Cwmdonkin Park
🏟 Playground & park · Uplands, Swansea
Cwmdonkin Park
The leafy Uplands park Dylan Thomas grew up beside, with a refreshed playground, tennis courts and a poet's memorial.
🕑 Opening & entry
🌱 Open access park; Dylan's coffee shop opens daily from 10am. · Free · No booking needed
📍 Location & directions
Address: Cwmdonkin Terrace, Uplands, Swansea, SA2 0PP
Plus Code: 9C3RJ2CG+F4
About Cwmdonkin Park
Cwmdonkin Park is a 13-acre hillside park in the Uplands area of Swansea, bought by the council in 1874 and managed today by Swansea Council with the support of the Friends of Cwmdonkin Park. It is famous as the childhood playground of the poet Dylan Thomas, who grew up at 5 Cwmdonkin Drive overlooking the park and later immortalised it in poems such as 'The Hunchback in the Park'; a memorial stone inscribed with lines from 'Fern Hill' stands in the ornamental water garden. Following a major refurbishment the children's play area now offers an embankment slide, a junior multiplay unit, climbing blocks, a swing bay with two cradle seats, an inclusive carousel, a trampoline, a zip wire and an overhead carousel. There are four tennis courts, a multi-use games area, a basketball hoop and a table-tennis table, and the former bowling green is now an enclosed dog-free grassy play area used by schools and families. Dylan's coffee shop in the old bowling pavilion serves drinks, cakes and ice creams daily from 10am, and there are toilets by the tennis courts. Entry is free. There is no dedicated car park, with on-street parking in the surrounding streets.
⭐ What makes this place special
- Four tennis courts
- Multi-use games area (MUGA)
- Basketball hoop
- Table tennis table
- Dog-free grassy play area (former bowling green)
- Ornamental water garden with Dylan Thomas memorial stone
🏞 Facilities
- Free entry
- Parking: No dedicated car park; on-street parking in the surrounding Uplands streets.
- Toilets on site
- Café / refreshments
- Accessibility: Sloping hillside park with surfaced paths; the main play area and recreation area are reached from Glanmor Road.
- Dogs: Dogs are allowed in the park; the former bowling green is a dog-free recreation area.
🧒 Ages & play
- Embankment slide
- Junior multiplay unit
- Climbing blocks
- Swing bay with two cradle seats
- Inclusive carousel
- Trampoline
- Zip wire
- Overhead carousel
📍 Nearby places to play
- Brynmill Park · approx 0.8 miles · Brynmill
- Singleton Park · approx 1.0 miles · Sketty
- Mayhill Park · approx 1.0 miles · Mayhill
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❓ Frequently asked questions
Is Cwmdonkin Park free?
Yes. Cwmdonkin Park is free to enter and the playground is free to use.
What's in the playground?
The refreshed play area has an embankment slide, a junior multiplay unit, climbing blocks, a swing bay with two cradle seats, an inclusive carousel, a trampoline, a zip wire and an overhead carousel.
Are there toilets or a cafe?
Yes. Dylan's coffee shop in the former bowling pavilion is open daily from 10am, and there are toilets next to the tennis courts.
Where is Cwmdonkin Park?
Cwmdonkin Park is in the Uplands area of Swansea, postcode SA2 0PP, reached from Glanmor Road off Walter Road.
Is it good for toddlers?
Yes. Alongside the main playground, the former bowling green is now an enclosed, dog-free grassy area that is handy for toddlers and younger children.