Discovering Leicester's Hidden Heritage

Leicester’s motto may be ‘Semper Eadem’ – meaning ‘always the same’ – but the city’s hugely-diverse heritage, dating back to Roman times, shows its history has been anything but business as usual.

Some of that history is easy to find – the King Richard III Visitor Centre, in St Martins, marks the site where the slain king’s body was laid following his defeat at Bosworth in 1485, and where it remained until its re-discovery in 2012.

Opposite the King Richard III Visitor Centre is Leicester Cathedral where the king’s bones were re-interred in 2015. King Richard’s tomb has pride of place in the cathedral, which is open daily to explore. No Richard III trail is complete without a visit to Bosworth Battlefield visitor centre, near Market Bosworth, which tells the story of the battle itself.

While Leicester’s own castle no longer stands, the picturesque Castle Gardens and castle precincts are home to the medieval St Mary De Castro Church, John of Gaunt’s Cellar, and historic town gateway and walls, complete with defences used during the English Civil War in 1645.

Heritage Sundays take place throughout the year on the last Sunday of each month, taking visitors behind the scenes at historic sites not normally open to the public. 

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Sites typically include the Great Hall of Leicester Castle, the 14^th century Trinity Hospital Chapel and nearby herb gardens, the De Montfort University Heritage Centre and Newarke Houses Museum, which is also home to the regimental museum of the Royal Leicestershire Regiment.

Newarke Houses Museum hosts the third and final stage of an exhibition commemorating the centenary of the First World War, through the eyes of the local servicemen who fought, and the experiences of those they left behind. ‘From the Trenches to the Twenties’ looks back at the final year of the Great War and its aftermath. It runs from September 29, 2018, to February 24, 2019.

If stately historic ruins take your fancy, Leicestershire has plenty to choose from. The stunning ruins of castles at Ashby De La Zouch and Kirby Muxloe are well worth a visit.

The rugged, expansive Bradgate Park, in Newtown Linford, is home to the picturesque Tudor ruins of the 16^th century Bradgate House, the birthplace of Lady Jane Grey who ruled England as queen for just nine days in the summer of 1553. Bradgate Park hosts a Living History Weekend on September 8 and 9, bringing to life the past from the Romans to the Victorian era.

September also sees this year’s Belgrave Food and Garden festival, where the very best in local food, drink and garden-related produce will be on offer in the lush surroundings of the historic hall and gardens. It takes place on September 15 and 16.

Train buffs of all ages can marvel at the days of steam at the Great Central Railway – the UK’s only double-track main line heritage railway – which runs between its stations at Leicester North and Loughborough.

This lovingly-preserved attraction is a great day out, and also hosts a programme of family-friendly events, including appearances by children’s television favourites, diesel and steam days, and a beer festival. Those seeking fine dining can book a table in the first-class restaurant car, which offers visitors four-course meals while travelling in vintage style.

Loughborough is also home to a hidden gem – Taylor’s Bell Foundry is the largest in the UK, where centuries of molten metal, sweat and elbow grease have gone into creating some of the world’s biggest bells. It cast the bell for St Paul’s Cathedral in 1881 – the largest bell ever cast in the UK – and nearly 100 years later cast the 2,000 bronze ‘Hell’s Bell’ used worldwide by rock band AC/DC. Group visits to Taylor’s Bell Foundry can be booked by prior arrangement.
If all this seems like too much choice, did you know that every September is the month of Heritage Open Days? This is a once-a-year opportunity to discover hidden architectural treasures and enjoy a wide range of tours, events and activities in beautiful heritage buildings that are not usually open to the public.

This year’s heritage open days runs across two weekends in September – 6^th to 9^th & 13^th to 16^th – so there’s even more chance to discover Leicester’s heritage. 2018s programme includes a backstage tour at De Montfort Hall where you can see the magnificent pipe organ, a fascinating exhibition of Leicester City Councils photographic archive that covers 70 years in the city, a walking tour uncovering Leicester’s Georgian past and much more.

So whether there’s a particular period of history that excites you, or you just want to experience a taste of the past, there’s no shortage of family-friendly attractions shining a light onto the region’s rich heritage.