Overview

At first blush, there is nothing special about these two humble green spaces between the big road and the railway tracks, but once you go past the low walls into the larger of the two, you will find that the flagstones along the side are not paving at all -- luckily, as it would be terribly uneven! -- but gravestones. If you do not mind a slight macabre atmosphere or even appreciate the presence of past, it is not a bad place for a short rest, with benches and bins and some grass for any dogs or small children you might have with you to have a frolic. As far as I can tell, only the larger park on the corner of Kirkgate and Duke Street is actually called either St John's Park or Penny Pocket Park, but you could think of it as a larger green space cut through by Church Lane and the train tracks with three parts over all. This is how I will be referring to them in this review: the main part (the largest bit between Kirkgate, Duke Street, Church Lane and the tracks), the east part (the smaller bit on Kirkgate, across Church Lane from the main part), and the north part (on York Street, on the other side of the tracks from the main part).

Transport & Parking

The park is across the road and through an underpass close to Leeds Bus Station. (Apart from the north part, which had some steps up to it, so I did not go in.) The closest bus stop is Duke Street/Kirkgate (1, 1A), but the bus stops on York Street are also close-by, for example Cultural H (4, 4F, 16, 16A, 19, 19A, 64) and Cultural G (75, 163, A1 Flyer). Leeds Minster is just across the road, along with the Kirkgate High Court bus stop (47, 47A), some on-street parking and visitor parking behind the church.

Access

There main entrance on the corner of Duke Street and Kirkgate has level access. The entrance to the main part from Church Lane has three steps up to it. The entrance from Church Lane to the east part has no steps, but an incline with smaller paving stones that the rest of the paths. The north park has a narrow entrance with some old stone steps leading up. I did not go in and am unsure whether there is step-free access at another point. Only the main park has seating: three clusters of two benches with backrest and the armrests. There are some low stone walls on the railway side of the east part that could be used to sit on, which are in the shade of trees. There are no tactile markings or information in alternative formats.

Toilets

There are no toilets at this venue. There is a small disabled bathroom in Leeds Minster across the road. Ramp access is via the gate right of the main entrance stairs.

Staff

Photos