How long should we allow for a visit?

A typical visit lasts around 2 hours, which gives children time to explore the playground and woodland areas without rushing.

Is there a café, or should we bring a picnic?

There is a café called The Coffee Lodge on site, so you can buy refreshments. We haven't confirmed whether there's a dedicated picnic area, but the park grounds offer plenty of space to eat outdoors.

Can I manage a buggy around the park with children of different ages?

The park has step-free access throughout, which helps with buggies. However, we haven't confirmed how buggy-friendly the specific paths and play areas are, so it's worth checking before you visit if you're managing both a pushchair and older children.

Does the park work in wet weather?

As an outdoor woodland and playground space, a rainy forecast may limit the enjoyment, particularly for younger children. The woodland paths can become muddy, so waterproof clothing and footwear are advisable if you do visit in poor weather.

Ampthill Great Park

Outdoor Play & Adventure Playgrounds · Bedford, Bedfordshire

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🌳 Outdoor0–11–33–55–88–1212–16🛝 Playground🌲 Woodland🆓 Free entry

What’s there

Café on site
Free parking
Baby changing
Dogs welcome

Access & inclusion

Step-free access

Two car parks off the B530 Woburn Street: central car park by the Football Club and west car park just off the A507 bypass.

Only facilities we’ve confirmed are listed — anything missing here we simply haven’t checked, rather than know to be absent.

Ampthill Great Park is a Green Flag award-winning historic park in the heart of Ampthill, owned and managed by Ampthill Town Council and maintained with The Greensand Trust. Around 160 acres of parkland and woodland give families plenty of space to run, play and explore, with a children's play area featuring traditional and challenging equipment, including trampolines, a rotating swing and musical chimes. Younger visitors will love the Snail Trail activity trail - pick up a map from the leaflet dispenser near the cafe and follow it around the park. The Coffee Lodge park cafe serves brunch, baguettes, toasties, ice cream and slushies, with toilets, baby changing facilities and outdoor seating. The park is a Grade II Registered Historic Park with a fascinating history: Henry VIII hunted here, Katherine of Aragon was held at the castle in 1533, and the landscape was designed by Capability Brown in the 1770s. Look out for Katherine's Cross (1773), the Reservoir and Westminster Pond, veteran trees and the wildlife of this County Wildlife Site. There are two free car parks, free tennis courts and lots of open space to enjoy. Dogs are welcome throughout the park except in the children's play area.

Questions parents ask

How long should we allow for a visit?: A typical visit lasts around 2 hours, which gives children time to explore the playground and woodland areas without rushing.
Is there a café, or should we bring a picnic?: There is a café called The Coffee Lodge on site, so you can buy refreshments. We haven't confirmed whether there's a dedicated picnic area, but the park grounds offer plenty of space to eat outdoors.
Can I manage a buggy around the park with children of different ages?: The park has step-free access throughout, which helps with buggies. However, we haven't confirmed how buggy-friendly the specific paths and play areas are, so it's worth checking before you visit if you're managing both a pushchair and older children.
Does the park work in wet weather?: As an outdoor woodland and playground space, a rainy forecast may limit the enjoyment, particularly for younger children. The woodland paths can become muddy, so waterproof clothing and footwear are advisable if you do visit in poor weather.