Dogs are required to be kept on a lead:
- in some of our parks
- within the marked pitch/playing area of our sports pitches
Dogs are excluded from enclosed children’s play areas and sports facilities. Visit our Dog Control page for full details.
This park has been awarded the Green Flag Award.
Facilities and visitor information
Opening times
The park is open 24 hours and free to use.
The Meadow Cafe is open 7 days a week 8am to 6pm. *The Winter opening times are 10am - 3pm*
Access and seating
A network of wide, multiuse, tarmac paths link all areas of the park, suitable for wheelchairs and prams with seating throughout.
Play equipment is available for children of all ages and abilities.
Toilets
Free public toilets at The Meadow Cafe by the clock tower, available during cafe opening hours.
Travel and directions
Around one mile from the city centre and Plymouth railway station.
Public transport: Citybus route numbers 16, 46 and 50 from the city centre, park and ride stops at Central Park
Parking available at Milehouse Park and Ride.
Things to do in Central Park
Central Park offers a place to socialise, relax and get back to nature as well as exercise. So many different opportunities for you in this urban park.
The Meadow Café
Stop by the Meadow Café for a refuel with a good selection of food and drinks on offer and great views of the park. Relax with friends, a spot to contemplate or even a pit stop during your walk.
Opening times: 10am to 3pm.
There is something for everyone here.
If you have any enquiries relating to the café email themeadowcafe@catered.org.uk
Activity and leisure
There is something for everyone at Central Park. Whether you like team sports or individual activities, you can do it all here. We offer football and rugby pitches, tennis courts and bowls greens, Disc golf and pitch and putt as well as numerous walk and cycling paths throughout the park.
Find out more about Sport in Central Park
Play area
Perfect for all ages with natural play equipment throughout. Interactive and imaginative play as well as climbing frames and traditional equipment. Sand pits and water play spread over the park which leads to open rolling fields. With picnic benches and the Meadow Café nearby it’s a perfect location for a day out.
Golf
There is a 9 hole pitch and putt course at Central Park, admission is payable at the golf hut. You can also grab some refreshments at the golf hut, hot and cold.
You can also play Frisbee golf and football golf in the park. Visit the golf hut Facebook page for more information.
Bowls
There are 2 public bowling greens in front of the community sports hub which are booked out by the bowls league for fixtures throughout the year. Find out more and book a green.
Football
There are 8 football pitches at Central Park hired out for matches throughout the year. Please visit our football pitches page for more information.
Park Tennis
With support from the Lawn Tennis Association, in 2019 the Council has been able to add 4 tennis courts to Central Park on a pay and play basis. Park Tennis Plymouth has all the information on booking, playing and memberships.
Skate Park
A newly developed skate park and parkour site at the edge of the park for all those extreme sports lovers. Suitable for all ages and abilities, free and open access, why not drop by and have a go.
Walk your dog
Central Park offers a fantastic location to take your four legged friend for a walk. Dog bins are provided throughout the park. There are a few dogs on leads zones throughout the park. Dog exclusion zones
Pounds Park
Take a walk through the park to find some hidden treasures including Pounds Park with its beautiful azalea beds and collection of rare tree species from overseas.
Volunteer
Get involved and help care for Plymouth's biggest park. There are lots of different volunteering opportunties to get involved in.
Visit Volunteer in Nature to find out all the different ways you can join in.
Central park ponds project
A network of ponds and features to capture rainwater will be built near the existing pond at the Barn Park Road entrance, turning this corner into a home for wildlife as well as somewhere for people to enjoy the surroundings.
Want to find out more, visit the project page.
Community Sports Hub
The newly refurbished hub is a space that benefits the entire Plymouth community. With a range of facilities including a community hall, kitchen, changing rooms and more this hub is a great place for you to host events, activities, meetings, or hire any of the sporting facilities. With competitive hire rates and a fantastic location, it’s a venue to suit all your needs.
The hub will soon be open for bookings so watch this space
This hub hosts bowling greens, football pitches, and tennis courts. Further afield in the park you can access a pitch and putt course, Skate Park, footgolf, play area, cafe and more. Visit Things to do in Central Park for more information.
Please visit our sport and leisure page for more information about sport and activity in the city.
Community partnerships
Working with the community
We work closely with the community and partners on Central Park to deliver events and opportunities for participation. Events delivered include:
- 300+ hours of free nature based events, including practical conservation, education and fun days (since 2017)
- Skate park opening jam
- Free sports activities
- Play area opening event
- Dog show
- Love Parks events
- Community consultation events
Fundraising with the community
We support community groups to develop and deliver projects, and by providing match funding. Some examples of projects:
Oral history project - Friends of Central Park Plymouth & FotoNow: Creating a timeline, website and interpretation panels, based on stories from the community and historical research. Part funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund. Take a look at the new website and the project
Family Tree Field classroom seating area – Plymouth Tree Partnership: Created the new central seating area in the field. Part funded by the Postcode Lottery.
Sculptures in the wooded valley – Friends of Central Park Plymouth: Creation of sculptures and sculpted benches in the woods. Part funded by the Tesco Community Grant Scheme.
Improvements programme
In 2017, the Council committed £9m over the next four years to improving Central Park so that it fulfils its potential as one of Plymouth's premier destinations.
We aim to develop the park's primary function, as originally conceived in 1928, as a park devoted to the improvement of the health of Plymouth people by active sport, recreation and leisure activities. Our basis for improvements is the Masterplan created through consultation in 2013.
What have we done so far?
- We’ve improved 4km of paths in Central Park with Transforming Cities Fund
- Refurbished the Bowling Pavilion to create a new Community Sports Hub, part funded by Football Foundation
- Installed 4 new pay to play tennis courts
- Improved entrances
- Installed new seating and street lights
- Planted more trees and created more homes for wildlife
Coming up
The Council will continue the improvements with support from funding secured from Green Minds. This includes;
- New ponds and wetlands near the entrance off Barn Park Road
- New physical and digital interpretation including new signage
- Improve a Treescape for the future
Love Exploring App
The Love Exploring App has come to Central Park. This free to download and use app has something for everyone;
- Virtual games- Can you find all the dinosaurs?
- A map of the park and facilities
- Walking trails
- Events updates- find out whats going on in the park
Download here to start exploring!
Central Park is the largest park in Plymouth. It was originally created in 1928 as a park devoted to the improvement of the health of city residents. Wide boulevards go through the park's open meadows and woodlands, up and down hills with fantastic views over the city towards Plymouth Sound and Cornwall.
Enjoy a cuppa at our new grass roofed cafe - The Meadow Cafe; take the kids to the city's largest play area and Skate Park, rent the Community Sports Hub and gardens for events or activities; or book to play tennis on the new courts. New seating, public art and spaces for nature make this park a grand day out for all ages!
Find out more about what has been happening in the park with our update:
Email wildlife@plymouth.gov.uk to join the Central Park mailing list.
