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The Ultimate Guide to the 7 Best Picnic Spots in Manchester
Picnics are supposed to be a proper bit of relaxation, aren’t they? Not quite, if you’re the one sorting it all out. I’ve always ended up with a headache whenever I try to nail down the picnic spot because I want it to be perfect—clean, wide open, family-friendly, and scenic.
Well, one of my mates just asked me for help planning her 30th birthday… and she wanted a picnic! That’s when I finally found someone to help me with the legwork to find Manchester’s perfect picnic spots!
So, forget that endless searching online! If you want to take the guesswork out of your planning so you can just go walking, kick back, and chill with your lot, read on. Our list below covers fantastic locations we’ve unearthed, plus pro tips to make things even more seamless.
Heaton Park
Media credit: heaton_park
Location: Middleton Rd
Contact Details: +441617731085
Operating Hours:
Monday – Sunday: 8:00 AM – Dusk
Covering an area of over six hundred acres, Heaton Park is the biggest park in Manchester, so there’s plenty of space to set your picnic blanket down.
You can find a good amount of shaded areas with beautiful views of trees, flowers, and grassy plains that stretch out in front of you. If all this is a bit too basic for your liking, you can even get a great view of Heaton Park’s boating lake if you choose the right spot.
Speaking of this, you can rent rowing boats, pedal boats, or swan-themed boats for a ride around the lake with your friends and family. This is great if just sitting and laying on a grassy field bores you and you’re seeking a bit more activity in your picnic.
Besides that, they’ve also got play areas and an animal farm for the kids, and a golf course and café that’s perfect for some downtime.
| Pro Tip: Get there early if you want to secure a good spot near the boating lake. You should also bring a sturdy blanket as the areas near the lake can sometimes be damp. |
Fletcher Moss Botanical Garden
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Location: 18 Stenner Ln, Didsbury
Contact Details: +441614341877
Operating Hours:
Monday – Sunday: Dawn – Dusk
Stepping into Fletcher Moss Botanical Garden feels like you’re being transported to a world of high fantasy. You can almost expect mythical creatures like centaurs and unicorns to jump out of the bushes!
The park is truly a sight to see, with beautiful ornamental gardens, rockeries, and colourful wildlife ranging from birds of different sizes to vibrant butterflies.
For the complete experience, stroll through the park’s walking trails and discover different kinds of trees, like the Japanese maple tree, Star Magnolia, and Tulip tree, among others.
| Pro Tip: The best picnic spots are near the rock garden and the Mersey River. You should also bring some binoculars if you want to go bird watching. |
Alexandra Park
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Location: 180 Russell St
Contact Details: +441612344343
Operating Hours:
Monday – Sunday: Dawn – Dusk
Opened in 1870 and located in Whalley Range, Alexandra Park boasts wide-open spaces that are perfect for activities like badminton, kite-flying, or catch and frisbee with your furry friends.
If you and your group or family are the active kind, you’ll be happy to know that they even have a football field, a cricket area, and a few tennis courts.
Alexandra Park is also perfect for nature-loving groups! You’ll find a great number of old, towering trees and a serene lake where ducks and geese flourish.
As mentioned before, the park was founded during the Victorian Era, so there’s also a lot to uncover here if you’re a history buff. This history is most apparent in Alexandra Park’s Chorlton Lodge, which was built with beautiful Victorian-style architecture.
| Pro Tip: Go there early to secure a good, shaded spot under one of the park’s majestic trees. You should also bring some bread and seeds for the ducks and geese in the park’s lake. |
Chorlton Water Park
Location: 74 Maitland Ave
Contact Details: +441618815639
Operating Hours:
Monday – Sunday: Dawn – Dusk
Chorlton Water Park is a tranquil nature reserve featuring an expansive lake surrounded by meadows and woodlands.
If you’re a nature enthusiast, this is the perfect spot because of the biodiversity—think herons, kingfishers, woodpeckers, owls, dragonflies, butterflies, and more. The park has conservation strategies like managing invasive plant species and maintaining nesting boxes!
As for the activities, cycling, angling, and even kayaking offer proper recreation for everyone.
The best part? Chorlton Water Park is PWD-friendly. Aside from designated PWD parking slots, the park’s pathways are also meticulously maintained to be suitable for wheelchairs and pushchairs.
| Pro Tip: Bring some bird seed to feed the ducks and swans in the lake. This is a great way to enjoy the park’s wildlife up close. Also, bring blankets and portable chairs as the lakeside tables can fill up quickly during sunny days. |
Mayfield Park
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Location: Baring St
Operating Hours:
Monday – Sunday: Dawn – Dusk
While most parks in Manchester have been around for a long, long time (some even 100+ years), Mayfield Park is a newer addition, having opened only in 2022.
At the moment, it lacks the cultural and historical significance that other parks in the city have, but it makes up for it with its modern facilities and design. The park features a kids’ play area, modern toilets, and water refill stations.
And though it’s still relatively new, the park’s biodiversity is already flourishing, being home to a mix of various tree species, wildflowers, and some species of fish and birds. This will only get better as they continue to develop the park over time.
Being located in the city centre, the park is also pretty convenient to get to. You can take a bus or a train, as it has bus stops nearby and is within walking distance of Manchester Piccadilly station.
| Pro Tip: While dogs and other furry friends are allowed in the park, they need to be kept under strict supervision at all times. Also, smoking, vaping, alcohol, BBQs, and tents are prohibited in the park. |
Platt Fields Park
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Location: Wilmslow Rd, Fallowfield
Contact Details: +441612242902
Operating Hours:
Monday – Sunday: 9:00 AM – Dusk
Having opened in 1910, Platt Fields Park has been around for many decades and has become a favourite picnic spot for many families in the area and beyond.
With a plethora of activities to do in the park, no two visits will be the same. It’s got a children’s play area, a football pitch, tennis courts, a Veterans pavilion, a BMX track, a market garden, a lake and boathouse, a skatepark, and the historical Platt Hall.
It’s worth noting that Platt Hall contains Manchester’s Costume Gallery, which is free and open to everyone. But if you just want to go for a simple picnic with your friends and family, you’ll find picnic tables and walking areas all around the park.
| Pro Tip: Explore Fallowfield’s hidden gem, the Shakespearean Garden in Platt Fields Park. It’s a peaceful spot to relax among the trees. |
Whitworth Park
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Location: Oxford Rd
Contact Details: +441612754950
Operating Hours:
Monday – Sunday: 8:00 AM – Dusk
Adjacent to the Whitworth Art Gallery, Whitworth Park is a beautiful, tranquil green space, making it a work of art on its own.
Originally opened in 1890, this plot of land is built upon decades of rich history. The park was even used as a training ground for soldiers during the First World War. Now, it’s a popular spot for picnics and other activities like Frisbee and yoga.
The area also flourishes with birdlife. If you have an eye for birds, you’ll be able to spot majestic species such as the goldfinch, greenfinch, ring-necked parakeet, fieldfare, and redwing.
If you’re a nature lover, you’ll enjoy the diverse range of flora seen in the park. Additionally, there are a bunch of things to do here because there are football pitches, a skate bowl, a croquet court, and a bowling green.
You can also hit their cafe if you want some good food and fresh coffee while you admire the park’s scenic views. They’re also licensed to serve alcohol, so you can unwind and enjoy a glass of wine while witnessing the beautiful sunset.
| Pro Tip: Set up near the lake to enjoy the serene water views and watch the local wildlife. Bring a blanket and arrive early on weekends to secure a good spot, as the park can get quite busy. |
