Families looking for affordable ways to enjoy the October half-term will find plenty going on across Leicester next week, with storytelling, crafts, railway rides and a giant monster hunt amongst the free and low-cost activities taking place. With local schools closed from 19-23 October, parents looking for fun things to do with their children should check out the events taking place at museums, libraries, family centres and other venues across the city. Among the highlights

A Programme of exhibitions, displays, talks and author events will take place across Leicester's museums and libraries this October as the city celebrates Black History Month. The month-long programme will highlight the stories, contributions and cultural heritage of Black communities in Leicester and beyond, with activities taking place at Leicester Museum & Art Gallery, Newarke Houses Museum and libraries across the city. At Leicester Museum & Art Gallery, visitors can expl

An art exhibition featuring a wide range of works inspired by dogs is set to open in Leicester this weekend. The free exhibition, called 'A Dog’s Life', will be on display at Leicester Museum and Art Gallery, on New Walk, from Saturday, 19 September. It will feature the work of a variety of artists, illustrators, photographers and designers who use dogs as their subject matter and inspiration. Visitors will have the chance to engage with interactive displays, draw and display

Artists from across the East Midlands are being invited to submit their entries for Leicester’s annual Open exhibition before next month’s deadline. Open: The People’s Exhibition 2026 will once again showcase the region’s creativity, with selected paintings, sculptures, textiles, prints and photographs by local artists going on display at the Leicester Museum & Art Gallery at the end of November. Open to all artists – from complete beginners to seasoned professionals – the de

A weekend of great food, live music and local creativity is coming up, as Leicester's Abbey Pumping Station hosts its popular Food & Craft Fair. Taking place on Saturday 19 September and Sunday 20 September, the event will bring together local food producers, artists and artisan makers in the unique surroundings of the city's former pumping station. Fine foods from local producers will be on sale at Abbey Pumping Station’s Food & Craft Fair. Picture credit: AEW Photography Gu

Free museum entry, children’s activities and family fun will be on offer in Leicester this weekend, as the Friends of Jewry Wall Museum invite everyone to join them for a special day of celebration. On Saturday 18 July, The Friends will be marking the first anniversary of the newly reopened museum - and bringing their own remarkable 22-year journey to a close. Jewry Wall is what remains of a 2nd century bath house and is one of the largest civic Roman ruins in the United King

A guide to some of the many free and low-cost family activities taking place in Leicester this summer is now available on the council’s website. The city’s museums have come up with a packed programme of special events, with activities taking place at Newarke Houses Museum every Wednesday – and with the Abbey Pumping Station opening its doors on both Mondays and Tuesdays during the school holidays. Leicester’s historic Guildhall will be hosting regular events too – including

Leicester's flagship museum is to close for three days this week to allow essential maintenance works to be carried out. Work to improve the museum’s power supply means that Leicester Museum & Art Gallery will be closed on Wednesday 1 July. It will reopen to the public on Saturday 4 July. Assistant city mayor Cllr Vi Dempster said: “These electrical works are an essential part of the museum’s refurbishment, ensuring that the new spaces and galleries we’re creating have a robu

Families heading to Leicester for outdoor fun, live music and great street food at this weekend’s Riverside Festival can add an interactive Roman adventure to their list of things to do. As part of this year’s event, the city’s Jewry Wall Museum – a short walk from the festival site in Castle Gardens – will be hosting lots of Roman-inspired family activities on both Saturday (6 June) and Sunday (7 June). For each day of the Riverside Festival, a day pass to Jewry Wall will be