Highfields Park
🏟 Playground & park · Lenton, Nottingham
Highfields Park
A Grade II listed park next to the University of Nottingham, with a children's play area, boating lake and mini-golf.
🕑 Opening & entry
🌱 Park open daily; boat hire and mini-golf are seasonal · Free · No booking needed
About Highfields Park
Highfields Park is a Grade II listed public park covering around 121 acres in the west of Nottingham, laid out beside the University of Nottingham's University Park campus. The land was given to the city by Sir Jesse Boot, and the park was constructed between 1922 and 1926 to a design by Percy Richard Morley Horder in the Victorian municipal style. Nottingham City Council formally adopted the park in 1932 and still owns and maintains it today, free for everyone to enjoy. The centrepiece is a large ornamental boating lake, with carp and waterfowl, where boats can be hired in the summer. Families come for the children's play area, and there is also a mini-golf course developed with lottery funding. The D.H. Lawrence Pavilion cafe, built in 2001, provides refreshments and toilets, and the park's Grade II listed cascade and stepping stones at the western end are a scenic highlight. With croquet lawns, a wooded island and miles of lakeside paths, Highfields is a relaxed spot for a family afternoon or a stroll beside the water.
⭐ What makes this place special
- Boating lake with summer boat hire
- Mini-golf course
- D.H. Lawrence Pavilion cafe
- Grade II listed ornamental cascade and stepping stones
- Croquet lawns
- Lakeside and woodland walks
🏞 Facilities
- Free entry
- Parking: Car parking available at the park
- Toilets on site
- Café / refreshments
- Dogs: Dogs are welcome in the park
🧒 Ages & play
- Children's play area
📍 Nearby places to play
- Dunkirk Park (Spider Park) · approx 0.5 miles · Dunkirk
- Lenton Recreation Ground · approx 0.9 miles · Lenton
- Wollaton Park · approx 1.2 miles · Wollaton
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❓ Frequently asked questions
Is Highfields Park free?
Yes. Highfields Park is a free public park owned and maintained by Nottingham City Council. Boat hire and mini-golf have their own charges.
What's in the playground?
There is a children's play area, and nearby you can hire boats on the lake or play a round of mini-golf.
Are there toilets and a cafe?
Yes. The D.H. Lawrence Pavilion houses a cafe, and there are toilets in the park.
Where is Highfields Park?
It is on University Boulevard in Lenton, west Nottingham, next to the University of Nottingham campus, postcode area NG7.
Is there parking?
Yes. There is car parking available at the park.