A fascinating behind the scenes stroll around the museums' main object store Museums are only ever able to display a small percentage of their collections, the rest are stored in environmentally controlled stores where they continue to be used for research and exhibitions. This tour is a fascinating behind the scenes stroll around our main object store and is suitable for anybody who has ever wondered about what kind of objects we have, and what is required to look after them and preserve them for future generations. The tour will be conducted by two members of our Collections Team who will talk about some of the interesting objects that you will see, and will be happy to take any questions along the way.

A Community Co-Produced Exhibition with St Philip’s Centre and community participants Co-produced with St Philip’s Centre, Living Together explores what it means to live well together in Leicester. Drawing on more than 100 oral history interviews, this exhibition shares personal stories of cross-community connection, everyday encounters, and shared values. Created with members of the St Philip’s Centre team and community participants, it offers a thoughtful and timely reflection on cohesion, belonging, and life in the city.

An exhibition which has been co-produced with Museum Service volunteers Photo The building of the West Wing of Leicester Museum & Art Gallery, 1912. Leicester and Leicestershire Record Office. You Are Here tells the story of the evolution of Leicester Museum & Art Gallery over the past 176 years. Come on a journey through time and explore the story of the New Walk Area, the Museum and its collections from its very origins to the present day and beyond. You Are Here! is an exploration and celebration of a very special place and how we got here. Co-produced with Museum Service volunteers, including those working with the Museum’s archive, the exhibition brings together objects, photographs and research to reveal this ongoing story.

Popping to the Shops Evington is the third exhibition in the Popping to the Shops series, following earlier projects on Narborough Road and Saffron Lane. This community co-curated exhibition explores the history, identity and everyday life of Evington through its local shops and businesses. Developed in collaboration with traders, community members and Leicester Museums' co-producers, the exhibition brings together objects from the museum collection alongside contemporary items donated by Evington businesses. Through photographs, stories and material culture, the exhibition celebrates shops as social hubs and reflects on how the area has evolved over time.

A city-wide art trail! Discover Leicester like never before with Planet Parade – a family-friendly solar system trail where art, science and local creativity collide across the city centre. Stop by Leicester Museum & Art Gallery to see Neptune! Free family adventure City-wide space trail Created by local children and artists Win amazing prizes Planet Parade is a city-wide trail that transforms Leicester into a walkable solar system. Created by around 250 local children working alongside artists, each planet is represented through bold, imaginative artworks installed at venues across the city centre. Families are invited to explore all eight planets – plus the Sun at the National Space Centre – while discovering Leicester’s proud space heritage, learning fascinating science facts, and enjoying creativity at every stop. Find out more Planet Parade

‘If you weren’t a mod, you were a rocker. If you were neither of those, you were nothing…’ Discover real-life Quadrophenia as we explore the bars, coffee shops and venues linked to Leicester’s thriving 1960s mod scene. Find out how the main elements of this exciting youth subculture - fashion, music, drugs, transport and sociability - influenced the city’s mods. IMPORTANT You will be told the tour start location on the Booking Details PDF which will be sent by email once you have purchsed your ticket (the tour does not start at Leicester Museum & Art Gallery) We Are The Mods! Guided tours on: Sunday April 5th Sunday May 10th Sunday August 23rd Your guide, Shaun Knapp, is the author of High Flying Around (I & II) and Mods Two City Connection. He was also co-curator of the Mods Shaping a Generation and Punk Rage and Revolution exhibitions which were recently held at Leicester Museum. Shaun previously worked for the museum service, helped establish the guided walks program for Leicester and has first-hand experience of strange ghostly happenings, hauntings and occurrences within Leicester City Centre.

With tour guide Jim Butler England and Normandy are on the verge of civil war as the sons of King Henry II make a grab for the throne. Discover the events surrounding the little known siege of Leicester in 1173 when Robert ‘Blanchemains', the 3rd Earl of Leicester, joined the princes in a bloody revolt against the king. IMPORTANT You will be told the tour start location on the Booking Details PDF which will be sent by email once you have purchsed your ticket (the tour does not start at Leicester Museum & Art Gallery) Roamin’ Roman Leicester - guided tour date Sunday Your guide, Jim Butler, is the creator, writer and producer of the popular 'Hidden Histories of Leicester’ series on YouTube, Facebook and TikTok. He writes and leads guided tours around the city covering a broad range of historical topics, drawing on his life-long love of Leicester’s rich culture and heritage and over 25 years’ experience of communicating its amazing history to all ages and backgrounds.

With tour guide Shaun Knapp Visit the venues and hear the remarkable stories relating to Leicester’s 1960s music scene. This walk brings back to life the buildings long since demolished, the groups who packed out the venues and the people who filled the halls and clubs. Find out how some of the biggest names in music played some of the city’s smallest venues. IMPORTANT You will be told the tour start location on the Booking Details PDF which will be sent by email once you have purchsed your ticket (the tour does not start at Leicester Museum & Art Gallery) High Flying Around - guided Sunday April 26th 2026 Sunday May 31st 2026 Sunday Your guide, Shaun Knapp, is the author of High Flying Around (I & II) and Mods Two City Connection. He was also co-curator of the Mods Shaping a Generation and Punk Rage and Revolution exhibitions which were recently held at Leicester Museum. Shaun previously worked for the museum service and helped establish the guided walks program for Leicester.

With tour guide Jim Butler In the Summer of 1645, the town of Leicester was besieged by Royalist forces and suffered the bloodiest 48 hours in its long history. On the anniversary of the siege, discover stories of bravery and barbarism whilst exploring the sites and settings for some of the bloodiest fighting in the town. IMPORTANT You will be told the tour start location on the Booking Details PDF which will be sent by email once you have purchsed your ticket (the tour does not start at Leicester Museum & Art Gallery) Leicester’s Medieval Mementoes - guided tour date Sunday Your guide, Jim Butler, is the creator, writer and producer of the popular 'Hidden Histories of Leicester’ series on YouTube, Facebook and TikTok. He writes and leads guided tours around the city covering a broad range of historical topics, drawing on his life-long love of Leicester’s rich culture and heritage and over 25 years’ experience of communicating its amazing history to all ages and backgrounds.

With tour guide Jim Butler Explore the Story of Abbey Park, from its founding as a Monastery in the 12th Century to its dedication as a public park in the 20th century and discover the stories of the many saints and sinners who lived and died over those 800 years. IMPORTANT You will be told the tour start location on the Booking Details PDF which will be sent by email once you have purchsed your ticket (the tour does not start at Leicester Museum & Art Gallery) Monks & Monarchs The History of Abbey Park - guided tour date Sunday Your guide, Jim Butler, is the creator, writer and producer of the popular 'Hidden Histories of Leicester’ series on YouTube, Facebook and TikTok. He writes and leads guided tours around the city covering a broad range of historical topics, drawing on his life-long love of Leicester’s rich culture and heritage and over 25 years’ experience of communicating its amazing history to all ages and backgrounds.

With tour guide Jim Butler IMPORTANT You will be told the tour start location on the Booking Details PDF which will be sent by email once you have purchsed your ticket (the tour does not start at Leicester Museum & Art Gallery) History of the Golden Mile - guided Sunday July 26th 2026 South Asian Heritage Month To mark South Asian Heritage Month, uncover the story behind how the sudden influx of Ugandan Asian refugees fleeing the tyranny of Idi Amin rejuvenated a dilapidated Victorian area of Leicester and led to the creation of The Golden Mile. Sunday November 1st 2026 Diwali Just before this year’s Diwali celebrations, uncover the story behind how the sudden influx of Ugandan Asian refugees fleeing the tyranny of Idi Amin rejuvenated a dilapidated Victorian area of Leicester and led to the creation of The Golden Mile. Your guide, Jim Butler, is the creator, writer and producer of the popular 'Hidden Histories of Leicester’ series on YouTube, Facebook and TikTok. He writes and leads guided tours around the city covering a broad range of historical topics, drawing on his life-long love of Leicester’s rich culture and heritage and over 25 years’ experience of communicating its amazing history to all ages and backgrounds.

With tour guide Jim Butler To mark the anniversary of the historic Battle of Bosworth, discover not only the routes of Richard III's fateful last journeys in and out of Leicester city centre in 1485 but also the odyssey undertaken by those charged with reburying the last Plantagenet in 2015. Jim Butler, who was also part of the team charged with reburying the King, explores some of the places around Leicester that Richard would have known in life as well as some of the behind-the-scenes work undertaken to honour the king in death. IMPORTANT You will be told the tour start location on the Booking Details PDF which will be sent by email once you have purchsed your ticket (the tour does not start at Leicester Museum & Art Gallery) The Final Journeys of Richard III - guided tour date Sunday Your guide, Jim Butler, is the creator, writer and producer of the popular 'Hidden Histories of Leicester’ series on YouTube, Facebook and TikTok. He writes and leads guided tours around the city covering a broad range of historical topics, drawing on his life-long love of Leicester’s rich culture and heritage and over 25 years’ experience of communicating its amazing history to all ages and backgrounds.

With tour guide Jim Butler An exploration of some of the streets, buildings and places that offer insights into Leicester’s fascinating medieval past. Highlighting the town’s surviving buildings from the Middle Ages, historian Jim Butler will encourage participants to spot the clues left by the medieval town that have survived through the centuries into today’s modern cityscape. IMPORTANT You will be told the tour start location on the Booking Details PDF which will be sent by email once you have purchsed your ticket (the tour does not start at Leicester Museum & Art Gallery) Leicester’s Medieval Mementoes - guided tour date Sunday Your guide, Jim Butler, is the creator, writer and producer of the popular 'Hidden Histories of Leicester’ series on YouTube, Facebook and TikTok. He writes and leads guided tours around the city covering a broad range of historical topics, drawing on his life-long love of Leicester’s rich culture and heritage and over 25 years’ experience of communicating its amazing history to all ages and backgrounds.

With tour guide Jim Butler Explore the darker side of Leicester’s past as we uncover tales of witches, curses, murder and betrayal along the streets and through the churchyards of the heart of the ancient city. IMPORTANT You will be told the tour start location on the Booking Details PDF which will be sent by email once you have purchsed your ticket (the tour does not start at Leicester Museum & Art Gallery) Haunting Histories of Leicester - guided Saturday 31st October 2026 Sunday 1st November 2026 Your guide, Jim Butler, is the creator, writer and producer of the popular 'Hidden Histories of Leicester’ series on YouTube, Facebook and TikTok. He writes and leads guided tours around the city covering a broad range of historical topics, drawing on his life-long love of Leicester’s rich culture and heritage and over 25 years’ experience of communicating its amazing history to all ages and backgrounds.

With tour guide Shaun Knapp Dare you explore Leicester’s Old Town after dark? Beneath the modern bustle lie Roman foundations, medieval buildings and centuries of unresolved history. Step into a world of mystery, folklore and the unexplained as you wind your way through narrow passageways and dimly lit streets as chilling tales emerge of restless spirits, ghostly apparitions and legends that refuse to stay buried. Visit places where footsteps are heard with no one there, where shadows move of their own accord and where disembodied voices are said to whisper secrets into the cold night air… IMPORTANT You will be told the tour start location on the Booking Details PDF which will be sent by email once you have purchsed your ticket (the tour does not start at Leicester Museum & Art Gallery) Ghosts of the Old Town at Halloween - Guided Saturday Your guide, Shaun Knapp, is the author of High Flying Around (I & II) and Mods Two City Connection. He was also co-curator of the Mods Shaping a Generation and Punk Rage and Revolution exhibitions which were recently held at Leicester Museum. Shaun previously worked for the museum service, helped establish the guided walks program for Leicester and has first-hand experience of strange ghostly happenings, hauntings and occurrences within Leicester City Centre.

With tour guide Shaun Knapp Dare you explore Leicester’s Old Town after dark? Beneath the modern bustle lie Roman foundations, medieval buildings and centuries of unresolved history. Step into a world of mystery, folklore and the unexplained as you wind your way through narrow passageways and dimly lit streets as chilling tales emerge of restless spirits, ghostly apparitions and legends that refuse to stay buried. Visit places where footsteps are heard with no one there, where shadows move of their own accord and where disembodied voices are said to whisper secrets into the cold night air… IMPORTANT You will be told the tour start location on the Booking Details PDF which will be sent by email once you have purchsed your ticket (the tour does not start at Leicester Museum & Art Gallery) Ghosts of the Old Town at Christmas - Guided Thursday 17th December 2026 Your guide, Shaun Knapp, is the author of High Flying Around (I & II) and Mods Two City Connection. He was also co-curator of the Mods Shaping a Generation and Punk Rage and Revolution exhibitions which were recently held at Leicester Museum. Shaun previously worked for the museum service and helped establish the guided walks program for Leicester.

Love this exhibition, you will! An all-new MAY THE TOYS BE WITH YOU exhibition is returning like a Jedi to Leicester Museum & Art Gallery! From the Millennium Falcon to The Mandalorian, this amazing free-to-visit exhibition is a family-friendly journey through five decades of toy design. From Palitoy’s vintage era action figures through to today’s much-loved Lego sets and Funko Pops, these cultural icons are beloved by children and treasured by adult collectors. Over 400 fantastical exhibits bring the Star Wars toy story to life, with one-off prototype items, striking star pieces, iconic poster art, dioramas, and much more, creating an immersive experience for visitors young and old. Even if you’re in a galaxy far, far away you’ll want to hyperspace the whole family to Leicester Museum & Art Gallery for this one! This exhibition has not been prepared, approved or licensed by Disney, Lucasfilm or any of its assignees. This is not an official exhibition. The exhibitor recognises that some words, names and designations mentioned within are the property of the trademark holder. They are used for identification purposes only.

Explore this short but eventful period of Leicester’s early 20th century history through some of the buildings, memorials and other sites around the city centre that have a story to tell - about its people, its changing landscape, the big issues of the time, and the lighter side of Edwardian life. Your guide, Cynthia Brown is a local historian and author of several books on the history of Leicester, including Wharf Street Revisited and Leicester Voices. She has contributed articles to the Leicestershire Historian on such varied subjects as hot air ballooning, cardboard box manufacture and the Charnwood Street area of the city.