Wilmot Park

Wilmot Park sounds like a straightforward local country park rather than a destination day out, but it does the basics well. The main draw for families is the enclosed play area, plus a scooter and bike track, swings, climbing frames and an enclosed tarmac space for ball games. There’s also a separate dog-walking area and a large field nearby. Parents seem to appreciate the revamp, the variety for different ages and the fact the play area is gated, which takes the edge off the usual “where’s my child gone?” stress. There are picnic benches, some shade under a large tree, and the sort of open space that lets children burn off energy without too much faff. For a free park, that’s a decent showing. The downsides are fairly typical: it can get very busy, and there’s no mention of proper café facilities, just an ice cream van in summer. Some of the appeal is clearly aimed at dog owners, so if you’re not bringing a dog, that side of the park is less relevant. Useful local park, not a grand day out.