Be aware of traffic on the city centre streets, especially where pavements are narrow.
[1] Facing the Town Hall, turn to your right and leave Town Hall Square, turning left onto Horsefair Street. Continue straight ahead onto Millstone Lane and continue on to where the road bends to the right.
(A) Town Hall
The Town Hall was built on the former cattle market between 1874 and 1876. It replaced the Guildhall as the City's Town Hall. Two years after it opened in 1876 the Leicester Town Council accepted, " a handsome ornamental fountain to be place in the centre of the land fronting the Town Hall Buildings". It was a gift to the Borough from Israel Hart, a former Mayor of Leicester.
[2] At the bend in the road carry straight on between the buildings to Southgates. Turn left and walk to the pedestrian crossing. Cross over the road and head to the left of the Magazine Gateway.
(B) You are entering the Newarke ("New Work") which was a religious precinct laid out in the fourteenth century. There were two gateways to the precinct originally but only one survives, that is the Magazine Gateway which you can see on your left, built in 1410.
[3] Walk through the pedestrianised area bordered by De Montfort University buildings. Continue ahead along the Newarke passing Castle View and the Turret Gateway on your right. The road bends slightly to the right as you head towards the bridge over the River Soar.
(C) Trinity Hospital was founded in 1331, the only really old part that survives is the chapel. Most of the current building was built as an almshouse in 1901. The residents were moved out to modern accommodation by the river about 16 years ago and the building now houses offices of De Montfort University and has been renamed Trinity House.
(D) Turret Gateway was the original south entrance to the castle bailey and was built in 1422 - 23. It is now in ruins.
[4] Just before the bridge, turn right into Castle Gardens. Keep left on the paths through the gardens, following the river.
[5] After a short distance you will see a bridge on your left. Cross the river here and walk towards the left of the building directly in front of you. Follow the path around keeping left until you reach the road crossing.
The path is well used by cyclists so beware of them approaching from behind or around corners.
[6] Cross over the road and pick up the path directly ahead of you, signposted 'the Great Central Way'. Stay on this path as it follows the River Soar along to Bede Park.
[7] As you reach Bede Park you will see a circular monument directly ahead. Turn left at this monument and follow the path around the edge of the park to the exit onto Western Boulevard.
[8] Cross over Western Boulevard at the pedestrian crossing and to the left side of the bridge ahead you will see steps down to the canal path. Take these steps down and follow the canal path, keeping the canal on your right.
The canal path is quite narrow in places with low bridges overhead. Be vigilant of oncoming cyclists.
(E) The River Soar has been "canalised" here. It forms part of the Grand Union Canal and is known as "Mile Straight".
[9] Continue along the canal for around 600m, passing under a bridge. Just before the second bridge take the steps to the left exiting the canal path, and cross over the bridge into Castle Gardens. Take the path directly ahead of you through the park, up the steps, and keep straight on until you see the exit to the park ahead of you.
[10] Exit the park, turning right onto Castle Street. Follow the street around, passing the church of St Mary de Castro on your right. Continue on, through the pedestrianised area, until you reach the main road, Southgates.
(F) 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 would have frequently visited the church on their visits to stay in Leicester Castle.
[11] As you reach Southgates turn right to the first pedestrian crossing. Cross over Southgates here and continue straight on along Friar Lane.
[12] Take the forth turning on your right, with the City Rooms on the corner, onto Hotel Street.
(G) The statue of the Leicester Seamstress