Best BBQ and picnic parks in Liverpool
Bigge Park is the top pick for a family picnic in Liverpool, with toilets, two playgrounds and picnic tables all known. Its barbecues are limited, though, so cooking is better at Lighthorse Park or Liverpool Apex Park, which both have free barbecues. Mill Park fills in the rest, with toilets and shade for the picnic.
Quick picks
- Free barbecue: Lighthorse Park has free electric barbecues and shelter sheds beside the Georges River.
- All-round picnic: Bigge Park has toilets, two playgrounds and picnic tables, though its barbecues are limited.
- Covered barbecue in the centre: Liverpool Apex Park has a free barbecue with covered tables in a compact park.
- Barbecue and a bike ride: Mill Park has barbecue facilities, picnic tables and toilets, plus a bike path for riders.
Bigge Park for a family picnic with toilets and playgrounds
- BBQs
- Covered shelter
- Picnic tables
- Toilets
- Playground
- Parking
Bigge Park suits a family picnic best, because it has toilets, two playgrounds and picnic tables. The barbecues are limited, so the picnic tables are the better bet for a meal. Shady trees are spread across the grounds, and a clocktower stands at the centre. Paid parking runs around the park, and its free water play area, with a giant soaker bucket and water cannons, sets it apart from the other Liverpool parks.
Best for: Families who want a picnic with toilets and a playground nearby, and who don't mind limited barbecues.
Lighthorse Park for free electric barbecues by the river
- BBQs
- Covered shelter
- Picnic tables
- Playground
- Parking
Lighthorse Park is the one to choose if cooking is the plan, since its electric barbecues are free. Shelter sheds keep a picnic group out of the weather, and picnic tables and benches are there too. A playground is in the park, and the Georges River runs beside it. It is roughly four minutes on foot to Liverpool station or the city centre, and a large carpark covers drivers. Its toilet details are missing from our notes, so plan for them on a long stay.
Best for: Groups who want a free barbecue lunch with cover from the weather.
Mill Park for a barbecue lunch and a bike path
- BBQs
- Picnic tables
- Toilets
- Parking
Mill Park is the pick for a plain barbecue lunch with toilets on site. It has BBQ facilities, picnic tables and seats, and a sun shade gives cover during a daytime picnic. The park's standout is its bike path for riders, so a ride can follow the meal. You can park there too. A playground isn't known for the park, so families with small children may do better at Bigge Park.
Best for: Families who want a barbecue and then a spin on the bike path.
Liverpool Apex Park for a covered barbecue in the centre
- BBQs
- Covered shelter
- Picnic tables
- Playground
Liverpool Apex Park gives you a free barbecue with covered tables and seating in the centre of Liverpool. At 0.81 hectares it is compact, which suits a small group. An open lawn with seating and landscaped gardens adds more space to sit. The picnic area has covered tables, so a group can eat under cover while the barbecue is going. Toilets and parking are not on record for this one.
Best for: Small groups who want a covered barbecue in the middle of Liverpool.
How the parks compare
By area
Every BBQ and picnic park in and near Liverpool
The table below lists every barbecue and picnic park in and near Liverpool, with the facilities we know for each.
| Park | BBQs | Shelter | Tables | Toilets | Playground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1.Bigge Park | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| 2.Lighthorse Park | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | – | ✓ |
| 3.Mill Park | ✓ | – | ✓ | ✓ | – |
| 4.Liverpool Apex Park | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | – | ✓ |
| 5.Collimore Park | – | – | – | ✓ | ✓ |
| 6.Schell Park | – | – | – | – | ✓ |
| 7.Beale Park | – | – | – | – | – |
How we picked
We compared barbecues, shelters, picnic tables, toilets, a playground and park size, and ranked each park on what we know it has. A dash in the table means we don't know, not that a park lacks something, so an unknown toilet is never read as no toilet. Parks we know little about appear in the table only.
FAQ
Which park in Liverpool has free BBQs?
Two parks in Liverpool have free barbecues.Lighthorse Park's barbecues are electric and cost nothing, with shelter sheds close by. The barbecue at Liverpool Apex Park is free as well, with seating under cover.
Are there toilets at Bigge Park?
Yes, Bigge Park has accessible toilets and family change rooms. Its barbecues and picnic tables are limited, so the toilets are a good reason to pick it for a family picnic.
Can you ride a bike at Mill Park?
Yes, Mill Park has a bike path for riders, and it is the park's standout feature. BBQ facilities and picnic tables are there too, so you can cook and ride in the same outing.
Is there shade for a packed lunch at Collimore Park?
Yes, Collimore Park's lunch areas give shade for eating, and seating is there too. Cars can park there as well, and some spaces are accessible.