We visited Ampthill Great Park in Bedfordshire as part of a day out in Ampthill. We’d also been to Little City and Houghton House. Because we got there after lunch, and had to get back to Aylesbury for the school run, we didn’t spend as much time here as I would have liked. It took us a few years but we did eventually go back to explore more of the site and there’s so much to see and do here. The park is HUGE – they chose a good name for it!
The Playground
We parked in the car park nearest the hub, which just so happens to be right next to the playground. When I first did a review of Ampthill Great Park I mentioned that the fenced off space for the playground was MASSIVE! Excessively so and at the time it didn’t make much sense! Well, fast forward four years and they’ve stuck some new equipment in here to fill the space. Obviously there was some forward planning in place!!
There are lots of different play frames and bits of kit. They seem to be a bit of a hodge-podge, but do kids really care about that?? There’s one frame that reminds me a bit of the final stage of the Krypton Factor (showing my age there). It looks like both good fun and hard work for older kids. There’s toddler and normal swings, numerous permutations of slide and a big, comparatively new play frame. I was unsure if this would be suitable for Smallest Child but actually it was fine. The slide was even big enough to fit my bum on!!
Some of the kit looks like it’s been there possibly since the 80’s, but it’s all well maintained so I guess that’s the main thing. There’s plenty of seating around (including picnic tables).
You’ll find quite a lot of rabbit poo everywhere. Might want to watch out with stumble-prone toddlers.
The rest of Ampthill Great Park
The rest of the estate is MASSIVE. Ampthill Great Park has got an interesting history. Henry VIII used it as a hunting ground, there used to be a castle here, and Capability Brown redesigned it in the 18th Century. There’s loads to explore and lots of space for the kids to run around in. You can stop for picnics and there are benches dotted around if you don’t fancy sitting on the grass.
There are three trails around the park. You can either get the routes from the visitor centre or have a look at the interactive map on their website. There’s woodland areas, lots of open spaces, various ponds and a reservoir. You’ll also find free to use tennis courts, and a cricket pitch (not free to use!).
It’s actually surprising how many different landscapes there are. One minute you’re in a woods, the next you’re on the top of a sandy hill, then you’re next to a reservoir. We did the heritage trail and it took us just over an hour at a gentle pace. There are some steep-ish uphill sections and this path isn’t pushchair friendly. It does have some stunning views though.
Admission Cost
Entry is free
Parking / How to get there
Parking – There are two, free on-site car parks – both off of B530 (Woburn Street). There is a small one near the playground / hub, and a larger one further out of town (which includes overflow parking).
How to get there – Woburn Street, Ampthill, Bedfordshire, MK45 2HX. The car parks aren’t necessarily that well sign posted from the street! There is also on-street parking on the road.
Toilets
There are toilets and baby change facilities in the hub.
Food
Food is available from the hub. Lots of places to have a picnic.
Our Ampthill Great Park Review
Ampthill Great Park is a lovely space for everyone to enjoy and I’m looking forward to going back and adding to the review. The fact they’re upgrading the playground is good news, but it certainly isn’t bad at the moment. I really like that there’s such a large park for everyone to enjoy in such a central location.
Hi, I’m Vicky. My husband and I live in Aylesbury with our three children; a 14 year old son, an 12 year old son and a 6 year old daughter. I (mostly) love spending time together as a family. We visit all kinds of places and we’re quite happy to drive a fair distance for a decent day out. A few years ago I decided to set up Free Time with the Kids as a way to share our experiences of these family days out.
You’ll find the essential information you need to know before your visit that can be surprisingly hard to find out. Where do I park? How much will it cost me to get in? Are there any discounts available? Are there loos? Can I take a picnic or get food? My aim is to be your go-to guide for all your free and cheap family days out across Bucks, Beds, Oxon, Herts & slightly beyond. I really hope you find the reviews helpful. If there’s anywhere that you’d recommend please get in touch contact@freetimewiththekids.com or get in touch via Facebook