Queens park is a small park between the town centre and old walcot. Its a lovely place to go in the…read moresummer to sit and relax. There is a lake with seating around it and a pond with fountains. They also have a shop where you can buy refreshments in the summer and they have seating outside the shop so you can sit and enjoy the view.

Queens Park is fairly close to the town centre of Swindon. It is a pleasant place to spend a sunny…read moreafternoon. I remember going there years ago and it has not changed that much. There are flower beds, a lake and grass to sit on. It is ideal if you work nearby and want somewhere in the summer to sit and eat your lunch. (and you can feed any left over bread to the ducks)

Lovely place for a walk, but my favourite is when the Mela is in town. Transforms the gardens, and…read morebrings everyone together!

The Town Gardens still feel a little Victorian in the layout, with formal flowerbeds and a gorgeous…read morerose garden. There is also a small kiosk for those who didn't have the foresight to bring a picnic, and a bandstand nearby to sit if it is raining. There's also an aviary and pond, but I never found it particularly interesting, I can't even remember if there are actually any birds there. Close by is The Bowl which opened in 1936. It is now a site for regular summer concerts. (When I was a kid we used to play 'sardines' here... it was ace.)

I've been visiting California Country Park since I was a small child, and I still find it as…read morebreathtaking as I ever did. The forest is enchanting, with ferns and moss clearings, the nature trails are incredible, winding through the hidden bogs and woodland, and the lake is beautiful, teeming with fish and birds. Bring the children to feed the swans, meet the baby ducklings and play in the log themed playground, complete with zip line and a paddling pool in the summer. Have a cup of coffee, slice of cake or ice cream at Jackson's Cafe, and wander the park, breathing in the fresh air of true nature. It is one of my favourite places in the world, I hope you enjoy it just as much.

Alice Holt is an amazing and large place for long walks, adventure play park for the kids, Go-Ape,…read morecycle hire and large lake and cafe area...great to go on a sunny day! Lots of different walks can be taken with a Stick Man walk for the little ones! Play park is great and can be difficult getting the younger members of the family out! There are picnic benches along the way, with some great view points too...as its large you don't feel on top of everyone on a busy day...although parking can take a while, so be aware!

A forest owned by the Forestry Commission I had to add a positive review for this place becuase…read morethey were the last place in Farnham to have Christmas trees when I left it too late. It is a lovely day out with paths and walks to suit all ages and abilities - including wheelchair friendly. It also has a cafe and plentiful parking. There are climbing frames for kids in addition to the Go Ape centre within the forest which is for big kids (death slides, assult courses etc). A good picnic location as well as a place to get Christmas trees.

Lydiard Park is a gorgeous old house surrounded by 18th-century parkland (around 260 acres)…read more Visitors are welcome to enjoy both the house and the surrounding land. Unlike other heritage sites it is open all year, and you are free to wander round at your leisure rather than being herded through. There is also a church, a walled garden, a children's play area, a cafe/visitor centre, and wonderfully climbable trees! I grew up in Swindon, and some of my fondest memories as a child are of spending the day at Lydiard Park. It's a great place for kids because it has an atmosphere of complete and utter freedom, the playground is amazing (as I remember), and there is so much to explore.

Beautiful surroundings, a great place for walk on the weekend. I have enjoyed many a walk with my…read moregirlfriend. Great place for the dogs to get a run around as well!

Walk, Walk and more walking to enjoy this very spacious gardens in which has some terracotta army…read morehidden in the grounds. The House is very historical with some very large gardens and has some Peto water gardens that a lot of people are there taking photos of the views. Its very peaceful and nice to to visit. DB

Streamleaze road park is great for the little ones ,some swings ,a slide , rope climb etc all…read moreenclosed and gated

This is a beautiful little hidden lake and park. It will soon be opened up with more facilities and…read morecurrently now has a car park. I hope this does not affect it's tranquility and charm. The Grebes are wonderful to observe.

Mouldon Hill Country Park is still being developed, so at the moment, not a lot of people know…read moreabout it. It is a hidden gem in Swindon. Just off the busy Thamesdown Drive, it is like being out in the country. There is a lake there if you like fishing, or you can just stroll about and walk the dog. The only downside at the moment is that if you drive there, there is nowhere to park the car, so you have to park in a nearby housing estate and walk from there. It will be interesting to have a look at the reviews again in a few years time and see how much has changed.

Hinksey is the park I tend to forget about and every time we go to the outdoor pool I think - why…read moredon't we come here more often? The answer is that we live on the other side of the city and Oxford has so many lovely green spaces. On the other hand Hinksey is just outside the centre of Oxford and has things the other parks don't have. There is a small children's play area, a lake on which there used to be pedalos for hire, a lake on which you sometimes see people sailing their radio controlled boats, tennis courts, fishing and the outdoor swimming pool. The paddling pool has been replaced by a free fountain / water feature play area. I've not been to this one at the right time of year but the one in Abingdon is great fun. Remember the fun of running under the hose in the garden? Fountain play areas recreate that experience. I've just looked at the city council website to check out the details for this park and I found out that it is a "Green Flag" winner. I've heard of different coloured flags being awarded to beaches but I didn't know there were flags for parks - I can feel myself just about to waste half an hour looking up other "green flag" parks to see if my other favorite places have won anything. (And I've found out from the website there are fresh water sponges and zebra mussels in the park - who'd have thought it!)

This is as good a park as any, and it's a lovely haven of green and fun. If you live in central…read moreOxford, there are plenty of nearer parks, but if you're young at heart or have kids, and if it's a warm day, this is definitely the place to be. Why? Water! There's a 'Splash' water feature, open from 10am-8pm May to September, but sometimes earlier in the year if it's warm enough. The outdoor swimming pool is brilliant: it's heated, free for under-17s and surrounded by sun-loungers. It's like being on holiday: sun, water and ice-cream, yet only a short drive from home. There's also tennis, fishing and a lake with a myriad of interesting birds (still waiting to catch a glimpse of a kingfisher!) and underwater life. A word of warning: if, like me, you enjoy evening walks with friends or a four-legged companion, watch out because although the park's always open (unlike the University Parks for example), there's no way to get a car in after a certain time. This changes throughout the year, the earliest being aroudn 5pm in winter, I think. Definitely worth checking, but not a disaster if it's shut, as there's plenty of parking nearby.