As someone who has been lucky enough to live near both Windsor and Richmond Parks, I have to say this is comparable. There is plenty of open space: beautiful heathland, ancient oak trees, volcanic rocks to scramble on, the river and of course the lake. OK, there isn't a castle or Palace, but there is a ruined 15th century mansion and a folly at the top of the hill. The story is that the oak trees were be-headed, just like the mistress of the house Lady Jane Gray (the 'Nine Days Queen') whose own execution is featured in a beautiful painting by Delaroche http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Paul_Delaroche_-_The_Execution_of_Lady_Jane_Grey.jpg I'm no expert on oak trees, but the one in this photo is pretty spooky and it was taken on a sunny day: it certainly convinced me! The park is an easy cycle ride from Leicester centre (about 7 miles) if you want to avoid the usual car parking charges and queues, and there is a good (but busy) cafe. read more

Bradgate Country Park - Parks Near Me - Leicester, LEC

See all

Bradgate is Leicestershire's largest country park. It's great for a day out - it's huge so there are lots of different walks you can do, of varying lengths. There are deer, ducks etc to add interest and even the ruins of Bradgate House where you sometimes see peacocks. You have to pay a few pounds for car parking, but this does go towards the upkeep of the park. A great place for dog walking or a family day out. read more

Bradgate Country Park - Parks Near Me - Leicester, LEC

See all

A nice outdoor space, with a river (and therefore obligatory ducks) and lots of walks through bracken and seemingly wildish countryside. Personally I think Bradgate Park is slightly overrated in these parts (don't lynch me!!) - and we go maybe twice a year. There is a wide paved path from one side of the park to the other so access is good for buggies and the disabled, though it is always heaving on this path as most people don't seem to stray from it. The deer are often a bit cheeky, we got invaded during a picnic when they ran off with the sandwiches, but it was all entertaining for the children. The park is a great park for walking, looking at the view, feeling 'away from it all', feeding ducks, getting fresh air and seeing the odd deer. read more

Many, many years ago, Bradgate Park and Beacon Hill were my regular childhood destinations for a family trip out somewhere at the weekend. A recent visit back to Leicester reminded me of just how nice the park is, with the rolling hils of bracken, river, deer and Old John (and how scruffy Leicester city centre is). In fact, this whole area of Leicestershire - along with Charnwood Forest and Swithland Woods, all of it on top of an ancient volcano - is probably the best thing about the city and definitely worth a visit if you are in the area. A pity that the car park is no longer free, but sadly that's pretty much standard these days. read more

Bradgate park and the town of newtown linford are lovey and peaceful with the river Lin running through. It has lots of visitors in the summer (many famillies on days out) who come to see things like the free roaming deer and the folly named 'old John'. It is a good place to go for long walks and in the town there is a post office and a pub to get lunch in, and of course a delicious cake shop! read more

Bradgate Country Park - Parks Near Me - Leicester, LEC

We visit Bradgate Park several times a year. It is a lovely place for all the family to go to at any time of the year. There is a concrete path that runs from one end of the park to the other so the children can take their bikes/skates/scooters. There is a river that runs through the park that the children can play in and paddle through. For the more adventurous, climb the hills and take a nice, energetic walk to Old John which looking out easterly is the highest point until you meet mid Russia (apparantely). Sit for a while and admire the views over the county and beyond. You will often see deer roaming around the park and on a nice day you can't beat taking a picnic and a football and spending a nice family day here. There is a cafe and a visitor center but the cafe is quite pricey so take plenty of cash with you! All in all, a great day out for any age! read more

This is a gorgeous place to come especially on a nice day, walking around a huge park with an ice cream is a great way to celebrate the fact that it isn't raining!! There is so much open space, you can stick to the paths or wander as you please. We usually spend a lot of time around the brook and just walking around generally. This is a good place to visit for everyone, there are usually plenty of people whizzing around on bikes (every time I go it reminds me I need to get my bike sorted out!) and people walking their dogs, if you are in the area it is well worth visiting. read more

Bradgate Park is a place we as a family have visited many many times. The beautiful scenery and the wonderful sight of seeing deer's walking free around the visitors is just a small part of the charm of this park. In the summer its a perfect picnic spot and a place for the children to take of their shoes and paddle in the stream looking for the occasional fish! The rocks scattered around are also great for the children to climb and the occasional glimpse at a peacock if your lucky makes it even more special. All in all this park is massive with lots of history and beauty...a great family day out! read more

Bradgate Park is a really lovely place and is steeped in so much history - Lady Jane Grey lived here as a child. It used to be free, until about 8 years ago when a £1 fee was imposed and now it is £2 for 2 hrs I think - I think this is quite steep personally, although it goes towards upkeep. We hope it does anyway. There are many walks, but my favourite is to start at Old John and do a full circuit down towards Newtown Lindford and back. It takes a couple of hours, but is more 'off road' that the flat path at Newtown Lindford. A cafe opended a coupke of years ago - my experience was poor quality cake at £3.00 per slice I afraid. Bradgate Park is a lovely place for the locals to have on the doorstep and I have many memories of fishing in the streams and eating ice creams there! read more

A must place to visit when you're in the area . Great walks great scenery . Tearoom . Wildlife . A nice flat path for cycling . Just perfect read more

We enjoyed our visit to this park very much. My husband had been going on about how nice it is there since his time living in Leicester when he used to come here a lot. I wasn't disappointed - it's a beautiful, huge, park with wide paths, mostly flat, so ideal for everyone. We saw the deer too but only at a distance. The cafe was quite good and I liked the shop where I bought a few souvenirs including a lovely mug. read more

Bradgate park is a lovely green space just outside of Leicester. In the centre is a monumnet known as 'Old John' that many walkers focus their walking around. Bradgate park is not a manmade park like other local parks, Abbey Park or Victoria Park. Rather it is a gentle rolling wilderness of hills, rock, streams, bushes and pond and pathways. You can go via the pathways for a pleasant stroll, or scramble thorugh the undergrowth to make your own route around the place. Ever poloular with fmilies and dogwalkers it is big enough to have a little space to yourself. Bradgate Park is certainly not off the beaten path, but it's pretty enough that it does not really matter. The park is also home to an array of ducks and deer, so makes a pleasant day out for friends and family alike. read more

Beautiful park, great for long walks and discovering random pubs for lunch! The deer are great to watch too and a trip to Old John is unmissable because of the great views. If you are up early enough, then go at daybreak on May Day for traditional Morris Dancing celebrations, we did it this year and it was fab! read more

Very Good place to visit i run round old John and Bradgate park early most mornings wildlife is plentyful great for picnics my kids love to feed the ducks visitor center is not always open but the icecream shop across the road read more

First off, this place is MASSIVE, and I'm used to the Hyde Park in London. You could literally walk around here for hours and still not see the same blade of grass twice. A little bit more upmarket than some other parks like Victoria Park (more of a field), this place actually feels like the countryside and has it's own history if you are prepared to look for it. Car park fills up nicely during busy spells, but they use a next door field as an overflow (you still need to pay and display). Minimal facilities onsite, so come with a family or friends and a picnic and remember to take your rubbish home with you! read more

Really lovely it's Bradgate Park whats not to love?

Bradgate park is just one of the most beautiful parks/countryside we have open to the public. So beautiful, tranquil, & energizing There are many ways to walk, there is a tarmac path for those with bikes, roller skates, prams pushchairs & wheelchairs, or off the beaten track, over hills through the bracken etc. you have the pleasure of getting up close to the deer & the ducks, paddle in the brook, or bring along the little fishing nets with the kids. Every season is as beautiful as the next at Bradgate, truly breathtaking! I never tire of this place i call my haven (,) There is also a horse track off the beaten track for those special moments for you & your horse! There are toilets in the park, a visitors centre & a cafe as well as toilets, cafe's & ice creams just outside the park in Newtown Linford. Also a couple of nice pubs. Enjoy (,) read more

Its hard to remember how beautiful the English countryside is when you live and spend most of your time in a large city. Bradgate Park is one of those beautiful little spots that remind you how beautiful and tranquil life can really be! Perfect for long walks and days out with the children. I remember running around this park as a child hopping in and out of the streams and jumping up the steep climb to the top of the hill to Old John. I remember seeing deer run around the park too when I was young to my excitement. Now that I'm older and when I return to Leicester to visit family this is always one place that I like to pop back to, less jumping in streams now though....more picnics and lounging about in the sun! Whenever I bring somebody with me from London, friends or my partner, then this place is top of the list to show them. The only downside is that I hear that the parking is quite steep, but worth every penny I'm sure. read more

A fantastic escape from the city. Wonderful old hollow oak trees if you take time to go off the beaten track. A great open space to take time to breathe. read more

This is a really nice park to go to, especially on a fine English summer's day. this is a ideal area for family picnics. the kids love it with the ducks and other animals. The walks are great! There are some charges though the parking and the cafe is a touch expensive it would be better to bring your own picnic! read more