6 Parks To Visit In Leicestershire

Time for some fresh air? Whether you live in Leicestershire or are visiting the area, that may well mean looking for a local park where you can get out for a walk, go fishing, have a picnic or just let the kids have a bit of a run around.

If any of the above are on your wishlist, read on for our pick of the 6 best parks in Leicestershire. We’ve covered everything from urban green spaces to large rural parks here, aiming to provide fresh air and outdoor fun for all. 

Visiting the area and want to make the most of the outdoors? Pitchup has lots of Leicestershire campsites and glampsites to choose from, making it nice and simple to sort out an outdoor break in this area. Have a look at the full list below and see if you can find something that suits you.

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Beacon Hill Country Park

Awarded multiple Green Flag awards for its management and conservation, Beacon Hill Country Park is a popular place that can certainly be described as one of the best green spaces in Leicestershire. This gently undulating expanse has all sorts of terrain for a full day out on the trails, plus facilities like a café, toilets and a play area.

Spend a day hiking among the sheep, cattle and alpacas grazing these 135 pastoral hectares of heath and woodland, or climb the more rugged heights to see the Old Man of Beacon Hill, an ominous rock formation and one of the park’s main landmarks. 

In fact, Beacon Hill has much to do with rock, as the many rugged outcrops dotting its more elevated areas are estimated to be around 700 million years old (putting them among the oldest in the world).

But above all, it’s about the views. Rising to a height of 245 metres, Beacon Hill is the second-highest point in Leicestershire and also the site of a Bronze Age fort. Stand on top and take in vistas of the Peak District, Derby, Nottingham, Lincoln Cathedral and Belvoir Castle, one of the area’s most grandiose structures.

If you're inspired by those views, find out more about visiting Belvoir Castle in our guide to the castles of Leicestershire. Or if it's the green hills that have caught your eye, head to our collection of articles about exploring the Peak District.

Bradgate Park

‘Herd mentality’ is often said to be a bad thing – but that's not the case at Bradgate Park, to the north of Leicester. Spending a day roaming with wild deer over this rugged landscape of rocky outcrops and twisted old oak trees really is something special. And that’s why locals have been doing it these last 800 years…

Bradgate was the first enclosed deer park in England when it opened in 1841. Add to this its setting in the ancient Charnwood Forest and you’ll see just how steeped in history your surroundings are. Themed walks run throughout the year to help you get a better sense of the heritage of the place.

Should you not quite be up for running with the herds in the hills, Bradgate’s lower end is easily accessible and has plenty of opportunities to picnic and take a stroll. Refreshments are available in the tearooms and there’s a visitor centre for all points of interest.

Queen's Park

Less wild times – but certainly no less pleasant – are to be had at Queen’s Park in Loughborough. Opened in 1899 to celebrate Queen Victoria’s Diamond Jubilee, it has endured as one of Leicestershire’s most popular parks, both for its ease of access and its fine facilities.

The Green Flag award people clearly agree, as the park has held this mark of excellence since 2008. And indeed there is much here that is excellent – scenic pathways, a bowling green, a classic bandstand, a maze and some well-kept aviaries, as well as lots of nice spots for a picnic among the greenery.

Plenty of other activities and facilities are around too, with play and activity areas, a war memorial and museum, and the Queen’s Park Café.

Abbey Park, Leicester

Ask a local which is the best park in Leicester and you’d most likely hear the answerAbbey Park. Visit this green space just north of the city centre and you’ll see why. Divided by the River Soar, its grounds hold an intriguing mix of Leicester’s medieval and Victorian pasts. 

On the western flank of the river are the Abbey Grounds and their 12th-century remains, along with those of the 17th-century mansion Cavendish House. Cross a footbridge and skip forward 600 years to bowling greens, miniature railways, boating lakes, bandstands, gardens, shrubberies, lavender mazes, tennis courts… 

It’s not all about history here, though – there are also more modern facilities including a Changing Places toilet, a sensory garden and a play area and café.

Watermead Country Park

Bird lovers are likely to be particularly interested in Watermead Country Park, a wildlife haven to the north of Leicester. What was originally opened as the Reedbed Nature Reserve in 2004 has since been joined by the Birstall Nature Reserve to create one of the most popular areas in the county for nature studies. Over 200 bird species have been spotted here, including bitterns, kingfishers, woodpeckers and sand martins. Bats, deer and otters also call this place home.

Anglers can put their kit to good use here too, as Watermead has superb opportunities for fishing among its lakes and ponds. And even if you don’t catch anything, you should hook yourself a good dose of peace and quiet here.

For something more active, walk, run or cycle along Watermead’s extensive network of pathways – kids will be particularly attracted to the Jurassic Play Trail around King Lear’s Lake. Model boats are welcome too, and local clubs organise sailing and windsurfing.

Sence Valley Forest Park

Thanks to extensive reforestation, what was once a landscape deeply scarred by decades of opencast coal mining has transformed into the soft, luxuriously green landscape that is the Sence Valley Forest Park today. That intriguing history gives all the more reason to visit this pretty country park between Leicester and Ashby de la Zouch.

There are several trails (including an accessible one) running through the mixed forest, taking you along the river and to three lakes where you can spot swans, coots, ducks and otters. There’s also a bird hide where you can settle in to spot some of the 150 different bird species that Watermead plays host to. Energetic visitors might like to try one of the orienteering courses or join sociable wellbeing walks and Nordic walking sessions.

The park has three picnic areas for your post-walk sandwiches, and a cute little mobile café selling barista coffee, cool drinks and homemade cakes.

If these parks have given you a taste for outdoor activity, take a look at our pick of the best walks in Leicestershire. There are more open-air attractions on our list of the best things to do in Leicestershire too, but it's also got several options for those inevitable rainy days.

When you're visiting the area, another way to enjoy outdoor time is to stay at a campsite or glampsite. Pitchup has a great range of outdoor accommodation to choose from – click the link below to see what's available.

Browse all campsites in Leicestershire