10 best parks in Durham

By:
 Avant Homes

Updated:
 09 April 2025

Durham is full of beautiful green spaces where you can enjoy nature and outdoor activities. These parks are not only lovely places to visit but also important parts of Durham's history and culture. 

Join us as we explore 10 of the best parks in and around the city, discussing what makes each of them so unique.

Wharton Park

Overlooking the River Wear and the city’s famous cathedral, Wharton Park is a Green Flag Award Winning (2023) nestled in the city centre, automatically making it one of the best parks in Durham. 

Offering a great space for those wanting to unwind, the park has an abundance of walking and cycling routes as well as a soft play area for the kids.

Hardwick Park

A highlight of the surrounding countryside, Hardwick Park lies on the outskirts of Durham, in Sedgefield - a 20-minute drive from the city centre. 

At the heart of Hardwick Park is a lake and a beautifully crafted wooden bridge, alongside many other features, including Hardwick’s stunning landscape views and the rich variety of wildlife that call Hardwick home.  

Sunlit red deer, cervus elaphus, stag with new antlers growing facing camera in summer nature. Alert herbivore from side v...

Whitworth Hall Country Park

Situated 22 minutes from Durham city centre, Whitworth Hall Country Park is a privately owned park that’s truly majestic in its presentation, which is why it's on our list of the best parks in Durham.

A favourite for anyone looking to get married, the hall that serves as the park’s namesake features a fireplace, huge windows and impressively designed wooden features. 

The gardens that surround the hall are also meticulously maintained and are home to several breeds of deer. 

Durham University Botanic Garden

Managed by Durham University, the Botanic Gardens is a paid entry park that showcases species of plants from all over the world – each in their own specially tailored gardens and glasshouses. 

One for the real plant enthusiast or someone who’s looking to learn more about the vast amount of plant life that is out there, Durham University’s Botanic Gardens is a worthwhile place to explore.  

Finchale Priory

Formerly the site of a medieval priory, Finchale still has the priory’s ruins on display and is a park tailor made for the architecture or history buff. 

The park is free to enter and wheelchair accessible, and with it only being 13 minutes’ drive from the city centre, it’s also easy to get to too.

Waldridge Fell Country Park

Winner of the Green Flag Award in 2022, Waldridge Fell Country Park is a 10-minute drive from the city centre and is considered a Site of Special Scientific Interest due to it being one of the few lowland heaths in the UK. That's because it's home to a rare array of insect and plants that are scarcely found elsewhere in the country. 

More a nature reserve than a conventional park, Waldridge Fell, alongside its many walking and cycling routes, is also a park suitable for horse riders and is free to enter, making it one of the best parks in Durham for anyone seeking activities to do.

Set of chain swings on modern kids playground, kids swinging on back

Dragon Park

If you have any little knights and princesses at home, they’ll absolutely love Dragon Park. 

As the name suggests, Dragon Park is full of dragon and castle-themed monuments, benches and playgrounds. 

An easy to navigate park, it also puts a fun little twist on the standard family day out to the playground and will be a thrill for the kiddies. 

Plus, as it's only a 5-minute drive from the city centre, it’s easy to get to too.

Riverside Park

Nestled in the crook of the River Wear, Riverside Park caters offers visitors a wide selection of water sports; everything from boat rides and kayaking to a splash pad for the little ones. 

A 15-minute drive from the city centre, it’s perfect for those warm summer days. 

Aycliffe Nature Park

Aycliffe Natural Park is home to a variety of habitats and wildlife making it a great place to explore year-round. 

Plus, with it being 30 minutes away from the hustle and bustle of the city centre, it's an ideal place to take in the sights and sounds of nature as you stroll through the its pathways.

Jubilee Park

Located in Spennymoor – a quick 15-minute drive from Durham - Jubilee Park is a nearby common with wide open green spaces, playgrounds, and numerous walking paths.

The park is also home to a tennis court, a basketball court, two bowling greens, and an all-weather football pitch. 

And if it's a permanent move to the city you're after, our new build homes for sale in Durham could be exactly what you're looking for!

 

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