diff --git a/.changeset/wet-suits-attack.md b/.changeset/wet-suits-attack.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..8506381dc5
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.changeset/wet-suits-attack.md
@@ -0,0 +1,6 @@
+---
+'@backstage/core': patch
+'@backstage/core-api': patch
+---
+
+Add deprecation warning to package README.
diff --git a/packages/core-api/README.md b/packages/core-api/README.md
index a4325a9c5d..5a6430baa7 100644
--- a/packages/core-api/README.md
+++ b/packages/core-api/README.md
@@ -1,20 +1,10 @@
 # @backstage/core-api
 
-This package provides the core API used by Backstage plugins and apps.
+**NOTE: This package is deprecated**
 
-## Installation
+See the [migration documentation](https://backstage.io/docs/tutorials/migrating-away-from-core) for details on how to move to using the newer packages, [`@backstage/core-app-api`](https://www.npmjs.com/package/@backstage/core-app-api), [`@backstage/core-components`](https://www.npmjs.com/package/@backstage/core-components), and [`@backstage/core-plugin-api`](https://www.npmjs.com/package/@backstage/core-plugin-api)
 
-Do not install this package directly, it is reexported by `@backstage/core`. Install that instead:
-
-```sh
-npm install --save @backstage/core
-```
-
-or
-
-```sh
-yarn add @backstage/core
-```
+This package used to provide the core API used by Backstage plugins and apps.
 
 ## Documentation
 
diff --git a/packages/core/README.md b/packages/core/README.md
index 0f827d6074..adb295945c 100644
--- a/packages/core/README.md
+++ b/packages/core/README.md
@@ -1,20 +1,10 @@
 # @backstage/core
 
-This package provides the core API used by Backstage plugins and apps.
+**NOTE: This package is deprecated**
 
-## Installation
+See the [migration documentation](https://backstage.io/docs/tutorials/migrating-away-from-core) for details on how to move to using the newer packages, [`@backstage/core-app-api`](https://www.npmjs.com/package/@backstage/core-app-api), [`@backstage/core-components`](https://www.npmjs.com/package/@backstage/core-components), and [`@backstage/core-plugin-api`](https://www.npmjs.com/package/@backstage/core-plugin-api)
 
-Install the package via npm or Yarn:
-
-```sh
-npm install --save @backstage/core
-```
-
-or
-
-```sh
-yarn add @backstage/core
-```
+This package used to provide the core API and components used by Backstage plugins and apps.
 
 ## Documentation