Celebrate the 24 free parks available across Grimsby and Cleethorpes this summer

Love Parks Week celebrates the vital role green spaces play in boosting the health and wellbeing of residents and communities. Parks and green spaces are amazing, they create healthier communities by encouraging physical activity, reducing stress, and providing spaces for social interaction, leading to happier and healthier residents. 

They produce stronger communities, as well-maintained parks become hubs for community events, fostering a sense of belonging and pride.  They make for a sustainable future – parks act as natural filters, improving air and water quality while mitigating climate change impacts.

These spaces especially come into their own now - during the school summer holidays  - when families can gather outdoors to take advantage of the fresh air and green spaces in our borough.

No matter where you live in the town, you are never too far from a park or open space and here we take a look at some of the most popular sites.

Cleethorpes is home to a rare and internationally important habitat for wildlife, known as The Saltmarsh. Learn more about this impressive area, which lies beyond Cleethorpes Leisure Centre, through our interactive story map Life on the Saltmarsh. but please pay attention to the signs to protect the birds and other creatures who live there when you visit.

Weelsby Woods is an iconic landmark, with its entrance flanked by historic statues of  lions. It has acres of grassland, a café, an ice cream parlour and public toilets. Weelsby Woods is located on Weelsby Road in Grimsby. Parking is available on the grounds, and public transport bus numbers 7 and 53 stop closest to the area.  

People’s Park offers bowling greens, a croquet lawn, play areas and picnic benches all set around a fabulous lake. People’s Park is located on Park Drive in the centre of Grimsby. Public bus routes 7, 10 and 5 all stop within walking distance of the park.

Cleethorpes Boating Lake attracts thousands of visitors each year and its Discovery Centre, restaurants, open-air paddling pool, fishing and boat hire make for a great day out for all the family. You can find the Boating Lake at Kings Road, Cleethorpes. There is a public car park steps away from the Boating Lake. Public transport bus routes 10 and 8 stop nearby.

Cleethorpes Country Park offers a sense of the countryside within the town. This 160-acre park was once open farmland and is now a local nature reserve. Great for family walks, the one-mile path runs around a big lake in the centre of the park. Also fun for dog walkers, there’s a designated dog swimming area for those four-legged friends who like a dip! The Country Park is located on North Sea Lane, Cleethorpes. There are several accesses to the park for pedestrians, and motorists can access the area via Park Lane (just off Humberston Road and North Sea Lane). Free parking is available at the Park Lane entrance for approximately 40 cars. Public transport bus routes 9 and 10 stop the closest to the North Sea Lane entrance to the park.

Barretts Recreation Ground is fantastic for those who love outdoor sports. There are four bowling greens (which open at 2pm), football and cricket pitches and a small play area.  The four tennis courts at Barretts Recreation Ground have just been fully refurbished and are open from 6am to 9pm, with the last booking at 8pm. The entrance to the ground is on Park Avenue, off Weelsby Road. There is a small car park at the Park Avenue entrance. The main bus services are the numbers 8 and 9 and both stop at the former Grimsby Swimming Pool entrance on Scartho Road.

Haverstoe Park offers football pitches, a bowling green, a sensory garden, a play area, and a cafe and community room, plus public toilets. The park is located in Hardy’s Road, Cleethorpes, with access from Aldrich Road. The park also has two newly-refurbished tennis courts which are open from 6am to 9pm (last booking 8pm). There is a car park on-site for motorists arriving at the park. Public bus routes 10, 12 and 4 all stop within walking distance to the park.

Sussex Recreation Ground offers four newly-reopened tennis courts, which are open from 6am to 9pm (last booking 8pm), a bowling green (which opens at 2pm), a football pitch and play area with accessible swing, and The Pavilion, which is available for hire.  It is situated on Brereton Avenue in Cleethorpes. Public bus routes 6, 9, 10 and 3 all stop within walking distance of the area.

Grant Thorold Park offers play areas, a multi-use games area, a public library and community hub. The park is located on Durban Road, in Grimsby. Public bus routes 4, 12 and 20 stop within walking distance of the park.

Sidney Park has a model boat pond, a playground, bowling greens and football pitches. The park is located on Brereton Avenue, Cleethorpes. There is a free car park for visitors, and it is easily accessible by public transport with bus routes 9, 4, 10, 12 and 3 all arriving within walking distance.

The Duke of York Gardens are a little oasis within the town. Situated alongside the River Freshney they offer five-a-side football, a playground and fishing (with permits). The Duke of York Gardens is accessible via Corporation Road. Public transport bus routes 10 and 5 head along Corporation Road, and a small walk will take you to the gardens. You can also visit Grimsby in Bloom here, which has its own café.

Bradley and Dixon Woods offer another exciting opportunity to experience nature, with bird feeding available. The car park is located in the bird feeding area and you can put bird food out and then return to your car to watch the birds. The woods are on the south side of Grimsby, just off the A46 on the B1444. As you enter the woods there is a small car park on the left for about eight cars.

To find out about all of our 24 parks, and check their opening hours, visit

Parks and open spaces | NELC (nelincs.gov.uk)