Newport’s biggest
St Julian's Park
Park or garden
49 ha (122 acres)5.1 km of path
1 h 10 minto walk all 5.1 km of path
69 pitchesfootball pitches would fit
1.4 mi eastfrom the centre
Directionsto the nearest entrance
Photo: Jaggery · CC BY-SA 2.0A−Outdoors Grade
Outdoors in Newport · parks, paths & countryside
85% of Newport’s residents live within a 5-minute walk of a park
The Brecon Beacons National Park begins 5.5 mi from the city’s edge. The sea makes up 16% of the area within 5 km. Parks and playing fields in Newport add up to 2.8 ha for every 1,000 residents; the typical UK town has 2.1. Newport grades A− for the outdoors: #14 of 38 in Gwent. A character grade: it isn’t part of the overall grade.
Green space
2.8 ha
per 1,000 residents
Typical UK town 2.1
Near a park
85%
of residents within 400 m
Typical UK town 83%
Footpaths
308 km
2.9 km per km², town + 1 km
Typical UK town 3.0 per km²
Protected landscape
0%
of the land within 5 km
Brecon Beacons starts 5.5 mi out, past the 5 km
The sea
16%
of the area within 5 km
Character
What kind of outdoors city is Newport?
Read from the data: what stands out first, good and bad.
Countryside close byThe Brecon Beacons National Park starts 5.5 mi north.On a National TrailThe Wales Coast Path passes through.Historic parks6 registered historic parks and gardens, including Beechwood Park.
Newport’s strongest suit is the Brecon Beacons National Park close by, followed by the Wales Coast Path.
Outdoors grade
Newport grades A− for the outdoors
Each chart is every UK town of 1,000 or more on one measure: the green bar is Newport, the dashed line the typical town. The number is the share of towns it beats; the five are averaged and the average ranked again.
A−
Better than 75% of UK towns#14 of 38 in Gwent · 24th of 54 UK cities its size
Public green space2.8 haper 1,000 residents: parks, gardens, playing fields, play spaces
66out of
100
100
A park within a walk85%of residents within 400 m (a 5-minute walk)
57out of
100
100
National Park or National Landscape0%of the land within 5 km · Brecon Beacons begins just past 5 km
31out of
100
100
Footpaths2.9 kmper km², the town and 1 km around it
58out of
100
100
The sea16%of the area within 5 km
88out of
100
100
Graded, never part of the overall grade (like History and Civic life). It measures what is mapped: OS Open Greenspace leaves out woodland and open-access land that isn’t a park, and OpenStreetMap’s rural paths are more complete in some places than others.
Cities its size
Newport is 24th of 54 UK cities its size for the outdoors
The 54 UK towns and cities of 92,000 to 177,000 people with an Outdoors Grade. Hover a dot for its figures; tap one for its page.
Outdoors score: the share of UK towns each one beats
Footpath, km per km²
Newport2.9
Cities its size4.1
Gwent towns2.7
All UK towns3.0
Green space, ha per 1,000 residents
Newport2.8
Cities its size2.5
Gwent towns2.5
All UK towns2.1
Residents within 400 m of a park
Newport85%
Cities its size86%
Gwent towns85%
All UK towns83%
Newport falls furthest behind on path per km², where 43 of the 53 others do better.
Show as a table
| Town | Outdoors | Green space | Near a park | Path per km² | Protected | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Gloucester Gloucestershire | A | 2.7 | 93% | 6 | 22% |
| 2 | Gillingham Kent | A | 1.6 | 86% | 5.3 | 23% |
| 3 | Poole Dorset | A | 2.5 | 81% | 3.4 | 20% |
| 4 | Crawley West Sussex | A | 2.6 | 85% | 10.5 | 33% |
| 5 | Stockport Greater Manchester | A | 4 | 93% | 4.3 | 0% |
| 6 | Eastbourne East Sussex | A | 2 | 75% | 4.3 | 23% |
| 7 | Telford Shropshire | A | 3.2 | 96% | 4 | 6% |
| 8 | Basingstoke Hampshire | A | 2.5 | 94% | 5.8 | 6% |
| 9 | Colchester Essex | A | 3.2 | 86% | 5.4 | 10% |
| 10 | Kingswood and Fishponds Gloucestershire | A | 3.1 | 85% | 6.1 | 10% |
| 11 | Hemel Hempstead Hertfordshire | A | 3 | 95% | 3.6 | 18% |
| 12 | Bath Somerset | A | 1.8 | 89% | 5.6 | 50% |
| 13 | Harlow Essex | A | 3.7 | 99% | 8.2 | 0% |
| 14 | Middlesbrough North Yorkshire | A | 2.6 | 85% | 2.9 | 3% |
| 15 | Swansea West Glamorgan | A | 3.2 | 86% | 2.1 | 9% |
| 16 | Watford Hertfordshire | A | 2.8 | 88% | 4.5 | 1% |
| 17 | Stevenage Hertfordshire | A− | 3 | 98% | 7.3 | 0% |
| 18 | Gateshead Tyne and Wear | A− | 3.3 | 95% | 5.2 | 0% |
| 19 | Basildon Essex | A− | 3 | 95% | 7.1 | 0% |
| 20 | Maidstone Kent | A− | 2.9 | 81% | 3.5 | 20% |
| 21 | Cheltenham Gloucestershire | A− | 1.4 | 87% | 4.5 | 44% |
| 22 | Worthing West Sussex | A− | 1.2 | 78% | 2.9 | 38% |
| 23 | Ipswich Suffolk | A− | 2.6 | 79% | 3.9 | 12% |
| 24 | Newport Gwent | A− | 2.8 | 85% | 2.9 | 0% |
| 25 | Bedford Bedfordshire | B+ | 4.2 | 88% | 3.9 | 0% |
| 26 | Wakefield West Yorkshire | B+ | 3.9 | 86% | 4.1 | 0% |
| 27 | Oldham Greater Manchester | B+ | 1.7 | 87% | 5 | 0% |
| 28 | Warrington Cheshire | B+ | 3.5 | 93% | 3.5 | 0% |
| 29 | Oxford Oxfordshire | B+ | 2.4 | 90% | 5.4 | 0% |
| 30 | Huddersfield West Yorkshire | B+ | 1.4 | 94% | 4.3 | 1% |
| 31 | Birkenhead Merseyside | B+ | 3.1 | 71% | 2.8 | 0% |
| 32 | York North Yorkshire | B | 2.3 | 89% | 4.4 | 0% |
| 33 | Salford Greater Manchester | B | 2 | 91% | 5.1 | 0% |
| 34 | Kensington and Chelsea London | B | 1.5 | 99% | 7.1 | 0% |
| 35 | Chelmsford Essex | B | 2.4 | 87% | 4.4 | 0% |
| 36 | Wythenshawe Greater Manchester | B | 2.5 | 84% | 4.5 | 0% |
| 37 | Kingston upon Thames London | B | 3.3 | 71% | 5.4 | 0% |
| 38 | St Helens Merseyside | B | 3.4 | 91% | 2.9 | 0% |
| 39 | Preston Lancashire | B | 3 | 80% | 4.1 | 0% |
| 40 | Cambridge Cambridgeshire | B | 2.3 | 79% | 5.4 | 0% |
| 41 | West Bromwich West Midlands | B− | 2.7 | 83% | 3.5 | 0% |
| 42 | Sunderland Tyne and Wear | B− | 1.5 | 76% | 3.3 | 0% |
| 43 | Blackburn Lancashire | B− | 2.2 | 71% | 3.1 | 1% |
| 44 | Exeter Devon | B− | 1.8 | 81% | 4.6 | 0% |
| 45 | Royal Sutton Coldfield West Midlands | B− | 6.1 | 64% | 3 | 0% |
| 46 | Lincoln Lincolnshire | B− | 2.5 | 72% | 3.9 | 0% |
| 47 | Rochdale Greater Manchester | C+ | 1.7 | 88% | 3.6 | 0% |
| 48 | Blackpool Lancashire | C+ | 1.6 | 75% | 2.3 | 0% |
| 49 | Darlington County Durham | C+ | 2.2 | 87% | 2.4 | 0% |
| 50 | Worcester Worcestershire | C | 1.5 | 77% | 4.1 | 0% |
| 51 | Solihull West Midlands | C | 2.9 | 54% | 3.1 | 0% |
| 52 | Slough Berkshire | C | 1.9 | 82% | 2.8 | 0% |
| 53 | Chester Cheshire | C | 1.6 | 86% | 2.7 | 0% |
| 54 | Southport Merseyside | C− | 1.4 | 60% | 2.1 | 0% |
The map
Parks, footpaths & countryside
Tap a number to zoom to a park. Tap a layer to hide it. The dashed line is Newport’s built-up area.
Green space: parks, gardens, playing fields and play spaces, named or not.© OpenStreetMap contributors · Contains OS data © Crown copyright · Natural England / NRW
Places to walk
Parks to walk in, in and around Newport
The biggest is St Julian's Park, 49 ha (122 acres). Directions go to the park’s nearest public entrance where Ordnance Survey maps one.
All 19 named parks by size: 215 ha (530 acres) and 27 km of path
Parks & gardens 148 haPlaying fields 66 ha
The two biggest, St Julian's Park and Tredegar House, are 43% of the named green space and carry 13 km of path between them. 5 of the 19 are under 2 ha: small gardens, play spaces and pitches.
Tredegar House
Park or garden
43 ha (106 acres)7.5 km of path
1 h 40 minto walk all 7.5 km of path
60 pitchesfootball pitches would fit
2.4 mi south-westfrom the centre
Stable Block including Orangery Grade I Tredegar House Grade I +9 listed
Directionsto the nearest entrance
Westfield Playing Fields
Park or garden
25 ha (62 acres)1.5 km of path
20 minto walk all 1.5 km of path
35 pitchesfootball pitches would fit
1.6 mi north-westfrom the centre
2 listed
Directionsto the nearest entrance
Historic park · Grade II
Beechwood Park
Park or garden
12 ha (30 acres)3.1 km of path
40 minto walk all 3.1 km of path
17 pitchesfootball pitches would fit
1.1 mi eastfrom the centre
1 listed
Directionsto the nearest entrance
Historic park · Grade II
Belle Vue Park
Park or garden
9.3 ha (23 acres)3.3 km of path
45 minto walk all 3.3 km of path
13 pitchesfootball pitches would fit
0.7 mi south-westfrom the centre
6 listed
Directionsto the nearest entrance
Historic park · Grade II*
Tredegar Park Sports Ground
Playing field
21 ha (51 acres)1.6 km of path
20 minto walk all 1.6 km of path
29 pitchesfootball pitches would fit
1.9 mi south-westfrom the centre
Playground
Directionsto the nearest entrance
St Julian's Glebelands
Playing field
18 ha (45 acres)1.1 km of path
15 minto walk all 1.1 km of path
26 pitchesfootball pitches would fit
0.9 mi northfrom the centre
Directionsto the nearest entrance
Coronation Park
Playing field
6.5 ha (16 acres)0.4 km of path
9 pitchesfootball pitches would fit
1.4 mi southfrom the centre
Directionsto the nearest entrance
All 19 named parks and green spaces
St Julian's ParkPark or garden · 49 ha · 5.1 km of path
DirectionsTredegar HousePark or garden · 43 ha · 7.5 km of path
DirectionsWestfield Playing FieldsPark or garden · 25 ha · 1.5 km of path
DirectionsBeechwood ParkPark or garden · 12 ha · 3.1 km of path
DirectionsBelle Vue ParkPark or garden · 9.3 ha · 3.3 km of path
DirectionsTredegar Park Sports GroundPlaying field · 21 ha · 1.6 km of path
DirectionsSt Julian's GlebelandsPlaying field · 18 ha · 1.1 km of path
DirectionsCoronation ParkPlaying field · 6.5 ha · 0.4 km of path
DirectionsGrove ParkPark or garden · 3.5 ha · 0.6 km of path
DirectionsShaftesbury ParkPlaying field · 6.6 ha · 0.2 km of path
DirectionsLiswerry Recreation GroundPlaying field · 4.6 ha · 0.4 km of path
DirectionsLiswerry Recreation GroundPlaying field · 4.6 ha · 0.4 km of path
DirectionsCrindau ParkPlaying field · 4.1 ha · 0.4 km of path
DirectionsWoodland ParkPark or garden · 1.9 ha · 0.5 km of path
DirectionsCoed-Melyn ParkPark or garden · 2.6 ha
DirectionsMendalgief Community ParkPark or garden · 0.5 ha · 0.3 km of path
DirectionsBettws Rugby ClubPlaying field · 1.1 ha · just outside town
DirectionsMariners GreenPark or garden · 0.2 ha · 0.2 km of path
DirectionsChapel ParkPark or garden · 0.3 ha · 0.1 km of path
DirectionsClose to home
How close Newport’s homes are to a park
Each square is 1 in 100 residents: green lives within 400 m of a public park, garden or playing field (Census 2021 output areas against OS Open Greenspace).
Within 400 m (85%)Further (15%)
Newport85%
Cities its size86%
Gwent towns85%
All UK towns83%
About 20,000 people live further than that. Playing fields count, so a park within reach isn’t always one with paths or trees; 127 playgrounds are mapped in and around the city, about one for every 1,031 residents.
National Parks & National Landscapes
The Brecon Beacons National Park is 5.5 mi away
Protected landscapes within 30 km, by direction and distance from the edge of the built-up area; circle size shows each one’s area. National Landscapes were called Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty until 2023.
National ParkNational LandscapeThe 5 km the grade counts
National Park
Brecon Beacons
5.5 mi north1,350 km²since 1955
Protected landscape begins just outside the 5 km ring the Outdoors Grade measures, so Newport scores 0% on it even though the Brecon Beacons National Park is 5.5 mi away. Brecon Beacons National Park covers 1,350 km² and has been a National Park since 1955.
Footpaths & waymarked walks
Newport is on the Wales Coast Path
308 km of footpaths, bridleways and rights of way are mapped in Newport and the kilometre around it, 2.9 km for every square kilometre (the typical UK town has 3.0). Bars show each route’s kilometres within 2 km of the city.
NationalRegionalLocal
Wales Coast Path (South Wales)22.1 km
Newport Wetlands & Goldcliff Loop8.0 km
Bishton & Llanwern Loop5.1 km
Usk Valley Walk3.6 km
Lodge Hill Circular Walk2.6 km
Rhymney River Circular1.6 km
The Wales Coast Path, a national route, passes Newport. Close to home, the Newport Wetlands & Goldcliff Loop has 8 km of local walk within 2 km of the city. The regional route here is the Usk Valley Walk.
Waymarked walks are OpenStreetMap walking routes. Public rights of way are only as complete as the map in each area.
History along the way
6 historic parks, and what stands in them
Historic England’s register of parks and gardens, and the listed buildings and scheduled monuments that stand inside Newport’s named parks.
Registered park · Grade II
Belle Vue Park
9.3 ha. Part of Bellevue Park, a registered historic park (Grade II). 6 listed structures and monuments stand inside it or at its edge.
IICardiff Road Lodge at Belle Vue Park, including attached Gates & WallIIPavilion and attached ConservatoriesIIRustic Tea HouseIITerracing below Pavilion and ConservatoriesIIUpper Lodge at Belle Vue Park, including Attached Wall & GatepiersIIWaterloo Road Gatepiers & Gates to Belle Vue Park
Registered · Grade II*Tredegar Park11 ha
Registered · Grade IIBeechwood Park12 ha
Registered · Grade IIBryn Glas1.8 ha
Registered · Grade IINos 15 and 17 Stow Park Circle0.8 ha
Registered · Grade IISt. Woolos Cemetery26 ha
Listed buildings insideTredegar HouseStable Block including Orangery, Tredegar House and Edney Gates, inc flanking screen and attached walls with opposing gates to S end of Middle Court and 8 more
Listed buildings insideWestfield Playing FieldsHollybush Bridge over the Monmouthshire and Brecon Canal (partly in Bettws Community) and Hollybush Bridge over the Monmouthshire and Brecon Canal (partly in Malpas community)
Listed buildings insideChapel Park13 Hill Street and 14 Hill Street
A listed building or monument counts when it sits inside the park’s OS Open Greenspace outline (to about 15 m), so a few at the boundary are included. Historic England, National Heritage List for England.
When to get out
The best walking months in Newport: May to September
The city’s 1991–2020 averages (Met Office HadUK-Grid) and the daylight at its latitude. Outlined months have 12½+ hours of daylight, highs of 15 °C or more and little rain for the town.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Daylight (h) | 8.3 | 9.9 | 11.7 | 13.8 | 15.6 | 16.6 | 16.2 | 14.6 | 12.6 | 10.5 | 8.7 | 7.8 |
| High (°C) | 8 | 9 | 11 | 14 | 17 | 20 | 22 | 22 | 19 | 15 | 11 | 9 |
| Rain (mm) | 119 | 87 | 76 | 68 | 71 | 67 | 69 | 89 | 77 | 116 | 116 | 126 |
June is the driest month (67 mm) and July the warmest (highs of 22 °C). Winter days are short, about 8 hours of daylight in December, and 126 mm of rain falls in December, the wettest month. Frost comes on about 27 nights a year. The climate in Newport →
The coast
Newport is near the sea
16% of the area within 5 km of Newport is sea. 10 beaches are mapped within 5 km, 0 with a name.
The Wales Coast Path passes the town.
Sea: the area outside the ONS coastline (mean high water). Bathing water quality is published by the Environment Agency (England) and Natural Resources Wales; check it before swimming.
Things to do
5 viewpoints and 127 playgrounds
Mapped within 2 km of the city in OpenStreetMap, against the typical UK city its size per resident. Named places are listed with directions; unnamed ones are only counted.
5Viewpoints1.8× cities its size12Hills and peaks5.2× cities its size4Nature reserves0.7× cities its size1Picnic sites127Playgroundsabout the same as cities its size1Slipways
Every named place, with directions
Hills and peaks 12
The Gaer90 m (295 ft) · 0.0 mi from town
DirectionsChepstow Hill0.4 mi from town
DirectionsFox Hill131 m (430 ft) · 0.6 mi from town
DirectionsWaltwood Hill62 m (203 ft) · 0.7 mi from town
DirectionsWilcrick Hill69 m (226 ft) · 0.7 mi from town
DirectionsIron Age Hill Fort120 m (394 ft) · 0.7 mi from town
DirectionsPensylvania0.7 mi from town
DirectionsMount St Albans0.9 mi from town
DirectionsPlus 4 hills and peaks without a name on the map.
Nature reserves 4
19 Hills2.8 ha · in town
DirectionsSchool nature reserve1.6 ha · 0.3 mi from town
DirectionsGreat Traston Meadows1.9 ha · 0.5 mi from town
DirectionsMagor Marsh SSSI23 ha · 1.1 mi from town
DirectionsPicnic sites 1
Plus 1 picnic site without a name on the map.
Playgrounds 127
Baneswell Mouse Gardenin town
DirectionsBlackash Park Playgroundin town
DirectionsBrecon Park Play Areain town
DirectionsCastleglasin town
DirectionsGlan Llyn Playgroundin town
DirectionsJubilee Gardens playgroundin town
DirectionsJungle Playin town
DirectionsMoorland Parkin town
DirectionsPlus 119 playgrounds without a name on the map.
Slipways 1
Plus 1 slipway without a name on the map.
Next door
The outdoors in nearby towns
The nearest towns of 1,000+ within 12 miles. Tap a town for its outdoors page.
CaerleonPonthirRogerstoneLangstoneUnderwoodCwmbrânNewport
ABCDOutdoors Grade
Newport grades higher for the outdoors than every neighbour in the table. None of the neighbours has a protected landscape within 5 km either.
Questions about the outdoors in Newport
What is the biggest park in Newport?
St Julian's Park, 49 ha (122 acres), with 5.1 km of path. Tredegar House (43 ha) is second. 19 named parks, gardens and playing fields are in the city or within 400 m of it.
Is Newport near a National Park?
Yes. Brecon Beacons National Park begins 5.5 mi north of the city’s edge. It covers 1,350 km² and has been a National Park since 1955.
What are the best walks near Newport?
6 waymarked walking routes pass within 2 km of the city, including the Wales Coast Path (South Wales), Newport Wetlands & Goldcliff Loop and Bishton & Llanwern Loop. St Julian's Park alone has 5.1 km of path.
How many people in Newport live near a park?
85% of residents live within 400 m, about a 5-minute walk, of a public park, garden or playing field (Census 2021 output areas against OS Open Greenspace). The typical UK town is 83%.
When is the best time of year for walking in Newport?
May to September: the longest days, the warmest afternoons and the least rain of the year, from the Met Office 1991–2020 averages.
Which parks in Newport are historic?
Beechwood Park (Grade II), Bellevue Park (Grade II), Bryn Glas (Grade II) and Nos 15 and 17 Stow Park Circle (Grade II) are on Historic England’s register of parks and gardens.
Is Newport good for walking?
About average for paths: 2.9 km of footpath and right of way per square kilometre, more than 58% of UK towns. For park space per person it beats 66% (2.8 ha per 1,000 residents).
How is the Outdoors Grade worked out?
From five measures, each placed among UK towns of 1,000 or more: public green space per resident, the share living near a park, National Park or National Landscape within 5 km, footpaths per square kilometre, and the sea within 5 km. It is a character grade and isn’t part of Newport’s overall grade.
Sources
Where Newport’s outdoors figures come from
- Parks and green space: Ordnance Survey OS Open Greenspace (parks and gardens, playing fields, play spaces, and their access points). Contains OS data © Crown copyright and database right 2026, Open Government Licence v3.0.
- National Parks and National Landscapes: Natural England and Natural Resources Wales boundaries, areas and designation dates, Open Government Licence v3.0.
- Footpaths, walking routes, beaches and things to do: © OpenStreetMap contributors, Open Database License (ODbL), via Geofabrik, 16 October 2026.
- Historic parks, listed buildings and monuments: Historic England, National Heritage List for England, Open Government Licence v3.0.
- Rain and temperature: Met Office HadUK-Grid 1991–2020 averages for the town; daylight calculated from its latitude.
- The sea: ONS Countries (December 2024) boundaries clipped to mean high water. Residents near a park: ONS Census 2021 output areas.
- Grade: TownRatings’ Outdoors Grade, ranked against UK towns only.
Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Contains HM Land Registry data © Crown copyright and database right 2026. Contains OS data © Crown copyright and database right 2026 (ONS boundaries). Northern Ireland: Source: NISRA; contains Land & Property Services data and Ordnance Survey of Northern Ireland information, © Crown copyright, licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Scotland: contains National Records of Scotland data, Registers of Scotland data and SEPA data, © Crown copyright / © SEPA 2025, licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.