Festival Gardens - Riverside Drive Park in Liverpool

Reviews

1. D D ★★★☆☆

   Visiting Festival Gardens in Liverpool was a new and thought-provoking experience. Tucked away along Riverside Drive, the gardens offered a surprising sense of discovery—I hadn’t expected such a tranquil green space so close to the city. The Japanese and Oriental gardens were especially striking, with winding paths, water features, and beautifully designed structures that created a calm, almost meditative atmosphere. It was a pleasure to find something so different from the usual urban parks. However, that sense of wonder was met with moments of disappointment. Parts of the gardens clearly haven’t been maintained as well as they deserve. Some areas felt neglected—overgrown plants, damaged paths, and sections that seemed unfinished or abandoned. It created an odd tension: the potential and beauty of the space is undeniable, yet it feels only half-realised. Still, there was something valuable in that discomfort. It made me think more deeply about how we care for public spaces and the importance of continued investment in them. Despite the rough edges, I’m glad I went. The Festival Gardens offered something different—a blend of escape, reflection, and imperfection. And sometimes, that’s more memorable than a place that’s been polished to perfection.

   almost 10 months ago
2. Gillian Gray ★★★★★

   A lovely place to visit and get some bracing fresh air if you get up high and see the Mersey. Interesting to see the gardens. Nice walks and easy to park.

   1 year ago
3. Rab Scott ★★★★★

   Just read a 2 star negative review which is really disappointing and does not reflect the hard work of the volunteers maintaining this space keeping it clean and tidy and pleasant I like the fact that nature seems to be reclaiming this little gem it's a very peaceful place to sit and reflect and have a little peace or even do a little yoga with a great vew of the mersey at the end of the walk. To give it 2 stars is unfair and a bit mean. I was so glad to rediscover it after so many years the nature walks around the wooded are of the site are amazing for seeing nature.

   1 year ago

1. Susanna Chapman ★★★★★

   It is almost impossible to describe how much I love this place or what it means to me. As a lover of Chinese and Japanese architecture and history and design and culture this is certainly the closest I have ever been without leaving Europe. This whole place is healing; it's miraculous.

   almost 3 years ago
2. Steven Tallents ★★★★★

   Great place to walk and soak up the history of the Festival Gardens. Free parking, always a plus point. You can just imagine the gardens with thousands of visitors trudging along the walkways. Its a great place to just sit and watch the world go by. Or you can follow the path down to the Embankment and walk for miles along the Mersey. The gardens should look great once more once all the refurbishment work is complete. We certainly will be back.

   almost 4 years ago
3. Jozsef Fulop ★★★★★

   Not too large but nice little park with some pretty smaller lakes, also next to the waterfront, river side. :)

   almost 5 years ago

1. Justin Fisher ★★★★☆

   Big car park plenty of room, leads to a huge park woodlands grassed areas, used to have a Japanese garden water features water fall japenese outhouses none of which have been kept up, japenese garden now just weeds, massive waste used to be lovely not so much anymore. Still a nice walk round the gardens just not what it was

   almost 5 years ago

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