Barnes Park
🏟 Playground & park · Barnes, Sunderland
Barnes Park
The city's largest park, restored with Heritage Lottery funding, offering two play areas for tots to teens, a sensory garden, cafe and accessible facilities.
🕑 Opening & entry
🌱 Open daily · Free · No booking needed
📍 Location & directions
Address: Durham Road / Humbledon, Sunderland, SR4 7JD
Plus Code: 9C6WVHVP+C7
About Barnes Park
Barnes Park is Sunderland's largest park, set in a valley through which the Bishopwearmouth Burn flows. It first opened in August 1909 on land bought in 1904, providing work for thousands of men during a trade depression, and today is managed by Sunderland City Council as one of the city's Green Flag parks. The park underwent a major regeneration project of around GBP 3.6 million, funded by the Heritage Lottery Parks for People fund together with the council and partners, completed in 2011. Families benefit from two equipped play areas catering for tots to teens, one specifically for younger children, alongside a multi-use games area and waterplay area. Other facilities include two bowling greens, tennis courts, a sensory garden, a cafe and toilets, with two car parks for visitors. The regeneration made Barnes Park one of the most accessible parks in the region and reportedly the only park in the North East equipped with a specialist disabled changing room, alongside accessible toilets. Mature woodland of oak, ash, beech and elm lines the meandering pathways, and the park is a haven for birdlife with nesting boxes provided. As a free public park set in a residential area between Barnes and Humbledon, it is open daily and welcomes families from across the city.
⭐ What makes this place special
- Multi-use games area
- Two bowling greens
- Tennis courts
- Sensory garden
- Waterplay area
- Walking paths along Bishopwearmouth Burn
🏞 Facilities
- Free entry
- Parking: Two car parks
- Toilets on site
- Café / refreshments
- Accessibility: One of the most accessible parks in the region, with a specialist disabled changing room and accessible toilets
🧒 Ages & play
- Ages: Play areas for tots to teens
- Play area for younger children
- Play area for older children
- Swings
- Slides
- Climbing equipment
📍 Nearby places to play
- Silksworth Lakeside Park · approx 0.6 miles · New Silksworth
- Backhouse Park · approx 1.3 miles · Ashbrooke
- Mowbray Park · approx 1.5 miles · City Centre
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❓ Frequently asked questions
Is Barnes Park free?
Yes. Barnes Park is a free public park managed by Sunderland City Council and holds a Green Flag Award.
Are there play areas for different ages?
Yes. There are two equipped play areas for tots to teens, one specifically designed for younger children, plus a multi-use games area and waterplay area.
Is the park accessible?
Yes. Following its regeneration, Barnes Park is one of the most accessible parks in the region, with a specialist disabled changing room and accessible toilets.
Is there a cafe and parking?
Yes. The park has a cafe, toilets and two car parks for visitors.
What else is there to do?
The park has bowling greens, tennis courts, a multi-use games area, a sensory garden, a waterplay area and walking paths along the Bishopwearmouth Burn.