This inner city walk has a number of busy roads, please take care when crossing these and use pedestrian crossings where possible
Some of the pavements and paths are uneven in places - take care.
[1] With your back to the main entrance to the Curve turn second right onto Rutland Street. Continue forward onto Belvoir Street, passing the Grand Hotel on the left, and then on to Welford Place where you see the statue of John Biggs. Cross over using the pedestrian crossings and continue forward onto Newarke Street.
(A) St George's Church on Orton Square was originally built in 1823, the first new church in Leicester since the Reformation. A serious fire occurred in 1911 and it had to be substantially rebuilt. It is now a Serbian Orthodox Church.
[2] At the end of Newark Street cross over Vaughan Way at the pedestrian crossings. Pass by the left of the Magazine Gateway into the pedestrianised Magazine Square which forms part of the campus of Leicester De Montfort University. Continue forward, meeting the road to your right, along The Newarke passing the Newarke House Museum and the Trinity Hospital, dating from 1331, on the right.
(B) Trinity Hospital was founded by Henry Grosmont, 3rd Earl of Lancaster and Leicester as an almshouse for fifty, subsequently increased to 100, 'poor and infirm' persons. It continued to perform this role until the site was sold in 1994. It now houses the office of the vice chancellor of Leicester de Montfort University.
[3] Just before the river bridge, and opposite the Soar Point turn right into Castle Gardens and continue on the path adjacent to the river, passing the Maypole on the right. There are good views on the right of the old Leicester Castle motte, St Mary de Castro's Church and the rear of Leicester Castle
(C) This area is a scheduled monument encompassing the Castle Gateway, Castle Hall, Turret Gateway and the Magazine Gateway among others. Castle Gardens was opened in 1926 and the 4 acre site has a rock garden, mixed borders, two small ponds and a waterfall .
[4] Just past the river footbridge turn right to pass through the Castle Garden Ponds and exit the Gardens onto Castle Street. Bear left to its junction with Southgate Underpass
[5] Turn right to cross the roads at the pedestrian crossing and turn left onto Southgates. At the end of Southgates turn left onto Peacock Lane passing the rather lonely entrance to the former Midland Red bus garage, on the right, which closed in 2009. Continue along to pass Leicester Cathedral on the left
[6] Continue along Peacock Lane and St Martins and then turn right onto Hotel Street
[7] After 200 metres turn left onto Horsefair Street and then at the corner of the Town Hall take the path diagonally right through the gardens. At the end turn left onto Bishop Street
[8] At the end of Bishop Street turn left onto Granby Street and then, after a short distance turn right onto Haldford Street returning to the Curve