Queens Park is one of the biggest parks in Bolton. Located just outside the town centre, it’s also one of the most convenient. Thanks to a grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund, the park has seen huge improvements in recent years.
We began our visit at the most popular attraction here; the playground. In my daughter’s opinion it’s better than the one at Moss Bank Park that seems to be losing one piece of equipment every month. Highlights include a zip line, a huge pyramid climbing frame, and a woodland adventure course.
The Pavilion Café in the park lodge is just west of the playground and serves drinks, ice cream, and hot and cold snacks. There’s indoor and outdoor seating areas. The lodge also houses toilets and a community room.
After spending a considerable amount of time at the playground, we took a walk along the woodland path that follows the River Croal. The area has been cleared up considerably in recent years. Sure, there was still some trash, but nothing like the amount we saw on our previous visit. Some woodland sculptures have also been added.
A short walk took us to a restored Dobson Bridge. Crossing it would have taken us to Spa Road and Bolton town centre. Instead we stopped briefly at one of the angling ponds here and then headed north to the Chorley New Road side of the park.
After climbing quite a steep path we came to the bowling green, tennis and basketball courts. There was nobody on the bowling green and the gates were closed. There were a few kids playing tennis. The net is metal now, but at least it’s intact.
Heading east took us past the sunken garden and to the lake. This has seen dramatic changes for the better recently. Many dead and diseased trees have been removed and the lake has been dredged. The water looks considerably cleaner and the ducks and geese here seemed to appreciate it.
We then went east towards the centre of the park, passing statues of Benjamin Disraeli and others, and then returned to the car park via a large grassy slope.
Queens Park is situated ¼ mile east of Bolton town centre. The main car park is at the end of Spa Road, right next to the playground and café. Parking is free. Owners of satellite navigation systems can use the postcode BL1 4SL to find it.
There’s a smaller car park at the northern end of the park, near the tennis court and bowling green. The entrance is on Park Street, off Chorley New Road.
Bolton Train Station is approximately one mile from the park.
