Cannon Hill Park
🏟 Playground & park · Edgbaston, Birmingham
Cannon Hill Park
Birmingham's most popular park, with two children's play areas plus a boating lake, mini-golf and the MAC arts centre across 250 acres.
🕑 Opening & entry
🌱 Park open daily, dawn to dusk · Free · No booking needed
📍 Location & directions
Address: Edgbaston Road (car parks off Edgbaston Road, Pershore Road and Russell Road), B12 9QH
Plus Code: 9C4WF442+6C
About Cannon Hill Park
Cannon Hill Park is Birmingham's most popular park, covering around 250 acres of formal, conservation, woodland and sports areas between Edgbaston and Moseley. It was created after benefactor Louisa Ann Ryland donated roughly 57 acres of meadowland to the city in 1873, with landscape designer J.T. Gibson laying out the lakes and ornamental ponds; it opened to the public in September 1873 and was later extended. Today it is managed by Birmingham City Council and holds Green Flag status. For families there are two playground areas, one near the Midlands Arts Centre (MAC) and one near the Pershore Road car park, both equipped with swings, slides and other standard play features. Beyond the play areas the park offers boating and fishing on its lakes, tennis courts, a mini-golf course, bowls, cafes and ice-cream kiosks, public toilets and extensive walking and jogging paths. A free 5km parkrun is held every Saturday at 9am. Notable landmarks include the Grade II* listed Boer War memorial and the historic Golden Lion Inn.
⭐ What makes this place special
- Boating lake
- Tennis courts
- Mini-golf
- Bowls
- Fishing
- Midlands Arts Centre (MAC)
🏞 Facilities
- Free entry
- Parking: Several car parks (Queen's Ride/Edgbaston Road B12 9QH, Pershore Road, Russell Road B13 8RD); parking charges apply
- Toilets on site
- Café / refreshments
- Accessibility: Well-maintained paths; long praised for facilities for those with mobility issues
🧒 Ages & play
- Swings
- Slides
📍 Nearby places to play
- Highbury Park · approx 1.2 miles · Moseley
- Kings Heath Park · approx 1.6 miles · Kings Heath
- Ward End Park · approx 3.6 miles · Ward End
Explore more:
❓ Frequently asked questions
Is Cannon Hill Park free?
Yes, entry to the park is free. There are parking charges at the car parks (for example Edgbaston Road and Russell Road).
What's in the playground?
There are two play areas, one near the MAC and one near the Pershore Road car park, both with swings, slides and other standard outdoor play equipment.
Are there toilets and a cafe?
Yes. The park has public toilets, and there are cafes and ice-cream kiosks for refreshments.
Where is Cannon Hill Park?
It is on Edgbaston Road, between Edgbaston and Moseley in south Birmingham, opposite Edgbaston Stadium, postcode B12 9QH.
What else can families do there?
Families can hire boats on the lake, play mini-golf, use the tennis courts, or take part in the free Saturday parkrun, as well as visit the MAC arts centre.
What is there to do at Cannon Hill Park?
Two children's play areas, a boating lake, fishing, tennis courts, a mini-golf course, bowls, cafes and the Midlands Arts Centre (MAC), plus a free Saturday parkrun.