Wharfemeadows Park
🏟 Playground & park · Otley, Leeds
Wharfemeadows Park
A riverside park on the banks of the Wharfe in Otley, with a soft-floored playground, water-play screw, skate park and cafe.
🕑 Opening & entry
🌱 Park open daily, dawn until dusk · Free · No booking needed
About Wharfemeadows Park
Wharfemeadows Park is a riverside public park on the banks of the River Wharfe in Otley, around ten miles north-west of Leeds. The roughly 60-acre park was created in the 1920s after Leeds City Council purchased land on the meadows, helped by a donation from Major F.H. Fawkes, and it remains a council-managed green space today. It is best known among families for its soft-floored children's playground, which has a variety of slides and swings and is split into separate areas for younger and older children. A distinctive feature is the hydroelectric Archimedes screw, connected to the weir, which children can use to control the flow of water. Beyond the playground there is plenty to keep everyone busy: a skate park opened in 2012, two tennis hard courts, outdoor gym equipment and attractive formal gardens with seasonal flower beds. In the warmer months you can hire a boat or pedalo on the river, and riverside paths make for a pleasant stroll. An on-site cafe serves coffee and ice cream, and public toilets are attached to it, with an accessible toilet available via a radar key. With its riverside setting and range of facilities, it is a popular choice for a family day out.
⭐ What makes this place special
- Skate park (opened 2012)
- Two tennis hard courts
- Outdoor gym equipment
- Formal gardens and seasonal flower beds
- Boat and pedalo rentals
- Riverside paths along the River Wharfe
🏞 Facilities
- Free entry
- Parking: Free street parking on Farnley Lane (LS21 2BD); the North Parade car park is free on Sundays, a 10-minute walk away
- Toilets on site
- Café / refreshments
- Play surface: Soft-floored play area
- Accessibility: Wheelchair and disability access throughout the park
- Dogs: Dog-friendly, with waste bins throughout and good off-lead walking
🧒 Ages & play
- Soft-floored children's playground with slides and swings
- Separate areas for younger and older children
- Hydroelectric Archimedes screw water-play feature linked to the weir
📍 Nearby places to play
- Yeadon Tarn (Tarnfield Park) · approx 2.9 miles · Yeadon
- Tong Park, Baildon · approx 5.3 miles · Baildon
- Horsforth Hall Park · approx 5.4 miles · Horsforth
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❓ Frequently asked questions
Is Wharfemeadows Park free?
Yes. Wharfemeadows Park is a free public park in Otley managed by Leeds City Council. Boat and pedalo hire is a paid extra.
What's in the playground?
There is a soft-floored playground with slides and swings, split into areas for younger and older children, plus an Archimedes screw water-play feature.
Are there toilets and a cafe?
Yes. There is an on-site cafe serving coffee and ice cream, with public toilets attached, including an accessible toilet accessed with a radar key.
Is there parking?
Free street parking is available on Farnley Lane (LS21 2BD), and the North Parade car park is free on Sundays, about a 10-minute walk away.
What else is there to do?
The park has a skate park, two tennis courts, outdoor gym equipment, formal gardens, boat and pedalo hire and riverside paths.