This inner city walk has a number of busy roads, please take care when crossing these and use pedestrian crossings where possible.
[1] From the centre car park go right up Constitution Hill then veer right round the back of Matrix House and take the steps up onto St Georges Way. This is the second set of steps you come to. Now cross St Georges Way (the dual carriageway) which requires you to first cross Swain Street to your left then right over Fox Street and thirdly St Georges Way itself. Turn left and cross over St Georges Street (unsigned) then Charles Street, Granby Street and East Street.
[2] Opposite the Railway Station bear right and walk along Waterloo Way for about 200m. The pavement rises to reach New Walk close to the New Walk Museum.
[3] Turn right along New Walk and continue to its end, crossing King Street in the process.
(A) New Walk, laid out in 1785 and known then as the Queen's Walk, follows the line of an old Roman route and now links the city centre with Victoria Park, the site of the old Leicester Racecourse. You will pass New Walk Museum and Art Gallery, many fine old buildings and the Holy Cross Priory Catholic Church.
[4] At the junction with Welford Place, by the New Walk Centre, currently home to Leicester City Council, cross straight over into Pocklington's Walk - an area containing the Magistrates court and numerous legal firms. At the end of Pocklington's Walk you now enter the Cathedral/Greyfriars Conservation Area of the city.
(B) Grey Friars is a historic area of interest, getting it's name from the colour of the ropes worn by the friars of the small Franciscan monastery . It was, established in about the middle of the 11th century and demolished in 1530. The area contains some fine Georgian and Victorian buildings.
[5] Cross over Millstone Lane into Berridge Street and then turn next left onto Friar Lane. Turn next right onto New Street and continue to the end, where you get a good first view of Leicester Cathedral.
(C) Just before the end of New Street, on the right, is the car park which was the burial site of King Richard III. King Richard was killed at the Battle of Bosworth on August 22nd 1485. His naked body was brought back to Leicester trussed on a horse's back and he was buried without honour. Research by Leicester University resulted in a 'dig' in the area of the old church. Two sets of bones were found in early September 2012. One set belonged to a female and the other is thought to be that of King Richard. Results of DNA tests have confirmed that one body is indeed that of King Richard. Please do not try to enter the site, which is private.
[6] Cross over towards the Cathedral (there is a zebra crossing) and turn left to reach the cobbled St Martins West path around the side of the Cathedral.
(D) There is a small display on Richard III here, which is free of charge. On the left at the end of the alley is the timber framed Guildhall which dates from around 1390. Its many uses have included library, town hall, school and courtroom and is one of the oldest civic buildings in the country. It now houses a museum and hosts regular music, comedy and theatrical events.
Turn right at the end, by the Guildhall, onto Guildhall Lane.
[7] Continue forward onto Silver Street and onward to the Clock Tower.
[8] Turn right onto Gallowtree Gate and cross Halford Street into Granby Street.
[9] At the end of Granby Street turn left onto St Georges Way to retrace the route to the start.