Ward Park (Bangor) — Days Out NI

One park, plenty to fill a morning

Ward Park runs to 37 acres of lawns, mature trees and water right in the centre of Bangor, so most of it is a gentle stroll from the gate. The wildfowl pond is the heart of it — ducks, geese and swans, with an aviary of birds beside it. There's a large children's playground near the tennis courts that was rebuilt in recent years, ten tennis courts, bowling greens and a cricket pitch, so there's room for the sporty ones and the small ones at the same time. Near the Hamilton Road side you'll find the town war memorial and, close by, the deck gun taken from a German submarine in the First World War. Confirm the current line-up of open facilities before you travel, as the council updates them from time to time.

Free Duck pond Aviary Big playground Tennis & bowls 37 acres to roam

Good to know before you go:

Opening and closing times, and which facilities are open, can change with the season. Check the current details on the Ards and North Down Borough Council website before you travel.

What to wear & bring

🦆Something for the ducksA bag of proper duck food or oats — the pond is the whole point for little ones.

🧥LayersOpen lawns and water — a coat or spare jumper keeps everyone happy whatever the sky is doing.

🧺A picnicPlenty of grass and trees to spread out under. Rain? The ducks love it and the pond turns glassy.

🧢A hat & waterOn a bright day, sit in the shade of the mature trees and let the children run.

Bangor's everyday park

Ward Park is a park for turning up any day rather than booking ahead — the pond, the aviary and the playground are there whenever the gates are open. The bandstand and open lawns are used for community events and shows across the year, and the war memorial by Hamilton Road is the focus for the town's Remembrance gatherings each November. Check the council's events pages if you want to time a visit with something on.

Summer bandstand events War memorial & Remembrance

Everything before you go

Cost

Free

Opening

Open all year — check current times with the council before you travel

Best for ages

All ages; playground rebuilt in recent years near the tennis courts

What's there

Wildfowl duck pond, aviary, children's playground, 10 tennis courts, bowling greens, cricket pitch, war memorial and the WWI submarine gun

Toilets

Public toilets in the park; bring what you need for younger children

Parking

On-site parking; the park sits off Hamilton Road in central Bangor

Dogs

Dogs welcome on the paths and lawns; keep them under control near the pond and the birds

Accessibility

Wide, mostly flat paths across the main park; buggy and wheelchair friendly on the main routes

How long to allow

Half a day with the ducks, the playground and a picnic

Address

Hamilton Road, Bangor, Co. Down, BT20 4TA

Questions

Before you go

Is it free to get in?

Yes — Ward Park is free and open all year. Check the current opening and closing times with the council before you travel.

Is there a playground?

Yes — there's a large children's playground near the tennis courts, rebuilt in recent years.

Can we feed the ducks?

Yes — the wildfowl pond is the centrepiece, with ducks, geese and swans, and an aviary of birds beside it. Bring proper duck food or oats.

What's the big gun in the park?

It's the deck gun from a German submarine of the First World War, U-19, on display near the town war memorial. It's said to have been given to Bangor in honour of a local Victoria Cross winner (see the story below).

Is there parking?

Yes — there's on-site parking; the park is off Hamilton Road in central Bangor.

Can we bring the dog?

Dogs are welcome on the paths and lawns. Keep them under control near the pond and the aviary birds.

Getting there

Ward Park is at Hamilton Road, Bangor, Co. Down, BT20 4TA, a short walk from the town centre and the train station. There's on-site parking. Tap below for turn-by-turn directions.

Official website Directions on Google Maps See it on our map

Nearby

Make more of the day

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

The story

The park, and the submarine gun

Ward Park has been Bangor's main town park for well over a century — 37 acres of lawns, mature trees and water laid out close to the centre, with a wildfowl pond that has drawn families to feed the ducks for generations. The aviary and breeding pens beside the pond, the bowling greens, the tennis courts and the bandstand all grew up as part of that classic municipal park idea: green space and gentle sport for everyone in the town, free at the gate.

The feature people remember, though, is the big rusting gun near the Hamilton Road entrance. It is the deck gun from SM U-19, a submarine of the Imperial German Navy in the First World War. The gun is said to have been presented to the people of Bangor by the Admiralty in recognition of Commander Edward Barry Stewart Bingham — known as Barry Bingham — who was awarded the Victoria Cross for his bravery aboard HMS Nestor at the Battle of Jutland in 1916. Bingham had strong Bangor connections through the Ward family of Bangor Castle, which is why the trophy came to sit here.

Next to it stands the town war memorial. Between the gun, the memorial and the pond, a wander round Ward Park is a full day worth making the time for — a bit of history, a lot of birds, and space for the children to run. As ever with a working town park, the open facilities and the times can change through the year, so check the council's page before you go.