Looking for outdoor play areas in Lucknow for kids? Here’s our list of recommendations:
1. NAWAB WAJID ALI SHAH ZOOLOGICAL GARDEN
Home to a variety of flora and fauna, the zoo makes for a lovely day off for kids and parents. Apart from the animals and birds, the key attraction is the toy train. The lion den, the Hukku Monkey, and more than five endangered species of monkeys are also some of the popular attractions. The entire zoo is well maintained and clean, with proper trash cans installed at convenient locations. There’s an outdoor play area as well, which is in need of refurbishment again. You could visit the aquarium, the section for reptiles and the Museum for mummies, depending on your child’s age and interest. There are golf carts that you can hire for the entire family if you do not want to walk through the length of the zoo. You can book e-tickets from the zoo website. It’s a great option to bypass the long queues outside the zoo on holidays.
Entry fee: Rs. 30/- for ages between 5 and 12; Rs. 50/- for 12+
Timings: 8.30 am to 5 pm
Location: Nawab Wajid Ali Shah Zoological Garden, Hazratganj Road, Opp. Civil Hospital
Website: http://www.lucknowzoo.com
2. JANESHWAR MISHRA PARK
The Janeshwar Mishra Park spread over 376 acres, with a man-made lake in the centre. The attraction for the kids, however, are the two children’s play areas – a toddler park for kids aged between 2 and 5, and another play area for kids aged between 5 and 12. The toddler park has a number of swing and slide sets, rope bridges, monkey ladder, wooden bridges and merry go rounds for the children to enjoy. All equipment has been specially designed keeping the age group in mind – safe and sturdy. The level of the swings is deliberately low to encourage toddlers to use them independently. There is security present to oversee all the activities as well as to make sure that no adult is using the swings.
The play area for the older kids is situated on the right hand side of the gate and a Spider Web swing, where children are required to climb up the elastic mesh, multi-play stations, jungle climbers, satellite climbers, among other things.
Location: Gate No. 1, Janeshwar Mishra Park, Gomtinagar
Timings: 5 am to 7.30 pm
Entry free
3. ECO GARDEN
The Manyawar Shri Kanshiram Ji Green Eco Garden is a lesser known park in Lucknow that kids will enjoy. The park houses nearly 500 bronze animals and water fountains. There’s also a Rock Garden here, surrounded by greenhouses that with thousands of plant varities. There is a dome-shaped structure located in the centre of the park from where visitors can enjoy beautiful views of the entire garden.
Timings: 9 am to 9 pm
Location: Geeta Palli, Alambagh, Alambagh Marg, Lucknow
4. DR. RAM MANOHAR LOHIA PARK
Spread over 80 acres of land, Lohia Park is very popular among morning walkers and fitness enthusiasts, as well as children who enjoy outdoor play. The beautiful landscaping have several small fields for kids to play in, an artificial lake where ducks roam freely, and some swings too. Great to take the kids out for cycling and skating too.
Entrance ticket: Rs. 5. Free for children up to 12 years
Timings: 6 am to 10 pm
Location: Vipin Khand, Gomti Nagar, Lucknow
5. SCIENCE & PREHISTORIC PARK, REGIONAL SCIENCE CITY
Some fun with learning for kids? Head here. The Regional Science City is a great place for children to spend time learning cool science facts while making it all seem like play. The outdoor area at the Science City includes a Science Park, where you find swings and rides that are modelled on scientific processes. These exhibits on physical science are not only fun to use but also possess a unique name like Double Cone Uphill, Depth Spinner, Turn Faster , A hole in Your Palm, etc. The park not only has these exhibits which makes it different but also Cacti corner, medicinal plants section and pet animal cages which enrich the surroundings. The Prehistoric Park is an open area surrounded by greenery, which has cast iron statues and models of extinct animals like dinosaurs, birds and many others. It will take you back in time where you can see the evolution of earth.
Open all days except Holi and Diwali.
Entry fee: Rs. 25
Timings: 9.30 am to 5.30 pm
Location: Aliganj Extension, Sector-E (Ekta Vihar), Aliganj
Website: http://www.rsclucknow.org/
