If there's one thing the pandemic has shown us, it's just how valuable our green spaces are.
Whether it's a morning run, a picnic, or a trip to the playground, we've never appreciated parks so much.
But some are better than others and we often find ourselves visiting the same old places in fear of trying somewhere new.
You've not always got the time to be checking reviews before heading out, which is why we've done the work for you.
Tripadvisor is a helpful tool to help you weed out the good parks from the bad and we've been using it to track down the top rated parks across Greater Manchester.
All of the below have been rated 4.5 out of 5, with some of them receiving hundreds of reviews. The only exception was Burrs Country Park in Bury, which received an impressive 5 out of 5 and was described by one visitor as 'heaven on my doorstep'.
Do you have a park you'd recommend? Tell us where you've found the best play area or woodland walk in our comments here.
Here are the best parks in Greater Manchester, according to Tripadvisor reviews.
Manchester
Alexandra Park
Address: Russell Street, Manchester
Rating: 4.5/5 from 20 reviews
Review: "Very nice park. Not as big as Heaton park but not small as well. You can spend couple of hours exercising or relaxing on the benches. Nice lake with ducks and swans. Kids will have fun too."
Fletcher Moss Park and Botanical Gardens
Address: Millgate Lane, Didsbury
Rating: 4.5/5 from 347 reviews
Review: "Stunning area. What a lovely place to visit, especially when the sun’s shining! The garden is stunning with lots of little paths leading to different parts. There’s a coffee van near the entrance which keeps you fuelled on your visit. Wonderful, definitely recommend."
Chorlton Water Park
Address: Maitland Avenue, Manchester
Rating: 4.5/5 from 125 reviews
Review: "Amazing place. Brilliant place to go for a lengthy walk with or without dogs. You just wouldn't believe that you are minutes away from busy transport networks! Has parks for children, woodland walks, canal walks, will definitely go again summer or winter."
Didsbury Park
Address: Wilmslow Road, Manchester
Rating: 4.5/5 from 41 reviews
Review: "Walking from Burnage/Withington to Didsbury I decided to cut across via the park. I noticed a plethora of activities from an excellent children’s play area , a cafe ( not sure it was open ) nice ponds with ducks , interesting trees and birds and plenty of prams, joggers and dogs on leads. The place had a nice relaxed atmosphere and is much larger than it first appears."
Salford
Clifton Country Park
Address: Clifton House Road, Clifton
Rating: 4.5/5 from 54 reviews
Review: "Nice little place for a walk, buggy friendly on certain routes. You might want to go round a couple of times on the buggy route as it isn’t very long. Gruffalo figure was a big hit especially for my two year old. Nice little cafe for a brew, good price. Parking is plenty and no charge."
Worsley Woods
Address: Greenleach Lane, Worsley
Rating: 4.5/5 from 12 reviews
Review: "The family and I went for a brief walk and paddle on an extremely hot day. The maze of paths were never ending and the canopy was a great relief from the sun. Perfect for the dog and the kids had a paddle in the water!"
Blackleach Country Park
Address: John Street, Walkden
Rating: 4.5/5 from 20 reviews
Review: "Lovely surprise. First time visit and was really impressed. The tar path all the way around the reservoir was clean and tidy. The views across the water were lovely and the sun was shining - a bonus."
Trafford
Longford Park
Address: Edge Lane, Stretford
Rating: 4.5/5 from 11 reviews
Review: "This is one of our favourite parks if not the favourite. Lovely grounds which are well maintained, great park for the kids and lots of open green space. Small selection of animals for the kids to see along with a great frisbee golf course for the big kids. The cafe is very high standard with delicious food and great options including many vegan treats. Coffee is on point along with fab kids options. We love a weekend day visit here and the whole park has a great community feel to it."
Walkden Gardens
Address: Derbyshire Road, Sale
Rating: 4.5/5 from 163 reviews
Review: "Nice little park well laid out with plenty of variation of plants. We took a picnic here with the family on a sunny day.... a little haven amongst the busy streets."
Worthington Park
Address: Cheltenham Drive, Sale
Rating: 4.5/5 from 107 reviews
Review: "Great for families and dog walkers, or just a beautiful park to walk around. Right on my doorstep, so I come here often with my grandchildren."
Walton Park
Address: Walton Road, Sale
Rating: 4.5/5 from 19 reviews
Review: "Small pleasant park. Lovely canal side walk with barges parked and often travelling - the park is neat and tidy with a play area for youngsters and lots of green space and playing fields ideal to take your own picnic. Most Sundays their famous miniature train runs too - fun for the young at heart! Well recommended! Often a visit from the ice cream van."
Stockport
Etherow Country Park
Address: George St, Compstall, Romiley, Stockport
Rating: 4.5/5 from 380 reviews
Review: "Great place for a good walk all around the duck, boat and fish pond, lovely outdoor scenery…if you like exploring walk over the bridge at the water fall and follow the path until you find the fairy garden."
Reddish Vale Country Park
Address: Reddish Vale Road, Stockport
Rating: 4.5/5 from 71 reviews
Review: "A lovely park with wildlife and footpaths. When there is no lockdown you can get a cheap but adequate coffee at the visitors centre run by volunteers."
Bruntwood Park, Cheadle
Address: Bruntwood Lane, Cheadle
Rating: 4.5/5 from 212 reviews
Review: "Nice little park. Lots to do on a lovely well presented play area, plenty to entertain kids and lots of benches for parents. Kiosk selling ice creams food and drinks reasonably priced, (ice cream, hot and cold drinks, pizza, chips sandwiches). Lots and lots of open spaces for dog walkers or if you wanted kick a ball around and have a picnic. We noticed a BMX track and archery area near car park."
Woodbank Memorial Park
Address: Turncroft Lane, Stockport
Rating: 4.5/5 from 60 reviews
Review: "Woodbank park is adjacent to Vernon park they are linked but in fact, are two separate parks. Woodbank is mainly a large well kept field with beautiful trees. Where Vernon Park is more flower beds and trees but both are excellent. There are many paths leading into some fantastic woodland with the River Goyt flowing through. Parts of the river are shallow but don't be fooled there are deep fast flowing parts so do take care. For those who love nature its a pleasant place with wonderful woodland walks summer or winter. But again do take care if you go into the woods in winter it gets very icy and slippery."
Oldham
Tandle Hill Country Park
Address: Tandle Hill Road, Royton, Oldham
Rating: 4.5/5 from 49 reviews
Review: "Excellent for walk with or without dogs, hilly if you're pushing pram or wheelchair, lots of benches to sit on and excellent cafe, great views."
Alexandra Park
Address: Kings Road, Oldham
Rating: 4.5/5 from 28 reviews
Review: "Alexandra Park is a large, beautifully presented park, not too far from Oldham centre. The gardeners obviously take great care with all the colourful flower beds and lawns. It has tennis courts, a bowling green, playground, lake and cafe. Highly recommended for a lovely walk."
Bury
Burrs Country Park
Address: Woodhill Road, Bury
Rating: 5/5 from 54 reviews
Review: "Heaven on my doorstep. Can't believe I have never visited before and not that far from home. Parking was free of charge and sufficient. Large area of open grass where you can picnic. Cafe and ice cream on site. Following the River Irwell was mind-blowing, being able to sit alongside the river with children paddling. Cannot wait to visit again; would highly recommend."
Bolton
Jumbles Country Park
Address: Bradshaw Road, Bolton
Rating: 4.5/5 from 354 reviews
Review: "A lovely walk around Jumbles reservoir, good quality paths with a short section along a quiet lane, safe to let well behaved dogs off, ducks and geese to feed. Some steep bits but can be negotiated with a buggy but some sections of steps would need a second pair of hands."
Moss Bank Park
Address: Capitol Close, Bolton
Rating: 4.5/5 from 77 reviews
Review: "It's a great place for kids but also for adults. It was really busy but a great atmosphere. I'm new to the area and I met a lot of lovely people. The kids loved the playground but I loved walking in the rock garden and enjoying a coffee."
Tameside
Stamford Park
Address: Ashton / Stalybridge
Rating: 4.5/5 from 142 reviews
Review: "Beautiful, safe and full of friendly people. It is a very beautiful park with jungle area for hiking. Children's play area is nice and safe. I really enjoyed the visit with my family."
Cheetham Park
Address: Acres Lane, Stalybridge
Rating: 4.5/5 from 13 reviews
Review: "A lovely oasis. It's a pleasant mix of wild waterside strolls, old woodland and open spaces, with great children's play areas."
Werneth Low Country Park
Address: Higham Lane, Hyde
Rating: 4.5/5 from 148 reviews
Review: "We were fortunate to make our first visit to the park on a beautiful day. I would definitely recommend this to dog walkers. On a beautiful day you can see for miles and the dog walks are really good."
Rochdale
Hollingworth Lake
Address: Rakewood Road, Littleborough
Rating: 4.5/5 from 894 reviews
Review: "It's wonderful to have this beautiful place on my doorstep. The information centre is a great walk bringing you right into Littleborough also great little play area for children and at the back of the lake is a camping and caravan park this looks really good as well. Plenty of cafes and restaurants to choose from."
Wigan
Haigh Woodland Park
Address: School Lane, Wigan
Rating: 4.5/5 from 764 reviews
Review: "It's a lovely natural woodland park, the plantations are wonderful to walk cycle run wander and explore. The hall is grand and can be seen for miles away. The children's park is good. Add to that cafes and golf courses, it's a great place for a lazy day or an active day. There is also a train!"
Mesnes Park
Address: Mesnes Park Terrace, Wigan
Rating: 4.5/5 from 764 reviews
Review: "Tranquil area just off the town centre. Wigan has a lot of green space, this park is central with bandstand, play area, pond, ducks and has been a centre of town life for as long as can be remembered. A place to chill."
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