Saunders Park

Find out about the new facilities and attractions at Saunders Park.

Saunders Park is located towards the east of the city. This L-shaped park is tucked into a corner off Lewes Road and Hollingdean Road. The park is partly sloped, with a flatter lower area at the Lewes Road end containing:

  • a play area
  • paddling pool
  • basketball/football court
  • café

There are more open areas to explore as the site curves more steeply upwards towards Hollingdean Hill behind.

Saunders Park is a valued and well-used community park. It has benefited from significant investment between 2018 and 2020. There is a new café and public toilets. The new "More than you thought" signage hints at the many facilities and attractions of this 4 acre community and wildlife haven.

 
Plant area at Saunders Park

Opening times

Park

Always open.

Café

Autumn and winter opening times:

  • closed on Mondays
  • open 10am to 4pm Tuesday to Sunday

Check out the café’s Facebook page for news and updates.

Getting there

Saunders Park is within easy walking distance of the areas of Coombe Road and Lewes Road.

The main access to the park is via a gate near the bus stop on Lewes Road. There is a further pedestrian access from Hollingdean Road.

Bus

Many buses stop right outside the park on Lewes Road. As well as buses going south towards the city, there are many routes which connect the park to areas such as Moulescoomb, Bevendean and Coldean. 

Further information and timetables are available from Brighton & Hove Bus Company. 

Cycling

There is a cycle path running along Lewes Road directly outside Saunders Park’s main entrance. There are cycle racks inside the park by the playground.

For more information on cycling around the city check our cycling pages. 

Cars

There is limited on-street parking in surrounding roads off Lewes Road and Hollingdean Road. Time-limited, controlled car parking is available a few minutes away for customers shopping at the Pavilion Retail Park.

Activities at Saunders Park

Saunders Park is a hub for Brighton and Hove Food Partnership, whose aspiration is to turn the park into a vibrant, edible community garden. Volunteers are always welcome. Find out more, or phone 01273 431 700.

You can also take advantage of the community composting facility at Saunders Park, one of 40 city-wide which provides a solution for people without sufficient garden space who wish to compost their green waste.

Find out more

Use our events diary to find more events and activities at parks across the city.

Facilities

Sports facilities

Children’s playground

Saunders Park has a refurbished playground mainly set among trees for shelter, and has a range of exciting play equipment and a toddler area.

Basketball and football

This area was renovated and brightened up with a unique design on its playing surface by local artist Lois O’Hara in 2018.

Paddling pool

Alongside the children’s playground and surrounded by benches, this pool is usually open in the summer months. It is managed by Freedom Leisure on behalf of the city council.

The area around the pool has also been improved over the last couple of years, with a new fenced area and additional seating to ensure the area is safer and better for families.

  •  the paddling pool like other public city water features, is not open in 2020 due to Covid-19, but we hope it will reopen in 2021. 

Services

Café: “Laz’ in the Park”

The café was completely rebuilt in 2020, and offers an exciting range of wholesome, primarily locally-sourced food and refreshments you can enjoy inside, in the little seating area alongside, or take away. Find out more.

Toilets 

There are public toilets, including a disabled toilet facility, within the café building. These are open when the café is open.

Points of interest

History

The city’s people’s history website MyBrightonandHove records that Saunders Park was laid out in 1924 on the site of the Lewes Road waterworks which had been used by the council’s Parks Department as a nursery.

In the same year Arthur and Benjamin Saunders offered an area of their land behind the pumping station to the then Brighton Corporation for about £1,000. The park is named after them. Several old flint walls from the waterworks are still visible at the park.

Saunders Park Eco-Project

Brighton and Hove Food Partnership is working with the city council on an ambitious long-term project at Saunders Park to create an accessible, sustainable garden with edible plants, fruit and vegetables.

As part of the project, there are some help-yourself planters growing vegetables, a wildlife pond and an orchard.

Volunteers are always welcome to help out with this transformational project.

Tasks could include weeding and clearing, digging new beds, cutting back, clearing, watering, harvesting, or making tea!

There are tasks to suit everyone. More details on the onsite noticeboards at the front of the park. 

Report a problem in the park

Have you found a problem at the park? If so, contact us using our online City Parks problem report form.

You can also Dedicate a Bench at this park.

More information and how to contact us