List of all Parks

East Park has the highest concentration of trees, shrubs, rose beds, herbaceous plants, spring and summer bulbs, bedding, ferns, grasses and bamboos of the Central Parks. It has a wide range of Alpine plants in the 1930’s built rock garden. The Banana plants have been established in Central Parks for many years and are “put to bed” every autumn by wrapping them in straw and hessian to protect them from the winter weather until the next spring. The planting is typical of the Victorian’s love of plants brought in from all over the empire and beyond. This has been instrumental in the development of public parks across the country.

Visit Andrews (East) Park for more information.

A continuous avenue of mature trees has been maintained here since the 18th century and the central strip was originally common land landscaped in the 19th century.

There are two listed buildings on this area of park land, a drinking fountain dated 1865 and a commemorative monument presented to the town in 1909. Both add interest to the pleasant character of this central landscaped strip.

Asylum Green to the south of The Avenue Conservation Area features a variety of mature trees including oak, chestnut and lime. It takes its name form the asylum for military orphans (1816) which then became the site of the Ordnance Survey offices in 1841. Protection of the landscaped area is provided by tree preservation orders and as an important component of the conservation area provides a welcome contrast both to the built environment and the traffic circulation which comprises a gyratory system between the junctions of London Road and The Avenue; and Banister Road and Lodge Road.

Parks do not have post codes but a nearby one to help you locate the park is SO17 1XG.

Southampton's Central Parks are a green oasis in the heart of the city centre. You will find lots to do in the parks with a mini-golf course, a skate park, basketball court and cricket pitches. Events include family and children's activities, guided walks, arts in the park, Thai food and culture festival and regular music in the bandstand.

Visit Central Parks for more information.

Daisy Dip is a large open space between Swaythling and Bassett and links to Bassett Wood Greenway. At almost eight hectares the open space is divided by Lobelia Road, with Carnation Road running along its northern edge and Bluebell Road along its southern edge. The western section has a well equipped play area and about 1.3 hectares is close mown and ideal for play and picnics. Another 2.5 hectares is managed for wildlife, with a lush wetland meadow, fed by the stream which runs through the park, in the valley. There is also grassland, bramble banks and woodland margins.

Visit Daisy Dip for more information.

Parks do not have post codes but a nearby one to help you locate the park is SO16 3JQ.

Green Park is situated in the Millbrook area of Southampton.

Parks do not have post codes but a nearby one to help you locate the park is SO16 9NB.

Hoglands Park is the ‘village green’ of Central Parks with its cricket squares and informal ‘kick-about’ area in relaxed parkland. Areas around the parks boundaries are planted and managed with native plants to encourage wildlife.

Visit Hoglands Park for more information.

Houndwell Park lies to the south of Palmerston Park and is separated by it by Pound Tree Road. Houndwell Park is the central location for many events from community fairs to the Mela.

Visit Houndwell Park for more information.

This is a small park which straddles Lawn Road in Portswood. The northern half has a well equipped play area with some shrub planting and close mown grass. On the other side of Lawn Road, the southern half is more informal with some native shrub planting and seating with unhindered views of Thomas Lewis Way and the industrial estate beyond. This section is more suitable for dog exercise being enclosed from the roads and away from the children’s play area. Both sections are fully fenced.

Parks do not have post codes but a nearby one to help you locate the park is SO17 2EY.

Mayflower Park is one of the most used of our city parks and continues to be very popular with residents and visitors to the city alike. Being the only city centre waterside park with views across the tidal reaches of the River Test, with all its maritime traffic, makes it a very important resource to the city. The park is especially important to the residents of the inner city estates and numerous new residential developments in its catchment area as well as the guests of the adjacent hotels.

Visit Mayflower Park for more information.

Mayflower Park, Town Quay, Southampton, SO14 2AQ.

A small green open space with some native planting and a small rough grass area.

Parks do not have post codes but a nearby one to help you locate the park is SO14 0EB.

Palmerston Park is possibly the most seen of the central parks, being the only point where the parks actually meet the busy Above Bar Street. This provides the most obvious entrance into the parks for many people new to the city. This is a densely planted area, with the main planting theme being “Ericaceous” or acidic soil loving plants such as camellias, rhododendrons, azaleas, magnolias and “witch hazels”. It is much loved especially when it is in full bloom in the spring. We have added Hydrangeas and various summer flowering bulbs to extend the flowering season into the summer.

Visit Palmerston Park for more information.

This is a small park running along Platform Road.

Platform Park may be affected by 'Platform for Prosperity' a scheme which proposes to carry out highway improvements along Platform Road to alleviate traffic congestion. Find out more by visiting the Platform for Prosperity page.

Parks do not have post codes but a nearby one to help you locate the park is SO14 3FU.

Portswood rec is a multiple use park set in a high density residential area, accessed via Grosvenor Road, Brickfield Road or Kitchener Road.

Portswood rec has recently undergone some major changes and improvements are set to continue as funding is found.

It has a well equipped play area, a separate dog exercise area, a central open area for sport and events and is used particularly by the local school for sports. There is a recently landscaped community garden, planted with exotic and native shrubs and plants to attract moths and butterflies. This was funded with a grant successfully applied for by the Friends of Portswood Rec in partnership with the city council. There are also two all weather tennis courts which are free to use.

Among the improvements yet to be implemented is improved access from Brickfield Road, improved entrances at Kitchener and Grosvenor Roads, picnic benches and a barbeque facility. We also hope to fully enclose the dog exercise area and the play area with new fencing.

The Friends group and the local residents group NBSP organised an amazingly well attended end of summer festival, bringing together residents and businesses from the Portswood area.

More information is available in the management plan for Portswood Rec.

Parks do not have post codes but a nearby one to help you locate the park is SO17 3AD.

Located in the city centre, Queens Park is listed as one of Southampton’s many central parks. This small formal park is surrounded on all sides by mature London Plane trees. The land is owned by Queen’s College, Oxford and is leased to the city council. The park includes the General Gordon Memorial recording his main military campaigns, and Reece Ingram’s striking sculpture Organism No.1 created from the stem of a large London Plane tree that had died in the park in 1996.

Visit Queens Park for more information.

Queens Park, Queens Terrace, Ocean Village, Southampton, SO14 3BQ.

Little Mongers is a small formal park sited within the original garden of Archer’s Lodge. The open space was given to the citizens of Southampton on 22 January 1879, by Jane Willis, Margret and Rebecca Toomer to be kept as open space forever. It was used as an informal car park for many years but then reinstated in its present form in 1991.

Little Mongers Park is bordered with ornamental trees and shrubs. This well laid out park provides an ideal place to sit and contemplate the Georgian architecture of the street opposite.

Parks do not have post codes but a nearby one to help you locate the park is SO15 2EP.

Southampton Common is a much loved and well used green space and is one of the UK’s most important wildlife sites and internationally listed as a site of excellence. It is a site of special scientific interest and is home to Southampton's Old Cemetery as well as the Hawthorns Wildlife Centre.

The Hawthorns Cafe is open every day from 8.00 am until 6.00 pm including bank holidays.

Visit Southampton Common and The Hawthorns for more information.

The Hawthorns Wildlife Centre, The Common, SO15 7NN

Town Quay Park and Cuckoo Lane are two small parks in the heart of the Old Town.

Town Quay Park was redesigned in the early 1990’s and was awarded the Green Open Space Award by the Southampton Commons and Parks Protection Society. It is situated near the old city walls and other ancient monuments including the Wool House (Maritime Museum), Quilter’s Vault and Canute’s Palace. It also houses the Huguenots garden and memorial plaque recognising the areas “French Quarter” heritage.

The Friends of Town Quay are working hard to secure the future of the park. The park is also home for a very impressive mature Magnolia grandiflora, with its lemon scented cream blooms (up to 20 cms across) in the summer. A mature Mulberry tree grows in the Huguenots garden and if you’re lucky, you might find one of its delicious Loganberry-like fruits in late summer. The Friends Group hold occasional events in the park.

Cuckoo Lane is a small elevated park situated above the Mayflower memorial and affording splendid views of the River Test, the docks and Mayflower Park. Bamboos and grasses give this park a very lively feel as they dance and sway – especially on a windy day. It is a popular spot for wedding photographs due to its proximity to the registry office. Well worth a visit if you are “walking the walls”.

Visit the Friends of Town Quay Park website for more information.

Parks do not have post codes but a nearby one to help you locate the park is SO14 2AN.

West Park is also known as Watts Park after the monument of Isaac Watts which occupies a central position. Isaac Watts is one of Southampton’s most famous son’s. He was famous as an author, educator, philosopher and hymn writer. Born in 1674, he lived at 41 French Street and was educated at the nearby King Edward VI grammar school. Isaac Watts was one of the leading nonconformists in the town and is mainly remembered for his hymns which include ‘Our God, Our Help in Ages Past’ which is chimed on the Civic Centre clock at 8.00 am, noon and 4.00 pm.

Visit Watts (West) Park for more information.

Located on the eastern edge of Southampton approached from Weston Parade. Offering attractive views over Southampton Water.

Parks do not have post codes but a nearby one to help you locate the park is SO19 9DX.

An open grass area bordered by woodland that is ideal for informal walks. A play area is also available.

Parks do not have post codes but a nearby one to help you locate the park is SO19 9ER.

Bitterne Manor is a small local park with an area of woodland and grass, with access to one of the few remaining natural River Itchen foreshores in the city. Formally part of Bitterne Manor House and on the site of Clausentum the original Roman settlement. The park is a pleasant spot to sit and watch the river and large trees in some peace and quiet from the traffic of Bitterne Road West.

Visit Bitterne Manor for more information.

Parks do not have post codes but a nearby one to help you locate the park is SO18 1QW.

A small open space with a play area mainly laid down to grass and surrounded by trees.

Parks do not have post codes but a nearby one to help you locate the park is SO19 1BE.

Chessel Bay was designated as a local nature reserve in 1989. It is situated on the eastern bank of the River Itchen, south of Northam Bridge. A variety of plants and animals can be seen here: wading birds such as curlews and oystercatchers, several species of seaweed, common shore crabs, purple flowering sea aster and cow-wheat, a plant typical of old woodland.

Visit Chessel Bay Local Nature Reserve for more information (an external website)

Chessel Bay does not have a post code but a nearby one to help you locate it is SO18 1DP.

Formally part of the grounds of Deep Dene House the mixed ornamental trees remain mainly from the old grounds. A good spot for short woodland walks has a grassy open space with play area.

We are currently working with local residents groups to improve this area.

Visit Deep Dene for more information.

Parks do not have post codes but a nearby one to help you locate the park is SO18 4TQ.

An informal area of common land bordered by mature trees.

Parks do not have post codes but a nearby one to help you locate the park is SO19 8NS.

An important area of common land that is surrounded by trees with a small play area. Site of a buried Roman road marked by a plaque.

Parks do not have post codes but a nearby one to help you locate the park is SO19 2BG.

Frogs Copse is a seven hectare open space in Townhill, on the eastern side of the River Itchen. The whole park is primarily managed to encourage wildlife species, especially badgers, bats, bullfinch, song thrush, stag beetle and the purple hairstreak butterfly. It has close mown paths taking visitors through the otherwise un-mown grassland.

There are drifts of wild daffodils at the entrances from Northfield Road and Woodmill Lane. Frogs Copse also has a copse with a woodland stream and a pond. Once regularly coppiced, the copse is largely made up of alder, oak and larch with some impressive Monterey pines.

There is a small mown kick about area near the Halstead Road entrance.

The park can be accessed from Northfield Road, Halstead Road, Norwich Road, Woodmill Lane, Pinefield Road, Marlhill Close, Copse Road and Kingsdown Way.

Parks do not have post codes but a nearby one to help you locate the park is SO18 2GE.

Hinkler Green is located right at the heart of the Thornhill area towards the eastern fringe of Southampton and has for many years been a hub for leisure, play and events in Thornhill.

Visit Hinkler Green for more information.

Parks do not have post codes but a nearby one to help you locate the park is SO19 6GH.

A sloped area of open grassland fringed by woodland that has a series of three small ponds fed by a stream that runs through the site. This is a natural haven in an area dominated by busy main roads, schools and residential areas. Local residents have worked with the Community Payback Project to improve the paths, clear unwanted vegetation around the grassland and along the path edges and make the area more user-friendly for the many users. This work is also opening up the woodland edge to encourage wildlife suited to such habitats.

Parks do not have post codes but a nearby one to help you locate the park is SO18 4RG.

Formally part of the grounds of Weston Grove House now an area of established woodland and new tree planting. At the centre of the site is a stream and lake containing reed beds.

Parks do not have post codes but a nearby one to help you locate the park is SO19 9EG.

Informal open space cut as a spring and summer flowering meadow accessible direct from the River Itchen and Riverside Park. Mansbridge reservoir is popular for fishing and bird life. An important open space linking Riverside Park to the Itchen Way and Itchen Valley Country Park.

Parks do not have post codes but a nearby one to help you locate the park is SO18 2NH.

Mayfield Park provides 17 hectares of varied landscape and historical features in the south east of Southampton. The park includes formal gardens, sports grounds and large recreation areas, woodland walks, a play area and grade II listed buildings.

Visit Mayfield Park for more information.

Parks do not have post codes but a nearby one to help you locate the park is SO19 9HL.

A pleasant, secluded site with semi-natural woodland and wildlife areas which is an important green open space within Sholing. The pond is managed for both angling and wildlife. The area is also the home to the Sholing Valleys Study Centre who take a major part in its management and upkeep.

Visit Miller's Pond for more information.

Adjacent to Northam Bridge providing good views of the river.

Parks do not have post codes but a nearby one to help you locate the park is SO18 1AL.

Already a ‘doorstep green’ winner, the green acts as a real focal point for residents with its imaginative pathways; scented plants; trees; seats and children’s play area. The artwork adds to the attractiveness of the site and it is well maintained.

Parks do not have post codes but a nearby one to help you locate the park is SO14 0PL.

Informal area of meadowland with a play area and basketball court.

Parks do not have post codes but a nearby one to help you locate the park is SO18 2LU.

A sloping site with panoramic views over the River Itchen to the City Centre and wharves. Large area of open grassland of semi-natural habitat with basketball court and play area. Historic closed churchyard.

Parks do not have post codes but a nearby one to help you locate the park is SO19 7GX.

The park is unique in providing access to the River Itchen and has a wide range of facilities for local people to enjoy. The model railway, cycle training track, football and cricket pitches, 18 hole pitch and putt, wide range of wildlife and three play areas attract lots of people into the park.

Visit Riverside Park for more information.

Parks do not have post codes but a nearby one to help you locate the park is SO18 2JJ.

Sholing Valley is a five acre site comprising of Miller’s Pond and Sholing Valleys Study Centre, surrounded by woodlands. These are between the railway embankment along Portsmouth Road and Station Road, all surrounded by the ubiquitous sprawl of urban Southampton.

Visit Sholing Valleys Study Centre for more information.

A sports park located in Bitterne Manor.

Parks do not have post codes but a nearby one to help you locate the park is SO18 1AE.

A green open space with an open aspect mainly grassland with a play area.

Parks do not have post codes but a nearby one to help you locate the park is SO19 0JP.

Located off of Thornhill Park Road.

Parks do not have post codes but a nearby one to help you locate the park is SO19 6DW.

A well used and accessible site with a youth shelter and skate park.

Parks do not have post codes but a nearby one to help you locate the park is SO19 7QR.

Accessed from Weston Lane.

Parks do not have post codes but a nearby one to help you locate the park is SO19 9HE.

Weston shore is situated on the east side of Southampton, the park runs alongside the Solent from the city boundary, at Abbey Hill, towards the mouth of the river Itchen, at Woolston. Included within the overall park site is the ancient woodland of West Wood, the grassed Rolling Mills area, children's play areas and the water frontage. Due to the inter-tidal mudflat, which provides an important feeding area for thousands of migrating waders, the area is internationally recognised as a "site of special scientific interest" (SSSI). The park is a popular location for people from across the city, who regularly visit to watch the ever changing activities on the water including the large cruise liners coming and going, exercise themselves, their children and their dogs, relax, strolling through the park, fishing or bird watching have a picnic and take in the sea air.

Visit Weston Shore for more information.

Weston Shore does not have a post code but a nearby one to help you locate it is SO19 9DX.

Ancient oak woodland with carpets of bluebells below in spring. Also Hazel coppice in which lives the only remaining colony of dormice in Southampton. Glades, open grassland and a restored Victorian Water Garden can all be seen together with remnants of Westwood’s medieval and more recent past.

Visit Westwood Greenway for more information.

Parks do not have post codes but a nearby one to help you locate the park is SO19 9HR.

This is a large open space for informal recreation, bordered by woodland. There are play areas for children, toddlers and a ball games court.

Parks do not have post codes but a nearby one to help you locate the park is SO16 5SD.

A large open space partly used by local football club but also managed for informal recreation. The site is adjoined by Cromarty Pond which is managed for angling and natural conservation.

Parks do not have post codes but a nearby one to help you locate the park is SO16 8AD.

An important green open space in Shirley with a play area ‘wild’ area and collection of mature trees.

Following judging by Southampton Common and Parks Protection Society and the City of Southampton Society, Cedar Lodge Park has won the Southampton Green Open Spaces Award for Best Community Park 2012. The plaque was unveiled by the Mayor of Southampton, Councillor Derek Burke on 6 September 2012.

Parks do not have post codes but a nearby one to help you locate the park is SO16 4GL.

Formerly the grounds of an old house with a collection of large ornamental trees and a lake that is now filled in, although the park remains very wet at times. The park now has a new dog agility course.

Parks do not have post codes but a nearby one to help you locate the park is SO15 3AL.

Situated between Foundry Lane and Waterhouse Lane.

Parks do not have post codes but a nearby one to help you locate the park is SO15 8QW.

Located on the western edge of Southampton alongside Redbridge Lane.

Parks do not have post codes but a nearby one to help you locate the park is SO15 5NG.

Mansel Park is a large open space of 10.6 hectares. Mansel Park has seen many exciting improvements over the last few years which have been greatly appreciated and are the results of successful joint working between council officers, partner organisations, external funding bodies and most importantly the local community. This work was recently acknowledged with the achievement of a Royal Town Planning Institute award for the South East region.

Visit Mansel Park for more information.

Parks do not have post codes but a nearby one to help you locate the park is SO16 9RS.

Millbrook Rec is situated alongside Third Avenue. It is a large well used site with football pitches.

Parks do not have post codes but a nearby one to help you locate the park is SO15 0LD.

This is an open grass area bordered by Coxford Copse and Tanners Brook.

Parks do not have post codes but a nearby one to help you locate the park is SO16 5FQ.

A new waterside park with views over the River Test, established on disused dockside railway sidings. An isolated green open space with mixed tree and shrub planting and a short riverside walk.

Parks do not have post codes but a nearby one to help you locate the park is SO15 0NE.

Pleasant, secluded site with semi-natural woodland and wildlife areas which is an important green open space within Shirley. The pond is managed for both angling and wildlife. This is the home of the only remaining cycle speedway track within Southampton.

Visit Lordsdale Greenway for more information.

Parks do not have post codes but a nearby one to help you locate the park is SO16 6BE.

St James' Park has recently undergone extensive restoration and improvement works under a parks for people project, jointly funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund, Big Lottery Fund and Southampton City Council, in partnership with Friends of St James' Park (FoSJP). The park has a new community cafe, new entrances, botanical and scenic walks, new trees and landscaping, a completely refurbished children's playground, a climbing wall and outdoor gym equipment and new tennis courts.

Visit St James Park for more information.

Parks do not have post codes but a nearby one to help you locate the park is SO15 5LW.