The large lake is the centrepiece of Golden Acre Park and remains its most recognisable feature. When the park first opened in 1932, it was created as part of a private “pleasure park” with boat rides and water activities. Today, it is a calm wildlife haven, home to swans, ducks, geese, and herons. Walking around the lakeside path gives visitors a glimpse of both the park’s past as a bustling leisure attraction and its present as a peaceful retreat in nature. 

These gardens date back to the 1930s, when Golden Acre was designed as a landscaped pleasure ground. The colourful flowerbeds, rock gardens, and lawns once formed part of a popular tourist attraction that even had its own miniature railway! Over the decades, Leeds City Council has maintained the gardens, adapting them to showcase seasonal plants. Visitors can still enjoy the carefully designed planting schemes, which highlight both beauty and horticultural skill. 

In the park’s early days, cafés and refreshment stands were central to its role as a leisure park. Thousands of visitors once came every week, arriving on buses and even by a dedicated tramline. Today, the modern café near the entrance continues that tradition of hospitality, offering a welcoming place for visitors to relax, enjoy food and drinks, and reflect on the park’s unique blend of history and nature. 

The surrounding woodlands, planted to balance the formal gardens, have grown into a rich nature reserve. Visitors can spot squirrels, songbirds, butterflies, and even herons. In its early years, the park even had a small zoo, but since the 1940s the focus has been on protecting native species. These trails now connect with the wider Meanwood Valley Trail, offering a peaceful and natural escape.