Bradgate Park

What it’s like

830 acres of free deer park to roam, with a ruined house and Old John Tower to aim for.

This is a proper walk in the wild, not a fenced-in playground with a few animals. Bradgate Park is 830 acres of rocky ground, ancient oaks and roaming red deer, and the site talks about a six hour guided walk taking in the closed spinneys, the Deer Sanctuary, Old John Tower and the ruins of Bradgate House. You don't need to do all of that; most people pick a direction, walk until someone's had enough, and turn back. During the rut the deer are apparently one of the big draws, so that's worth timing a visit around if you can.

Entry to the park itself is free, which is rare for a day out with this much space. You'll pay for parking at one of the three main car parks, and it's cash only, so don't turn up assuming you can tap a card. There's an early bird rate before 9am on weekdays if you're the sort of family that's up and out early.

Food-wise there's the Deer Barn Café, though its hours shift about: 9:30am to 4:30pm on weekdays and 10am to 5pm at weekends between April and October, then 10am to 4pm daily over winter. In busy periods and school holidays there are also ice cream tricycles doing the rounds, which is a nice touch if you've got kids who measure a good day out in 99 Flakes. Picnic tables are dotted near the car parks and off the main carriageway, so bringing your own lunch and finding a spot with a view of the ruins is a solid plan.

The Visitor Centre runs 11am to 4pm, the same hours whether it's term time or the school holidays, so no surprises there. The park itself opens at 8am every day of the year and stays open until sunset, or 8:30pm at the latest in summer, which gives you plenty of daylight to actually get somewhere and back.

Facilities

Need to know

Parking

Pay and display at three main car parks

Food

Deer Barn Café with hot and cold drinks, ice creams, cakes, sandwiches, hot food

Picnics

Allowed. Picnic tables available near three car parks and off main carriageway

Getting there by bus or train

Bus 154 (Mon-Fri only) serves Swithland Wood and Hallgates access

• Parking is cash only, so bring change for all three car parks
• There's an early bird parking rate before 9am on weekdays
• The park is open all 365 days of the year, including bank holidays
• Ice cream tricycles do the rounds during busy periods and school holidays

Plan your visit

Featured in 3 Huddlepin lists

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