Leicester is a large city on the River Soar. The Clocktower is a useful landmark in the city centre.
There are two Bus Stations: Haymarket ¾ mile and St Margaret's 1 mile from the railway station.
www.visitleicester.info
Collections and displays cover the natural and cultural world including Ancient Egypt, dinosaurs,
Victorian art and ceramics. Exhibition and events programme. Admission free (except some exhibitions and events).
Open Daily 1100-1630.
www.leicestermuseums.org
The Visitor Centre in a former school tells the remarkable story of the discovery of King Richard III's skeleton
which was found under a car park in 2012 on a site adjacent to the Centre. King Richard III had been killed at the nearby Battle of
Bosworth in 1485. Discover more of King Richard III's story and medieval Leicester. Café.
Open Daily 1000-1600.
www.kriii.com
The Cathedral was built on a Roman site and dedicated to St Martin of Tours. Most of the present building
is Victorian including the tower and spire. King Richard III's skeleton was buried here in 2015. Admission free, donations welcome.
Open M-S 1030-1630, Sun 1200-1500, check website for events.
www.leicestercathedral.org
Leicester's medieval Guildhall is one of the best-preserved timber-framed halls in the country.
Galleries show life in medieval Leicester. Admission free.
Open M-S 1100-1630.
www.leicestermuseums.org
The two historic houses built around 1511 now form a social history and regimental museum.
Highlights include toys from the 1500s to the present day and a 1950s street scene with shops and a pub.
Public gardens surround the houses. Events programme. Admission free (except events).
Open May-Aug, Sat 1100-1630. Also Wed 1100-1630 in school holidays.
www.leicestermuseums.org
The Jewry Wall is original Roman masonry. Modern stonework represents the structure of Roman baths
which were located here. The Museum tells the stories of Roman times in Leicester using multi-media exhibitions and a
collection of Roman finds, including mosaics, ivory, glass, stone and metal jewellery. Events programme. Café.
Open Daily 1000-1600.
www.jewrywall.com |
www.english-heritage.org.uk
The National Space Centre tells the past, present and future stories of space exploration and science.
There are many interactive elements in the galleries as well as important exhibits. Planetarium. Events programme. Café.
Open see website.
www.spacecentre.co.uk
Bus 54 from Haymarket Bus Station (¾ mile from railway station) to
Abbey Lane, Space Centre (Exploration Drive), then ½ mile walk.
7 minutes journey, M-F every 10 minutes, SSu every 15 minutes.
Operated by First.
A Victorian pumping station with four beam engines restored to working condition, see them working
on event days. The Pumping Station also has a collection of vintage vehicles including buses, fire engines, a chip van
and a hansome cab. Narrow-gauge railway. Admission free but charges for some events.
Open see website.
www.leicestermuseums.org
Bus 54 from Haymarket Bus Station (¾ mile from railway station) to
Abbey Lane, alight immediately the bus turns left opposite Corporation Road, then ¼ mile walk.
9 minutes journey, M-F every 10 minutes, SSu every 15 minutes.
Operated by First.
The 16 acres of grounds have a wide variety of features including a restored Edwardian garden with
formal planting, a herb garden, herbaceous borders, rock gardens, water features and sculptures.
Glasshouses (closed SSu & BH). Admission free.
Open Daily 1000-1700 (1600 Nov-Mar).
le.ac.uk/botanic-garden
Bus 31/31A/X3 from Railway Station (also Haymarket Bus Station) to Glebe Road,
then ¼ mile walk. About 12 minutes journey, M-S every 15 minutes, Sun every 30 minutes.
Operated by Arriva.
Opened in 1997 by Sir David Attenborough, the 5 acre Arboretum is designed to display native trees
in the sequence they arrived in England following the end of the last ice age 10,000 years ago. Other features include
a medieval ridge-and-furrow field and two ponds with a boardwalk. Admission free.
Open Daily 1000-1700 (1600 Nov-Mar).
le.ac.uk/botanic-garden
Bus 44/44A from Railway Station (also Haymarket Bus Station) to opposite Arboretum.
About 10 minutes journey, M-S every 15 minutes, Sun hourly.
Operated by Arriva.
The Arboretum is 1¼ miles walk from the Botanic Garden.
The Great Central Railway is the UK's only double track, main line heritage railway. The line runs from
Loughborough to Leicester North. Restored stations and trains hauled by steam and heritage diesel locomotives, plus heritage
railcars, recreate the 'golden age' of mainline rail travel. Loughborough is the headquarters of the line and has a signal box
and locomotive shed. Buffet on station platform. Picnic area. Events programme.
Open see website for days and train times.
www.gcrailway.co.uk
Bus 25 (26 for return journey) from Haymarket Bus Station (¾ mile from railway station)
to Barnwell Avenue, then ¼ mile walk. 12 minutes journey, M-F every 15 minutes, Sat every 30 minutes, Sun hourly.
Note that the return bus is 26.
Operated by First.
The Great Central Railway is 1 mile from Loughborough station.
Stoneywell is a rare surviving example of a complete Arts and Crafts family home with original furniture.
It is surrounded by a semi-formal garden and ancient woodland. Tearoom. Visits must be booked and they start at the car park.
Open Mar-Oct, MFSSu for advanced bookings only, see website.
www.nationaltrust.org.uk/stoneywell
Bus 29/29A from St Margaret's Bus Station (1 mile from Railway Station) to Markfield,
then 1¼ miles walk to car park. 25 minutes journey, M-S every 30 minutes, Sun hourly. Note different routes through Markfield.
Operated by Arriva.
A small reserve with rocky outcrops, drystone walls and heath grassland. A good site to see butterflies
and other insects in the summer. There are good views from the top of the hill. Admission free.
Open at all times.
www.lwrt.org.uk
Bus to Markfield (see Stoneywell above) then ½ mile walk.
A former quarry now managed for nature with a hay meadow, woodland and rocky outcrops. Take care and keep to
the paths because there are steep drops and the exposed rock can be slippery. Admission free.
Open at all times.
www.charnwoodforest.org
Bus to Markfield (see Stoneywell above) then ½ mile walk.
