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Braunstone Park is situated on the A47 Hinckley Road, approximately 3 miles from the city centre and close to the M1 and M69 Junction. Its an open park, with the main gates for the driveway up to Braunstone Hall situated on Gooding Avenue.
Features
The 168 acre park has a visitor/information centre, a memorial dedicated to the US 82nd Airborne Division, azalea gardens, play areas and two lakes.
It is a mix of established woodland, spinneys and meadows with two lakes adjacent to the southern boundary attracting migrating birds and a myriad of wildlife. There is an open expanse of green parkland reminders of Braunstone’s pastoral heritage encompass every corner of this ancient site. There are numerous meandering paths enabling the visitor to stroll and enjoy the park's many delightful aspects as well as being easily located and accessible for regular use by schools and groups for nature rambles and conservation studies.
There are large grassed areas suitable for a variety of recreational activities and sporting facilities that include football pitches and changing rooms.
History
Braunstone Hall in the centre of the park is a grade II Georgian listed building. Alongside is the stable block refurbished in 1989 in keeping with its original character and retaining part of the old stables.
The Memorial Garden by the Gooding Avenue entrance is to commemorate the Park’s use as a military camp during the Second World War. It was used by the Royal Artillery and later by the American 82nd Airborne Division. After the war due to the severe housing shortage, displaced families were allowed to live in the nissen huts until they were re-housed. A large granite stone placed in the Memorial Garden originally for this commemoration, has now been moved to the Walled Garden for safe keeping.
Model Aircraft Club
The 'Braunstone Flyers' model aircraft flying club use the wide open space to the south side of the Hall and can be relied upon to provide entertaining displays when the weather is fine. Link to Braunstone Flyers
Close by is the lovely St Peters Church and Church Fields, a surprisingly rural and tranquil spot with close historic associations to the park.
The Walled Garden
The Walled Garden was formerly the kitchen garden to the Winstanley household. The first reference to it was as early as 1792, when it was described as having “hot houses of considerable magnitude, and the garden planted with choice fruit trees”. The hot houses provided a large and diverse range of fruit and vegetables; nectarines, cherries, apricots and melons. In later years it was used as holding beds for trees and shrubs before they were distributed to the various parks in the city. In the early 1980’s it was re-designed and opened to the public on 22nd May 1983 by Councillor R. A. Flint, J.P.
The old walls now provide shelter for a rich variety of herbaceous plants and shrubs, under planted with spring flowering bulbs. The formal beds set into the lawns afford stunning displays that provide a riot of colour throughout the year. Most recently a small plot of herbs has been planted adding another dimension of fragrant and attractive foliage to the already spectacular garden.
Facilities
The Visitor/Information Centre is located in the refurbished Stable Block and can be opened for parties with prior arrangement by telephoning 0116 273 8481.
Two well equipped children’s playgrounds are located on Gooding Avenue and Braunstone Avenue.
Parks Sporting Facilities include:
4 Football pitches
Changing facilities
MUGA outdoor facility
Address
Braunstone Park
Braunstone Ave
Leicester
LE3
Map of the Area
Related Links
 Leicester City Council Parks
Leicester City Museums
Leicester Through Lens
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