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Abbey Park

40 ha

📷 Peter Mackenzie · Geograph · CC BY-SA 2.0

Plan your visit

BirdsHeritageWildlife
Dogs welcome40 ha

Getting here

52.64644, -1.13565

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About Abbey Park

Abbey Park is a public park in Leicester, England, through which the River Soar flows. It is owned and managed by Leicester City Council and is Leicester's premier park. It opened in 1882 on the flood plain of the River Soar, and expanded in 1932 to include the area west of the river that had formerly been the medieval St Mary's Abbey, still bounded by large medieval walls.

Read more on Wikipedia →
ParkGrade II* listed park and garden

Visiting this summer

Seasonal nature notes and what to look for now

  • 🐦58+ species recorded in this area — summer evenings are best for activity; watch for Woodpigeon and Rock Dove
  • ✦Historic character is a year-round quality here — summer brings its own atmosphere to the setting
  • ☕Café on site — a good base for a longer summer day out

Good to know

  • 🐕Dogs welcome
CaféParkingPicnic spotPlaygroundToilets

Best for

9 activities

Bird watching

Birds — Woodpigeon, Rock Dove, Mute Swan +55 more · last seen 2026; Deciduous woodland — woodpeckers, warblers and woodland birds

Free

Heritage

Grade I listed building: ABBEY RUINS; Historic site

Free

Wildlife

Mammals — Grey Squirrel, Brown Rat, Red Fox +12 more · last seen 2026; Deciduous woodland priority habitat

Free

Mushroom foraging

Fungi — Amanita'r Gwybed, Torth Felen, Sycamore Tarspot +16 more · last seen 2025

Varies

Insect spotting

Insects — Harlequin Ladybird, Green Shieldbug, Blue-tailed Damselfly +153 more · last seen 2026

Free

Seasonal nature

Plants — Bramble, Butterfly-bush, Daisy +129 more · last seen 2026

Free

Trails nearby

Within roughly 5 km
🚴

Cycling

197 signed routes nearby

Signed route nearby
Route 63Cycling route
Named routeRef 63National Cycle Network
Leicester 'Route 2'Cycling route
Named routeRef 2Local cycle route
West End WayCycling route
Named routeRef West End WayLocal cycle route
Fosse2Cycling route
Named routeRef 48National Cycle Network
Inner RingwayCycling route
Named routeRef Inner RingwayLocal cycle route
Leicester 'Route 4'Cycling route
Named routeRef 4Local cycle route

Wildlife to spot

Photos

Abbey Park

📷 Peter Mackenzie · Geograph · CC BY-SA 2.0

Abbey Park

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Nearby places

Useful places within 5 km

🌱Abbey ParkUrban park0 m→🌱Abbey ParkUrban park0 m→🌱Spinney Hill ParkUrban park2.4 km→🌱Spinney Hill ParkUrban park2.4 km→🌱Western ParkUrban park3.2 km→🌱Western ParkUrban park3.2 km→