre is open every day 10am to 5pm.
📍 Heaton Park, Middleton Road, Higher Blackley, M25 2SW.
