Lansdowne
Updated September 2026
Lansdowne at a Glance
- Trash and recycling day
- Monday. 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
- 40502
About Lansdowne
Lansdowne is one of those south Lexington neighborhoods that has been around long enough to feel settled in the best possible way. It sits just inside New Circle Road, tucked between Tates Creek Road and Nicholasville Road, and has been home to more than a thousand households since the 1950s and 60s. The homes here reflect that history. You will find ranches, split-levels, Colonial Revival styles, and traditional two-stories, the kind of mix that comes from a neighborhood that developed over a decade or two rather than all at once. The tree cover is mature, the yards and landscaping are well-kept, and driving through gives you that sense of a place that people have genuinely invested in over time.
What's Nearby
One of Lansdowne's practical strengths is how central it is. New Circle Road runs right along the south edge, which puts the rest of Lexington within easy reach. Tates Creek Road and Nicholasville Road flank it on either side, giving you quick access to two of the busiest commercial corridors in town. From Lansdowne you are a short drive from Fayette Mall, with the Summit at Fritz Farm a bit further south on Nicholasville Road, with Whole Foods, Target, Apple, and the usual anchors. Nicholasville Road itself has Trader Joe's, Kroger, TJ Maxx, and more. The Arboretum, the State Botanical Garden of Kentucky run by UK, is about two miles away and worth a visit if you have never walked it. Downtown Lexington, the University of Kentucky, and both I-64 and I-75 are all easy from here.
Annual Events
Lansdowne's own events come from the neighborhood association; the rest are on Southland Drive and at The Arboretum, each about five minutes away.
Kentucky Children's Garden season at The Arboretum
April 1 through October 31, Wednesday to Saturday
The Arboretum, 500 Alumni Dr
The Arboretum's two-acre kids' garden opens for the season; small wristband fee, grounds otherwise free.
Event detailsLexington Farmers Market, Sunday market
Sundays 10 to 2, April through October
398 Southland Dr
The market's relaxed Sunday edition, which spills into the Southland Drive shops.
Event detailsLansdowne Neighborhood Association picnics
Summer social in late June at Zandale Park (2025: Jun 28); potluck dinner in mid-September (2026: Tue Sep 15)
Zandale Park, 750 Zandale Dr, and the Lansdowne Club
The association's two gatherings a year; the council member usually comes to the June one.
Event detailsBig Band & Jazz at Ecton Park
Tuesdays 7 to 8:30 pm, July through mid-August (2026: Jul 7 through Aug 11)
Ecton Park, 956 Turkey Foot Rd, about six minutes down Tates Creek
Free lawn concerts by regional big bands; picnics encouraged.
Event detailsSouthland Street Fair
One Sunday in late summer or fall, noon to 8 (2026: Sep 27; the month has moved around)
Southland Drive, closed to traffic
A hundred-plus vendors, food trucks, live music, and kids' activities down the middle of Southland Drive. Free.
Event detailsScarecrow Parade at The Arboretum
First three weeks of October (2026: Oct 3 to 19)
The Arboretum, 500 Alumni Dr
Community-built scarecrows lining the paths for a few weeks every fall. Free.
Event detailsArbor Day and Fall Plant Exchange at The Arboretum
A Saturday in mid-October during Lexington Tree Week (2026: Oct 17; plant exchange 8:30, Arbor Day 10)
The Arboretum, 500 Alumni Dr
A seed and plant swap, a ceremonial tree planting, exhibitor booths, and free Children's Garden admission. Free.
Event detailsSouthland Drive Tree Lighting
First weekend of December, evening (2025: Dec 6, lighting at 6:30)
Lexington Fire Station 12, 399 Southland Dr
The Lafayette High choir, treats, and a tree lighting at the fire station; bring a toy for the firefighters' toy drive. Free.
Event details
Dates are the most recent published as of September 2026; check the organizer before you go.
Highlights
The Cellar Bar and Grille is my pick in this area. It sits on the lower level of the Signature Club of Lansdowne on Lansdowne Drive, which is how it got the name. The club itself is private, but the Cellar is open to everyone. The Cellar Burger is my go-to, and I will put that patio up against just about anywhere in town. The Signature Club is also worth knowing about if you are looking for a wedding venue. I have been to a couple of events held there and can say it handles that kind of occasion well. It is a solid option if you are planning something in Lexington. The Merrick Inn is one of Lexington's most established fine dining restaurants, at 1074 Merrick Drive, a few minutes from the neighborhood. It sits inside a former thoroughbred horse farm manor house, and the setting is as Lexington as it gets. Known for classic Kentucky dishes, a strong bourbon selection, and an outdoor patio that locals genuinely love. If you are looking for a special occasion dinner close to home, this is the one.
- The Cellar Bar and Grille at the Signature Club of Lansdowne
- Signature Club of Lansdowne event and wedding venue
- Inside New Circle between Tates Creek and Nicholasville
- Ranches, split-levels, and Colonial Revival homes from the 1950s to 1970s
- Mature, tree-lined streets
Amenities
The Lansdowne Shoppes is the retail and dining heart of the neighborhood, and it packs a lot into one center. The Fresh Market is the grocery anchor, and it is a real departure from the standard Kroger and Publix experience. The coffee selection is excellent if that matters to you, and the deli is outstanding, with a spread of salads that is genuinely worth the trip even if you are coming from another part of town. The Mousetrap is a true hole-in-the-wall doing soups and sandwiches. Their pimento cheese is some of the best I have had. Trust me on this one: you are not going to find award-winning pimento cheese at Kroger, but you will find it here. Malone's and Drake's are both solid sit-down options also in the Shoppes, if you are looking for a proper meal rather than a quick bite. The Mad Potter is worth knowing about if you have kids or want something different for a date night. You paint your own pottery, they fire it, and you come back to pick it up. My two nieces love this place. I have also seen couples in there painting and laughing, so it is not just for children. The Diamond Gallery is also worth knowing about if you are in the market for jewelry. I bought my wife's wedding ring there. You get to pick your own diamond and choose your setting, and they take care of the rest. It is a genuinely personal experience that you are not going to get at a chain store.
Cost of Living
Lansdowne's housing stock skews toward single-family homes from the mid-century era, ranches and split-levels built largely in the 1950s and 60s. Homes of that vintage in this central part of south Lexington have tended to hold their value. For current listings and pricing, a local real estate agent or a current search on a listing platform will give you the most accurate picture.
Schools
Lansdowne is served by Fayette County Public Schools. Lansdowne Elementary School is on Redding Road at 336, just off the southern edge of the neighborhood and a short way outside the neighborhood association boundary. The area generally feeds toward Tates Creek High School, though school assignments are set by address and can change with rezoning. Confirm the exact schools for any address with the FCPS SchoolSite Locator at schoolsitelocator.com/apps/fayette.
Lansdowne FAQ
Where is Lansdowne?
In south Lexington, just inside New Circle Road between Tates Creek Road and Nicholasville Road. Lansdowne-Merrick, the association east of Tates Creek Road, is a separate neighborhood with its own association and a different collection day.
What zip code is Lansdowne in Lexington, KY?
40502.
What is at the Lansdowne Shoppes?
The Fresh Market is the grocery anchor. The center also has The Mousetrap for soups and sandwiches, Malone's and Drake's for sit-down meals, and The Mad Potter, a paint-your-own pottery studio.
Is the Cellar Bar and Grille open to the public?
Yes. It sits on the lower level of the Signature Club of Lansdowne on Lansdowne Drive, which is where the name comes from. The club itself is private, but the Cellar is open to everyone.
What day is trash collected in Lansdowne?
Monday for most of Lansdowne.
Which schools serve Lansdowne?
Lansdowne Elementary School is at 336 Redding Road, just off the southern edge of the neighborhood rather than inside it, and the area generally feeds toward Tates Creek High School. Assignments are set by address and can change with rezoning, so confirm an exact address with the FCPS SchoolSite Locator.