Rowntree Park

The chocolate family’s gift to the city: a riverside park with a lake, a café and a skate park.

Given by the Rowntree family in memory of the cocoa works' war dead, the park sits on the Ouse south of the centre with a lake, tennis courts, a good playground, a skate park and a café in the old library building. Ten minutes' walk from the station along the river. Free, and where the city's families go on a fine afternoon.

When it works

Outdoors: pick a dry day. Best morning, afternoon.

Good for kids, dogs and locals' favourite.

On these lists

• Things to do in York when the sun is out
• Free things to do in York
• Things to do in York with kids
• Things to do in York this weekend
• Plan an afternoon in York around it

Opening hours and prices change; the official site has the current ones. See everything in York ranked for right now.