A Walk in the Park

Leicester has long been graced with an abundance of parkland. Just beyond the city boundary lie almost one thousand acres of wild moorland and ancient woods at Bradgate and Swithland. You can see deer roam freely and peacocks strut in the ruins of Lady Jane Grey's house.

Within a mile of the city centre, Victoria Park was once a race course, but is now home to Leicester University. Its lush expanse of grass is a playground for Leicester's citizens. The spacious Abbey Park has medieval remains, a boating lake, beautiful riverside views and over 33,000 trees.

In Braunstone Park there are woodland walks and stables for the Shire horses used by the Council for land management tasks, while Western Park has the Eco House, play areas and acres of lawns and trees in an area which has the character of a garden suburb.

Of course, the city has many smaller parks and gardens which provide pleasant spaces to pause and relax. The gardens of the Eighteenth century Belgrave Hall are tranquil and atmospheric. New Walk, the wonderful Georgian promenade that stretches for a mile from Victoria Park to King Street, has a number of quiet spots for a picnic or sunbathing with the song birds and squirrels. At the far end of the Castle Park Heritage area, by the river, Castle Gardens offer attractive floral displays much favoured for reading and revision by students from neighbouring De Montfort University.