Brooke Park (Derry/Londonderry)

Pair it with the walls and make a full city day

Brooke Park sits in the Rosemount area, a short distance northwest of the city centre. That puts it within easy reach of Derry's historic walls, the Guildhall and the shops, so it works well as the green, unhurried half of a day out in the city. Start with a loop of the walls, then let the children run off the rest of their energy on the play park and the open lawns here. The restored paths are flat and wide, which suits a pram or a scooter, and there are benches and lawn to spread a picnic. It's a full day worth making the time for — the kind where the walk and the play matter as much as any ticket.

Free Open dawn to dusk Children's play park Restored Victorian park Ornamental beds & lawns Walking paths

Good to know before you go:

There's a café on site, but seasonal and event hours change — check current times with the council before you travel, especially out of season.

What to wear & bring

🧥LayersOpen lawns catch the wind — a coat or spare jumper suits any sky.

🧢A hat & waterOn a bright day the open lawns are a joy — a hat and a drink keep everyone comfy.

🧺A picnic rugWide lawns and benches make an easy spot to sit and eat.

🛴Scooter or ballFlat, restored paths are made for wheels and a kickabout.

Rain's welcome too:

A wet day turns the restored paths glossy and the ornamental beds a deeper green — a fine time to walk with an umbrella and finish with a warm drink.

Everything before you go

Cost

Free

Opening

Council parks open daily, dawn to dusk. Café and facility hours vary by season — check current times.

Best for ages

All ages; a children's play park for the little ones and open space for everyone

What you'll see

Restored gate piers and railings, the historic gatehouse lodge, ornamental beds, open lawns, walking paths, a play park and the Sir Robert Ferguson statue

Toilets

Check current provision on site; bring what you need for younger children

Parking

Check current on-street and nearby parking around Rosemount before you travel

Accessibility

Restored paths are flat and wide — buggy and wheelchair friendly across the main areas

How long to allow

1–2 hours, longer with a picnic

Address

Brooke Park, Rosemount Avenue, Derry/Londonderry BT48 9DQ

Managed by

Derry City and Strabane District Council

Questions

Before you go

Is it free to get in?

Yes — Brooke Park is free to walk into.

What are the opening hours?

Derry City and Strabane's parks open daily from dawn to dusk. The café and specific facilities keep their own seasonal hours, so check current times before you travel.

Is there a playground?

Yes — there's a children's play park, alongside open lawns and walking paths.

Is it buggy and wheelchair friendly?

The restoration laid flat, wide paths through the main areas, which suits prams and wheelchairs. Some routes rise with the ground.

Can we make a day of it in the city?

Yes — it's a short run from the city centre and Derry's historic walls, so it pairs well into a full city day.

Getting there

Brooke Park is in the Rosemount area of Derry/Londonderry, at Rosemount Avenue, BT48 9DQ — a short distance northwest of the city centre. Tap below for turn-by-turn directions, or check the council page for the latest on the park and its facilities.

Directions on Google Maps Official website See it on our map

Nearby

Make more of the day

More days out in Derry/LondonderrySee what else is close by The best parks in NIBrowse the full collection

The story

About the park

The land the park stands on was first the home of Gwyn's Institute, an orphanage set up in 1840 by John Gwyn, a local linen merchant who is said to have left £40,000 to found it.

The park itself grew from a bequest. James Hood Brooke died in 1865 and left £9,100 — worth over a million pounds in today's money — to create a public park for the people of the city. His wish, in his own words, was for "a place of outdoor recreation for the citizens of Londonderry." The trustees moved the plan forward after his sister's death in 1897, and Brooke Park opened to the public in 1901, with support from the Honourable The Irish Society.

Over the following century the park slowly wore down. Between 2015 and 2017 it was rebuilt in a £5.6 million restoration, funded by Derry City and Strabane District Council along with the Heritage Lottery Fund and central government. The gate piers, railings and gatehouse lodge were repaired, the beds and lawns replanted, and the paths and play park renewed. It reopened in 2017 and is free for everyone to walk in.