Prince's Park Playground
🏟 Playground & park · Toxteth, Liverpool
Prince's Park Playground
Joseph Paxton's pioneering 1842 park in Toxteth — a Grade II* landscape with a serpentine lake and two children's playgrounds beside the water.
🕑 Opening & entry
🌱 Open daily; the park is freely accessible year round · Free · No booking needed
About Prince's Park Playground
Prince's Park was designed by Joseph Paxton — his first independent park commission, with James Pennethorne — and opened in 1842, named for the newborn Edward, Prince of Wales. Its serpentine lake and circular carriage drive were influential on Victorian park design, shaping the layout of neighbouring Sefton Park a generation later. Liverpool City Council acquired the park in 1918 and it was upgraded to Grade II* on the National Heritage List in 2009. For families there are two children's playgrounds set on the south-west and north-west sides of the lake, plus tennis courts, bowling greens and a weekly 5km parkrun. The volunteer charity Friends of Princes Park, formed in 2004, helps care for the park.
⭐ What makes this place special
- Joseph Paxton's first independent park design, opened in 1842
- A serpentine lake that inspired the layout of neighbouring Sefton Park
- Two children's playgrounds on the south-west and north-west sides of the lake
- Tennis courts, bowling greens and a weekly parkrun
🏞 Facilities
- Free entry
- Parking: On-street parking around the park (Prince's Avenue / Devonshire Road)
🧒 Ages & play
📍 Nearby places to play
- Sefton Park Playground · approx 0.8 miles · Aigburth
- Greenbank Park Playground · approx 1.1 miles · Mossley Hill
- Wavertree Playground (The Mystery) · approx 1.5 miles · Wavertree
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❓ Frequently asked questions
Is Prince's Park free to visit?
Yes — it is a public park managed by Liverpool City Council and is free to enter.
Does Prince's Park have a children's playground?
Yes — there are two children's playgrounds, on the south-west and north-west sides of the lake.
Who designed Prince's Park?
It was designed by Joseph Paxton (with James Pennethorne) and opened in 1842, named after the newborn Edward, Prince of Wales.
Who looks after the park?
Liverpool City Council manages it, supported by the volunteer charity Friends of Princes Park, formed in 2004.