Pegswood Park Review

This post is based on a visit in May 2024. Always check with venue direct for the most up to date info as information and facilities can change over time.

This is one of the best playgrounds I've visited recently. I had no idea it was here until one of the design team messaged me on TikTok to let me know about it and suggested I pop in if I was passing. I was intrigued so decided to make a special trip. I'm so pleased I did.

This park was completely refurbished in 2022 and is suitable for ages 15 and under. There's a wide range of equipment and I am definitely going to add it to my 25 of the Best Playgrounds in North East England post.

Watch a video walk through of this park here: Pegswood Park Video

Why We Love This Park

Easy to get to by car or public transport - a perfect day out by train
Fairly unique with equipment designed around the local area including miner see-saws, mining cart train and bee boppers
Equipment is in excellent condition and suitable for ages 0-15 years
Inclusive equipment seamlessly links into the play area with accessible ramps, swings, roundabout and accessible seating

There are sadly no on-site toilets here so I would recommend for a quick visit after school or combine with a trip to nearby Morpeth (6 min drive away) / Dobbies Garden Centre (8 min drive away)

Getting To Pegswood Park

This is a fabulous playground to try in Northumberland and the good news is, this park is easy to get to by train, bus and car.

Pegswood Park is conveniently located just next to Pegswood Train Station. Direct trains from Metrocentre, Morpeth, Newcastle, Wylam, Prudhoe, Corbridge, Hexham, Haltwhistle and more stop here. Trains from Newcastle to Pegswood take 26 minutes and should cost £13-£14 return for a family of 4 with a friends and family railcard.

Why not plan on visiting a few playgrounds by train on the same day? Tyne Green Hexham and Wylam Playground are both on the same line and a short walk from the station.

Several buses stop near the train station including Arriva 35 and X18,

There is a free onsite car park, I've pinned it on the map (blue pin) below. Use postcode NE61 6SJ. It is just before you cross the railway bridge and overlooks the Miners Welfare Park.

You can see the car park in the image below, you need to drive through a gate and it's just overlooking this grass.

If you face the field and turn left, there's a decent skate board. There were kids playing there when we visited so I didn't disturb them to take photos. Locals assure me it's good though.

To access the playground, face the grass and turn right, walk through this gate and you'll see the park. Google maps seems to have pinned the playground in the slightly wrong location - you don't need to cross the train tracks.

Dogs are not permitted in the playground and sadly there are no toilets / cafe. Locals have mentioned they have used a nearby social club in an emergency.

There is seating inside the playground (including a table with space for a wheelchair) and the terrain is mostly uneven grass.

It's a beautiful space and the equipment is in excellent condition. It kind of feels like a little secret haven.

The playground has nods to the region's mining and beekeeping history and it's next to a railway line (don't worry - it's not accessible from the park). So expect to see nods to these elements in the design.

The playground is split into three distinct areas, a toddler area, junior area and woodland area. Inclusive and accessible equipment has been built into the design and is integrated seamlessly with the main play equipment which is always good to see.

How cute is this play mining train! I love it.

Toddler Area Highlights:

Bespoke train unit with tunnel, net, bridge, cabins, double width slide and wheelchair access
Four bay swings
Bee springers
Stand up see-saw modelled on a minig cart
Combo swing with basket, flat seat and inclusive seat
Inclusive roundabout
Seating and picnic bench

I can really picture two little ones on this stand up see-saw pretending they are miners.

There's also equipment for older children including:

Six bay swing
3m high climbing net cube
Tower with frame, bridge, nets and two slides
Clamberstick tower with slide
Dragon swing
Flat roundabout

I love how the equipment naturally blends in with the environment with the natural materials and making use of the hills and mounds already in place being incorperated into slides etc....

Then towards the rear of the park is a small woodland area with a few little carvings.

Love these bee springers which are completely bespoke and reflect the beekeeping heritage of the area.

It is a shame this playground doesn't have any loos / cafe as you could easily spend a day here. I'd probably keep it for a short visit after school or combine with a visit to somewhere else in area. I'd recommend combining with:

Morpeth (loads to do including playground, river walk and steppy stones, outdoor pool in summer, soft play at the leisure centre.....). Lots of nice places to stop for tea here too - I recommend the Chinese Van for something cheap and cheerful
Dobbies Morpeth (nice cafe with indoor and outdoor play areas)
Woodhorn Museum
Hirst Park, Ashington (has a splash pad)
Wansbeck Riverside Park
Plessey Woods Country Park
Pirate Crazy Golf