Family favourite park is packed with attractions including Japanese and Swedish gardens alongside Victorian traditions
14:55, 30 Jul 2025Updated 15:20, 30 Jul 2025
Enjoying the sunshine in Saltwell Park(Image: Newcastle Chronicle)
It’s a traditional Victorian park which for generations has played a huge part in the life of the local community and it continues to evolve. Saltwell Park in Gateshead is an absolute treasure and any first-time visitors exploring it for the first time this summer are in for a treat.
Aside from its acres of green space with ample quiet corners to picnic; the central lake and children’s play areas, it is different from other parks with the likes of its aviaries including parrots and peacocks; an atmospheric dene with winding paths following a stream which immerses walkers in a cool green world on the hottest of days and a maze which is tucked away behind Saltwell Towers.
The Towers is the listed 1859 former home of the park’s former owner, stained glass manufactuer William Wailes, and thanks to its Gothic Revivalist design it is described as ‘fairytale mansion’ and certainly looks the part. It is now a cafe, as well as an event space, and also has outdoor seating so that visitors can spill outside on sunny days to sip coffee and take in the beautiful surrounding views.
The award-winning park has another coffee stop-off too, which takes advantage of even grander views and which this summer has added a big attraction to its menu. Prism Coffee is based inside one of the park’s unique features – with the rather lovely name of Almond Pavilion – and, right at the top of the park, it looks out across the wide expanse of field and down to the lake.
The maze at Saltwell park in Gateshead. Credit: Owen Humphreys/PA Wire(Image: PA)
Over the past two and a half years owner Daniel Francisco has been serving up eco-friendly speciality coffee takeaways – and extras, including dog treats – but there are tables, just a few, if you’re quick off the mark. Prism has earned praise on TripAdvisor with reviews calling it a “a local gem that truly stands out” and “a hidden gem in an unexpected place”.
One, describing it as their “second home”, also remarked: “If you’re after toffee lattes and cow’s milk, there are plenty of other places. But if you want exceptional coffee, ethically-sourced products, and a business that walks the walk when it comes to sustainability – Prism is it.”
And Prism now is serving up pizza – which Daniel apparently had been used to making years before he ever served up a coffee – and, following the launch of his new addition in June, the plan is to host a Pizzas in the Park event most Fridays, from 5pm-8.30pm, until September. The upcoming advertised dates are August 1, 22 and 29 but it’s advisable to check as it says days can be subject to change.
Prism Coffee in Saltwell Park(Image: Newcastle Chronicle)
While the Low Fell park might not have its bowling greens in action any more – and one of its lovely 100-year-old bowling pavilions was destroyed by fire in 2022 – there are still plenty traditional features to admire, including the bandstand, in an environment which is now transformed from the time it had appeared run-down.
A restoration project worked wonders and recent years have brought new life. Now the likes of the old rose garden is flourishing again and those promenade flower beds, which change with the seasons, are always stunning as shown in photos capturing the park’s changing attractions throughout the seasons.
The maze is fully fit and filled out too and it’s just as much fun for adults as kids. Adding to the park’s Victorian English charms are the some worldwide infuences too, with the quietly pretty little Japanese-style garden – a gift of friendship from the city of Komatsu – and the Swedish Buzzing Garden.
Saltwell Towers whose Gothic Revivalist-style makes it look like a fairytale castle
This has developed into a beauty, with carefully-chosen plants comlementing water and rock features, all inspired by the landscape of Sweden. The flowers have been picked to attract bees and butterflies and elsewhere the park has bee hives too.
The Tyneside Beekeepers Association has hosted taster sessions to show these off and teach people about the invaluable pollinators. It’s worth keeping an eye out in the shop at Southdene Nursery, which is at the car park end of the park and which sells – alongside its own plants, herbs and trees – stocks of the honey, including in actual honeycombs, when available.
As previous reported, Gateshead was recently ranked top in the North East in a survey of the best places to live in England, and Saltwell Park – famously dubbed The People’s Park upon its sale by Wailes to Gateshead Council – is one of its most-loved attractions. It was a regular host of annual night trail Enchanted Parks in the past and it continues to host events.
Saltwell Park in Gateshead is hugely popular with visitors year-round(Image: Barbara Hodgson)
Among them was the recent Kingdom in the Park for families, featuring princess and superhero characters, and the next in a series of food festivals will take place over the September 6-7 weekend.
A Pride Family Picnic is also making a return on August 24. Ahead of that, the park – which really comes into its own in the summer with its wildlife attractions and stunning floral displays – no doubt will remain the usual draw for families over the school holidays who can take along a picnic and enjoy a no-charge day out, filled with play opportunies and trails to explore. For more school holiday outing ideas see here.
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