Yeadon Tarn (Tarnfield Park)
🏟 Playground & park · Yeadon, Leeds
Yeadon Tarn (Tarnfield Park)
A lakeside park in Yeadon with a modern playground and zip line, BMX track, watersports and a circular path with plane-spotting views.
🕑 Opening & entry
🌱 Park open daily, 24 hours · Free · No booking needed
About Yeadon Tarn (Tarnfield Park)
Yeadon Tarn, with its surrounding Tarnfield Park, is a lakeside green space in Yeadon on the north-west edge of Leeds, close to Leeds Bradford Airport. The tarn is thought to be a natural feature later engineered for industrial use, first recorded as early as 1354 and historically used as a fish pond and mill supply; it was bought by the former Yeadon District Council in 1925 and is now managed by Leeds City Council. Covering around seven hectares of water, the tarn sits at the heart of a park that is hugely popular with families. The modern children's playground has swings, slides, a zip line and climbing frames, with relatively new equipment and grassy areas alongside. Around the water you will find a free BMX track, a bowling green and the Leeds Sailing and Activity Centre, which offers sailing, windsurfing, kayaking and paddleboarding, while anglers can fish with day tickets. A paved circular path of roughly 1.15 kilometres runs around the tarn, making it ideal for scooters, buggies and gentle walks, with ducks, swans and other waterfowl to spot along the way. The park's position near the airport also makes it a favourite for watching planes take off and land.
⭐ What makes this place special
- Yeadon Tarn lake
- BMX track (free)
- Bowling green
- Leeds Sailing and Activity Centre (sailing, windsurfing, kayaking, paddleboarding)
- Fishing (day tickets)
- Circular walking path (approx. 1.15km)
🏞 Facilities
- Free entry
- Parking: Free parking at Tarnfield car park (free for two hours) and at the Activity Centre, with disabled spaces
- Toilets on site
- Accessibility: Paved circular path around the tarn; accessible toilet at the Activity Centre via radar key
- Dogs: Dogs allowed off the lead, with waste bins throughout
🧒 Ages & play
- Children's playground with swings
- Slides
- Zip line
- Climbing frames
📍 Nearby places to play
- Horsforth Hall Park · approx 2.6 miles · Horsforth
- Calverley Victoria Park · approx 2.8 miles · Calverley
- Calverley Lane Park · approx 2.8 miles · Calverley
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❓ Frequently asked questions
Is Yeadon Tarn free?
Yes. Yeadon Tarn and Tarnfield Park are free to access and managed by Leeds City Council. Watersports and fishing are paid activities.
What's in the playground?
The playground has swings, slides, a zip line and climbing frames, with relatively modern equipment and grassy areas alongside.
Are there toilets and a cafe?
There are accessible toilets at the Activity Centre. There is no on-site cafe, but cafes and a pub are opposite the tarn and an ice cream van often operates.
Is there parking?
Yes. There is free parking at the Tarnfield car park (free for two hours) and at the Activity Centre, including disabled spaces.
What else is there to do?
There is a free BMX track, a bowling green, sailing and watersports at the Activity Centre, fishing, and a 1.15km circular walking path around the lake.