Prince of Wales Park – Walks & Guide

Prince of Wales Park is located between Bingley and Eldwick on a hilly slope. With a surface of 7.3ha (18 acres), the area was originally bare moorland and was acquired by public subscription. Work started on 10 March 1863, the wedding day of the Prince of Wales – later to become King Edward VII – and the park was named after him. By the opening day, on 6 June 1865, 15,000 trees had been planted including fifty sent by the Prince from Sandringham. Ever since, the Victorian park has been at the heart of the community for every one to enjoy. Unfortunately, in recent decades the park lost some of its past glory. After years of neglect, it finally found a new life in 2015 when some various grants and fund money was used for a complete make over. Today, it's a real gem for the local community and a fantastic place to visit and come for a walk.

1. Features

2. Location and facilities

3. Around the park

a. The former Teacher Training College

b. Gilstead Crag

4. Walks and Walking

5. Events in the park

The Friends of Prince of Wales Park were established in 2015 and is now a charitable organisation. Their aim is to maintain the park, help to improve what is available and encourage more people to visit. You can often see committee members and volunteers working in the park. They have different subgroups dealing with topics like community, history, horticulture and wildlife.

The park currently belongs to Bradford City Council and has a long history of being used by the local community. Over the years, many features were added or removed and in March 2001 it became a Grade II listed area. Below is a list of the most famous features:

The Southern Entrance is located on the corner of Lady Lane and Park Road and is also the location of the lodge, the only residential building within the park. The imposing gate is made from dressed stones quarried within the park itself.

The only large flat area within the park, the arena – also known as “The Ariana" – has been the location of all the events held within the park for many decades. The levelling of this space was the fruit of labour from many volunteers who participated in the creation of the park.

A former keeper of the park, Mr Wilson is one of the main architect of the three water features completed after the Second World War. They are all fed from natural springs running within the park.

The original trust established to maintain the park forbid any drinking, gambling, Sunday games or discussing about politics and religion. The inscription on the fountain is a reminder of that past: “Presented by the Total Abstainers of Bingley. Pure water be mine. 1866"

The quarry which used to be located within the park provided plenty of stones for the stoneworkers to play with. As a result, you might found some unusual “outdoor furniture" scattered around the park.

Local Artist Jane fielder has provided a fantastic mural on what used to be a rather boring electric sub station. You can find this street art installation near the Lodge by Lady Lane side – next to the play area.

Location:

Prince of Wales Park
Park Drive
Bingley
BD16 3DF

Bingley is on the Leeds/Carlisle line and the Airedale line, and it has many frequent services including to and from Leeds, Skipton, Keighley, Shipley and Bradford. The station is about 20 minutes walk from the park.

The bus routes 615, 616 & 619 will take you to the nearest bus stop from the park called “Otley Road Warren Lane". It is about 300m / 5 minutes walk from the park. From the town centre, the bus stop for these services is opposite the main entrance of the train station. For bus timetable information contact Metro on 0113 2457676 or www.wymetro.com

When arriving in Bingley, from Main Street go up Park Road for about 1.5miles. You will find the Southern entrance on the left at the junction with Lady Lane.

Please note: there is no car park at the park. On street parking may be restricted in this area but there are plenty or car parks in town.

Below are the facilities that the public can use for free. The park is much more family friendly compared to its historic origins.

Playground: There is now a play area near the Lodge, by Lady Lane side. The park in itself is a great place to take kids on a discovery adventure. 

Climbing frame: There are some climbing frame at the top of the park – although many trees and rocks can give children and adults alike hours of fun too!

Picnic area: this is the latest addition to the park and now gives visitors a lovely flat surface containing four picnic tables. Please note that barbecues are not allowed within the park!

Beside the main Southern entrance, there are other entrances to the park which all have a different character and only accessible to pedestrians and their four legged friends.

Fernhill Entrance: This is the most concealed entrance to the park but also one of the most charming. Located at the top end of the park, you will find it at the end of Fernhill, past some old cottages.

Lady Lane Entrance: This is one of the most artful entrances thanks to Jane Fielder street art – you can't miss it! It's also a brand new entrance and gives you direct access to the playground from Lady Lane.

Parkside Entrance – Eldwick Side: located at the top of Parkside on the edge of Eldwick, this entrance is your gateway to the park if you are coming by bus from Bingley town centre.

From 1911 to 1979, the site known as Lady House Estate North of Prince of Wales Park was known as the Bingley College, providing training for teachers throughout West Yorkshire. Today, the imposing buildings have been converted into luxury apartments. The clock tower is definitely one of the most iconic of them all and can be seen from far away. If you want to know more about the history of the college, visit the Friends of Bingley College Website.

If you wanted to know what Prince of Wales Park looked like before it was landscaped and all the trees were planted, Gilstead Crag is your answer. Also known as Gilstead Moor, the area above Bingley stretching from Ferncliffe on Gilstead side to Parkside on Eldwick side. The views across the Aire Valley are fantastic and we highly recommend a stroll other there. Our walk “Discovering Bingley" is an ideal route if you want to visit this area for the first time.

Below are some of the many walks which pass through Prince of Wales Park, near the former Teacher Training College or through Gilstead Crag

Regular themed guided walks are organised in the park including birds, insects, fossils and tree walks. They last about 2 to 3 hours each and are led by specialists.