11 Parks to Explore in Leicestershire

Abbey Park is Leicester’s premier park and lies approximately one mile north of the city centre. The park has a choice of activities to keep the whole family entertained. The boating lake in the centre of the park offers hire of both rowing and pedalo boats – fun for adults and children alike! On a summer’s day, relax and pedal your way around the beautiful lake in the centre of the park, enjoying the sweeping views of serene parkland all around.

Beacon Hill Country Park is located only two miles from the M1 motorway, just south of Loughborough, in Leicestershire. It is one of the highest points in Leicestershire and boasts spectacular views of Charnwood Forest and the Soar Valley. Covering 128ha, the Country Park consists of mixed woodland, grassland, open heathland, wetlands and rocky outcrops.

This is the only medieval deer park built around 800 years ago. It provides 830 acres of publicly accessible countryside close to Leicester City Centre. The park's two well-known landmarks, Old John and the war memorial, both lie just above the 210 m (690 ft) contour. Onwe of the iconic location where you can spend some nice time in the middle of nature.

Braunstone Park is a large public park located in Braunstone. It covers an area of 168 acres, has two lakes, large open spaces, woodlands and meadows. It has three formal gardens; a war memorial garden, a walled garden and an azalea garden. Its skatepark is an all concrete plaza-style ramp park. The skatepark is made up of a back and forth run with a flat bank and hubba on one side and a flat bank, stair set and hubbas on the other.

Knighton Park is a significant area of green open space at the southern boundary of the ward, where it meets with Oadby and Wigston. The various compartments and zones within the Park still reflect many of the divisions of the land put in place in 1756 for agricultural improvements when the Knighton open fields were enclosed and subdivided for the first time.

Melton Country Park is an area of open space 137 acres in size, 10 minutes walk from the center of Melton Mowbray. The park has a visitor center, cafe, sensory garden, nature trail, climbing forest, memorial garden, stepping stones, bridges, bird hides, a dam, a troll bridge, sports grounds, and cricket fields. A park run and junior parkrun takes place every week.

Moira Furnace is a nineteenth-century iron-making blast furnace, Museum and Country Park located in Moira, Leicestershire. There is also a restored section of Ashby Canal on the site so you may wish to enjoy a boat trip. Enjoy finding out about it's fascinating history, with woodland walks and trails to explore. It is a most important industrial monument, since it is remarkably well-preserved, and dates from a formative period of the Industrial Revolution.

The Nelson Mandela Park is a public park in Leicester, England. It is located just inside the city centre near Leicester Prison and the Leicester Tigers' Stadium. The park was named in honor of South African president Nelson Mandela. The park's facilities include a small children's play area, flood-lighting, and public toilets. As of March 2017, a selection of outdoor gym equipment has been installed opposite the children's play area.

Queen's Park is well used as a place to play, relax or learn and is easily reached by foot, bicycle, car or bus. Pay and display car parking is available close to the park off Granby Street. There is a 'figure-of-eight' walk that passes alongside a watercourse, which is spanned by a stone bridge. There is also another, smaller lake. The dominant feature of the park is the Carillon Tower, which is a war memorial.

A beautiful and fine green space next to the University of Leicester campus. The centrepiece of the park is the magnificent memorial arch, built to commemorate the dead of the First World War. It has facilities for various sports, including tennis, basketball, bowls, croquet, football and cricket. A skate park has recently been added, and there is an adventure playground for young children.

Watermead Country Park is a network of lakes woodlands and nature reserves created from 340 acres of gravel workings along the River Soar to the north of the city. The park has fine lake views and woodland walks with good paths and picnic areas. The parks provide bird watching, fishing and watersports facilities and so more.