Birmingham's best parks and green spaces

Birmingham is one of the greenest cities in Britain, with hundreds of parks and open spaces. From ancient woodland to Victorian parks and wild nature reserves, there is somewhere to escape the city in every neighbourhood. Here are some of the best.

Sutton Park

Covering around 2,400 acres, Sutton Park in Sutton Coldfield is one of the largest urban parks in Europe and a National Nature Reserve. It has heathland, woodland, wetlands and seven lakes, and is home to wild ponies and cattle. You can walk for hours and feel miles from the city.

Cannon Hill Park

Opened in 1873, Cannon Hill Park near Edgbaston is one of the city's most popular parks, with a boating lake, formal gardens and plenty of space to relax. The MAC arts centre sits within the park, and the Birmingham Wildlife Conservation Park is nearby.

The Lickey Hills

On the southern edge of the city, the Lickey Hills Country Park offers woodland walks and some of the best views across Birmingham from Beacon Hill. It has been a favourite escape for Brummies for generations.

Kings Heath Park

Kings Heath Park has beautiful gardens, a tea room and the Television Garden, where gardening programmes were once filmed. It regularly wins awards for its planting.

Highbury Park

In Moseley and Kings Heath, Highbury Park surrounds Highbury Hall, the former home of Joseph Chamberlain, with woodland, meadows and quiet paths.

Moseley Bog and Joy's Wood

This small, wild nature reserve is thought to have inspired the Old Forest in J R R Tolkien's writing. Boardwalks lead through wet woodland, and it is a magical place for children to explore.

Handsworth Park

A classic Victorian park with a lake, boating, a bandstand and sports facilities, Handsworth Park is also the setting for the city's Vaisakhi celebrations each spring.

Edgbaston Reservoir

Close to the city centre, Edgbaston Reservoir has a walking path around the water, sailing and rowing clubs and views of the city skyline.

Eastside City Park

Opened in 2013, Eastside City Park was the first new city centre park in Birmingham for more than a century. It has lawns, water features and gardens next to Millennium Point.

Birmingham Botanical Gardens

For a more formal day out, the Botanical Gardens in Edgbaston have glasshouses and landscaped grounds full of plants from around the world. Unlike the city's parks, they charge for entry.

Enjoying the parks

Many of Birmingham's parks have won Green Flag awards for their quality. Most have cafés, play areas and toilets, and many host events in summer, from fun runs to festivals. Check the city council's website for opening times, parking and events.

Whether you want a gentle stroll, a long hike or a picnic, Birmingham's green spaces are one of the city's greatest assets.