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 to reach Granby Street.
[2] Cross Granby Street and turn right. Continue for about 200m.
[3] Turn left onto Dover Street and continue to the top, passing The Little Theatre on the right.
[4] Turn right onto Wellington Street at the Holy Cross Priory Catholic Church and continu, crossing over Welford Place by the lights at Fenwicks.
[5] Turn left across the pedestrianised Market Street and go along Welford place to a zebra crossing giving access to the statue of John Biggs. Keep straight on across Welford Road to reach Newarke Street.
[6] At the end of Newarke Street cross Oxford Street at the lights and and continue past the Gateway Magazine along The Newarke. This area is now the campus of De Montfort University and forms part of the Castle Conservation Area. You pass the Newarke House Museum on the right, then the Hawthorn Building of de Montfort University on the left, then the Trinity Hospital building on the right.
[7] Just before the river bridge turn right into Castle Park and continue on the path adjacent to the river.
(A) This area is a scheduled monument encompassing the Castle Gateway, Castle Hall, Turret Gateway and the Magazine Gateway among others. Castle Park was opened in 1926 and the 4 acre site has a rock garden, mixed borders, two small ponds and a waterfall.
[8] Go past the maypole. Just past the footbridge turn right to pass through the Castle Garden Ponds. Just after the top of the steps take the path right to exit the Gardens.
You can avoid the steps by continuing on for 50m then turning sharp right.
[9] Turn right onto Castle Street then right onto Castle View and pass through Castle Gateway and bear left with Leicester Castle Great Hall on the right and St Mary de Castro Church on the left. Continue to the end, passing through Turret Gateway.
(B) St Mary de Castro (St Mary of the Castle) Church was founded in 1107 and was rebuilt in the 1180s after it had been destroyed. The 55 metre spire was added in about 1400. Royalty, including King Richard III, would have frequently visited the church on their visits to stay in Leicester Castle which built in 1068.
[10] Turn left at the end onto The Newarke and Magazine Square and bear left at the end, with Magazine Gateway on the right.
(C) The Magazine Gateway was built in 1410 as an addition to Leicester Castle. It was initially used to accommodate guests (and prisoners at one time). It was used as an armoury during the Civil War - hence the name 'Magazine'. King Richard III rode out through the Gateway on his way to the Battle of Bosworth in 1485.
[11] Take the first pedestrian crossing to cross over Vaughan Way turning right and then left onto Millstone Lane and continue forward onto Horsefair Street.
[12] After Bowling Green Street on the right you will see the Town Hall, which dates from 1875. After this is Town Hall Square with its fountain. Cross the square diagonally, going past the fountain then turn left onto Bishop Street.
[13] Turn right onto Granby Street and then first left onto Rutland Street. Cross over Charles Street and turn right, continuing to the end and go left to retrace the route back to the start.