Photo: Helen Steed · CC BY-SA 2.0Almost everyone in Worlingham lives within a 5-minute walk of a park
The Broads National Park and the Suffolk Coast & Heaths National Landscape both begin about a mile from the town’s edge. Footpaths add up to 24 km in the town and the kilometre around it, 1.4 for every square kilometre. Parks and playing fields in Worlingham add up to 1.5 ha for every 1,000 residents; the typical UK town has 2.1. Worlingham grades B− for the outdoors: #20 of 34 in Suffolk. A character grade: it isn’t part of the overall grade.
What kind of outdoors town is Worlingham?
Read from the data: what stands out first, good and bad.
Worlingham’s strongest suit is parks close to every home, followed by two protected landscapes close by. Where it falls short is footpaths.
Worlingham grades B− for the outdoors
Each chart is every UK town of 1,000 or more on one measure: the green bar is Worlingham, the dashed line the typical town. The number is the share of towns it beats; the five are averaged and the average ranked again.
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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.
Worlingham is 24th of 60 UK towns its size for the outdoors
The 60 UK towns and cities of 3,500 to 3,800 people with an Outdoors Grade. Hover a dot for its figures; tap one for its page.
Against towns its size, Worlingham stands out most for homes near a park: none of the other 59 has more. It falls furthest behind on path per km², where 50 of the others do better.
Show as a table
| Town | Outdoors | Green space | Near a park | Path per km² | Protected | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tutshill and Sedbury Gloucestershire | A+ | 2.5 | 87% | 4.5 | 32% |
| 2 | Marsden West Yorkshire | A | 1.9 | 100% | 6.5 | 33% |
| 3 | Leonard Stanley and King's Stanley Gloucestershire | A | 2 | 100% | 4.6 | 51% |
| 4 | Lingfield Surrey | A | 3.5 | 100% | 2.8 | 16% |
| 5 | Bishopston West Glamorgan | A | 3 | 47% | 3.1 | 41% |
| 6 | Kingsbury Warwickshire | A− | 17.2 | 100% | 2.9 | 0% |
| 7 | Shenley Hertfordshire | A− | 6.1 | 100% | 3.2 | 0% |
| 8 | Taff's Well Mid Glamorgan | A− | 2.3 | 100% | 6.2 | 0% |
| 9 | Grassmoor Derbyshire | A− | 6.8 | 85% | 4.7 | 0% |
| 10 | Church Stretton Shropshire | A− | 2.2 | 68% | 4.7 | 92% |
| 11 | Keresley Newlands Warwickshire | B+ | 4.4 | 89% | 3.5 | 0% |
| 12 | Harriseahead, Mow Cop and Newchapel Staffordshire | B+ | 4.2 | 86% | 3.7 | 0% |
| 13 | Watchet Somerset | B+ | 1.3 | 86% | 2 | 18% |
| 14 | Chartham Kent | B | 2.3 | 67% | 3.3 | 44% |
| 15 | Roade Northamptonshire | B | 2.6 | 100% | 2.7 | 0% |
| 16 | Martham Norfolk | B | 1.7 | 74% | 1.8 | 45% |
| 17 | Llanfairfechan Clwyd | B | 1 | 48% | 2.9 | 38% |
| 18 | Sturminster Newton Dorset | B | 1.4 | 85% | 3.6 | 5% |
| 19 | Gunnislake and St Ann's Chapel Cornwall | B− | 2.5 | 64% | 2.3 | 66% |
| 20 | Belton Norfolk | B− | 1.5 | 77% | 1.5 | 48% |
| 21 | Whitwell Derbyshire | B− | 1.7 | 100% | 3 | 0% |
| 22 | Theydon Bois Essex | B− | 2.4 | 70% | 5.1 | 0% |
| 23 | Lower Nazeing Essex | B− | 23.8 | 58% | 3.2 | 0% |
| 24 | Worlingham Suffolk | B− | 1.5 | 100% | 1.4 | 24% |
| 25 | Pulborough West Sussex | B− | 1.4 | 77% | 2.7 | 50% |
| 26 | Bembridge Isle of Wight | B− | 1.5 | 50% | 2.3 | 7% |
| 27 | Penllergaer West Glamorgan | B− | 21 | 83% | 1.7 | 0% |
| 28 | Langport Somerset | B− | 2.3 | 94% | 2.5 | 0% |
| 29 | Oakworth West Yorkshire | C+ | 2.3 | 84% | 3.1 | 0% |
| 30 | Fradley Staffordshire | C+ | 2.7 | 82% | 2.7 | 0% |
| 31 | Tutbury Staffordshire | C+ | 2.5 | 90% | 2.2 | 0% |
| 32 | Great Lumley County Durham | C+ | 1.4 | 88% | 3.6 | 0% |
| 33 | Woodstock Oxfordshire | C+ | 1 | 80% | 3 | 11% |
| 34 | Boreham Essex | C+ | 1.1 | 100% | 2.8 | 0% |
| 35 | Hatfield Peverel Essex | C | 2 | 84% | 2.7 | 0% |
| 36 | Bransgore Hampshire | C | 1.9 | 71% | 1.2 | 49% |
| 37 | Cosby Leicestershire | C | 1.6 | 93% | 2.2 | 0% |
| 38 | Cowbridge South Glamorgan | C | 1.2 | 86% | 3.1 | 0% |
| 39 | Upper Poppleton North Yorkshire | C | 2.9 | 82% | 1.7 | 0% |
| 40 | Haltwhistle Northumberland | C | 1.5 | 59% | 2.3 | 31% |
| 41 | Glemsford Suffolk | C− | 1.1 | 84% | 3 | 0% |
| 42 | Bramhope West Yorkshire | C− | 1.8 | 0% | 2.7 | 2% |
| 43 | Hawkhurst Kent | C− | 1.1 | 60% | 1.4 | 100% |
| 44 | Tylorstown and Pontygwaith Mid Glamorgan | C− | 2.3 | 63% | 2.2 | 0% |
| 45 | Pwllheli Gwynedd | C− | 0.1 | 23% | 1.3 | 2% |
| 46 | West Parley Dorset | C− | 1.6 | 20% | 3.5 | 0% |
| 47 | Bloxham Oxfordshire | C− | 2.6 | 71% | 1.2 | 0% |
| 48 | Snaith East Riding of Yorkshire | D | 0.2 | 89% | 2 | 0% |
| 49 | Windlesham Surrey | D | 2 | 57% | 2.2 | 0% |
| 50 | Hoveton and Wroxham Norfolk | D | 1.4 | 65% | 0.8 | 18% |
| 51 | Langford Bedfordshire | D | 1.4 | 63% | 2.6 | 0% |
| 52 | Spilsby Lincolnshire | D | 0 | 0% | 2.2 | 23% |
| 53 | Lanchester County Durham | D | 1.4 | 70% | 2.1 | 0% |
| 54 | St Columb Major Cornwall | D | 1 | 89% | 1 | 0% |
| 55 | Metheringham Lincolnshire | D | 0.8 | 44% | 3 | 0% |
| 56 | Willaston (Cheshire East) Cheshire | D | 1 | 82% | 1.5 | 0% |
| 57 | Bilton East Riding of Yorkshire | D | 1.3 | 66% | 1.5 | 0% |
| 58 | Upwell and Outwell Norfolk | D− | 1.8 | 43% | 0.4 | 0% |
| 59 | Wollaston Northamptonshire | D− | 1.2 | 11% | 1.2 | 0% |
| 60 | Copmanthorpe North Yorkshire | D− | 0.7 | 38% | 1.4 | 0% |
Parks, footpaths & countryside
Tap a number to zoom to a park. Tap a layer to hide it. The dashed line is Worlingham’s built-up area.
How close Worlingham’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).
Playing fields count, so a park within reach isn’t always one with paths or trees; 18 playgrounds are mapped in and around the town, about one for every 201 residents.
the Broads and Suffolk Coast & Heaths both start about a mile from Worlingham
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.
Suffolk Coast & Heaths
24% of the land within 5 km of Worlingham is National Park or National Landscape, more than 80% of UK towns. The Broads National Park covers 302 km² and has been a National Park since 1989.
6 waymarked walks pass through or near Worlingham
24 km of footpaths, bridleways and rights of way are mapped in Worlingham and the kilometre around it, 1.4 km for every square kilometre (the typical UK town has 3.0). Bars show each route’s kilometres within 2 km of the town.
2 regional routes pass through, including the Via Beata and Angles Way.
Waymarked walks are OpenStreetMap walking routes. Public rights of way are only as complete as the map in each area.
The best walking months in Worlingham: May to September
The town’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) | 8.2 | 9.8 | 11.7 | 13.8 | 15.7 | 16.8 | 16.3 | 14.7 | 12.6 | 10.5 | 8.6 | 7.7 |
| High (°C) | 7 | 8 | 10 | 14 | 17 | 20 | 23 | 23 | 19 | 15 | 11 | 8 |
| Rain (mm) | 51 | 44 | 42 | 36 | 47 | 50 | 56 | 60 | 54 | 66 | 64 | 59 |
April is the driest month (36 mm) and July the warmest (highs of 23 °C). Winter days are short, about 8 hours of daylight in December, and 66 mm of rain falls in October, the wettest month. Frost comes on about 42 nights a year. The climate in Worlingham →
18 playgrounds and the nearest beaches
Mapped within 2 km of the town in OpenStreetMap, against the typical UK town its size per resident. Named places are listed with directions; unnamed ones are only counted.
The nearest beaches
Worlingham is inland. These are the nearest named beaches, measured from the edge of the town.
Check the water before you swim. The Environment Agency tests designated bathing waters from May to September and publishes a rating for each beach.
Every named place, with directions
Playgrounds 18
Plus 18 playgrounds without a name on the map.
Slipways 2
Plus 2 slipways without a name on the map.
The outdoors in nearby towns
The nearest towns of 1,000+ within 12 miles. Tap a town for its outdoors page.
| Town | Outdoors | Green space, ha per 1,000 | Near a park | Protected within 5 km |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Worlingham | B− | 1.5 | 100% | 24% |
| Beccles 0.9 mi | A | 4.5 | 87% | 20% |
| Kessingland 5.7 mi | C+ | 0.9 | 70% | 19% |
| Thurlton 5.7 mi | B− | 1.5 | 100% | 39% |
| Lowestoft 5.8 mi | A− | 1.8 | 79% | 17% |
| Bungay 6.2 mi | C | 0.5 | 78% | 12% |
| Ditchingham 6.3 mi | A+ | 17.2 | 100% | 13% |
Ditchingham, 6.3 miles away, grades A+, the best next door: every resident lives within 400 m of a park. Beccles and Ditchingham have at least twice Worlingham’s green space per resident.
Questions about the outdoors in Worlingham
Is Worlingham near a National Park?
Yes. the Broads National Park begins 0.2 mi north of the town’s edge. It covers 302 km² and has been a National Park since 1989.
What are the best walks near Worlingham?
6 waymarked walking routes pass within 2 km of the town, including the Via Beata, Angles Way and Beccles Marsh Green Trail.
What is the nearest beach to Worlingham?
Gunton Sands, 7.1 mi from the edge of the town, then Corton Beach (7.2 mi). Worlingham itself is inland.
How many people in Worlingham live near a park?
100% 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 Worlingham?
May to September: the longest days, the warmest afternoons and the least rain of the year, from the Met Office 1991–2020 averages.
Is Worlingham good for walking?
Paths are thinner than most towns: 1.4 km of footpath and right of way per square kilometre, more than 15% of UK towns. For park space per person it beats 27% (1.5 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 Worlingham’s overall grade.
Where Worlingham’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.