Skip over main navigation
  • Log in
  • Basket: (0 items)
  • Commercial use of the Estate
The Bradgate Park & Swithland Wood Charity
  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • instagram
Contact us Donate
Menu
  • About us
    • The Charity
      • Our Funding
      • Sustainability
      • Our Trustees
      • Our vision and goals
      • Management Plans
    • Commercial use of the Estate
      • Commercial activities & events
      • Filming on the Bradgate Park Estate
    • Bradgate Estate Byelaws
    • Join our Team
    • Contact us
  • Visiting
    • Bradgate Park
      • Visit Bradgate Park
      • Visitor Centre
      • Food & Drink
      • Hire our Meeting Room
      • Book a Group Tour, Talk or Coach Visit
    • Swithland Wood
    • Visitor Guidance
      • Visitor Guidelines
      • Keeping You Safe
      • Advice for Dog Owners
      • Accessibility
    • Getting Here
    • Opening Times
    • Parking Charges
  • What's on
    • What's on
    • Visiting Old John & the Ruins
    • Wellbeing Walks
    • Oral History
  • Support us
    • Support Our Work
    • Sponsorship
    • Leaving a Gift in A Will
    • Opportunities for Businesses
      • Corporate Experiences
      • Licensed Businesses
    • Current Appeals
      • List of Appeals
      • List of Fundraisers
      • Become a Fundraiser for us
  • Volunteer
    • Volunteer
    • Volunteer Photographers
  • Learning & schools
    • Educational Visits
    • Young Rangers
    • Learning Resources
  • Shop
    • Our shop
    • Car Park Season Tickets
    • Firewood & Charcoal
    • Bradgate Park Venison
    • Memorial Wood
  • Admin
    • Log in
    • Commercial use of the Estate
  • Basket: (0 items)
  • Visit Bradgate Park
  1. Visiting
  2. Bradgate Park
  3. Visit Bradgate Park

Visit Bradgate Park

Bradgate Park Trademark Logo

Bradgate Park was first enclosed as a deer park around 800 years ago. It provides 830 acres of publicly accessible countryside close to Leicester City Centre.

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 landscape offers some of the finest views, and is rich in change throughout the seasons. 

If you do not fancy exploring the hills, the lower part of the Park is easily accessible, with a tarmac carriage-way running through this area, that is suitable for wheelchairs and pushchairs. Our Visitor Centre is in the heart of the Park, alongside the carriage-way at the Deer Barns, where you will also find our Cafe. 

The Centre is free, the exhibitions tell the story of the Bradgate Estate and its fascinating natural and human history.


Map of Bradgate Park showing car parks, visitor information and access areas.

Map of Bradgate Park showing access

Copies of this map, can be obtained from the the Visitor Centre, The Deer Barn Cafe and the Estate Office, or can be dowloaded. 

DOWNLOAD A COPY OF THE MAP.


The River Lin and Little Matlock 

The River Lin and Little Matlock

The River Lin, Leicestershire's shortest river, runs through the Lower Park and is a popular spot to sit and picnic ,or just sit and watch the deer while children paddle in the shallows. The River, which is protected as a Site of Special Scientific Interest, is rich in wildlife. The Victorians created the shallow waterfalls to clear the silt from the water, as the river feeds Cropston Reservoir. 

Little Matlock provides an attractive walk to the heart of the Park through the 'Victorian designed landscape', with exotic plantings such as Monkey Puzzle trees. It was named 'Little Matlock' since it reflects the landscape of the Peak District. 


Old John Tower and the Yeomanry War Memorial 

Old John and the War Memorial

Old John, the 18th Century folly sits on the highest point of the Park and is one of Leicestershire’s most famous landmarks. It is often referred to as the 'Icon of Leicestershire'. The interpretation inside the Tower is dedicated to George Harry the 7th Earl of Stamford, his rather marvellous wife and the racetrack they built on the Park.

Our Visitor Experience team open the Tower for viewings at certain times of the year.  

The Leicestershire Yeomanry War Memorial, which stands on the hill next to Old John, commemorates the men of the Leicestershire Yeomanry who died in the Boer War and the two World Wars.  The Memorial, erected 1924, is an obelisk containing two bronze tablets. 

The remeberance gifts left at the War Memorial


The Ruins of Bradgate House

Bradgate House as seen from the tarmac road

Bradgate House was one of the earliest brick-built country houses in England, and childhood home of Lady Jane Grey, Queen of England for Nine Days in 1553. The Ruins are protected as a Scheduled Ancient Monument by Historic England. The Charity is working with local archaeologists and universities to discover more about the rich stories and heritage they tell us.


The Deer Herd

Rutting deer in the Park with Old John as a backdrop

The first written reference to a deer park at Bradgate is from 1241. The Park supports, Red and Fallow deer, with a herd size of around 550 animals, of which three quarters are Fallow deer.

Throughout the year our team lead guided walks, that help people understand more these wild animals. This includes summer 'Young Deer' walks and also some in the rutting season in October.  

The Bradgate Park herds are wild deer and a large area of the Park is kept as a sanctuary for them, with no public access.  As the deer roam free and mix with visitors, we remind everyone to keep their distance from these wild animals and take extra care when visiting with dogs and young children.  

Take a virtual tour of Bradgate Park. Please note this content will open in a new window. The tour will work on both iPADs and Android (v4)  Tablets.   It will not work correctly on mobile phones due to the interactive design. Virtual Tour of Bradgate Park

Take a Virtual Tour

Published: 9th August, 2017

Updated: 22nd June, 2022

Author:

Share this page
  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Twitter

Latest

  • Easter Holidays: Fairy Trail

    Easter Holidays: Fairy Trail

    A merry band of fairies help our Rangers to care for Bradgate Park! Can you find where they live? Look out for fairy doors on this magical Easter adventure.

  • Sustainability

    Sustainability

    As managers of 1,200 acres of land, much of which is designated as a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI), the Trust recognises its responsibility to protect and improve the environment.  We will manage our activities, buildings and estate to reduce our carbon footprint, to conserve natural resources, and to work in a sustainable way.

  • Winter Bradgate Park Photo Walk

    Winter Bradgate Park Photo Walk

    This route takes in the splendid panoramic views of winter from Old John and the War Memorial. The walk will move on to the Sliding Stones area and then return to the Hunts Hill car park.

  • Feeding the Deer Photography Workshop with Danny Green

    Feeding the Deer Photography Workshop with Danny Green

    Join award winning photographer Danny Green for a unique experience to photograph the magnificent herds of Red and Fallow Deer as they gather at the morning feed by the Rangers in the PRIVATE Sanctuary area of Bradgate Park.

Related

  • Visitor Centre & Shop

    Visitor Centre & Shop

    Our free to visit Visitor Centre and shop is set in the heart of Bradgate Park. It tells the story of the rich geological, archaeological, social, built and natural heritage of Bradgate Park.

  • Accessibility

    Accessibility

    Our access statement and support for visitors when visiting Bradgate Park.

  • Group Visits & Coach Parties

    Group Visits & Coach Parties

    Booking a group

  • Visiting Old John and the Ruins

    Visiting Old John and the Ruins

    Guidance for those looking to go on a walk, talk or book a group visit.

  • Food & Drink

    Food & Drink

    Details of the Deer Barn Café, the Visitor Centre shop, and the Deer Hut.

  • Memorial Wood

    Memorial Wood

    Celebrate someone special with a unique Bronze Memorial Oak Leaf at Memorial Wood in the heart of Bradgate Park.

Most read

  • Visit Bradgate Park

    Visit Bradgate Park

    Bradgate Park is Leicestershire's only Medieval Deer Park to the north of Leicester City. Over 830 acres, steeped in history, teeming with wonderful wildlife, the UK's oldest fossils, 550 red and fallow deer and the childhood home of Lady Jane Grey. Rich in heritage, wildlife and amazing landscapes, Bradgate Park is Leicestershire's favourite day out with two tearoom and free-to-visit Visitor Centre.

  • Parking Charges

    Parking Charges

    Parking charges apply at all car parks.

  • Getting Here

    Getting Here

    Details of how to reach Bradgate Park and Swithland Wood, including postcodes, parking details and a map of visitor access areas

  • Opening Times

    Opening Times

    Visiting Bradgate Park and Swithland Wood: Opening times and parking details

  • Visit Swithland Wood

    Visit Swithland Wood

    Swithland Wood is an attractive and atmospheric area of Ancient Woodland, covering 170 acres. Rich in history and wildlife, it is designated as a Site of Special Scientific Interest. The Wood is an important habitat for a wide range of plant and animal species, with rocky outcrops and old quarries.

  • Food & Drink

    Food & Drink

    Details of the Deer Barn Café, the Visitor Centre shop, and the Deer Hut.

  • Visitor Guidelines

    Visitor Guidelines

    When visiting Bradgate Park and Swithland Wood, it is important that certain rules are followed to ensure areas remain safe and clean for everyone to enjoy and protect the heritage in our care. Help us care for these spaces by following these guidelines.

  • Join our Team

    Join our Team

    Find out about vacancies at the Bradgate Park Trust.

  • Car Park Season Tickets

    Car Park Season Tickets

    For regular visitors a Car Park 6 month or year-long Season Ticket offers a low-cost option to pay and display parking when Bradgate Park and Swithland Wood.

  • Visitor Centre & Shop

    Visitor Centre & Shop

    Our free to visit Visitor Centre and shop is set in the heart of Bradgate Park. It tells the story of the rich geological, archaeological, social, built and natural heritage of Bradgate Park.

Donate To The Bradgate Park Trust

Donate To The Bradgate Park Trust

Help support the work of the Bradgate Park Trust and our caring for the historic and wildlife rich landscapes of Bradgate Park and Swithland Wood. Your help will allow us to develop more projects to conserve and share these rich landscapes and the educational activities we provide. Read more

Donate Fundraise

Published: 19th March, 2014

Updated: 28th July, 2020

Author:

Comments: 2

Sign up for our newsletter

Please enter your first name
Please enter your last name
Please enter your email address Please enter a valid email address (e.g. [email protected])
  • Sitemap
  • Accessibility
  • Terms & Conditions
  • Privacy Policy
  • Contact Us
  • Lost Property
  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
Registered office: Estate Office, Bradgate Park, Newtown Linford, Leicester LE6 0HE Tel:+44 (0)116 236 2713
To report any incidents on the Estate contact: 07740 406 661
The Bradgate Park & Swithland Wood Charity (known as the Bradgate Park Trust) is a charity registered in England (number 521476)

Visit England quality marque TripAdvisor