Cirencester Parklife

Come rain or shine, us parents have clocked up a fair few hours in Cirencester’s parks, playgrounds and green spaces, with beautiful St. Michael’s Park and the Abbey Grounds high on the hit list of family favourites. But it’s always good to make a new discovery. A trip to a new park is an insanely exciting prospect for most kids and let’s face it, us parents too who surely all like a change of scenery and a chance to escape that inevitable feeling of groundhog day.

In the interests of child happiness (and parent sanity), Cirencester Rocks has done all the hard work for you and researched as many of the children’s play areas as possible in Cirencester and its surrounding villages. We’ve also tried and tested most of them so you know where all those hidden gems are and what facilities they have on offer.

We have started to list information and photographs of Cirencester’s parks and children’s play areas on Cirencester Rocks and you can find them listed under the Places to visit section of the site. If we’ve missed any or if your organisation is holding an event in one of Cirencester’s parks, get in touch via the contact form to tell us about it and we’ll try and add it to the site.

For now, here are a few of our favourite Cirencester parks and play areas:

St. Michael’s Park, Cirencester – nice and central with a café serving coffees, cakes and ice creams, St Michael's has a number of different play areas including a natural play area with obstacle course and a range of activities, such as mini golf and tennis, available for an additional charge. Find out more

Abbey Grounds, Cirencester - A short walk through the town's Abbey Grounds reveals a safe, enclosed play area with plenty to keep toddlers and older children entertained, including a large sandpit and large 'spiders web' rope climbing frame. A looped path around the grounds is perfect for scooters and bikes and passes a lake and river for feeding the ducks. Find out more

Cirencester Park - One of the country’s oldest and most beautiful privately owned parks, forming part of the Bathurst Estate in Cirencester. The park is open every day from 8 am - 5 pm to the public for free! No ball games but Small children are able to use bicycles under close control. There is a lovely coffee hut too! Find out more.

Thistle Park, Chesterton - Set in a green space landscaped with flowers and benches, wooden train tunnels will delight the younger ones whilst older children tackle the climbing frame and hill slide. Find out more

Baunton Lane, Stratton - Housing an impressive climbing frame for older children, a train shaped tunnel and slide for the little ones and a football pitch for a 'kick-around' courtesy of Stratton Youth Football club. Find out more

Siddington Park, Siddington - A large enclosed play area with plenty of space to run around plus a zip-slide, wooden climbing frame and a number of benches for picnicking. Find out more

Millennium Recreation Area, Down Ampney - Jam-packed with a variety of play equipment aimed at both older and younger children including a fantastic balance trail. A two minute walk from the village shop and post office which sells take-away hot drinks and snacks. Find out more

Upper Up, South Cerney - Wooden play equipment set in large playing fields with mountain bike humps and bumps. A walking/cycle path leading to a lakeside picnic area with connection to Shorncote Bird Hides. Find out more

Robert Franklin Way play area, South Cerney - An enclosed toddler play area complete with train carriage shaped picnic benches and low-level climbing frame. Outside the fenced area, the play equipment is aimed at older children including a large slide and tyre swing. Find out more

We hope you have fun exploring Cirencester's parks and play areas. If you're looking for things to do in and around Cirencester, visit the home page to browse all the listings to find something for you and your family today.