For a busy, buzzing built-up city like Leicester, it’s amazing how much green space there is within, and surrounding, its boundaries. With all of us coming out of months of lockdown and with mindfulness playing an essential part in maintaining good mental health, here’s a list of parks to provide you with the perfect escape.
Abbey Park
Stunning view of the Abbey Park bridge leading to the cafe
This is undoubtedly the city’s premier park. On the western side are the impressive remains of the 12th century Leicester Abbey, where Henry VIII’s Lord Chancellor Cardinal Wolsey died while on his way to London to answer to acts of treason (he failed to get Henry’s marriage to Catherine of Aragon annulled by the Pope and so had fallen out of favour). There is also a pet’s corner with rabbits, guinea pigs, goats and various exotic birds, a sensory garden and a lavender maze. The Western Park Café leads you over the beautiful park bridge on to the eastern side where there’s a boating lake, model railway, Japanese garden and acres of walking.
Castle Park and Castle Motte
Castle Park really comes into its own in spring and summer
A small but perfectly formed park between the DMU campus and the River Soar. This is an oasis of calm for students to chill between lectures. It is where the city council’s parks staff excel with magnificent floral displays throughout the summer months. Set in the heart of the former medieval city, the area around the park includes the Great Hall of Leicester Castle – now part of DMU’s Leicester Castle Business School - and the medieval castle motte. Follow the footpath to take you to the top and an alternative view over the city.
New Walk’s open spaces
A view from New Walk towards De Montfort Square
New Walk itself is regarded as the jewel in the crown of Leicester’s streets and avenues. A mile-long tree-lined route that was laid out in 1785, it connects the city centre with Victoria Park and has some stunning Georgian and Victorian buildings along its stretch, as well as the fantastic New Walk Museum and Gallery. But while you stroll along this pedestrianised pathway it is worth stopping off at the beautiful green spaces of The Oval, De Montfort Square and Museum Square.
Victoria Park
Around 250,000 hit Viccy Park to celebrate City winning the Prem in 2016
When you reach the southernmost point of New Walk you get to Victoria Park, known to everyone in Leicester as Viccy Park. It was home to Leicester Racecourse until 1883 (now to be found on the boundary with Oadby) and is notable for its magnificent Cenotaph, built in memory of the fallen soldiers of World War One. It was designed by Sir Edwin Lutyens, whose other great landmark is the Cenotaph in London’s Whitehall. There’s a real buzz around the park on Saturdays throughout the seasons when hundreds head there to play cricket or football. It is also the showground site for Leicester Pride and the Caribbean Carnival while, in 2016, a quarter of a million people gathered there to celebrate Leicester City winning the Premier League.
Aylestone Meadows
Pebble Beach in Aylestone Meadows
Stroll along the Great Central Way from DMU and you reach Aylestone Meadows, Leicester’s biggest nature reserve. Head along the boardwalks leading through the marshland next to the River Soar and it’s hard to believe you are walking between the city centre and the traffic-heavy outer ring road. Popular with dog walkers, horse riders, cyclists and anglers it is full of rare plants and wildlife. Pebble Beach becomes a playground for families in the sunshine, when they pitch up with deckchairs and picnics while cooling off in the river. Last time we went, there was still a rope swing a short walk from the ‘beach’ which kids jump off into the water *health and safety rules definitely apply.
Watermead Country Park
The life-size mammoth suits the snow in Watermead Park
Watermead Country Park is a network of lakes woodlands and nature reserves created from 340 acres of former quarry land along the River Soar, to the north of the city.
It is now a haven for wetland wildlife and boasts fine lake views as well as woodland walks with good footpaths and picnic areas. A life-sized sculpture of a mammoth stands on the higher ground and is inspired by the mammoth, bison and deer bones found when the gravel pits were excavated.
Bradgate Park
Deer rutting beneath the Old John tower
We know it’s not in the city but Bradgate Park is a must see during your time at DMU. It was first enclosed as a deer park around 800 years ago and covers a whopping 830 acres of countryside. The park offers a wild and rugged landscape with dramatic rocky outcrops, and gnarled old oak trees, many of which are well over 500 years old. The deer still roam freely around the ruins of Bradgate House, a Scheduled Ancient Monument and birthplace of Lady Jane Grey - Queen of England for nine days in 1553. The most famous landmark, however, is Old John Tower, an 18th century folly that sits at the highest point of the park. Another beautiful stroll is alongside the River Lin, Leicestershire’s shortest river. Great for a paddle. Buses run to the outskirts of the park or pile in to your new room mate’s car.
Western Park
There's a great BMX track at Western Park
Developed in 1897 this is still the largest park within the city boundaries with 177 acres to explore. It’s a classic Victorian park designed for leisure time with a tree-lined avenue leading to bowling greens, tennis courts, cricket and football pitches as well as a woodland walk. There’s also an excellent BMX race track which may be a bit busier this year after the Olympics coverage. The community-oriented Western Park Festival takes place every summer with music performed in the bandstand with a wide range of food and drink stalls.
Knighton Park
The footpath leading into the heart of Knighton Park
Sitting just behind Leicester Racecourse, Knighton Park is relatively modern by city park standards having been established in 1953.
Head for The Wash (or Saffron) brook to spot wildlife as you take the meandering path through the shaded spinney. The Heath Garden is a great spot to get away from it all with a rockery garden, pond, shrubs, heathers and annual plants that create a peaceful and colourful part of the park.
It’s a particularly impressive place to walk in spring when the magnolias lining the path through the middle of the park start to flower. There are also tennis courts and football pitches allowing plenty of space for a kickabout.
Braunstone Park
One of the lakes in Braunstone Park
168 acres of open parkland, ancient spinneys, wooded areas and meadow land, Braunstone Park was originally part of Leicester Forest, in a wood called Barnho, which was first recorded as early as 1250 AD. If skateboarding and riding BMXs is your thing there is a huge skate park as well as an outdoor gym. Braunstone Carnival is a great annual community event. The park’s centrepiece is the beautiful 18th century Braunstone Hall. It had fallen into disrepair but was recently restored as the impressive boutique Winstanley House Hotel. The area around the hall was a base for American and British soldiers in World War Two. After the war, until 1950, the temporary nissen huts that housed the soldiers were used by families before permanent homes could be found for them.
Posted on Monday 9 August 2021