Duthie Park
🏟 Playground & park · Ferryhill, Aberdeen
Duthie Park
A grand Victorian riverside park in Ferryhill with two play areas, the David Welch Winter Gardens, a boating lake and a popular cafe.
🕑 Opening & entry
🌱 Open 24 hours as a public park. The David Welch Winter Gardens and Park Cafe keep their own daytime hours. Public toilets on site have 24-hour access with a 20p charge (card accepted). · Free · No booking needed
About Duthie Park
Duthie Park is Aberdeen's best-known Victorian park, laid out on the banks of the River Dee in Ferryhill and managed by Aberdeen City Council. Donated to the city in the 1880s and reopened after a major refurbishment in 2013, it combines formal gardens, open grassland and family attractions across around 18 hectares. For children there are separate play areas - one for younger children and a larger adventure area for older and bolder children - with some equipment set in sand, plus an astroturf space for ball games. The park is notably inclusive, with a wheelchair-accessible swing, trampoline and roundabout, and well-surfaced accessible paths throughout. At its heart stand the David Welch Winter Gardens, glasshouses holding one of Britain's largest collections of giant cacti and bromeliads. Families can hire paddle boats or kayaks on the model boating lake, explore the Japanese garden and ornamental fountains, or relax at the popular Park Cafe. Public toilets have 24-hour access, and there is a car park off Riverside Drive. Free to enter and open around the clock, Duthie Park is a flagship green space for a family day out in Aberdeen.
⭐ What makes this place special
- David Welch Winter Gardens (tropical and arid glasshouses)
- Model boating lake with paddle boats and kayaks
- Japanese garden
- Bandstand
- Ornamental gardens and fountains
- Picnic areas and open grassland
🏞 Facilities
- Free entry
- Parking: Yes – car park off Riverside Drive, plus bike lock-up stands beside the car park and at the Winter Gardens.
- Toilets on site
- Café / refreshments
- Accessibility: Well-surfaced, accessible paths throughout. Inclusive equipment includes a wheelchair-accessible swing, trampoline and roundabout. Accessible public toilets on site.
🧒 Ages & play
- Play area for younger children
- Adventure play area for older children (voted a top play space in Scotland)
- Play equipment set in sand
- Wheelchair-accessible swing
- Wheelchair-accessible trampoline
- Wheelchair-accessible roundabout
- Astroturf ball-games area
📍 Nearby places to play
- Union Terrace Gardens · approx 1.2 miles · City Centre
- Victoria Park · approx 1.6 miles · Rosemount
- Johnston Gardens · approx 1.7 miles · Rubislaw
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❓ Frequently asked questions
Is Duthie Park free?
Yes. Duthie Park is a free, public park in Ferryhill managed by Aberdeen City Council, open 24 hours a day.
What's in the playground?
There are two play areas - one for younger children and a larger adventure area for older children - some equipment set in sand, an astroturf ball-games area, and inclusive kit including a wheelchair-accessible swing, trampoline and roundabout.
Are there toilets and a cafe?
Yes. Public toilets on site have 24-hour access (20p charge, card accepted), and the Park Cafe is popular with visitors.
Is there parking?
Yes. There is a car park off Riverside Drive, plus bike lock-up stands beside the car park and at the Winter Gardens.
What else is there to do?
You can visit the David Welch Winter Gardens glasshouses, hire paddle boats or kayaks on the boating lake, and explore the Japanese garden, bandstand and ornamental fountains.