Green attractions in Leicester

Leicester’s visitor attractions have long been forward thinking and move with the times. When it comes to sustainability and regenerative tourism, many of them are leading the way to a greener world.

This year the National Space Centre celebrates its 25^th anniversary, and as the UK’s leading space-related attraction it draws upon the expertise of the University of Leicester and their world-leading research to showcase sustainability every step of the way. The Home Planet gallery at the heart of the museum helps visitors to learn more about how humans are changing the Earth and what we can do about it. The immersive films in the Sir Patrick Moore Planetarium impress upon visitors how precious the Earth is, with ‘We Are Guardians’ examining how ecosystems are intrinsically connected and showing the links between human activities and climate change through the latest earth observation technologies.

In terms of their day to day running, The National Space Centre has pledged to reduce all carbon emissions by 2030. From 2019 to 2022 the charity which runs the centre cut the carbon footprint by over 50%. They are also committed to reducing impact through the supply chain which is why they make every effort to source ingredients locally. Their menus feature local culinary options that are exclusive to Leicester with their suppliers being almost exclusively local. Coffee and Tea is sourced from St Martin’s Coffee company in Great Glen, all meat from Andrew J Tebbut in Birstall, fruit and veg from The Veg Factor in Loughborough and drinks from Steep Soda in Barrow upon Soar including the brand new space themed Astroberry!

The King Richard III Visitor Centre and Jewry Wall – A Real Roman Experience are relatively modern attractions, which have been built to the highest standards possible, but as they are located in historic buildings, they have worked really hard to ensure that they are as environmentally friendly as possible.

At the King Richard III Visitor Centre, all the lighting has been converted to LED and their toilets adapted to save water  when flushing. This approach to water conservation is also adhered to in the gardens at both KRIII and Jewry Wall. Plants are carefully chosen which tolerate dry conditions, so no hoses or sprinklers are used at all. They have also changed the way that the buildings are lit at night, switching off afterhours. Just the simple act of turning off the lights at night has led to a reduction in energy usage and a saving of 15% on annual bills!

This commitment to sustainable supply extends to the catering, with the award-winning White Boar café at the King Richard III Visitor Centre and the Jewry Wall café both cooking on site using all seasonal and local produce wherever possible.

Leicester Museums were included as a Visit Britain ‘better for business’ case study on regenerative tourism, showing that this approach is not just about changing lightbulbs, but also about keeping your audience sustainable, both locally and nationally. The museum runs a constantly changing programme of exhibitions, many featuring input and contributions from the local community.

Exhibitions have included ‘Popping to the Shops’, which showcases the evolution of communities along ‘some of the most diverse streets in Britain’ which has covered some of the city’s key shopping streets, launching its fourth exhibit,  ‘This Golden Mile’, by Leicester-based artist Kavi Pujara which told the story of the South Asian community and a collaboration with London’s Migration Museum ‘Heart of the Nation’, which shone a light on the stories and experiences of people who came to Britain to work in the NHS. The Leicester Stories gallery highlights the story of the city over the years and has included features on artists linked to the city and the local women-led punk scene ‘Unglamorous’.

This approach not only strengthens the links between the museum itself and local people, but also gives visitors a greater awareness of and respect for the place they are visiting, meaning that they leave the city better than they found it. Leicester Museum and Art Gallery is one of only four museums in the UK to be awarded the Museum of Sanctuary Award and its ‘Rebuilding Lives: 50 years of Ugandan Asians in Leicester’ exhibition, was named joint best ‘Temporary or Touring Exhibition’ at the prestigious Museums + Heritage Awards in London.