16 best things to do in Leicester for an unforgettable visit

Leicester is one of England’s most historically layered and culturally diverse cities. Roman remains, medieval streets and the story of King Richard III sit alongside a major space attraction, important museums, independent food businesses and neighbourhoods shaped by communities from around the world.

The compact centre makes Leicester easy to explore on foot, while Abbey Park, the River Soar and several major attractions lie only a short journey away. Beyond the city, Bradgate Park and historic Leicestershire villages provide worthwhile extensions to a weekend visit.

This guide brings together the best things to do in Leicester, focusing on the places that genuinely reveal its history, science, culture, green spaces and distinctive local character.

Historic things to do in Leicester

1. Discover the story of Richard III

Website

Contact details: +44 300 300 0900

Operating hours:

• Monday to Friday and Sunday: 10 am to 4 pm
• Saturday and bank holidays: 10 am to 5 pm
• Closed on selected festive dates and during an annual January maintenance period

Price: ££

The King Richard III Visitor Centre tells one of Britain’s most remarkable archaeological stories. It stands beside the former Greyfriars church, close to the car park where the king’s remains were discovered in 2012.

Exhibitions explain Richard’s life, the Battle of Bosworth, the search for his grave and the scientific work used to identify the skeleton. Visitors can see the preserved position of the original burial site through a glass floor.

The attraction succeeds because it treats the discovery as both a historical mystery and a modern archaeological investigation.

Pro tip:

Visit before entering Leicester Cathedral. The exhibition provides the context needed to understand why Richard’s reinterment became such an important event for the city.

2. Visit Leicester Cathedral and the tomb of Richard III

Website

Operating hours:

• Monday to Saturday: 10:30 am to 4:30 pm
• Sunday: 12 pm to 3 pm
• Services and special events may restrict access to parts of the building

Price: Free, with donations welcomed

Leicester Cathedral is the final resting place of King Richard III. His tomb occupies a calm, carefully designed space within the restored cathedral, only a short distance from the site where his remains were found.

The building also contains stained glass, memorials and interpretation exploring the Christian history of Leicester. Its recent redevelopment has improved the visitor experience while retaining the atmosphere of a working place of worship.

The cathedral and visitor centre work best when experienced together.

Pro tip:

Allow time for the cathedral’s Heritage and Learning Centre rather than viewing only Richard III’s tomb and leaving immediately.

3. Explore Roman Leicester at the Jewry Wall Museum

Website

Contact details: +44 116 454 4554

Operating hours:

• Monday to Friday and Sunday: 10 am to 4 pm
• Saturday and bank holidays: 10 am to 5 pm

Price: Admission arrangements vary

The Jewry Wall is one of the largest surviving pieces of Roman civil architecture in Britain. It formed part of the public baths of Roman Leicester, then known as Ratae Corieltauvorum.

The redeveloped museum uses archaeological objects, digital interpretation and reconstructed stories to explain the Roman town and the people who lived there.

Outside, the vast masonry wall remains the defining feature. Its scale is much easier to appreciate once visitors understand how it fitted into the original bath complex.

Pro tip:

Walk around the exterior before entering the museum, then return to the ruins afterwards when the building’s original purpose is clearer.

4. Step inside Leicester Guildhall

Website

Contact details: +44 116 253 2569

Operating hours:

• Opening days and hours vary
• Check the official museum listing before visiting

Price: Free

Leicester Guildhall is one of the best-preserved timber-framed halls in England. Parts of the building date from the 14th century, and it has served as a meeting place, courtroom, library and civic building.

The Great Hall, old cells, historic rooms and timber construction reveal the city’s importance during the medieval and early modern periods.

Its location beside the cathedral makes it easy to miss in favour of the Richard III attractions, but it is one of Leicester’s most atmospheric historic buildings.

Pro tip:

Check whether a guided tour or event is running. The building’s political and legal history is more interesting when explained room by room.

5. Walk through Leicester’s Old Town

Website

Operating hours:

• Public streets are accessible at all times
• Individual attractions and businesses keep separate hours

Price: Free to explore

Leicester’s Old Town contains the cathedral, Guildhall, Richard III Visitor Centre and a surviving network of narrow lanes and historic streets.

The district is compact, but it rewards a slower walk. St Martins Square, Loseby Lane, Applegate and the streets around the cathedral contain independent businesses, old façades and traces of the medieval street pattern.

Public art and interpretation connect the area with Richard III, the city’s trading history and later redevelopment.

Pro tip:

Explore early in the day before the cafés and shopping streets become busy, then continue towards the Roman quarter at Jewry Wall.

Museums, science and entertainment

6. Spend a day at the National Space Centre

Website

Contact details: +44 116 261 0261

Operating hours:

• Term-time weekdays: generally 10 am to 4 pm
• Weekends, school holidays and bank holidays: generally 10 am to 5 pm
• Closed dates and event schedules vary

Price: £££

The National Space Centre is Leicester’s largest visitor attraction and one of Britain’s leading destinations for space science.

Its distinctive Rocket Tower contains full-size rockets and spacecraft displays, while the main galleries cover astronomy, human spaceflight, satellites, planets and the search for life beyond Earth.

The Sir Patrick Moore Planetarium adds immersive astronomy shows, and regular events provide more specialist experiences for enthusiasts.

Pro tip:

Book online and check planetarium times before arriving. The centre can easily fill most of a day, especially for families.

7. Visit Leicester Museum and Art Gallery

Website

Contact details: +44 116 454 4554

Operating hours:

• Monday to Friday: 11 am to 4:30 pm
• Saturday and Sunday: 11 am to 5 pm
• Bank holidays: 11 am to 4:30 pm

Price: Free

Leicester Museum and Art Gallery combines natural history, archaeology, fine art and local collections inside a Victorian building on New Walk.

The museum is known for its dinosaur displays, Egyptian objects and important collection of German Expressionist art, although individual galleries may close during refurbishment or exhibition changes.

Its broad collection makes it particularly suitable for families and visitors looking for a free indoor attraction.

Pro tip:

Check the current gallery closures before travelling if a particular collection is the main reason for your visit.

8. Visit Abbey Pumping Station on an event day

Website

Contact details: +44 116 454 4554

Operating hours:

• Open on selected school-holiday Mondays, railway days and special-event dates
• Typical event opening: 11 am to 4:30 pm

Price: Usually free, with charges for selected events

Abbey Pumping Station preserves Leicester’s Victorian sewage works and tells the story of public health, water engineering and sanitation.

The principal beam engines, industrial architecture and outdoor machinery make it one of the city’s most unusual museums. On special event days, visitors may see machinery operating or ride the site’s railway.

Opening is much more limited than at Leicester’s central museums, so planning is essential.

Pro tip:

Visit during a steam or railway event. The site is substantially more engaging when its machinery and demonstrations are operating.

9. See a performance at Curve

Website

Contact details: +44 116 242 3595

Operating hours:

• Varies by performance and box-office schedule

Price: £ to £££

Curve is Leicester’s principal producing theatre and one of the city’s most distinctive modern buildings. Its programme includes musicals, drama, dance, comedy and new work.

The design places workshops and backstage activity around the main public spaces, helping visitors see more of the production process than at a conventional theatre.

Curve creates its own productions as well as receiving major touring shows, giving it a stronger identity than a standard regional venue.

Pro tip:

Check both the main theatre and studio programme. Smaller productions often provide the most distinctive reason to visit.

10. Tour King Power Stadium

Website

Operating hours:

• Tours and matchday access vary with fixtures and club events

Price: ££

King Power Stadium is the home of Leicester City Football Club and is closely associated with one of English football’s greatest stories: the club’s 2015-16 Premier League title.

Stadium tours, when available, typically include behind-the-scenes areas such as changing rooms, media spaces, the tunnel and pitchside seating.

The atmosphere is naturally strongest on a matchday, although tickets can be difficult to secure for major fixtures.

Pro tip:

Check the football schedule before choosing travel dates. Home matches affect traffic, accommodation and restaurant demand across the city.

Neighbourhoods, food and outdoor experiences

11. Explore the Golden Mile

Website

Operating hours:

• Neighbourhood accessible at all times
• Individual businesses keep separate hours

Price: Free to explore

Leicester’s Golden Mile is one of Britain’s best-known South Asian shopping and food districts. Jewellery shops, sari retailers, sweet shops, grocers and restaurants line Belgrave and Melton Roads.

The area becomes especially lively around Diwali, when elaborate lights and community celebrations attract visitors from across the country.

It is best experienced as a working neighbourhood rather than a single restaurant recommendation.

Pro tip:

Visit in the late afternoon, explore the shops and stay for dinner. Weekend evenings and festival periods are much busier.

12. Browse Leicester Market and the city-centre lanes

Website

Operating hours:

• Market schedules vary during redevelopment and seasonal programmes
• Check current trading arrangements before visiting

Price: Free to explore

Leicester has hosted a market for centuries, and the market district remains an important part of the city centre.

Redevelopment has changed the layout and trading arrangements over time, but the surrounding streets still connect food traders, independent businesses, cafés and the main retail area.

Nearby lanes and squares make this a useful link between the Old Town and the modern commercial centre.

Pro tip:

Check the latest market location and opening details rather than relying on older maps or visitor guides.

13. Walk along New Walk

Website

Operating hours:

• Open at all times

Price: Free

New Walk is a historic pedestrian promenade linking Leicester city centre with Victoria Park. Laid out during the 18th century, it follows part of a Roman route and remains lined with Georgian and Victorian buildings.

The walk passes Leicester Museum and Art Gallery, cafés, offices and residential properties before reaching the park.

Its traffic-free character makes it one of the most pleasant ways to move through central Leicester.

Pro tip:

Begin near the city centre, visit the museum and continue to Victoria Park for a simple half-day route.

14. Relax in Abbey Park

Website

Operating hours:

• Open daily from early morning until dusk
• Individual facilities operate seasonally

Price: Free

Abbey Park is Leicester’s principal city park and lies on both sides of the River Soar.

The western side contains formal gardens, a boating lake, café, play areas and landscaped paths. Across the river are the remains of Leicester Abbey and Cavendish House, connecting the park with the city’s medieval history.

Its location near the National Space Centre and Abbey Pumping Station makes it easy to include in a wider north-Leicester itinerary.

Pro tip:

Use the park as the walking connection between the National Space Centre and the city centre when weather and daylight allow.

15. Explore the University of Leicester Botanic Garden

Website

Operating hours:

• Opening hours vary seasonally and around university events
• Check before travelling

Price: Free, with charges for some events

The University of Leicester Botanic Garden contains landscaped gardens, mature trees, glasshouses and specialist plant collections across a large suburban site.

The garden supports teaching and research while providing one of the most peaceful outdoor attractions near the city. Sculptures and seasonal displays add interest beyond the botanical collections.

It is located outside central Leicester and is easiest to reach by bus, bicycle, taxi or car.

Pro tip:

Visit in spring or early summer when flowering collections are at their strongest, and check whether the glasshouses are open.

16. Take a day trip to Bradgate Park

Website

Operating hours:

• Park open daily from early morning until dusk
• Visitor facilities and car parks keep separate hours

Price: Free entry, with parking charges

Bradgate Park is one of Leicestershire’s finest landscapes and an outstanding day trip from Leicester. Ancient parkland, rocky hills, woodland and large herds of deer surround the ruins of Bradgate House.

The estate is closely associated with Lady Jane Grey, who was born at Bradgate and briefly became queen in 1553. Old John Tower stands on the highest ridge and provides wide views across the county.

The park is large enough for anything from a short riverside walk to a full day of hiking.

Pro tip:

Arrive early on sunny weekends, keep a respectful distance from the deer and wear footwear suitable for rocky and muddy paths.

How to make the most of a visit to Leicester

Leicester’s central historic attractions are tightly grouped. A strong first-day route begins at the King Richard III Visitor Centre, continues through Leicester Cathedral and the Guildhall, then reaches the Jewry Wall and Roman quarter.

The National Space Centre deserves at least half a day and works well with Abbey Park. Abbey Pumping Station should only be added when a confirmed public opening or event is taking place.

New Walk creates an easy route between the city centre, Leicester Museum and Victoria Park. The Golden Mile is best visited separately in the late afternoon or evening when shops and restaurants are fully active.

Bradgate Park and the Botanic Garden sit outside the centre and require additional transport planning. Leicester railway station is close to New Walk, while buses connect the centre with most major attractions and neighbourhoods.

Related guides

Things to Do

Top Date Ideas in London

Discover 25 of the best date ideas in London, from romantic restaurants and riverside walks to creative workshops, free museums and unusual shared experiences.

Updated 13 July 2026

Things to Do

12 of the best tours in London for memorable city experiences

Discover 12 of the best tours in London, from Harry Potter and hop-on hop-off sightseeing to food walks, river cruises, cycling tours and historical experiences.

Updated 13 July 2026

Things to Do

15 of the best walking tours in London for curious wanderers

Discover 15 of the best walking tours in London, from royal history and wartime Westminster to Harry Potter, Sherlock Holmes, street art, food and historic pubs.

Updated 13 July 2026

Things to Do

30 of the best things to do in London for free for locals and visitors

Discover 30 of the best free things to do in London, from world-class museums and royal parks to historic ceremonies, skyline views, live music and unusual hidden attractions.

Updated 13 July 2026

Things to Do

20 best things to do in Aberdeen for an unforgettable visit

Discover the best things to do in Aberdeen, from its granite architecture, museums and historic university quarter to coastal walks, gardens, dolphin watching and memorable day trips.

Updated 10 July 2026

Things to Do

20 best things to do in Bath for an unforgettable visit

Discover the best things to do in Bath, from the Roman Baths and Thermae Bath Spa to Georgian landmarks, museums, gardens, riverside walks and memorable local experiences.

Updated 10 July 2026