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!

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!

If you're looking for the best views of Birmingham, Lickey Hills Country Park is the place you…read moreshould go! This very popular landscape, placed between Rednal and Barnt Green areas, is a 524 acres park with a visitor centre, golf, tennis and bowls and also a wonderful view provided from the top of the Beacon Hill, the highest point of Lickey Hills. It's a huge public space that is perfect for walkers not afraid of a bit of adventure and also families that can have a good use of its recreation park. There is a cafe nearby the recreation area and you may need some food and drinks after walking through the park. I have been to Lickey Hills with a group of very enthusiastic friends and I can tell that in the end of the journey to Beacon Hill we were all tired but happy because the perspective we have of some parts of Birmingham from that point is quite impressive. If you thinking about making some walking, make sure you have plenty of water and comfortable trainers to face this hilly walk. We had a lovely picnic up there and it was really a good idea to have some food to compensate all energy spent during the journey. We worth it! There is a free car parking at Lickey Hills. The bus number 62 service from the city centre and the Barn Green train station are the other options to get there.

This is a really great place to go on a sunny day, or just a dry day if we can't manage any sun…read more It has three different play areas, one for older children with plenty of climbing at the top of the hill, a play area for little ones connected to a bit for slightly older children that has a big climbing frame and swings. It also has a lovely lake to take a short walk round. It's a brilliant place for bikes and scooters too. The paths are all suitable for pushchairs. The cafe is situated at the entrance to the park and has clean toilet facilities as well as stocking a wide range of the usual cafe snacks and ice creams. The food is pretty good if you forget to take a picnic. There's a lovely play and exploring area right outside the cafe near the picnic tables so you can sit and have a drink while keeping an eye on the children. There's also a spot from which you can feed the ducks on the lake nearby. If your children need even more to explore, there is a small area of woodland to run round on one side of the lake as well. It's a great way to spend a day. Plus, you can venture further afield if you really want to on sign posted walks.

l went here on a sunny but breezy day at the end of September and the park and visitor centre…read moreseemed relatively busy. The café stocked a variety of sandwiches, paninis and hot food. The mocha I had was nice and hot - served by friendly staff. Me and a friend sat out on the balcony over looking the lake which was nice. There are four maintained walks around the Arrow Valley park which I hope to return to do in the near future when it starts to warm up again.

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

This is a lovely and peaceful park, which I enjoy cycling to when I have the time. I like to come…read morehere with a book and some snacks and just chill out under one of the many beautiful trees. It is very green and also has a stream running through the centre of it. There is also a path that goes through the park and so it is easy for those on bikes, those with wheelchairs and those with pushchairs to venture through. It is great for children to come and play in here and I have often seen kids in the summer playing in the stream. There are a couple of benches situated in the park too, although I think that it is great to bring your own blanket and choose your own place to sit in the park. It is a tranquil and pretty place to come and chill out in.

Gayle and I arrived at the very cool Broadway Tower as we hiked up from town and then on our way to…read moreChipping Campden. It was built in 1798 on the second highest point in the Cotswolds and a very cool scenic place to take it all in. It's also a folly - a building that looks like it has a useful purpose (in this case, a strategic lookout), but is really just for decoration or personal enjoyment. In this case, it was commissioned by the 6th Earl of Coventry as a token of affection for his wife Lady Barbara.

This place was great- we were just going to drive by and then were enticed inside where we found a…read moredelightful gift shop and cafe. We purchased cute greeting cards and two lattes- delicious. They can make one mean mocha! Cute holidays ornaments, builder sets & more. Outside there are nice tables and cute kids play toys like a teepee to go into etc 2nd cafe & shop had lovely clothes and bags... We ended up doing the loop hike and saw so many cute sheep and a herd of deer with a magnificent buck; many places to rest and take up a view of the valley on a comfy bench...the tower tour came w listening device with history..: view from roof was amazing. There's a small shop at the bottom of the tower stocked w similar to first shop. My 75 year old mom was a little tired going up some of the hills but crushed it; I was just as tired ha ha

Hidcote is one of the National Trust's best-known gardens; as an example of an Arts & Crafts garden…read morelaid out to comprise different "rooms", it was influential in the design of many others. Hidcote was created by the American Lawrence Johnston. He and his mother frst moved to the UK in 1900, their wealth originating in the US stockbroking business. He became a naturalised British citizen, and fought with distinction in the Boer War, where he also became interested in the diverse flora of South Africa, as well as the First World War. His mother - Mrs Gertrude Winthrop - bought the Hidcote Manor estate in 1907, and Johnston immediately set about developing the gardens there, a project that lasted for 40 years, and including organising plant-hunting expeditions around the world. In the meantime, he also purchased a property in the south of France, and retired there permanently in 1948, at which point the National Trust acquired Hidcote. Today, the ground floor rooms of the Manor House are open to the public, and the adjacent mediaeval chapel is in use as a second-hand bookshop. But the main attraction is the 10 acres of gardens include a wide variety of planting styles, from intimate secret gardens with ponds and fountains, to dramatic lengths of herbaceous border, topiary, formal avenues of trees, and expanses of lawn. The renown of the garden is such that it regularly hosts the BBC's Gardeners' World TV programme. The garden is at its best in early summer, but there is interest year round. Note parts of the garden are at different levels, so there is no level access to all areas. The site includes a shop and cafeteria, serving the usual National Trust selection of light meals and cakes. There is a large car park across the lane from the Manor House.

This was a highlight of the time we spent in the Cotswolds. Words can't describe how absolutely…read morebeautiful the Hidcote Garden is. What is most impressive is the variety of different areas in the garden that are all impeccably done. This is both a lovely place for a quiet stroll or outdoor lunch. The cafe has surprisingly good English food.

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.

Elmdon park is a mammoth of a park and when I am feeling in need of some nice fresh air and a long…read morewalk I park at the top end by the Land Rover and walk all the way down to the playground section and back again, it usually takes around an hour and it is an enjoyable walk - typical that the hill back to the car park is fairly steep so don't over do it on the walk! Has events during the warmer months and within the last few years I have attended an Easter Egg hunt which took you on a walk around the park searching for letters to receive a creme egg for the kids who took part as well as a fun day where they had some bouncy slides which you had to pay £1-£1.50 to use