Roundhay Park, Leeds. Roundhay Park and Tropical World Roundhay, Leeds, West Yorkshire.

NOTE: Information, exhibits, animals at Tropical World, Roundhay Park are subject to change, revision, updates, and amendments at any time. E & OE.

Roundhay Park Leeds

Roundhay Park is the toast of the Leeds after joining four other parks in the city in being awarded a prestigious Green Flag.

Roundhay Park, which has recently undergone an £8.2m Heritage Lottery improvement project, has been successful in reaching the national standard for excellence in its first year of entry.

The Green Flag Award scheme, managed by the Civic Trust, is the national standard for parks and green spaces. Winners vary from Victorian parks and town centre gardens to nature reserves, country parks and cemeteries. Sites must be judged to be welcoming, safe and well maintained with the strong involvement of the local community.

Roundhay Park Leeds - History of the Park.

Roundhay in the 13th century was a three square mile hunting park for the DeLacy family of Pontefract Castle.

NEW: Take a walk in the Park - guide map here.

The entire estate was purchased by the City of Leeds in 1872 and opened as a public park by His Royal Highness Prince Arthur on the 19th of September 1872.

At the time, the then Lord Mayor John Barran of Leeds was ridiculed for buying a 'White Elephant' - in that the park was too far out of the city for the majority of the population to enjoy, and in any event the park had just one access road - an old 'turnpike' road dating from 1808.

The park was seen as a reckless waste of Leeds ratepayers money - critics even published a booklet under the title: 'The Big White Elephant' in 1879.

In June 1907 an open air swimming pool 'lido' opened, at a cost of just over £1,600, it was built mainly by unemployed citizens. During the 1950's and 1960's about 100,000 people a year visited the 'swimming baths'.

The park comprises over 700 acres of parkland, lakes and woodland. The Park includes scented gardens for the blind, National Plant Collections, Canal Gardens, the Monet and Alhambra Gardens, plus Tropical World (also known as Butterfly Gardens and Butterfly World) which attracts visitors all year round. Newly opened for 2005 is the Friends Garden, located alongside Canal Gardens and the Rainbow Garden.

Woodpeckers, common warblers in spring and summer, mute swans, visiting whooper swans, great-crested grebes and herons can all be found at the park.

The Upper Lake is maintained as a wildlife area, and the larger Waterloo Lake is used for fishing. The Park Arena is a natural amphitheatre which provides the venue for many special events ranging from sports days to major pop concerts and the spectacular bonfire and firework displays on 5th November .

Facilities at the Park also include tennis courts, skateboard ramps, sports pitches, bowling greens, a sports arena, a golf course, and fishing. A lakeside cafe overlooks Waterloo Lake.

NEW!: The Roundhay Rambler, Roundhay Park Land Train.
The Roundhay Park Land Train runs daily throughout the summer months. Travelling around Roundhay Park, passing The Mansion, Lakeside Playground, Upper Lake, Waterloo Lake, Barrans Fountain and historical Victorian Shelters.