Clifton Park
🏟 Playground & park · Clifton, Rotherham
Clifton Park
Rotherham's flagship free day out, home to one of Yorkshire's biggest free play areas plus a seasonal watersplash, skate park and museum.
🕑 Opening & entry
🌱 Park open daily; individual attractions (fun park, mini golf, land train) have their own seasonal hours · Free · No booking needed
📍 Location & directions
🗺️ Show map ▾
Address: Doncaster Road / Clifton Lane, Rotherham, S65 2AA
Plus Code: 9C5WCMH2+WF
About Clifton Park
Clifton Park sits on the east side of Rotherham, a short walk from the town centre, and is the borough's best-known free family destination. Owned and run by Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council, it combines Victorian pleasure-garden heritage with modern family facilities. The centrepiece for families is a large free play area, widely described as one of the biggest free playgrounds in Yorkshire, with swings, slides, climbing equipment, a zip wire and a sand pit, plus inclusive kit such as a wheelchair-accessible roundabout, basket swing and spinning dish. In warmer months the adjacent Watersplash fires more than 70 jets for water play. Older children have a skate park, multi-use games area, outdoor gym and basketball court, while the Grade II listed Clifton Park Museum offers free indoor history and art displays. Paid extras include a fun park with rides, 18-hole mini golf and the Clifton Express land train, but none of these are needed to enjoy a full day. Formal gardens, a bandstand and fountains round out the site. Parking is pay and display. Entry to the park, play area and museum is free.
⭐ What makes this place special
- Watersplash with over 70 jets (seasonal)
- Skate park
- Multi-use games area (MUGA)
- Outdoor gym
- Basketball court
- Mini golf (paid)
🏞 Facilities
- Free entry
- Parking: Pay and display car parks off Doncaster Road (S65 2BQ) and Clifton Lane/museum (S65 2AA)
- Toilets on site
- Café / refreshments
- Accessibility: Changing Places toilet; wheelchair-accessible roundabout in the play area
🧒 Ages & play
- Large free play area with swings, slides and climbing equipment
- Zip wire
- Sand pit
- Basket swing
- Wheelchair-accessible roundabout
- Spinning dish
- Play panels
📍 Nearby places to play
- Greasbrough Park · approx 1.9 miles · Greasbrough
- Rosehill Victoria Park · approx 2.8 miles · Rawmarsh
- Thrybergh Country Park · approx 3.0 miles · Thrybergh
Explore more:
❓ Frequently asked questions
Is Clifton Park free?
Yes. The park, its large play area, the watersplash, skate park and the museum are all free. Some extras such as the fun park rides, mini golf and land train are paid.
What's in the playground?
There is a large free play area with swings, slides, climbing equipment, a zip wire and a sand pit, plus inclusive kit including a wheelchair-accessible roundabout, basket swing and spinning dish.
Is there a watersplash?
Yes. The seasonal Watersplash has more than 70 water jets and features and is free to use during the warmer months.
Is there parking and a cafe?
Yes. There are pay-and-display car parks off Doncaster Road and Clifton Lane, and a cafe on site.
Who runs Clifton Park?
Clifton Park is owned and managed by Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council.