Lister Park
Lister Park is one of Bradford’s largest parks, and is situated in the Manningham area of the city. In 2006 it was given the prestigious award of Britain’s Best Park, and was also nominated for Best Park in Europe. It has many outstanding features including; a lake with boating, tennis courts, play areas, inspiring Mughal Water gardens and much, much more. Come and visit this beautiful park, with a stroll round the botanical gardens, or a wander into the magnificent Cartwright Hall, and you’ll be exploring one of the gems in Bradford’s crown.
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Useful Information
Address
Lister Park, North Park Road, BD9 4NR
Opening Times
All Bradford District Parks are open 365 days a year, 24 hours.
Access
A footpath surrounds the park which is accessible to all and suitable for the majority of manual and electric wheelchairs. There is level access from North Park Road and Emm Lane to the park. Wheelchair users may require assistance to access all areas.
Directions
By car
Lister Park is approximately 1 mile from Bradford City Centre on the A650 Keighley road. Vehicle access via North Park Road. There are car parking spaces on the main drive and disabled parking in the bowls pavilion car park and at the rear of Cartwright Hall.
By bus
Many bus routes travel along Manningham Lane/Keighley Road to Lister Park, including 680, 629, 737, 662. For bus timetable information contact Metro on 0113 2457676 or www.wymetro.com
By Train
The nearest train station is at Frizinghall - a 10 minute walk up Frizinghall Road leads you to Lister Park. For train timetable information contact Metro on 0113 2457676 or www.wymetro.com
Facilities
Car Park
Free to use. The car park is open from 7am until dusk. The vehicle barrier is locked between 5pm & 6pm. Vehicles still in the park can leave via the one way flaps. Strictly no overnight parking. There is additional disabled parking for visitors to Cartwright Hall at the rear of the building.
Fenced in Play Area
Free to use, open 24 hours. No entry allowed to persons over 14 unless supervising a child. Guide to Lister Park Play Area (PDF 3.7mb)
Activities
Ian Dobson, the Lister Park Ranger, arranges activities including walks, talks, hanging basket workshops etc. See the park notice boards for details. Ian also has his own WebPages called Ecowatch with a huge wealth of information on the wildlife, weather and other goings on in the park that it is worth taking the time to explore.
Multi Activity Community Area
Free to use, open 24 hours. Area includes: 5-a-side, Basketball, Cricket.
Bowls
Open 1 - 5pm from April until September. Anyone can use the bowling green. You pay your bowls fee onsite at the bowls hut. You can also hire equipment here for a deposit of £5. Standard charges apply. Booking the green is recommended - Contact Simon Drake (Area Parks Manager) on 01274 431564 for further details. If you are interested in joining the bowls club you can contact Simon for further information.
Tennis
Free to use, open 24 hours. There are two courts available.
Lake
Boating is available on the lake.
Boating
To hire a boat go to the ticket office window. Row boats - £5 per hour for 2 people. Pedal boats - £4 per hour for 2 people. Open from April - September, 12 noon - 7pm. October 11am - 5pm (Weekends only). Discounts for passport to leisure holders, half hour rates available. Waiting times for boats may vary due to demand.
Café
There is a privately run café in the Lister Park boat house. The café serves hot and cold drinks, food and ice-cream. Open April - September 12 noon -7pm. October 11am - 5pm (weekends only). If the weather is good you may find the café open outside the usual hours! Telephone 01274 487312.
Toilets
There are toilets (including disabled) on Oak Lane that cost 20p. Free toilets (including disabled) are available in the boating pavilion & Cartwright Hall (when they are open).
Flower Gardens
Lister Park contains a variety of flower gardens throughout the park.
Botanical Gardens
The botanical gardens are a beautiful feature of the park, with a geological trail winding throughout the various beds, which are themselves based around the stream. The stream is a copy of Thornton Forge. Extensive landscaping from 2001-2002 brought the beds back to their original 1903 design.
Mughal Water Gardens
This eye-catching garden, this first of its kind in Northern England, is a synthesis between Islamic and Indian architectural styles, combining terraces and paths, grassed areas and avenues of trees divided by water channels, cascades and pools in a traditional rectangular design.
Cartwright Hall Art Gallery
Free entry. Bradford's civic art gallery in the heart of Lister Park offers an exciting programme of contemporary exhibitions, with four permanent galleries displaying works from Bradford’s art collections. Closed Mondays, except summer bank holidays. Open Tuesday – Saturday, 10am - 5pm, Sundays 1pm - 5pm. For more information, visit the Bradford Museums website.
Friends of Group
Lister Park has an active ‘Friends of’ group which operates with the aim of helping to care, enhance, protect and broaden the enjoyment of their local Park. If you are interested in joining, the group would be delighted to hear from you. Please contact Simon Drake (Area Parks Manager) on 01274 431564 for further details.
Bandstand
The bandstand sometimes has concerts on Sunday afternoons during the summer. Check our events page for details. If your band is interested in playing on the bandstand, please contact Nanette Metcalf (Development Officer, Leisure Services) on 01274 433828 or you can email her nanette.metcalf@bradford.gov.uk
Virtual Tour
Watch a virtual tour of the park
Downloads
You can download a leaflet detailing four walks around Lister Park (or contact Leisure Services on 01274 437789 to request a leaflet).
Walks in Parks and Woodlands - Lister Park (PDF 820kb)
Detailed information on the various play equipment in Lister Park can be found here:
Guide to Lister Park Play Area (PDF 3.7mb)
Sport Keighley have designed a number of walking routes that take in Parks Across the north of Bradford District. Download the route that includes Lister Park (PDF 476kb). For all the Walkways maps please go to the Sport Keighley website
If you are interested in the history of Lister Park, you might like to download this document which contains detailed information about the park.
History of Lister Park (PDF 12kb)
Maintenance
Help us to maintain this area by reporting any problems to Simon Drake, the Area Parks and Landscape Manager on 01274 431564 or email simon.drake@bradford.gov.uk
