10 BEAUTIFUL HISTORICAL AUTUMN WALKS IN LEICESTERSHIRE

Last Updated on 2nd September 2026 by Bejal

Looking for the best autumn walks in Leicestershire? When the leaves turn golden and the countryside takes on its warm autumn colours, it’s the perfect time to pull on your walking boots and explore the county on foot.

From peaceful woodland paths and rolling countryside to historic villages and fascinating landmarks, Leicestershire has plenty of beautiful walks to enjoy this time of year. And autumn might just be one of the best seasons to discover them, with colourful landscapes, crisp walking conditions, and fewer crowds.

In this guide, we’ve picked a handful of our favourite scenic autumn walks in Leicestershire that combine beautiful scenery with something interesting to discover along the way. Whether you’re looking for a gentle countryside stroll, a walk steeped in history, or somewhere to enjoy those spectacular autumn colours, there’s a route here to inspire your next day out.

So grab your boots, wrap up warm, and let’s explore some of Leicestershire’s most beautiful autumn walking routes.

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1. Abbey Park

Located a stone’s throw away from the city centre, Abbey Park was a Leicester Abbey back in the twelfth century as the name refers. It was the same place where Cardinal Wolsey (King Henry VIII’s almoner) was said to be laid to rest. There is a statue, which represents this spot.

The park is a vast site to walk around and is especially a beautiful complement of colours due to the variety of evergreen shrubs, trees and boating lake with the Rived Soar running through it.

Spot the remains of the mansion, known as Cavendish House, which boasts the beautiful Victorian section of the park.

There is also a café on site close to cardinal Wolsey’s statue to sit in or grab a hot beverage and snacks in the colder weather. Expect to spend several hours here taking in the glory of this former manicured abbey grounds.

The Details

• Location: Abbey Park Road, Leicester LE4 5AQ.
• Website: Opening Hours & Information
• Find it here: Map Location
• Dog Friendly: Yes (remember to scoop the poop)
• Closest Parking: Onsite car park with pay and display

2. Bradgate Park

If you love a country walk, the town of Newton Linford, on the outskirts of Leicestershire hosts the stunning Bradgate Country Park, which covers 830 acres of land and was originally a deer park. So naturally today you will see much of the resident deer herd roaming the park, that you can also access daily for free walks to learn more about them.

The park offers some of the finest views over the county and Leicestershire’s smallest river, the Lin runs through the lower end of the park, where there is a popular picnic spot.

You can climb up to the 18^th century folly, Old John, which sits at the top of the park and take in the views or mooch around the old ruins of Bradgate House, where Lady Jane Grey lived in her younger years. Hear the sounds of the friendly peacocks as you meander the old grounds.

The vast landscape of the park is particularly awe-inspiring during the autumn with the ever-changing hues from early morning to evening.

The Details

• Location: Newtown Linford, Leicester LE6 0HE
• Website: Opening Hours & Information
• Find it Here: Map Location
• Dog Friendly: Yes (remember to scoop the poop)
• Closest Parking: Onsite car park with pay and display

3. New Walk

A stunning mile-long example of a tree lined Georgian pedestrian promenade, New Walk was intended to connect Welford Place, at the bottom of the walk, to Leicester racecourse, which is now Victoria Park. New Walk has been a protected conservation area since 1969.

For us New Walk is at its prettiest in the autumn, with the trees shedding their leaves, the odd squirrel scurrying in a hurry up a tree, a beautiful catholic church and an array of once aristocratic houses built in the 1820’s, which are now offices and private residences. There also a couple of open spaces including The Oval, a gated park and De Montfort Square, housing a statue of Robert Hall.This promenade was referred to once as Leicester’s only respectable street! The city Centre of Leicester has so much heritage bursting from it’s buildings, roads and of course museums.

New Walk is the perfectly situated close to the city centre and we’d recommend you pop into one of the local independent coffee shops either pre or post walk!

The Details

• Location: New Walk, Leicester
• Find it Here: Map Location
• Dog Friendly: Yes, on a lead (remember to scoop the poop)
• Closest Parking: On road parking or Newarke Street NCP

4. Foxton Locks

Love canal and barges, head to Foxton locks and walk along the longest and steepest staircase locks in the UK and peruse their incredible Victorian engineering! There are a flight of 10 locks and also the canal House museum to pop into for some respite!

Over 4,000 pass through Foxton Locks a year, which makes it the most visited places on the canals and if after the walk up the locks you fancy a boat ride you can take one yourself or visit the pub at the bottom of the locks or even have a autumn picnic!The locks are a great way to see the autumn colours and the surrounding countryside.

The Details

• Location: Foxton, Market Harborough LE16 7RA
• Website: Hours & Information
• Find it Here: Map Location
• Dog Friendly: Yes (remember to scoop the poop)
• Closest Parking: Onsite car park with pay and display

5. Victoria Park

Until 1883, Victoria Park was the city’s racecourse but today forms 69 acres of open parkland and it is perfect for walks, exercising and visiting the wartime memorial of those brave who fell.

The park has two war memorials, the most notable being the memorial arch (Cenotaph) commemorating the fallen of World War 1. This was designed by Sir Edwin Lutyens, who also designed the Cenotaph in London at Whitehall.

The other memorial, is a small rock memorial which commemorates the American 82^nd Airbourne division who were based in Leicester prior to the D day landings in 1944.

Victoria Park is framed with trees and mapped with pathways, which are also lined with trees that give the perfect crunch leafy paths and benches for a short rest in between taking in the vastness.

The Details

• Location: Granville Road, Leicester LE1 7RY
• Website: Hours & Information
• Find it Here: Map Location
• Dog Friendly: Yes (remember to scoop the poop)
• Closest Parking: Onsite car park with pay and display, near De Montfort Hall

6. Castle Gardens

These beautiful gardens are located right next the Grand Union Canal in Leicester and around the corner from the beautiful St Mary de Castro church (Where Geoffrey Chaucer was married and where Kind Hienry IV was knighted) in the heart of medieval Leicester. The Great Hall of Leicester Castle and the Castle Motte surround the gardens. Youc an climb the stairs to get some great views of the surroundings in the centre of teh gardens.

Castle gardens are perfect to relax in and note the species of flora that has been beautifully landscaped as well as perfect to enjoy a picnic on the benches or lawns.

The Details

• Location: 20 The Newarke, Leicester LE2 7BY
• Website: Hours & Information
• Find it Here: Map Location
• Dog Friendly: Yes (remember to scoop the poop)
• Closest Parking: Newarke Street NCP

7. Rothley

Autumn brings a beautiful transformation to Rothley,, as the village is surrounded by golden, amber and russet foliage. The tree-lined lanes and peaceful countryside become especially atmospheric, making it a lovely place for a leisurely seasonal stroll. The historic village centre, charming cottages and nearby River Soar add to Rothley’s quintessential English character. With crisp mornings, colourful landscapes and a wonderfully peaceful atmosphere, autumn is a perfect time to explore Rothley and its surrounding countryside.

We’d suggest taking a leisurely walk around te village St Mary the Virgin and St. John the baptist, make a photo stop at The Rothley Court Hotel. pop to the Woodman’s Stork Pub, grab some bakes from Hambleton Bakery or even having an afternoon tea at the Heritage Great Central railway Station.

The Details

• Location: Rothley, Leicestershire. LE7 (head for the centre of the village)
• Find it Here: Map Location
• Dog Friendly: Yes (remember to scoop the poop)
• Closest Parking: Lots of on-street car parking (check restriction signs)

8. Bouskell Park

This beautiful park was once the site of a medieval village and is a very peaceful place to take. a leisurely walk. It’s also full of nature, with many varity of birds, it has a large pond as well as lovely patches of woodland with towering trees. Note the historical signs around the park as you walk to give you a better understanding of the area.

Don’t miss the Victorian Manor House Blaby Hall (great view from the park), the restored Ice House (which can be seen as part of an organised tour via the link in the ‘details’ section below. The park’s topography is based on hundreds of years of settlement, walk in the woodlands or pop to All Saints Church for a great view of Blaby Hall. The park is the perfect spot to enjoy picnics and of course all poochie friends are welcome!

• Location: Welford Road, Blaby, Leicester LE8 4FT
• Website: Hours & Information
• Find it Here: Map Location
• Dog Friendly: Yes (remember to scoop the poop)
• Closest Parking: Onsite Pay & Display

9. Grace Dieu Priory

Discover the peaceful forest trails, cross the gentle brook, and feel the mystery of one of Leicestershire’s haunted sites. this is medieval history in the heart of Charnwood Geopark. 

Step back 800 years to find ruins  founded in 1240. this independent nunnery was home to the rare “white nuns”, who traded traditional black habits for striking white robes.

Today, the free to enter ruins are  wrapped in nature. marvel at its most famous feature: the remarkably sturdy 13th-century stone arch leading into the old chapter house, alongside surviving tudor fireplaces from its time as a private mansion.

Autumn is such a beautiful time here and the woodland is absolutely beautiful to walk through with stepping stones, information plaques, a brook and old railway line viaduct.

The Details

• Location: Ashby Road, Coalville LE67 5UG
• Website: Hours & Information
• Find it Here: Map Location
• Dog Friendly: Yes (remember to scoop the poop)
• Closest Parking: Free parking at the behind the Bull’s Head Pub

10. Leicester Botanical Gardens

The University of Leicester Botanical Gardens really are a great place to visit for a walk any time of year to witness biodiversity. Walk around the landscaped gardens, spot the carp in the pond, look at new varieties of plants that are being introduced in the gardena dn pop to the cafe to refuel. It’s a great educational place as well as having many peaceful paths and areas to walk along and places to sit to take in the surroundings.

The grounds house a herb garden, woodland and herbaceous borders, rock gardens, a water garden, special collections of Skimmia, Aubrieta, and hardy Fuchsia, and a series of glasshouses displaying temperate and tropical plants, alpines and succulents. The collections of plants are all intended to underpin scientific research and teaching at the University.

The Details

• Location: 2ld, 3 Glebe Rd, Oadby, Leicester LE2 2LD
• Website: Daily 10:00-17:00
• Find it Here: Map Location
• Dog Friendly: Yes (remember to scoop the poop)
• Closest Parking: Free parking on streets surrounding Glebe Road

Autumn Walks in Leicestershire FAQ’s

Autumn Walks In Leicestershire Round-Up

There’s something particularly magical about exploring Leicestershire on foot when autumn arrives. As the leaves turn golden, the countryside and city akes on a completely different character, revealing historic ruins, ancient landscapes, battlefields and centuries-old stories along the way. These ten walks show just how much history can be discovered beyond the county’s much loved better-known attractions that you’ll see in our guides.

Whether you’re wandering through the historic landscape of Bradgate, following the footsteps of kings and soldiers, or simply enjoying the changing colours of the area, these autumnal walks in Leicestershire offer the perfect opportunity to slow down, reconnect with nature and discover a different side of the county.

We advocate that walking is one of the simplest ways to explore more consciously, while supporting nearby cafés, pubs, independent businesses and heritage attractions along the way.

So, which walk are you planning to tackle first? Save this guide, choose a crisp autumn day, pull on your walking boots and set off to explore Leicestershire’s fascinating landscapes for yourself. Remember to check access, weather and ground conditions before heading out, and follow countryside guidelines to help protect these special places for future visitors.

Why not make a day of it? Combine your walk with a visit to a local heritage attraction, stop for a city centre breakfast, lunch at an independent café or pub, and perhaps explore a nearby village or town before heading home.

And if you’re looking for more inspiration, keep exploring Be-lavie’s Leicester and Leicestershire guides for more ideas on local experiences, heritage, food, nature and places worth discovering. Start with the related articles below. Sometimes the best adventures are much closer to home than we think.

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