Roundhay Park and Tropical World Leeds

Roundhay Park and Tropical World, Leeds, West Yorkshire UK

The Virtual Tour of Roundhay Park and Tropical World

Our virtual tour of Roundhay Park shows and records all areas of the park since the 20th century. Extensive improvements which started in the late 1990's stopped the decline of the park infrastructure and facilities just in time, and Leeds can now be proud of this great asset to the City.

MARYS TREE
MARY'S TREE AT ROUNDHAY PARK

Elephant in the room??

The 'White Elephant' of John Barran has now become the envy of other cities around the world and is now enjoyed by over a million visitors to Tropical World every year. Take a tour of the park in 360 degrees by choosing a location to start your tour from your choice of location on our tour map, or take the guided tour through Tropical World...

 

 

Roundhay Park Leeds - The Royal Horticultural Society's 'Best Public Park' award winning green space.

Events in Roundhay Park
Cricket? Geology? Canoeing? Magical Chinese Lanterns? Triathlon? Dragon Boat Races? Farmers' Market? Food Festival? Fun Fair? Fitness? Soccer, Running? Walking? Rowing? Cycle Racing? Childrens Rides? Brass Bands? Red Bull FlugTag? Annual Bonfire and Firework Display, What's on in Roundhay Park? More details.....

Bird Flu in Roundhay Park 2022.
September 2022: There is a case of suspected bird flu 'Avian Influenza' in Roundhay Park.
One of the cygnets in the Upper Lake has died. This has been followed by more dead birds at the park, DEFRA have collected these for analysis. NEVER touch dead birds or animals. DEFRA are aware.


The Garden Room at the Mansion, Roundhay Park Leeds
Dine at the Mansion: take a look inside the Garden Room at the Mansion.

Rounhay Park Tennis Courts

Tennis Courts looking great following recent refurbishment works.

Old map of Roundhay Park

See the park as it used to be - on this old map from 1908!


Past events: Take a look around the stalls at the Clock Rock event.
Clock Rock opening by the Lord Mayor of Leeds at Oakwood Clock. Oakwood Clock christmas lights switch-on.

Tropical World Flowers
Tropical flowers bloom in the heat of Tropical World..



 

Chelsea Gold Medal award winning Leeds garden in Roundhay Park.

The garden which won a historic first-ever gold medal for the city of Leeds at the Chelsea Flower Show is now permanently installed in the park. You can take a 360 degree virtual tour of the award winning speciality gardens here...

Listed Buildings for sale in Roundhay Park

FOR SALE: Carriage House, Roundhay Park.

The History of Roundhay Park.

The DeLacy family of Pontefract Castle owned the area known as Roundhay in the thirteenth century, when it was a hunting park of around three square miles.

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

A Public Park

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

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The White Elephant

The Lord Mayor of Leeds at that time, John Barran was made fun of in various publications for buying a 'White Elephant' - as at that time Roundhay was a long way from the city centre, and could only really be reached by one route - the old 'turnpike' road which dated from 1808.

The purchase of the park was regarded as a reckless waste of ratepayers money - critics even published a printed booklet: 'The Big White Elephant' in 1879.

Open Air Swimming Pool

In June 1907 the open air swimming pool 'lido' was built on the Wetherby Road side of the park below the Waterloo Lake, at a cost of just over £1,600, it was built mainly by unemployed citizens. In its heyday during the 1950's and 1960's about 100,000 people a year visited the 'swimming baths'. The baths finally closed in the 70's and is now partly grassed over, and part car park - although signs around the park still direct visitors to the 'Lido'.

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Alhambra Gardens, Roundhay Park LeedsAlhambra Garden

Park and Gardens

Roundhay Park now covers over 700 acres of parkland, lakes and woodland and is one of the largest urban parks in the world. The Park has a scented 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 in 2005 is the Friends Garden, located alongside Canal Gardens and the Rainbow Garden. In the 21st century, following extensive renovations to the park a new area of award winning 'Chelsea Gardens' has been created where gardens created for the Chelsea Show have been rebuilt for all to enjoy in the 'Speciality Gardens' area just off Mansion Lane.

Birds

In addition to the Gulls and Geese which visitors to the park enjoy feeding from the side of the lake you can also see Mute Swans, Whooper Swans, Herons, Great Crested Grebes, Common Warblers, and Woodpeckers amongst the birds which visit the park.

Roundhay Park small lake and fountain panoramaThe Small Lake and Fountain

Lakes and Events

The Upper (smaller) Lake is maintained as a wildlife area, the larger Waterloo Lake is used for fishing. The Park Arena is a natural amphitheatre which, in addition to being both a cricket pitch and a cycle tracks is used as a venue for many special events ranging from sports days to major pop concerts. For many years this was the location for the spectacular annual Roundhay Park bonfire and firework displays in November which are now held on the Soldiers Field.

Sports and Leisure Facilities

Facilities at the Park also include tennis courts, childrens play area, a small skateboard park, sports pitches, bowling greens, the sports arena, a golf course, and fishing. The Lakeside cafe overlooks Waterloo Lake, and the Mansion has re-opened with a 'Garden Room Restaurant' and rooms for events, business meetings and weddings (The Mansion is licensed for Civil ceremonies).

Getting to Roundhay Park, Leeds.

Details of bus routes and timetables to Roundhay Park
Buses to and from Leeds City Centre 2 & 12
Roundhay Park is situated approximately 3 miles North of Leeds City Centre off the A58 Wetherby Road at Oakwood. Alternatively, Roundhay Park is accessible from the A6120 Leeds Ring Road.
You can find the First Bus journey planner via THIS LINK

Access

Roundhay Park and Tropical World are accessible to wheelchair users. For details of free motability powered scooters and wheelchair provision at the park please click here.

Free map of Roundhay Park? - If you would like a high resolution version map to print out FOR YOUR OWN PERSONAL USE?** - please click here to download a pdf version of the Park Map.
(You will need the Adobe Acrobat software to view and print this map - the FREE Acrobat reader software is available from https://www.adobe.com/products/acrobat.html

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Roundhay, view of the week:

Trending:
Leeds Triathlon
Mary's Tree
Chinese Lanterns
OnRoundhay Festival at Roundhay Park Leeds.
Oakwood Leeds - development of the new Restaurant by Oakwood Clock.
Roundhay Park Bonfire
Oakwood Clock restoration video documentary.
People Power fixes the Clock Tower - Oakwood News.
Roundhay hosts Stage 3 of the Tour de Yorkshire.
Oakwood Clock, What's going on at Oakwood??
Fake Festival at Roundhay Park Leeds
Roundhay Tennis Courts
Roundhay Train
Oakwood Day 2014
Breeze on Tour - video
Dragon Boat Races
Winter in the Park
Trending on Twitter
Facebook comments
Tropical World Opening
Fireworks Display Video
Roundhay by the Sea!
Medieval Jousting
Breeze on Tour
Spring arrives at the park: 10,000 Daffodils!
Gigapixel panorama
Childrens Playgound
Tropical World Leeds

Butterfly World
Tropical World Prices
The Mansion
Roundhay Events
Buses to Roundhay Park
Roundhay Park Walks
Roundhay Park Map
Newsletter signup
Leeds Weather
Roundhay Park Quiz


Take a 360 degree tour of the Park:

Australasia House, Tropical World
Australasia House and Waterfall in Tropical World

Lakeside - Waterloo Lake
Panoramic view of the Lakeside Cafe and Waterloo Lake

Barrans Fountain
Barrans Fountain

Canal Gardens
Canal Gardens