Discover the Best Parks in Brighton
If you're looking to escape the hustle and bustle of the city then exploring one of the many parks in Brighton could be just the thing.
By Melanie Ley | Updated Jul 9 2025
Your Guide to the Most Beautiful Parks in Brighton
Brighton might be famed for it's Beaches but not far from the sea are some of the best parks in Brighton, just waiting to be explored. From the iconic Brighton Pavilion Gardens to the South Downs National park there's no shortage of parks in Brighton where you can escape the city, re-connect with nature and enjoy a little fresh air.
Preston Park
Preston Rd, Brighton BN1 6SD
Preston Park is Brighton's largest urban park in the city consisting of 67 acres of playing fields, tennis courts, bowling greens, a cricket pitch, a cycle track, a children’s play area (guaranteed to tire them out!), a rose garden, a garden for the blind, a pond, two cafés (open daily) and a vegetable garden. So, whether you want to take part in sports or just sit and relax on a summer’s day, Preston Park is the perfect place to go. It's also one of 8 parks in the city recognised by the Green Flag Award Scheme.
The park is home to wildflower, walled and rose gardens and has one of the largest and oldest elm trees in Europe, honoured as one of Queen Elizabeth's Ancient Canopy. It boasts several unique buildings, including the Rotunda, Clock Tower, Tile House and nearby Preston Manor.
On the opposite side of the park is The Rockery, the largest municipal rock garden in the country. It's arguably the most bio-diverse garden in the city, featuring twisting walkways, streams and waterways.
Accessibility
Most of the park areas are accessible on the pathways, with many benches situated along the paths. The cafés are also accessible, with accessible toilet facilities.
Opening Hours: 7 days a week.
Dyke Road Park
197 Dyke Road, Brighton BN3 1TL
Dyke Road Park provides the community with welcoming green space that is popular with all ages. It is a beautiful park with a network of well-maintained paths that wind through stunning ornamental shrubs and herbaceous borders. There’s a café with a raised terrace and views of the sea and there’s plenty of sports facilities including 6 tennis courts and a fantastic children’s playground.
At the very centre of the park is the perennial garden, with its yew hedges separating the various plant beds, it supplies a wonderful view from the cafe terrace. Dyke Road Park is also the home of the famous Brighton Open Air Theatre (BOAT), a 400-seat theatre which hosts a wide range of performances, including theatre, music, comedy, dance, opera, circus and family shows.
Accessibility
The park has good access and the pathways are accessible throughout with no steps The rose garden may cause some difficulties as the pathways are a little uneven. The nearest accessible toilet is at the Booth Museum of Natural History, opposite the park.
Opening Hours
Cafe: Monday to Friday, 9am to 6pm, Saturday and Sunday, 10am to 6pm
Dyke Road Park: 7 days a week.
Withdean Park
36 Peacock Ln, Brighton and Hove, Brighton BN1 8NA
Withdean Park, nestled in the vibrant city of Brighton and Hove, offers a tranquil escape for walkers and hikers seeking a serene natural setting. Spanning 39.2 acres, the park's lush greenery and peaceful atmosphere provide the ideal backdrop for outdoor activities, making it a haven for those who enjoy walking and running amidst picturesque surroundings. The park is also very popular with dog walkers and people interested in horticulture.
Surrounding the park to the North and East is an extensive woodland walk, perfect for those looking for shade on a sunny day. There's also a lily pond garden, a varied collection of trees and shrubs and one of the largest collections of lilacs in the world, inspiring the park's popular annual fair 'The Lilac Lark'.
Accessibility
The park is laid out partly on a steep gradient and is largely open grassland throughout with no surfaced pathways. The grass areas should be accessible to determined wheelchair users. The woodland paths are not accessible. The nearest accessible toilet is at the Withdean sports centre.
Opening Hours: 7 days a week.
Queen's Park
1 West Dr, Brighton and Hove, Brighton BN2 0QU
Discover the natural beauty and tranquillity of Queen's Park, located in the vibrant city of Brighton. With its lush greenery and peaceful atmosphere, this 16.3-acre park offers an idyllic setting for visitors. Queen's Park presents a wealth of activities to delight visitors of all ages, from its well-maintained paths that are excellent for walking to its picturesque open spaces that are ideal for picnics and relaxation. There is a beautiful wildlife garden planted by a local herbalist and a large pond at its centre with water cascading down. The pond is home to lots of Geese and Moorhens. There is also a grade II listed clock tower, built in 1915 from redbrick and Portland stone.
The park is home to a children's play area, a café, an extensive dog-free area, a scented garden for people with disabilities, a former bowling green, tennis courts, and an area that is left untended to encourage wildlife. There is a cafe which is open daily in the summer from 10.30am to 5.30pm. In the winter it is only open weather permitting.
Accessibility
The park is in a sloping valley with many pathways, most of which are accessible. The southern end of the park is the most level area and includes the wildlife pond and the café, which is also accessible. Many of the park's smaller entrances are gated and they could cause difficulties for some wheelchair users.
Opening Hours: 7 days a week.
Hove Park
Goldstone Cres, Brighton and Hove, Hove BN3 6BG
With its sprawling lawns, vibrant flower beds, and majestic trees, covering almost 40 acres Hove Park offers the paw-fect backdrop for a leisurely stroll or a spirited game of fetch. But that's not all, adventure awaits around every corner with an abundance of sports and play facilities, including a 3G football pitch, 7 tennis courts, a basketball court, a climbing rock and even an outdoor gym to pump up those muscles. It's one of 8 parks in the city recognised by the Green Flag award scheme.
For a dash of whimsy, hop aboard the miniature steam railway or get lost in the Fingermaze, a giant fingerprint incorporating a Cretan labyrinth within its whirling design that's fun for all ages. And don't forget Hove Park's great claim to fame, the Goldstone. This huge rock, weighing about 20 tons, is commonly believed to have been used by the Druids for worship. The shape of a human face is clearly visible in the stone - have a good look and you'll spot it
Accessibility
Accessible pathways run throughout the park. There are gentle sloping paths towards the eastern end and alternative ramps alongside steps. There are also many benches throughout the park. The Pavilion Tea Rooms are wheelchair accessible, and accessible toilets are available nearby.
Opening Hours: 7 days a week
The Pavilion Tea Rooms: open daily from 8:30am to 5:30pm.
Blakers Park
30 Cleveland Rd, Brighton and Hove, Brighton BN1 6FG
Nestled in the heart of Brighton, Blakers Park is a charming 4.3-acre green space tucked away in the charming Fiveways area of Brighton. Although compact it packs a punch with its array of attractions, including a small friendly café, tennis courts and a recently renovated playground. In the middle of the park is its most recognisable feature, a 50-foot-high clock tower.
Unveiled on 15 September 1896 and donated by the park’s founder Mayor Alderman J.G. Blaker, the tower is made of steel, cast iron and finished in bronze. Today it remains a main focal point of the park, offering a unique area to enjoy some food and drink from the nearby cafe. Its distinctive, delicate design add to its rarity as one of the few Victorian clock towers remaining in their original setting.
Accessibility
Laid out on a gentle slope, the park has good accessibility throughout. All the facilities including the café and tennis courts are accessible. The Preston Drove entrance to the park is the most easily accessible. Both Southdown Road and Cleveland Road entrances lack pavements on the sides that border the park. An accessible toilet is available next to the play area.
Opening Hours: 7 days a week.
Stoneham Park
2 Stoneham Rd, Brighton and Hove, Hove BN3 5FS
Nestled in a serene environment, Stoneham Park is a valued community park with many facilities for all to enjoy including play areas, basketball court and a multi-use games area. It is one of 8 parks in the city recognised by the Green Flag award scheme. Stoneham Park features two distinct play areas catering to children of all ages. The first area, designed with younger children in mind, boasts a charming sandpit and a vibrant mural that sparks creativity and imagination. Just a short stroll away, the main play area offers an exhilarating experience with larger climbing structures, swings, and slides that promise hours of adventure.
It also benefits from The Snug, Hove an important community resource. which ensures a safe and enjoyable experience for children while providing parents with the perfect spot to relax and connect with nature.
Fun fact: Did you know that part of the land on which Stoneham Park now stands was once a gravel pit? Yes, indeed—pigs once roamed this very ground, courtesy of the Duke of Portland! In 1906, the Duke generously bequeathed this area to the people of Hove as a recreational haven, a legacy celebrated by the charming pigs sculpture adorning the park.
Accessibility
The recreation ground is laid out on flat, with accessible paths throughout. The community café is also accessible. The nearest accessible toilet is at the Hove museum and art gallery.
Opening Hours: 7 days a week.
St. Ann's Well Gardens
Somerhill Rd, Brighton and Hove, Hove BN3
Not far from Hove seafront, St Ann's Well Gardens is a paradise that beckons visitors of all ages with its enchanting array of native and exotic trees giving the gardens their unique character and providing shelter and tranquillity for wildlife. Its amenities include a bowling green, tennis courts, a children’s play area and a well-stocked fishpond replenished by a trickle of water from a much-depleted ancient spring and a garden café for some delicious treats. A one-time croquet lawn in the southwest corner is now a wonderful, scented garden for the visually impaired. It is one of eight parks in the city recognized by the prestigious Green Flag Award Scheme.
Nature conservation plays an important part in the park with designated areas dedicated to nature preservation and the installation of new bat and wildlife-friendly lighting in the park’s central pathway protecting the biodiversity in the park.
Accessibility
St Ann's Well Gardens is an accessible park. Some of the garden accessed from Furze Hill and the eastern end of Nizells Road is laid out on a steep gradient and these areas would not be accessible to people with mobility issues without assistance. The café area in the park is accessible, as is the tennis court with the double gates. An accessible toilet is available in between the pavilion and café.
Opening Hours: 7 days a week
The Garden Café: Monday - Friday, 8 - 5pm, Saturday & Sunday, 9am to 5pm
The Level
Union Rd, Brighton and Hove, Brighton BN1 4ZN
The Level Brighton is a Green Flag unique award winning open space in the heart of the awesome City of Brighton. Part of the Valley Gardens corridor, the Level has a rich history and it is a one of Brighton’s busiest parks, serving as a cross roads for the diverse communities that use and surround it.
The Level was completely restored in 2013 and now there's something for everyone. From having fun in the awesome new kids play area and fountains to bee watching to riding the skate park! You can take it easy and relax on the North lawns, or even try your hand at boules in our very own Pétanque! There’s table tennis, a rose walk, sensory gardens, picnic lawns and community rooms.
Plus, with opportunities to volunteer and get involved in community-led activities, you can truly make your mark on this vibrant green oasis. And let's not forget about well-deserved refreshments with Tomato Dolce & Salato, a family run Italian Cafe/Restaurant right in the centre of The Level, making delicious authentic Italian food! And the Loving Hut the fastest growing international vegan fast-food chain in the world!
Accessibility
The Level prides itself on being an accessible park for all. The Level has flat and step-free access, surfacing and pathways to the park's entrances, café, toilets, playground, and community meeting room (pavilion). The Level has DDA-approved disabled toilets.
Opening Hours: Open 7 days a week