Park Square

Great spot, easy to grab some food and enjoy it in a bench or lounging on the grass. Pretty flowers, comfy spot and easy to get to :)

This gorgeous spot is hidden away down the more ‘financial’ end of town, being a popular luncheon location for busy solicitors, but that doesn’t mean more regular folk can’t enjoy the lovely gardens. It mightn’t be huge, but there are plenty of benches lining the outskirts (mind the bird poo) and a plethora of lush grass to lay on during the warmer months.
I stopped by here today with some old friends and it’s truly lovely in the sunshine. I could smell the roses, which are fully in bloom now, and one friend’s little chap (18 months now) had a whale of a time running about and making friends with another person’s toddler. (Said toddler was also delighted with the park, and giggled at everything in sight.)
We weren’t the only ones to enjoy the sun and inner city greenery, since there were plenty of others milling about, including a rather amusing random who was talking to himself about «where are the hotdogs?» but I wouldn’t know if he’s a regular or not. He was harmless enough, it seems. I would have directed him to Primo’s, only he didn’t stop to chat.
In any case, it’s a lovely little bit of green space for a sit, relax, and certainly one of the better places to grab a few picnic items should you wish to dine truly al fresco whilst the Leeds Summer lasts. Grab something delicious and take a wander. Plenty of lovely eateries near by, and even the odd bar/​pub for a post-​lunch pint.

Leeds seriously lacks green spaces in the city centre as the council is slowly paving over every communal sitting-​space it can in concrete. This makes Park Square a bit of find, if you can. It is near the Headrow but not the shopping end, rather it is surrounded by offices situated in old houses that apparently go way back. This, along with the landscaped flower beds, gives it a classy ambiance, making it a top place to take your luncheon on a sunny afternoon.

Steeped in history, Park Square was originally built in 1788 to create a high class residential estate on the site of the medieval park of the manor of Leeds. Its residents comprised of merchants, clergy, lawyers and surgeons. This has remained accurate to a certain extent, due to the vast amount of solicitors and legal establishments surrounding the square.
I consider the square to be similar to the ones interspersed in London’s urban sprawl. It provides a wonderful oasis of calm, a site for escapism from the highly accelerated speed of the city. The area positively reeks of affluence, but is not overly exclusive, I do not feel like an imposter whilst there.
There is a constant stream of young professionals clutching armfuls of legal files, bustling around the square. It did remind me of watching ants at work. The people watching opportunities in general are fantastic! Accompanied with a snack, it is a most relaxing venue. Although Winter has rendered the park fairly barren at the moment, smatterings of purple crocuses are beginning to brave the cold climate, signalling the optimism of Spring is fast approaching.

Park Square is situated just a stone’s throw south of Leeds Town Hall. It is surrounded on four sides by grand Georgian terraces (mostly housing offices), and this, coupled with its immaculate lawns, makes the park resemble something out of Mary Poppins! It is ringed by black metal railings, making it quite a formal park, with very clear paths and benches placed at regular intervals.
The grass is trimmed short, almost imploring you to stick to the path… but oh so inviting for bare feet in the sun! It is a lovely place to lie on the grass in the warmer half of the year, and this is the time that the flower beds come to life. Their simple patterns are designed by local school children, which is a pretty sweet idea!
Recently, however, I found that one of the flowerbeds had been used as advertising space for a Leeds –based barristers… what?! Flowerbeds as advertising space?! That’s just not on… and wrong on so many levels. People lounging in the park want picnics and peace and quiet — not barristers… go away! Leeds in Bloom… what are you thinking? We do not want every single flower we see to be inadvertently advertising something thank you very much!