Description of the attraction
Roundhay Park in Leeds is one of the largest urban parks in Europe. Its area is almost three square kilometers, where the townspeople can walk in the forest and along the lake, and admire the flower beds. The park is very popular among both Leeds residents and tourists: it is visited by up to a million people annually.
Once there were hunting grounds of the de Lacy family, granted to Ilbert de Lacy by William the Conqueror. The earth changed hands many times. In 1803, Thomas Nicholson became the owner. In his time, there were quarries and old coal mines, on the site of which two lakes were built - Lake Superior and Lake Waterloo. Nicholson built a country house overlooking Lake Superior and decorated the park with an imitation of an old castle gate. Also, thanks to the Nicholson family, St. John's Church, a shelter for the poor and a school in the southern part of the park were built. In 1871, John Barren, the mayor of Leeds, bought the park for the townspeople, and in 1872 the park was inaugurated in the presence of Prince Arthur. In 1891, Britain's first electric tramway (modern type with wires over the road) connected the park to the city center.
Part of the park is occupied by the Tropical World - greenhouses representing different types of terrestrial climate. Here is the second largest collection of tropical plants in Britain (after the Royal Botanic Gardens Kew). In the Tropical World there is a Butterfly House and aquariums, and tropical birds and reptiles are kept in greenhouses. The Nightlife Pavilion features a collection of nocturnal animals such as bats. The population of meerkats living on the territory of the Tropical World enjoys great love of the public.
The park is divided into several parts: Gardens on the canals, Monet's Garden (in honor of the French artist), Alhambra Garden, Friends' Garden (meaning the Society of Friends of the Roundhay Park). There is also a special garden for the blind - with scented walkways and instructions in Braille.
