Crap Towns / South Shields / Parks
How many parks and playgrounds has South Shields got?
OS maps 33 public parks and gardens in South Shields (April 2026): 4.5 per 10,000 people, 1.8 times the typical town's 2.5. There are 19 play spaces, 2.6 per 10,000 people, 57% lower than the typical town's 6.0. 21.3% of its people live more than 400 metres from a park or play space, as the crow flies, 37% higher than the typical town's 15.5%.
| Measure | Here | Typical town |
|---|---|---|
| Public parks and gardens per 10,000 people | 4.5 | 2.5 |
| Play spaces per 10,000 people | 2.6 | 6.0 |
| Square metres of public park per person | 9.8 | 4.5 |
| People more than 400 metres from a park or play space | 21.3% | 15.5% |
| Town | Distance | % more than 400 metres from a park |
|---|---|---|
| Whitburn | 4.7 km | 85.5 |
| Whitley Bay | 8.1 km | 32.8 |
| Sunderland | 8.3 km | 30.8 |
| Shiremoor | 8.3 km | 29.1 |
| Tynemouth | 4.8 km | 23.0 |
| South Shields | – | 21.3 |
| Boldon Colliery | 3.9 km | 13.5 |
| Jarrow | 3.6 km | 9.9 |
| East Boldon and West Boldon | 3.7 km | 8.3 |
| Wallsend | 6.6 km | 6.6 |
| Hebburn | 5.8 km | 0.7 |
| The typical town | – | 15.5 |