Data are presented for soil state and environmental parameters of soil samples collected from paired intensive and extensive grassland systems, including low and high pH parent soils, from 32 sites across the United Kingdom. The samples were collected during winter and spring 2015-2016 by project staff experienced in soil core collection. Samples were subdivided for subsequent analysis of total Nitrogen, total Carbon, total organic Carbon, total Phosphorus, soil pH, soil moisture, loss on ignition, sand, silt, clay texture, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) spectra and bulk density. The data were collected to help understand soil functional change in a variety of management and climatic scenarios as part of NERC U-GRASS (Understanding and enhancing soil ecosystem services and resilience in UK grass and croplands) award (NERC Reference NE/M017125/1) part of the NERC Soil Security Programme. Full details about this dataset can be found at https://doi.org/10.5285/2a817dbf-097f-45b4-85bd-745f4e78e656