Garden City: Bridges, Park and Paths

A place with several perspectives

Garden City brings together land reclamation on the River Dee, a layered history of bridges and open spaces in Welsh Road Park. It also has a network of cycling and coastal paths with different geographical scales. This makes the place interesting for travellers who want to combine cultural history with outdoor activities: a holiday can focus more on local stories, time in the park or routes through Flintshire. Which of these aspects appeals to you most is a useful starting point for further planning.

From polder to settlement

The first Sealand polder was created in 1753, reclaiming land on the River Dee where Garden City now stands. Sealand Garden City was established around 1917 on twelve hectares of land provided by the Summers family. The two dates represent different stages of development: 1753 refers to the transformation of the river landscape, while the later founding marks the emergence of the settlement. Anyone interested in the area's history can view land reclamation and the founding of the settlement as two successive chapters.

Bridges as part of the town's history

The first bridge connecting Garden City with Queensferry opened in 1897. It was replaced by the blue Jubilee Bridge, completed as a rolling bascule bridge in 1926. In Garden City, the Wales Coast Path crosses the River Dee via the Jubilee Lift Bridge, also known as the Blue Bridge. This offers two specific perspectives for getting your bearings: the dates tell the story of the bridge's development, while the coastal path crossing shows its role in a route today.

Park and wheeled sports

Welsh Road Park in Garden City, Deeside, offers open grassy areas for walking, picnicking and informal leisure activities. The park also has sports pitches, play equipment, a Multi Use Games Area (MUGA) and a community centre. The options range from spending time in the open spaces to taking part in sports and play. If you are travelling with children, the grassy areas and play equipment can be part of your day's plans; this is a different focus from an outing centred on the route itself.

There is also a freely accessible area for wheeled sports and other cycling activities on Welsh Road in Garden City, or Sealand. This area adds a dedicated focus on movement to the park facilities. When planning, you can therefore decide whether you would rather spend time in the park, try wheeled sports or explore cycling routes across the wider network.

Routes in a regional context

National Cycle Network Routes 5, 563 and 568 meet at the Northern Gateway and Garden City Hub, which forms an important crossing over the River Dee. The northern section of Route 568 connects Flintshire Coast Park with the north-east of England. Within Flintshire, National Cycle Network Route 5 runs from Sealand in the east to the seaside resort of Gronant in the north of the County of Flintshire.

An eight-mile section of Route 5 between Chester and Connah’s Quay follows a traffic-free path open to cyclists, walkers and wheelchair users. These details refer to different scales: the hub identifies the meeting point of three routes, the Flintshire information describes the course of Route 5 within the county, and the eight miles refer to the section between Chester and Connah’s Quay. If you are planning your trip around cycling or coastal paths, this distinction helps you put the various route details in context.

Planned paths and choosing accommodation

In the plan for Flintshire Coast Park announced in 2025, Garden City is one of eight planned hubs. The action plan also proposes renewing an 11.2-kilometre historic circular route. It is intended to connect existing public rights of way and the Wales Coast Path with the Jubilee Lift Bridge, Saltney Ferry and Sandycroft. As the route's renewal is planned, its current condition may vary. If you want to include the circular route in your plans, check its current condition beforehand.

This suggests a practical comparison when choosing a holiday apartment: would you rather connect your stay with the history of bridges and land reclamation, time in the park or routes across the regional network?

Discover more destinations: Holywell, Llanasa, Gronant, New Brighton, Northop, Buckley, Whitford, Bagillt.

For the main travel overview: Flintshire.