Ever since I was a wee gal I've been coming to Lickey Hills park - from school geography trips to…read morehuge picnics , it has something for everyone. As soon as you come in, theres a huge park for kids which is actually great fun for the big kids too ;) take my advice for it! And as you go deeper into the park, you realise what an incredible sigh of relief this park is as it gives you a break from the busy, industrial city ; instead offering you serenity and beauty. You wouldn't even think it's in Birmingham! Rolling hills, towering trees and a blanket of green surrounding you; each area is beautiful. Even if you do get drenched by the rain like I did, it's definitely worth it! A must for those seeking an escape!

How can this not be 5*?! Beautiful rolling countryside, amazing views, woods and generally stunning…read morescenery. I actually don't have much more to say for a change!! If you are looking for a place for a hike, romantic walk, dog walking spot or just generally a spot to get out of the city without going too far then check this place ut. I have been coming here since I was a kid and think ill be coming back for some years! Lovely.

One of Birmingham's lesser known parks, and all the better for it, if you ask me! We really are…read moreblessed / spoiled over in the south of the city when it comes to parks - there seems to be one every few hundred yards - from large, countryside-equse open spaces like Warley Woods and the Lickeys, to ornate urban parks like Cannon Hill Park. This place is a little of both - the large open space that dominates it provides a lovely respite from the bustle of Harborne, and the gardens that border it are well kept and a legacy of the park's Victorian roots. A great little park - much recommended!

Queens Park is one of Birmingham's best parks in my opinion, its very secluded and not very known…read moreabout and all the better for it! We don't have many great outdoor spaces in Harborne so its a great place for young children, teenagers and adults too. Its has a great open large space, people come here to play football, tennis (has 2 tennis courts), basketball (has a basketball court). Has a playground area for young children. Very popular with dog walkers, joggers and cyclists. Ive been here day and night and never had any trouble, the gardens are well kept and very pretty in every season. There is 2 car parks available on site which is free, space available for disabled vehicles too. A great little park!

Although Sheldon Country Park isn't that far away from where I live, to this day, I still haven't…read moreexplored the full extent of the landscape. It's one huge park that stretches from Sheldon all the way to Birmingham International Airport, and the entire area transports the suburb into the countryside. Before I came to this park, never in a million years would I have predicted that Birmingham would have its own farm. But yes, the Sheldon entrance is home to cows, sheep and pigs. This area is perfect for children, as it teaches them the workings of a farm, without having to spend money to visit a real one in rural areas of the UK. Additionally, there's a cosy little cafe next to the farm which has a little garden where bees are kept. In the summer time, this garden is a great place to chill out, away from the heat of the rest of the park. The large grassland is also perfect for children to play football, cricket and other activities. And the size and length of the park means that there's always space for groups of people to enjoy their surroundings, without having a football rolling onto their picnic.

You can have great picnics in the old bunkers of Marston Green Golf Course while watching the…read moreplanes land & take off at Birmingham Airport. It's also a good place to walk the dog too.

Leasowes park and woodland covers over 140 acres, including the Halesowen Golf Club. The Leasowes…read morePark is one of the most beautiful natural landscapes i have seen. They have also been designed by a poet from the 18th century called William Shenstone (if your interested in history). The area consist of wooded hillsides, scenic grasslands and small lakes and streams. Free parking is available at the Leasowes Lane entrance. It's natural and in areas very wild, isolated and utterly without basic facilities. But having said that its great for getting back to basics for a proper old school adventure! Spend the day hiking, have a mini beast finding safari, or have the hide and seek tournament of your lives... there is lots of fun to be had here! This public space is a great bit of wilderness in a heavily industrialised area. A great place to come to escape from it all. A much used and loved place for family recreation, couples, friends alike. There are a few must see features to find like the bridge over the water feature, this place is great as you'll find nothing but green here. it truly is Lovely!

This is a lovely and green parkland located just away from Halesowen town centre. It was landscaped…read moreto closely resemble the natural environment, so there are lots of trees and winding pathways to help you explore the sizeable (143 acre) space. There is a fishing pond with a well-trodden path that takes about 20 minutes to walk around. It is a pleasant stroll through the woodland up to the golf course. The main problem is accessing the park by car as it can only be reached from the downhill carriageway of Mucklow's Hill.

You know those amazingly warm and sunny weekends? Well we don't get them too often and when they…read morehappen I get the urge to do something quintessentially English. So last one day recently saw a much needed drive out of Brum and into the countryside. I'm not a National Trust member but I am starting to wonder why? Our visit to Packwood House was fantastic. You can go into the house and even have a tour but we wanted to experience the gardens, herbaceous borders and huge yew topiaries up close. The house is originally 16th century and features several gorgeous blue and gold sun dials - so check your watch against them and see which are still set to GMT. The gardens are beautiful and kept in stunning condition. Mostly they are comprised of some very distinct and large yew topiaries. The highlight has to be walking up the helter skelter style border to reach the top of The Mound which is adorned with a large yew tree. From there you can take in the views, enjoy the cool shade and benefit from some much needed peace. The rest of the gardens are a mix of wild and wonderful plants and the look must change considerably throughout the year. Don't miss out on walking around the back of the house to catch the very unique sun dial monument. A great day out even if you are not a National Trust member - stunning!

Packwood is another National Trust property right on the doorstep and one that makes me so glad…read morethat we got membership for a Chrismas present. The gardens are the usual lovely mixture of more formal with some stunning yew trees to admire, plus the broader park land. The formal area is very children friendly and there's a lovely little raised mound right at the back that's lots of fun to run up. The pak land has a great walk and there's a large pond/small lake with ducks. It's a good place to explore and there's the usual wooded area to wander around too. The National Trust is so much better at welcoming families and Packwood now has so much more to offer children such as outdoor games and family activities during holidays. Picnics are welcome too. There isn't a cafe or restaurant although you can get coffee and snacks from the reception area. The toilets are in the car park.

been here twice now for a run, it is a typical large park with road track for people go to the…read moreother end or for jogging. there are many kids play and also sports arena like cricket and volley. It is occasionally use for carnival on weekend this is the only decent running park in the area unfortunately running is not popular around this area (Washwood Heath, Small Heath, Saltley). I guess it's true when they say there were very few runner in Birmingham. the pond is nice with ducks floating or resting on the track-side but it is so dirty filled with dirt and bottles. It really needs some cleaning

This is a large park to come to for all sorts of activities. It has a steep hill/slope leading to…read moreits lower ground (at one point of entry) there is swings and climbing frames here, climbing the spider web to the top can reveal some of Birmingham beauties like the city centre and beyond. There is also a small basket ball/football enclosure there for the adults/kids to play. Right next to that is the community youth centre. At the upper part of the park is a huge divided into two parts of land, both sides are where sporting activities mainly take place like football and cricket. This is also where joggers and dog owners go to leisurely. There is also a medium sized pond at the bottom of the upper part of the part where there is ducks and fishes. Fishermen are there sometimes. Right beside the pond is the tennis court which is of a decnt size.

Shirley Park is in Shirley, Solihull, close to a shopping area that is becoming more popular with…read morepeople from outside the Shirley area. The park provides relief to the frantic high street and is ideal for a family picnic. There are a wide range of activities in the Park, including pitch and putt, and a range of events through out the summer months. The Donkey Derby is one of my favourites. It is a large outdoor summer fair with lots of animals to interact with I was lucky enough to speak to the parks warden and he told me the Park was originally home to farmland, which was bought up in 1927. At a later stage additional features were introduced which included an ornamental garden and formal walkways. A walk through the woods of the park is especially pleasant in spring when the bluebells produce a vivid array of colours. It is also possible to view wildfowl as the pond is used on a frequent basis by birds and wildlife. Play equipment includes: - Junior & toddler swings, Junior & toddler multi play, Senior & junior mound slide, Talking flowers, Horse springers, reveloution roundabout, play car and crazy mirrors. I grew up in the area as a child and have fond memories of this park, to the extent that I visit it most weeks.

I don't use the term 'hidden gem' often, many because it's such a cliche and rarely true in these…read moredays of vapid overstatement. However, in this case it is literally true. You might never know it exists unless you're a resident of the local patch. I've lived over this side of Birmingham for over ten years and only discovered its existence a few months ago. I found it because I was trying to find Playpod (a soft play area) off the Stratford Road and stumbled upon this park by accident. There's plenty of green space surrounded by trees where you can play football or use the tennis courts if team games aren't you're thing. It's a great place for a picnic too, even though it's surrounded by busy residential streets. The play ground has swings, climbing frames, various slides, those flowers that you can talk into, a roundabout, play car andfunny mirrors. Everything is in pretty good condition too. There's also a skate park and even pitch and putt (though you have to take your own clubs and balls if you want to play.) I don't remember seeing any toilets because for once we didn't need to use them, but I'm sure there must be some nearby. If you want snacks and drinks, the shops on the high street are a few minutes away.

Coombe Country Park in Coventry is a beautiful, historical spot that isn't crowded or touristy…read more There's plenty of parking, and the scenery makes it perfect for romantic rainy-day strolls or sunny picnic dates. The park feels peaceful and well-kept, and it's a lovely place to relax and enjoy nature without the crowds.

I love this park I go there with my family and friends and scouts sometimes . It's a nice place…read morebecause it has a café and a park for bigger children and younger children, which shows that they care for the children . It has a duck pond and a lake and you can feed the ducks however not a lot which is good because it proves they care about the nature . It has a jungle go ape area that has support and pros watching you for your entire experience to ensure your safety but you still have fun .

I really love this park, It offers FREE parking too, on certain days Run Birmingham offer a free…read morerunning scheme called 'Couch to 5k' a 9 week program free to attend and gives you confidence to meet other fellow runners. Beautiful surrounding, come with kids to feed the wild life duckies in the large pond. Big area to ride your bike too with a number of facilities to park your bike. Kids can also have fun on the pay area too, with swings and a large climb rack. On my daily walks to the park I've even found wild black berries and bamboo being grown in the woodland area. There's a Cadbury Bournville house that has been derelict for quite a few years now, for such a great location I've always hoped that the council would invest money in this great location and maybe convert it into a little café? That would be perfect in my opinion. Have a good day everyone, thanks a bunch for reading