Graves Park is a vast, green sea of grass, inhabited by a menagerie of little animals. You’ll love its unique mixture of open and woodland, with its babbling streams criss-crossing through the land. Crystal clear lakes, framed by olden trees will greet you as you explore this fascinating expanse of nature’s beauty. You can see sweet little pigs, chicken and cattle towards the north and families sharing picnic baskets all around the area. Whether you want to play some football, take the kids out for a day in the sun or just go for a walk, this is the ideal place.

Alderman J.G. Graves gifted much of the park to the city between 1925 and 1976. The beauty of this park is in its location; its proximity to a hospital site protects the park from the effects of development and pollution. By 1976, the park sprawled across 22 acres of lush land and its collection of animals started to develop when the city of Manchester gifted the park two adorable cows. The park is a part of the historic Norton Estate, which is now a housing complex.

The first thing that will strike you is the enormous park. The largest in the UK, Graves Park covers 206 acres of lush green land. You can roll around its gently sloping fields and steep sided valleys, or dip your hands into the cool, soothing waters of the park lakes. You can venture through four incredibly diverse areas of parkland, surrounded by thick woods. Another feature is the park’s famous animal farm. Spread out over 22 acres of agricultural land, this farm is home to rare breeds of Highland cattle, sheep, donkeys, pigs, deer, ducks, goats and other cute farm animals whom children and adults alike would be thrilled to meet. The farm is divided into three sections; one that houses, small animals, another with small paddocks and just across the lake are several large meadows filled with sheep and cattle.

There are tons of ways to spend a day at Graves Park, for the whole family as well as lone travelers. You can visit the formal gardens, play with animals on the rare breeds’ farm, explore the ancient woodlands and spend time swinging in the playground. If you’re lucky you’ll be able to catch one of the several large events hosted by the Park, including Sheffield’s annual Highland Fling. The Park holds morning walks at 10am every Monday, which is a great way to enjoy all the natural spaces while getting some exercise at the same time. There are also many runs and races held here and for those who love sporting events, you can walk across the vast sports fields, go bowling, play a round of tennis, play some cricket with a boys and girls or play some put-put on the golf course! There are numerous places to eat as well, making this park a fantastic vacation spot for anyone who wants to spend a day in the sun.

• The land train attracts a lot of people and is priced quite reasonably.
• Bring changes of clothes in case your kids want to play in the sand pit.
• There is a cafe and playground in the adjoining park.
• The main entrances are on Charles Ashmore Road and Hemsworth Road, where public car parks (charges apply) are located.
• The public toilets next to the cafe are wheelchair accessible and have baby changing facilities.

• There’s a fee for the car park.
• Please note that some of the facilities are subject to seasonal opening and charges may apply

• Services 20 and 20A provides a service every 10 minutes along Derbyshire Lane and Hemsworth Road.
• Services 25, 25A, 53 and 75 provide a frequent service from the city center through Woodseats to the park.
• The nearest railway station to the park is Dore.

• Kitos Italian Restaurant (Italian/Moderate)
• Big Tree (Steaks, Curries/Moderate)
• The Abbey (English)

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