Monk Meadow Play Area

Tucked alongside the canal in Gloucester, this fenced little spot is ideal if you’ve got toddlers who just need to burn off some energy without you chasing them toward the water. It’s pretty simple — mostly open grass with trees dotted around — but the fence makes a real difference when you’ve got a one or two-year-old who doesn’t understand danger yet. Worth knowing: after any decent rainfall it turns into a mud pit pretty quickly, so pack a spare pair of wellies and don’t wear anything you care about. Good for a leg-stretch if you’re already walking the canal path.