Harrison Park West

Head down to Harrison Gardens in Stockbridge and you'll find yourself in one of those parks that locals actually use rather than tourists photograph. It's got the kind of mature trees that make you feel properly away from the city, winding paths that encourage aimless wandering, and enough benches scattered about that you can genuinely settle in with a coffee. The play equipment keeps families occupied without being aggressively colorful, and there's enough open grass to throw a ball around or just spread out on a decent day. It's the sort of place where you bump into neighbours, dogs get properly exercised, and nobody's trying too hard.