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 right onto Halford Street. Continue ahead to Charles Street, cross at the pedestrian traffic lights and walk ahead on Halford Street.
[2] After a short distance, turn right onto Gallowtree Gate and continue to the Clock Tower.
[3] Turn left onto High Street and, just before its end turn right onto Highcross Street to visit the site of the Blue Boar Inn, now the Leicester Travelodge, passing the King Richard III public house on the way.
(A) This is the site of the Blue Boar Inn where Richard III had his own bed installed prior to the Battle of Bosworth where he died on August 22nd 1495. Richard spent the night here on the evening before going out to do battle. The inn was demolished in 1836 but the use of the area is still the same with the provision of rest and refreshment.
[4] Retrace your steps onto High Street and turn right to cross Vaughan Way at the pedestrian crossing. Continue past the Jewry Wall Museum bearing left round the road. Bear right opposite the Holiday Inn onto St Augustine Road. Continue over the bridge over the River Soar until you come to the bridge over the old River Soar, known as the Bow Bridge, where you will find two plaques on the wall.
(B) A plaque was erected here in 1856 by a local businessman, Benjamin Broadbent who subscribed to the 17th century legend that Richard's body had been dug up, dragged through Leicester's streets and thrown into the River Soar by an angry mob. This was supposed to have happened when Henry VIII dissolved and destroyed the monasteries including Leicester Greyfriars, where Richard had been buried, in November 1538. The Richard III Society placed a plaque adjacent to this to say the myth was now discredited.
[5] Retrace your steps to the pedestrian crossing just past the first bridge. Cross St Augustine Road and enter the Castle Gardens. Pass the statue of Richard III on the left
(C) You have now entered the Castle Conservation Area. Most of the buildings are 'listed' and much of the area is a scheduled monument. Castle Park was opened in 1926 and the 4 acre site has a rock garden, mixed borders, two small ponds and a waterfall . The statue of Richard III was erected by the Richard III Society in 1980
Take the first path after the monument and continue forward bearing left to take the exit from the Gardens onto Castle Street.
Alternatively, to avoid Castle Yard (currently out of bounds due to the spire of St Mary de Castro being unsafe), you can instead continue through Castle Gardens to exit on to the Newarke.
As you pass through the park, look at the back of the Great Hall on the left, and note the steps up to the mound (on which Leicester's first castle - of the 'motte and bailey' type - was built in 1068. It would have been a timber structure. In the early-mid 1100's, the 2nd Earl of Leicester Robert de Beaumont - also known as Robert le Bossu - set about rebuilding the castle in stone. It was he that had the Great Hall built in stone in the 1100's, to replace a timber structure nearby on the site.)
[6] Turn right onto Castle Street then right onto Castle View and pass through Castle Gateway to enter Castle Yard. 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.
(D) 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. The Great Hall in Castle Yard has survived since 1107.
[7] Turn left at the end onto The Newark and Magazine Square and bear left at the end with Magazine Gateway on the right.
(E) 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.
[8] Take the first pedestrian crossing to cross over Vaughan Way and continue forward onto Friar Lane.
[9] After about 200 metres turn left onto New Street. You are now entering the Cathedral/Guildhall Conservation Area with its many listed buildings. Underneath this area lies the site of the Greyfriars Friary. Just before the end of the street, on the right, you pass the car park from where Richard III's body was recently recovered (F). This would have been the location of the choir or high altar end of the Friary. Cross, using the pedestrian crossing, over to the Leicester Cathedral and then take the path around the left hand side of the Cathedral to emerge by the Guildhall. Here is a very popular free exhibition about the story behind the excavation of Richard III.
(G) There is a memorial stone in the chancel of the Cathedral dedicated to Richard III. Greyfriars Friary, named after the colour of the friars' robes, was established in the 12th century. The Franciscan monks were quite poor and would have spent their time out in the community. The Friary was demolished on Henry VIII's orders in 1538 during the period of the dissolution of the monasteries.
[10] Turn right onto Guildhall Lane, cross over Loseby Lane onto Silver Street.
[11] After about 50 metres turn right onto Silver Walk and continue forward through St Martins Square and onto Hotel Street.
[12] Turn left onto Market Place South and continue forward with the indoor and outdoor market on your left.
[13] Continue over Gallowtree Gate onto Halford Street to return to The Curve.