The entire estate was purchased by the City of Leeds in 1872 and opened as a public park by His Royal Highness Prince Arthur on the 19th of September 1872.

At the time, the then Lord Mayor of Leeds John Barran was ridiculed for buying a 'White Elephant' - in that the park was too far out of the city for the majority of the population to enjoy, and in any event the park had just one access road - an old 'turnpike' road dating from 1808.

The park was seen as a reckless waste of ratepayers money - critics even published a booklet under the title: 'The Big White Elephant' in 1879.

In June 1907 an open air swimming pool 'lido' opened, at a cost of just over £1,600, it was built mainly by unemployed citizens. During the 1950's and 1960's about 100,000 people a year visited the Roundhay 'swimming baths'.

Roundhay Park comprises over 700 acres of parkland, lakes and woodland. The Park includes scented gardens for the blind, National Plant Collections, Canal Gardens, the Monet and Alhambra Gardens, plus Tropical World which attracts visitors all year round. Newly opened for 2005 is the Friends Garden, located alongside Canal Gardens and the Rainbow Garden.

Woodpeckers, common warblers in spring and summer, mute swans, visiting whooper swans, great-crested grebes and herons can all be found at the park.

The Upper Lake is maintained as a wildlife area, and the larger Waterloo Lake is used for fishing. The Roundhay Park Arena is a natural amphitheatre which provides the venue for many special events ranging from sports days to major pop concerts and the spectacular bonfire and firework displays on 5th November .

Facilities at Roundhay Park also include tennis courts, skateboard ramps, sports pitches, bowling greens, a sports arena, a golf course, and fishing. A lakeside cafe overlooks Waterloo Lake.