Step back in time with Heritage Sundays
- LM News
- 2 hours ago
- 2 min read
Henry Iv’s knighthood, Chaucer’s marriage, Victorian courtroom dramas and 16th-century graffiti all feature in Leicester’s rich history – and visitors to the city centre can find out more on Heritage Sundays.
Heritage Sundays take place on the last Sunday of the month and see some of the city’s most historic sites opened up for people to explore.
This Sunday (28 June), the Magazine, Leicester Castle’s Great Hall and St Mary de Castro Church will be open for visitors. Entry is free, or visitors can join a Blue Badge guided tour to learn about each site in the company of a local history expert. Tickets for the tours cost £6 for adults (£5 concessions/children), and can be booked online.
Leicester’s Magazine – a striking 15th-century gateway to the city – was later used as a Civil War munitions store, and visitors can still view 16th-century graffiti scrawled on its stone walls.
The Great Hall of Leicester Castle dates back to the 12th century, and has hosted kings and Parliament, as well as a Victorian criminal courtroom.
St Mary de Castro Church has royal connections to Henry IV, who was knighted there as a boy. It was also the wedding venue for Chaucer in the 1360s. The church has been much altered since medieval times, but still retains many of its early features.
Cllr Vi Dempster, assistant city mayor for culture, said: “Heritage Sundays offer a unique opportunity to explore some of the city’s most historic sites clustered around The Newarke and De Montfort University.
“We are very pleased to organise these events in partnership with De Montfort University and local heritage organisations. They are a welcoming way for people of all ages to connect with the city’s past.”
Alongside the tours, visitors can explore Leicester’s oldest church, St Nicholas, take part in hands-on heritage activities, and pick up a self-guided map to discover Roman Leicester.
For more information and to book tickets, visit:
Heritage Open Days will see historic Leicester buildings opened up on the last Sunday of each month until October, apart from in September when the season will pause for the annual Heritage Open Days Festival.
LCC News - Published on Friday, June 26, 2026
