Seating is assigned on a first come first served basis in each zone. If you would like to book a private concert or buy regular tickets for a large group (30 people).

Candlelight concerts bring the magic of a live, multi-sensory musical experience to awe-inspiring like never seen before. Get your tickets now to discover the music of Queen and ABBA. Programme: - Dancing Queen - SOS - Money, Money, Money - Bohemian Rhapsody - I Want to Break Free - Waterloo - Super Trouper - Mamma Mia - Don't Stop Me Now - We Will Rock You - We Are the Champions Performers String Quartet - Kavolini.

Candlelight concerts bring the magic of a live, multi-sensory musical experience. Seating is assigned on a first come first served basis in each zone. Performers String Quartet - Chaos Collective

Oscar Wilde's only novel is adapted for the stage in this atmospheric one-man show. What awful secret is stored inside the attic? Only the eternally youthful and charming Dorian Gray knows. But as his appetite for sin leads to ever greater acts of wickedness, Gray will stop at nothing to make sure no one discovers the dreadful truth! Jonathan Goodwin plays Oscar Wilde in this thrilling one-man performance adapted by himself from the Wilde novel.

Candlelight concerts bring the magic of a live, multi-sensory musical experience to awe-inspiring locations never before used for this purpose. Buy your tickets now to discover the music of Hans Zimmer under the gentle glow of candlelight.

Discovering the Secrets of Britain’s Ancient Buildings. Visit any settlement in the land and there will be ancient buildings hidden in plain sight. Behind a Victorian façade is a Tudor house. Underneath a Georgian frontage is a mediaeval cottage. What is now a modern farm may once have been a castle. We know relatively little about the ancient buildings that surround us, yet buildings archaeology can offer us so many clues for discovering the secrets of hidden historic houses. This talk looks at the ways in which ancient buildings have been studied and conserved, the puzzling ways that some buildings became listed whereas others were overlooked, and how we can really understand the age and development of a structure. James will use case studies drawn from his career to explain the fascinating, enigmatic, and surprising world of The Buildings Archaeologist. : The speaker, James Wright (Triskele Heritage), is an award-winning buildings archaeologist. He has over a quarter of a century professional experience of ferreting around in people’s cellars, hunting through their attics and digging up their gardens. He hopes to find meaningful truths about how ordinary and extraordinary folk lived their lives in the past. He is the author of Historic Building Mythbusting (The History Press, 2024) and The Buildings Archaeologist (The History Press, 2026).

A series of 6 lectures on the archaeology of Tudor and Stuart Leicestershire and Rutland by Peter Liddle – former County Archaeologist for Leicestershire - on Thursdays from 2 – 4pm at Leicester’s historic Guildhall. This is a period that takes society from the end of the medieval period to the eve of the industrial revolution. Prior booking is useful but not essential. Attend the whole course or come to individual lectures. April 16th: Reformation and Dissolution April 23rd: Civil War and Dissent April 30th: Big houses and gardens May 7th: Villages and fields May 14th: Leicester and the market towns May 21st: Industry, trade and communications Refreshments available

The age of the Victorians was one of industrialisation, secularisation and scientific development. It was also the birthplace of Modern Spiritualism, a new religion and belief system that brought the heavens into living rooms and reunited the living with the dead. As Darwin spoke of evolution and Queen Victoria bathed in grief, mediums delivered messages from the deceased, comforted the bereaved and offered proof of life beyond death. Yet beneath the comforting messages of reconciliation and immortality, was a strange subculture of curious claims and bizarre phenomena. Some mediums commanded spirits to manifest live animals from thin air, began fearsome rivalries and allowed ghosts to walk among the living. Throughout the 19th century, there are accounts of mediums levitating across cities, filling rooms with heavenly flowers, dumping eels on the heads of sitters and even sharing biscuits with spirits. Dr Kate Cherrell delivers a fascinating and enlightening talk about the history of a much misunderstood movement, including its biggest names, biggest claims, and even bigger critics.

Join crime historian Adam Wood for an evening of local true crime tales, when he reveals some of the darkest stories from Leicester’s Victorian past. Cases include the man stabbed to death after arguing with five Italian organ grinders, the argument between two local quarrymen which ended with a pickaxe being buried in the skull of one, and the man who resolved his long-running feud with his father - by smashing him on the head with a hammer. That’s not to mention the young man who told anyone who would listen that alcohol was the path to ruin - but not before he had had a skinful himself, and almost decapitated his sweetheart and thrown her body in a ditch.

Pedalling from venue to venue with all of their set, props and costumes on the back of their bikes, the HandleBards are a four-strong troupe of actors who are spending the summer bringing environmentally sustainable Shakespeare to venues across the UK. Join the troupe at Leicester Guildhall for a fantastically funny bicycle-powered production of Shakespeare’s ‘As You Like It’. What’s the play about? Well – Rosalind and her cousin Celia flee to the Forest of Arden, where they bump into Rosalind’s love interest Orlando. However, Rosalind is disguised as a young man. Cue some local Shepherds getting involved and the stage is set for a wild ride of wooing, hilarious mistaken identity and the odd wrestling match.

Tthe Guildhall will be hosting a reenactment of the trial of Francois Soulés, who was convicted and sentenced to death for the murder of John Fenton, the son of the landlady, at The Green Dragon Inn in Market Place, Leicester. The unique aspect of this trial is that Francois Soulés was both detained and tried in the Guildhall itself, and the trial will take place on the 248th anniversary of the fatal shooting. A jury will be randomly selected from the audience. After hearing all the original evidence, our contemporary jury will be posed with the exact three questions asked in the original trial to determine the guilt or innocence of Francois Soules. On May 16th, 1778, a Frenchman named Francois Soulés fatally shot John Fenton, after an altercation with his brother, James Fenton. Soulés was convicted and subsequently sentenced to death. However, in turn of events, the Frenchman was surprisingly granted clemency by King George III. This occurred during the tumultuous era of the French Revolution, where political tensions were elevated not only in England, but also throughout Europe, leading to widespread outcry over the pardon. John Fenton was buried in St Martin's Church Yard, now Leicester Cathedral, near the South Door. John Fenton's Stone Monument contained a powerful message about the injustice surrounding Soulés and his royal pardon. After complaints about the wording on the stone, it was removed. After years of being hidden away, the head stone has finally been unveiled and is now displayed in the Leicester Cathedral Heritage Centre. Doors at 7pm.

Show by award winning duo Annie Duggan and Rob Hines Award Winning Duo Annie Duggan and Rob Hines will be bringing their show " On The Road Again" to the Guildhall Leicester as part of their 100 years celebrations. If you haven't managed to see this very special duo yet make sure you don't miss them this time. With two American tours and gigging extensively across the UK Annie Duggan and Rob Hines have established themselves as one of the Midlands most engaging and vibrant performers who have received national acclaim both at home and abroad not only for their own songs but also for their interpretation of material from artists who have influenced their own music which is a seamless blend of Americana, Blues, and Roots, covering a wide genre of musical styles. Their Albums have been featured in Classic rock magazine, Maverick magazine and recently in the book 'Live Forever' featured alongside Americana artists Steve Earle, Rodney Crowell and many more. Annie is known for her powerhouse and soulful vocals and Rob Hines for his distinctive wonderful finger picking guitar playing that has earnt him the nickname "The Wizard”. Together they deliver with an energy and a passion that takes you on a musical journey that touches the heart of any audience. Doors 1.30, show starts at 2pm

Immerse yourself in this remarkable space in Leicester for an intimate concert with Cole Stacey as he presents his critically acclaimed debut album Postcards From Lost Places. Bringing together his years of experience on stage, Cole's deeply personal solo shows are rooted in storytelling, directed by a love of popular song and have connection with people and places at their heart.

Joni Mitchell is one of the most influential artists of the modern age, rising to stardom in the late 1960's, Her music and songwriting is the jewel in the crown of the Woodstock generation. Bursting onto the scene with a sound entirely her own, Joni earned the respect of her musical peers and the love of her audiences Worldwide. Joni would go on to mine the depths of her emotive landscape and push the boundaries of songcraft and artistry for over five decades. Mitchell's albums and songs are widely recognised as masterpieces, standards that would become the soundtrack to the lives of countless fans throughout the world and continue to draw and inspire new generations of fans. Zervas & Pepper are Welsh Singer/Songwriters Paul Zervas and Kathryn Pepper, who have been creating and performing original music for over a decade professionally. The duo and their recording/touring band enjoy cult success on the UK and European Folk/Americana scene and have released five critically-acclaimed studio albums and undertaken countless live headline and support tours, receiving strong national and international network radio support throughout their career and their original music garnering praise and accolades from the likes of CSN&Y legend David Crosby, BBC DJ's Mark Radcliffe, Bob Harris, Lauren Laverne and Don Letts. 'This Flight Tonight' is a celebration of Joni Mitchell's music that the duo have had in the making for many years, and now 2023 will see them finally take this show on the road for the first time. The carefully-crafted set list will feature songs from Joni's million-selling albums such as Clouds, Ladies of the Canyon, For The Roses, Court and Spark, featuring many cuts from her 1972 landmark release 'Blue'. We are musical purist's Kathryn Pepper explains If we're going to present Joni's music for a live show then we are going to aim to recreate the performances almost exactly as they were intended, as songwriters and performers ourselves we know that every single note, inflection, momentary pause was placed there by the artist with intent.. We hold Joni Mitchell's music in the utmost regard and so we aim to capture its inner spirit and channel its majesty into each live performance

In a bloody eight days in May 1645 the Royalist army commanded by King Charles I attacked and brutally sacked Leicester. The siege, compared by contemporaries to the sack of Magdeburg, had a lasting impact on the town, outraged the nation, and contributed significantly to Charles I's downfall and eventual execution. Now, archaeological evidence from excavations in Leicester is helping us to re-evaluate what happened. Join archaeologist Mathew Morris to find out more about the fascinating and bloody story of the siege of Leicester.

Mary Volk has been left a gift by her Uncle, the ventriloquist Fredrick Sale. A seemingly innocuous trunk filled with his theatre costumes. But the trunk isn’t all that it seems. Why is it smaller on the inside than the out? With numerous sold out shows under their belt including acclaimed performances at the UK Ghost Story Festival and London Month of the Dead and a growing reputation for creating a unique sense of dread in their audiences, Weeping Bank returns to Leicester Guildhall this November to present 'Pock'. Written and narrated by The Librarian and brought to life with atmospheric lighting and a haunting soundscape, this unsettling tale is not to be missed. Weeping Bank bridges a gap between Audible and Theatre, creating a fresh hinterland for horror aficionados to explore. But be warned - you may find the shadows a little darker afterwards. ‘A masterclass in the art of the modern ghost story.’ Writer & Journalist, Bronte Schiltz ‘Well-written and flawlessly delivered with thespian-level gravitas.’ Director & Writer, Emma Dark Warning - Weeping Bank readings contain moments of heightened tension. The reading is unsuitable for children or the faint of heart. For more about Weeping Bank, head over to www.weepingbank.com.

A relaxing afternoon of slow stitch. Join Pam for a relaxing afternoon of slow stitch. You'll find everything you need in your prepared kit to create a beautiful vase of floers with simple sticthes. Enjoy hot drinks and biscuits in the stunning setting of the Guildhall.

Curious about sea glass? Love getting creative? Come and join us for a magical Children’s & Family Sea Glass Workshop where you’ll turn these ocean treasures into something truly beautiful! Create your own unique Art work Fun for the whole family Spend a couple of hours making amazing memories Spaces are limited – don’t miss out on this sparkling seaside adventure!

A Life of Barbara Villiers: Charles II's most infamous mistress! Barbara Villiers rose from penniless aristocrat to the wealthy and powerful Duchess of Cleveland, becoming one of the most influential —and infamous — mistresses of King Charles II. Who was this beguiling woman, regarded by some as 'the curse of the nation'? Join popular historian Andrea Zuvich, The Seventeenth Century Lady, for a look at the dramatic life of Barbara Villiers, the subject of Zuvich's 2024 biography.

Leicester is home to more than 190 parks, community gardens, local nature reserves and green open spaces, but beneath their lawns and trees lies a remarkable hidden past. Join archaeologist Mathew Morris to explore the unseen heritage of the city’s green spaces. From Bronze Age bog bodies and Anglo-Saxon burials to a lost medieval abbey, Georgian county parks and forgotten air‑raid shelters, these everyday places conceal some of the city’s most fascinating archaeology, protected for centuries from urban development.

The ‘good’ outlaw is a major and recurring trope in medieval literature. Popularised by tales of Robin Hood, the outlaw is often portrayed as a social rebel and a romantic hero fighting against corrupt, cowardly, and greedy authorities. The reality behind the fiction was much grimmer. Join archaeologist Mathew Morris and find out more about Leicestershire’s real medieval outlaws, including Roger Godberd, the Folville brothers, and the killer friar Robert of Kenilworth.

“Leicester has a castle?” is often a visitor’s surprised response when told. Today it might not be a fairy-tale castle of tall walls, turrets and gates but it is a hidden gem in the city’s history, for over 900 years visited by kings and colourful characters. Join archaeologist Mathew Morris to find out more about the castle’s history and archaeology, including new discoveries found during the recent refurbishment of the 12th-century Great Hall, the oldest surviving aisled timber hall in Britain.

Come to the Guildhall this half term and create your own clay art or model from air drying clay to take home. We have lots of ideas for things to make and there will be extra craft materials you can use too. Suitable for kids of all ages. Bring an apron, some hand wipes and a tub to carry your creation home in. Explore the historic Guildhall as little ones follow exciting trails, get their faces painted, and make their own masterpieces to take home. £4 Advance online for each participating child,adults free.

Bring the Kids to Leicester Guildhall to become an archaeologist for the day. Make your own archaeologist’s hat, trowel and ID badge and have a go at digging up some pictures of treasure in our dig trays. Find the pictures of uncovered artefacts around the museum and then discover the actual items in our galleries. £4 Advance online for each participating child,adults free.

Make a wizard wand, hat and magical “rabbit in a hat” toy. Find the pictures around the museum in our wizard world trail and join in our broomstick game in the courtyard (broomsticks provided). £4 Advance online for each participating child,adults free.

A fun day of crafts and activities at Leicester Guildhall which was once Leicester’s first Police station. Make a police dog glove puppet, a cops ‘n’ robbers game and a Guildhall police hat. Throw sponges at your family in the stocks and find the pictures in the museum trail. £4 Advance online for each participating child,adults free.

Get into the festival spirit with a fun day of crafts and activities at Leicester Guildhall. Kids can make a musical shaker, a flag and a hat and join in our musical parade around the courtyard. “That’s how it’s done done done!” £4 Advance online for each participating child,adults free.

If you had all the craft materials available, what would you make? Bring the kids to Leicester Guildhall and find out. Choose materials from our craft table and make whatever you want. Paper, card, lolly sticks, buttons, beads, chalks, pipe cleaners and lots more! We have lots of ideas available to help you and some craft packs from previous events. Bring a bag to carry your creations home. £4 Advance online for each participating child,adults free.

This October, something wickedly wonderful is coming to Leicester Guildhall… The historic (and supposedly haunted) Guildhall will host its first Alternative Market, we will transform into a marketplace brimming with the strange and unusual. Alternative creators, makers, and curators of curiosities will host an array of stalls inside one of Leicester’s most atmospheric buildings. This is a celebration of the weird and the wonderful!

The famous tales of Arthur are only one small part of a long cycle of legends of the kings of ancient Britain tales of heroes and villains, courage and cowardice, glory and crime, and triumph, tragedy and treason, stretching down generations, coming to a head in a final war between the Britons and the seaborne Saxon invaders. Award-winning writer and storyteller Simon Heywood combines music, song and storytelling to bring new life to a forgotten treasure trove of tales, remembering the strange majesty of the kings of Albion, from Brutus to Belin, Locrin to Lear, Arthur, Merlin and Vortigern.

Peter Knight's Gigspanner Trio - Return to the Guildhall! "There’s something of the proverbial elder statesman about Peter Knight, in terms of his place in music, which cannot be overstated. It’s not just in the quality of his playing...there’s a focus on the sheer inventiveness of Peter’s playing, in the adventurous arrangements he shares with his collaborators, and in his musical leadership” - Northern Sky Magazine Since his inaugural performance with the fledgling Steeleye Span in 1970, Peter Knight has been a mainstay of the British folk scene. Never one to rest on his laurels, Peter has carved a reputation as a relentlessly questing musician “as mercurial as quicksilver” (Simon Jones/fRoots), and it is never quite so apparent as in his work with the various Gigspanner line-ups. In the wake of his departure from Steeleye Span, Peter turned his full attention to the Gigspanner Trio and established their reputation as one of the most genuinely ground-breaking forces on the British folk scene, inspiring Maverick magazine to write "Gigspanner are pushing at the boundaries, and in the process are making some of the most beautiful music the genre has to offer" 5 Maverick Magazine Described by Folk Radio UK as one of the “most quietly brilliant sets of musicians in the folk world and beyond”, they take self-penned material along with music rooted in the British Isles and beyond, and with the flick of a bow, a finely chosen chord or slip of a beat, produce richly atmospheric arrangements “with notes seemingly plucked from the stars and rhythms from the equator” (Spiral Earth).

Featuring a cast of West End singers and a live band, join us for a ‘Landslide’ concert, jam packed with Fleetwood Mac hits as you have never heard them before! This incredible show will feature best loved songs including ‘Little Lies’, ‘The Chain’, ‘Rhiannon’, ‘Don’t Stop’ and many more, performed by Candlelight. So ‘Go Your Own Way’ and book your tickets now as this really is the concert of ‘Dreams’!

Candlelight concerts bring the magic of a live, multi-sensory musical experience to awe-inspiring like never seen before. Get your tickets now to discover the music of Christmas Classics under the gentle glow of candlelight.

Candlelight concerts bring the magic of a live, multi-sensory musical experience to awe-inspiring like never seen before. Get your tickets now to discover the music of Leonard Cohen under the gentle glow of candlelight.

Candlelight concerts bring the magic of a live, multi-sensory musical experience to awe-inspiring like never seen before. Get your tickets now to discover the music of Christmas Movie Soundtracks under the gentle glow of candlelight. Seating is assigned on a first come first served basis in each zone. If you would like to book a private concert or buy regular tickets for a large group (. 30 people). To treat your friends and family to a Candlelight gift card Programme All I Want for Christmas Is You from Love Actually Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas from Meet Me in St. Louis Christmas Time Is Here and Skating from A Charlie Brown Christmas White Christmas from Holiday Inn You're a Mean One Mr. Grinch from How the Grinch Stole Christmas! Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer from Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer Silver Bells from The Lemon Drop Kid Winter Wonderland and Let It Snow! Let It Snow! from While You Were Sleeping The Chipmunk Song (Christmas Don't Be Late) from Alvin and the Chipmunks Carol of the Bells from Home Alone Jingle Bell Rock from Jingle All the Way The Nightmare Before Christmas Medley Where Are You Christmas? from Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas I Believe in You and Me from The Preacher's Wife Believe from The Polar Express Performers String Quartet - Ensemble M

There has been historic links between the Guildhall and St. Martins Church since around 1350. The religious Guild of Corpus Christi had their altar in the great south aisle in St. Martins. The Town Library was moved from St. Martins to the Chantry Priests Rooms in 1632 in the Guildhall. There are connections with the English Civil War and the Siege of Leicester, to name but a few. On this tour we will be particularly concentrating on members of the Herrick Family - Robert Heyricke - the Alderman and Mayor of Leicester, and Sir William Herrick. The tour will begin in the Cathedral and then continue in the Guildhall next door. This tour is part of the Leicestershire & Rutland Festival of Archaeology 2026. Free, ticketed event. Please note the tour begins in Leicester Cathedral and then moves across to the Guildhall.

Celebrate 403 years of Shakespeare's First Folio with a free guided tour like no other. Join us at the historic Guildhall for a captivating journey through time, where the world of William Shakespeare comes vividly to life. This special anniversary event invites you to explore the rich and surprising connections between Shakespeare and Leicester-stories that blur the line between legend and legacy. Wander through the atmospheric hall as our tour guide, Julie, reveals how Shaspeare is linked to Leicester Guildhall, uncovering the city's hidden role in shaping some of his greatest works. Discover how echoes of Leicester can be found within the drama, intrigue, and characters of his plays. But the story doesn't end there... Hear the fascinating tale of the legendary King Lear and the enduring mystery of his supposed burial. Fact or folklore? You decide. Whether you're a lifelong Shakespeare enthusiast or simply curious, this unique tour promises an unforgettable encounter with one of the greatest storytellers of all time. Step into the story. Discover the connections. Celebrate the legacy.

The journey from sceptic to parapsychologist – and how he perhaps got that journey wrong! Join parapsychologist and lecturer Malcolm Schofield as he explores his personal relationship with the paranormal, and the journey from sceptic to parapsychologist – and how he perhaps got that journey wrong! During the talk, Malcolm will cover some of his research into paranormal beliefs and experience, and the people he has met along the way. He’ll also be talking about some of his favourite paranormal phenomena and cases, such as thoughtographer Ted Serios, Borley Rectory, and of course, Mothman. Malcolm will cover public perceptions of the paranormal, and what that has meant for his career as a lecturer in psychology, and his position on the Council of the Society for Psychical Research and work on their Spontaneous Cases Committee.

Craft event, inspired by some of Shakespeare's famous characters. Shakespeare's plays were performed at Leicester Guildhall. Now bring the kids to join in our craft event, inspired by some of Shakespeare's famous characters. Make a donkey ears hat, a fairy wand and bear game, and find the pictures in our Shakespeare plays trail around the museum. Pre-booking recommended.

Henry VIII’s birthday feast is not simply an event, it is an immersion into British History. From the moment guests arrive, the modern world begins to fall away. Candlelight flickers, voices soften into anticipation, and the atmosphere thickens with a sense of stepping into another age. Then he enters. The King commands the room without effort. Every glance, every word, every measured movement reminds you that this is not a performance you observe, but a court you are now part of. As the evening unfolds, the boundaries between audience and history dissolve. Laughter rises, alliances form, whispers of intrigue ripple through the tables. Music weaves through the air, rich and evocative, while a lavish spread is laid before you in true Tudor fashion. You do not simply eat, you partake. You do not merely watch, you belong. There is a grandeur to it, yes, but also an intimacy. You may find yourself addressed by the King, drawn into his confidence, or caught in the sharp edge of his wit. The experience lives in those moments, unexpected, unscripted, and entirely alive. By the end, something lingers. A sense that you have not just attended a feast, but briefly lived within a different world. And when you leave, the echo of it follows you, the feeling that for a few hours, history was not something remembered, but something felt.

The Guildhall and the Cathedral Church of St. Martin by Irene Turlington There has been historic links between the Guildhall and St. Martins Church since around 1350. The religious Guild of Corpus Christi had their altar in the great south aisle in St. Martins. The Town Library was moved from St. Martins to the Chantry Priests Rooms in 1632 in the Guildhall. There are connections with the English Civil War and the Siege of Leicester, to name but a few. On this tour we will be particularly concentrating on members of the Herrick Family - Robert Heyricke - the Alderman and Mayor of Leicester, and Sir William Herrick. The tour will begin in the Cathedral and then continue in the Guildhall next door. This tour is part of the Leicestershire & Rutland Festival of Archaeology 2026.

Craft event, inspired by some of Shakespeare's famous characters. Shakespeare's plays were performed at Leicester Guildhall. Now bring the kids to join in our craft event, inspired by some of Shakespeare's famous characters. Make a donkey ears hat, a fairy wand and bear game, and find the pictures in our Shakespeare plays trail around the museum.

Archaeological excavations at Leicester Market have uncovered over 2,000 years of history. Site Director Joseph Peters will present key discoveries from the excavation, ranging from a 4th‑century Roman coin hoard to evidence of the market’s first medieval covered building, dating to the 15th century.

The Leicestershire Society of Botanical Illustrators was established in the 1980s and comprises a group of local artists who meet weekly at the University of Leicester Botanic Gardens in Oadby. The aim of the Society is to promote botanical illustration and to encourage its members to achieve a high degree of botanical accuracy and attention to detail in the depiction of plants. Members traditionally work in watercolour on hot-pressed paper or vellum although pen and ink, pencil and coloured pencil work are also popular mediums. Our latest exhibition of mainly watercolour paintings features a collection of edible flowers and foraged plants including some that may surprise you!

“The most merciful thing in the world, I think, is the inability of the human mind to correlate its contents….” To mark the 100th anniversary of the publication of Lovecraft’s seminal tale, performance storyteller Robert Lloyd Parry offers this dramatized reading, an early step in what is intended to become a more ambitious theatrical treatment.

The Guildhall was first used as a meeting place for the Guild of Corpus Christi. It is a space where even Shakespeare may have acted, and it houses one of the oldest public libraries. Starting with its Great Hall built in about 1390, a tour of Leicester Guildhall will take you through the centuries and many uses of the site.

Free Family Fun Day! Come meet our local PCSO's at Leicester Guildhall. Explore the history of Leicester's first police headquarters, try out our Victorian prison cells, put mum and dad in the stocks, play dress up and enjoy solving our mystery trail around the museum. Drop-in Session.

Think of King Charles I's Royalist cause during the 17th Century Civil Wars and two men emerge most prominently: James Graham, Marquess of Montrose and Prince Rupert of the Rhine. These key commanders have much more in common than allegiance alone. Sharing an intense devotion and loyalty to the king, they were pillars of his cause, and both brought the Royalists to the brink of victory in Scotland and England respectively. Mark Turnbull, author and historian specialising in the Wars of the Three Kingdoms, will give a talk about these key commanders, whose stories have more common ground than their allegiance alone. When the Royalist cause foundered and the king surrendered, both men fought on for the king in any way they could. The way their paths crossed and recrossed has woven these commanders into the history of their era. Mark's passionate interest in Charles I and the Wars of the three Kingdoms began at the age of 10. He thoroughly enjoys contributing to the study of this overshadowed - but fascinating - period through articles and recently published biographies of King Charles I and Prince Rupert. As well as being one of the co-founders of the Stuart History Festival, he produces a history podcast called 'CavalierCast - The Civil War in Words', is a regional chair of the Battlefields Trust, and a Fellow of the Royal Historical Society. Mark lives in County Durham.

Dare you step through the mists of the cauldron of time? In the 17th and 18th centuries, the Witches of Leicester were tortured and executed, but what was the truth? Join professional mind-reader and historical witchcraft expert, Cara Hamilton for a night you’ll not forget. Cara has presented the tale of our local Witchcraft across the UK, Europe and North America. See practical demonstrations and enthralling performances that will whisk you back to the era when the fear of witchcraft gripped the nation. Witness experiments such as putting pins in clay effigies, the scrying bowl and the black mirror. See genuine witch bottles and relics from Cara's own dark museum. Discover the shocking acts of necromancers, and explore the beliefs and folklore of the time. If witchcraft intrigues you, don’t miss this event!

A gathering is stirring in the heart of this historic city—within a beautiful, renowned, and reputedly haunted venue.Join us for a day of learning, wisdom-sharing, connection, conjuring, and discovery. We return this year to the Guildhall, Leicester, in the heart of historic and spiritual Leicester. We bring more magic, more spectacular traders, readers, and therapists, and witches sharing their wisdom through magical rituals and ceremonies. Wander through the courtyard and atmospheric rooms of the Guildhall, and visit the cells where accused witches were once held. We will host workshops in the haunted library. Explore a curated marketplace filled with handcrafted witchy wares, ritual tools, spell ingredients, art, books, and more from local and national makers. Throughout the day, be inspired by renowned guest speakers, take part in immersive workshops on craft, ritual, folklore, and magic, and connect deeply during our communal rituals held on sacred ground steeped in centuries of story. Whether you walk the witch’s path, are curious about the craft, or simply wish to experience something otherworldly, this is a festival where all are welcome.

"Put it down, you fool! Do you want to look through a dead man’s eyes?” Two chilling and thrilling tales from M R James, the master of the English ghost story. In A View from a Hill a pair of old binoculars reveal the grisly history of an idyllic stretch of English landscape. In The Treasure of Abbot Thomas a treasure-seeker comes face to face with unspeakable horror at the bottom of ancient well. Dead Men’s Eyes is the sixth instalment of Nunkie’s M R James Project, a series of one-man shows that seek to revive the tradition of oral, supernatural storytelling that was perfected by Montague Rhodes James in Cambridge in the years leading up to World War One.

Candlelight concerts bring the magic of a live, multi-sensory musical experience to awe-inspiring locations like never seen before. - Let it Snow - Christmas Song - The Maestro - Hans Zimmer - Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas - Frank Sinatra - Winter Wonderland - Last Christmas - Wham - The Christmas Waltz - Frank Sinatra - The Little Drummer Boy - Sleigh Ride - Jingle Bells - White Christmas - I'll Be Home for Christmas - It's Beginning to Look a lot like Christmas - Glasgow Theme - Rocking Around the Christmas Tree - Love is All Around - Let it Go (Frozen) Performers String quartet: Lakeland String Quartet

Leicester Guildhall is a historic building and the oldest building still in use in the city. The Great Hall was built in about 1390 as a meeting place for the Guild of Corpus Christi. It is believed that Shakespeare performed here during Tudor times. Over the years it has had many uses, including housing one of the oldest public libraries and serving as the Town Hall. After restoration, the Guildhall was opened to the public as a museum in 1926. Leicester is privileged to have one of the best-preserved timber framed halls in the country dating back 600 years. This is your opportunity to come and find out more regarding this unique and beautiful building with a free guided tour. Free event. Advance booking recommended.

The earliest part of the Guildhall was built around 1390 and extended over the next 100 years... but who were the people who were responsible for building it? Come and join tour guide Susan, and hear the story of the Guild of Corpus Christi, their link with St Martin’s Church (now Leicester Cathedral) and the significant contribution made by Guild members to life in Medieval Leicester.

Leicester Guildhall is a historic building and the oldest building still in use in the city. The Great Hall was built in about 1390 as a meeting place for the Guild of Corpus Christi. It is believed that Shakespeare performed here during Tudor times. Over the years it has had many uses, including housing one of the oldest public libraries and serving as the Town Hall. After restoration, the Guildhall was opened to the public as a museum in 1926. Leicester is privileged to have one of the best-preserved timber framed halls in the country dating back 600 years. This is your opportunity to come and find out more regarding this unique and beautiful building with a free guided tour.

Leicester Guildhall is a historic building and the oldest building still in use in the city. The Great Hall was built in about 1390 as a meeting place for the Guild of Corpus Christi. It is believed that Shakespeare performed here during Tudor times. Over the years it has had many uses, including housing one of the oldest public libraries and serving as the Town Hall. After restoration, the Guildhall was opened to the public as a museum in 1926. Leicester is privileged to have one of the best-preserved timber framed halls in the country dating back 600 years. This is your opportunity to come and find out more regarding this unique and beautiful building with a free guided tour.