Barrow Park, Barrow-in-Furness

Barrow Park is the town's big Victorian park, 45 acres reached from Abbey Road, Park Drive, Park Avenue and Greengate Street, and it covers most of what a family needs in one go: a play area for younger children, a boating lake, a putting green, a bandstand and a glasshouse open from about 10.30am to 5pm.

The miniature railway is the draw for small children, but it only runs on Sunday and bank holiday Monday afternoons, all year round. Putting, bowls and the Pavilion cafe are March to October. Older ones have the concrete skate park off Park Drive, and boats for the lake are hired from the leisure centre on the park's edge.

What it costs: Free entry. The miniature railway runs on Sundays and bank holiday Mondays only, 1.30pm to 4.30pm in winter and 2pm to 4.30pm in summer. Boats for the lake are hired through Barrow Park Leisure Centre. The putting green, bowls and Pavilion cafe run from March to October.

Know before you go

Go on a Sunday afternoon if the railway is the draw; it only runs on Sundays and bank holiday Mondays.
The inclusive swing has a harness available on free loan. Ask one of the park rangers.

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