Bell Court
Updated September 2026
Bell Court at a Glance
- Trash and recycling day
- Tuesday. Look up your address on the trash pickup map.
- Council district
- District 3, represented by Tom Eblen. Find your exact district by address.
- Zip code
- 40508
About Bell Court
Bell Court is one of Lexington's smallest and most historic neighborhoods, tucked just southeast of downtown and bounded by Boonesboro Avenue to the northeast, Walton Avenue to the southeast, East Main Street to the southwest, and Forest and Delmar Avenues to the northwest. The neighborhood covers about 42.5 acres (roughly a tenth of a square mile) with around 444 residents and 157 contributing historic buildings. It is one of Lexington's most concentrated historic districts. The neighborhood developed around the Bell House, an 1846 Greek Revival home designed by Lexington architect Thomas Lewinski for David Sayre. The house was later purchased by Henry Bell, whose name the neighborhood took. In 1940 the City of Lexington bought the property, and it now anchors a public city park within the neighborhood. Bell Court was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1980 and designated a Preserve America Community in 2006. I hope you like peanuts and peanut butter because you're definitely going to get your money's worth of free smells living here. Bell Court is right next to the Jif Peanut Butter factory at 767 East Third Street, which happens to be the largest peanut butter factory in the world. I can guarantee you'll smell it. I can smell the roasted peanuts way over on Newtown Pike. This isn't a bad thing. I like the smell. Bell Court has a long history of organized community advocacy. The Bell Court Neighborhood Association has existed in some form since 1962 and became a registered 501(c)3 nonprofit in 1992. Probably the most famous example of the neighborhood association's work happened in the 1980s and 1990s, when residents organized against a proposed drive-thru window at the McDonald's at 473 East Main Street, near the old Herald-Leader building. The neighborhood association sued. The case went to the Kentucky Supreme Court in 1985, which declined to review and effectively ended McDonald's drive-thru plans. McDonald's tried again in 1987 and 1997, and lost both times. Eventually McDonald's gave up and moved to Winchester Road. The building was later occupied by a Mexican restaurant, Cielito Lindo, before being demolished in 2011. The lot sits empty as a grassy field today. Bell Court's 157 contributing buildings span several historic styles. The earliest structures (including the Bell House) show Greek Revival and Italianate influences. Most homes built around the turn of the 20th century reflect Victorian and Queen Anne styles. Arts and Crafts style homes appear throughout the neighborhood as well. Together, these styles give Bell Court one of the most architecturally diverse small footprints in Lexington.
What's Nearby
Bell Court's location sandwiches (pun) you in between two great areas of restaurants and businesses, both a short walking distance. On one side you have National Avenue, which has Minton's (a brunch powerhouse), Mirror Twin Brewing (a local craft beer brewery, you Mos Def need to try their beers), and Eppings on Eastside (a well-known upscale farm-to-table restaurant). You're also within walking distance to a farmers market on that side that's open Tuesdays and Thursdays from 7 AM to noon. On the other side, the neighborhood is bordered by East Main Street, which connects you to downtown's restaurants, shops, and bars: Carson's, Jeff Ruby's, V at The Vine, Tony's, Tapster, Lex Live, and many others. I highly recommend Bigg Blue Martini if you make it that far. You'll be within walking distance. Read about my favorite drinks there in my best things to do in Lexington guide. Bell Court also offers direct access to the Legacy Trail, a 12-mile paved trail that connects downtown Lexington north toward the horse country. The trail entrance near Midland Avenue and Third Street is just outside the neighborhood. Town Branch Commons, another downtown trail system, is also walkable from Bell Court.
A walk through Bell Court
About 1.75 miles, about 35 minutes at a walking pace. Start at the Bell House and the public park around it, on Sayre Avenue in the middle of the neighborhood.
- The Bell House. An 1846 Greek Revival house the Lexington architect Thomas Lewinski designed for David Sayre. Henry Bell bought it later and the neighborhood took his name. The city bought the property in 1940 and the park around it is public.
- The empty lot at 473 East Main Street. Walk out Sayre Avenue to East Main. This grassy field is where the McDonald's stood that the neighborhood association fought over a drive-thru window, winning at the Kentucky Supreme Court in 1985 and twice more after that. The building came down in 2011.
- Eppings on Eastside. Head east on Cramer Avenue to the far side of the neighborhood. Eppings is the farm-to-table end of the walk.
- Mirror Twin Brewing, 725 National Avenue. A short block on. The National Avenue side is the other half of what makes a tenth of a square mile feel walkable, and Minton's is along here too.
Come back west on Russell Avenue and Sayre Avenue to finish at the Bell House.
Annual Events
Bell Court sits across East Main from Woodland Park and a five-minute walk from where the downtown parades step off, so most of its events are borrowed from the park and the street.
Main Street parades step off at Midland Avenue
St. Patrick's (March, 1 pm), Fourth of July (noon), Halloween and Thriller (late October, evening), Holiday Parade (early December, 11 am)
Parades form at Main St and Midland Ave, a five-minute walk from the neighborhood, and run west to Mill St
Four downtown parades a year start at the neighborhood's front door.
Event detailsWest Sixth Beer Garden pop-ups at Woodland Park
Four Thursdays a year, 4 to 8 pm (2026: Apr 23, May 14, Jun 11, Sep 17)
Woodland Park, 601 E. High St
Food trucks, live music, and West Sixth on tap in the park. Free to walk in.
Event detailsLexington Farmers Market, Tuesday and Thursday market
Tuesdays and Thursdays, 7 am until sellout, May through October
747 National Ave (the Warehouse Block), off Walton Ave
The market's weekday stand, about a five-minute walk from the neighborhood's southeast edge.
Event detailsFrom the Front Porch concert series
One Saturday a month, June through September, 6 to 8 pm (2026: Jun 27, Jul 25, Aug 29, Sep 26)
Isaac Murphy Memorial Art Garden, 577 E. Third St
Outdoor jazz with food trucks, about a ten-minute walk up Midland. Free.
Event detailsShakespeare in the Park
Two weekends in mid-July (2026: Jul 10 to 12 and 16 to 19; show at 8 pm)
Woodland Park, 601 E. High St
Free outdoor Shakespeare with live music before the show, food vendors, and beer.
Event detailsBallet Under the Stars
Late July into the first weekend of August, five nights (2026: Jul 29 to Aug 2; curtain 9 pm)
Woodland Park, 601 E. High St
Professional and youth ballet on an outdoor stage; bring a blanket. $9 at the gate.
Event detailsWoodland Art Fair
Third weekend of August (2026: Aug 15 to 16)
Woodland Park, 601 E. High St
180-plus artists, live music, food trucks, and about 70,000 people, across the street. Free.
Read our Woodland Art Fair write-upLexington Roots & Heritage Festival
Second weekend of September (2026: Sep 11 to 13)
Elm Tree Lane, East End, about a ten-minute walk
The East End's heritage festival and parade, running since 1989.
Event details
Dates are the most recent published as of September 2026; check the organizer before you go.
Highlights
- National Register Historic District since 1980
- Preserve America Community
- 157 contributing historic buildings
- Walking distance to downtown Lexington
- Access to Legacy Trail
Amenities
Cost of Living
Bell Court is one of the more accessible historic neighborhoods in Lexington. As of 2026, smaller properties and newer townhouses fall in the $170,000 to $350,000 range, while larger fully renovated historic homes can run up to $800,000. These townhome and small property prices aren't bad when you consider you're basically close to everything. You'll rarely have to drive anywhere. For context, this is the same price range Masterson Station has, and walking options there are very VERY limited.
Schools
Bell Court children attend Ashland Elementary School (located just south on Chinoe Road), Morton Middle School (down the road on Tates Creek Road), and Henry Clay High School. Ashland Elementary is known for its Accelerated Arts Magnet Program. Henry Clay High School features specialized tracks including the Liberal Arts Academy for gifted students and the city's only Army JROTC program. Many local kids can walk or bike to their elementary school given the small footprint of the neighborhood. Note: Lexington Traditional Magnet School (LTMS) sits nearby on Walnut Street and is sometimes confused with the zoned middle school. LTMS is a district-wide lottery-admission magnet program, not the Bell Court zone. Morton Middle is the actual zoned middle school. School attendance zones are set by address and can change with rezoning, so look up your exact schools with the FCPS SchoolSite Locator.
Bell Court FAQ
Where is Bell Court?
Immediately southeast of downtown Lexington, bounded by Boonesboro Avenue to the northeast, Walton Avenue to the southeast, East Main Street to the southwest, and Forest and Delmar Avenues to the northwest. It covers about 42.5 acres, roughly a tenth of a square mile.
What zip code is Bell Court in Lexington, KY?
40508.
How did Bell Court get its name?
From the Bell House, an 1846 Greek Revival home the Lexington architect Thomas Lewinski designed for David Sayre. Henry Bell later bought it and the neighborhood took his name. The City of Lexington bought the property in 1940, and it anchors a public park inside the neighborhood today.
Is Bell Court a historic district?
Yes. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1980 and designated a Preserve America Community in 2006, with 157 contributing historic buildings inside its 42.5 acres.
Why does Bell Court smell like peanut butter?
The Jif plant at 767 East Third Street sits right beside the neighborhood and is the largest peanut butter factory in the world. The roasted peanut smell carries a long way, well past the neighborhood itself.
Which schools serve Bell Court?
Ashland Elementary School, Morton Middle School and Henry Clay High School. Lexington Traditional Magnet School sits nearby on Walnut Street and is sometimes mistaken for the zoned middle school; it is a district-wide lottery magnet, and Morton is the zoned school.