Why visit the King Richard III Visitor Centre?
The King Richard III Visitor Centre in Leicester tells one of the most extraordinary archaeological detective stories ever told: how England’s last king to die in battle was discovered under a city centre car park in 2012, identified using DNA evidence, and reinterred with royal honours in 2015. The award-winning centre opened on 26th July 2014 on the site where Richard’s remains were found during excavation work started by the University of Leicester Archaeological Services on 25th August 2012 — remarkably, the skeleton was uncovered on the very first day.
Located in a converted Victorian school building (the former Alderman Newton’s School) that cost £4 million to transform, the centre occupies the exact spot adjacent to the Social Services car park where archaeologists made their historic find. Through innovative design, interactive technology, and beautiful storytelling, visitors can explore Richard III’s rise to power, the Wars of the Roses, the Battle of Bosworth where he died in 1485, and the forensic science that confirmed his identity over 500 years later — making him the first English monarch to be DNA tested.
The centre was awarded “Best Museum” at the 2018 Group Leisure and Travel Awards, beating nominees including the British Museum and National Railway Museum, and was shortlisted for the Art Fund’s Museum of the Year prize in 2011. A covered area protects Richard’s original grave site, which was located in the choir of the medieval Greyfriars friary. This burial site forms part of a scheduled monument, with Historic England scheduling a significant portion of the former friary site in December 2017 due to its archaeological potential.
What to see at the King Richard III Visitor Centre
The permanent exhibition covers Richard III’s life and reign, his transformation from Duke of Gloucester to King of England and Lord of Ireland, the dynastic conflicts of the Wars of the Roses, and the enduring mystery of what happened to the Princes in the Tower. Interactive displays allow visitors to turn detective, explore family connections, birth rights, and medieval political intrigue.
The upper floor focuses on the archaeological dig and discovery, featuring interactive elements that bring the excavation process to life. You’ll learn how historians knew where to look after more than 500 years, how the remains were identified using DNA from living descendants, and how Richard died at the Battle of Bosworth. The forensic science displays explain the genome sequencing — the first-ever such process on ancient DNA.
The original grave site sits under protective covering where Richard’s battle-scarred skeleton lay in a hastily dug grave from 1485 until 2012. A hologram skeleton marks the spot, and knowledgeable volunteers provide information about the burial. The centre features the actual location where one of history’s most remarkable finds was made.
A free downloadable app called “Rex Factor: Lost In Time” is available for families and younger visitors, turning the exhibition into an interactive game where you help time travellers trapped in the medieval period return to the present day.
Visiting the King Richard III Visitor Centre: practical information
King Richard III Visitor Centre opening hours and admission
The King Richard III Visitor Centre is open Monday to Friday and Sundays from 10.00am to 4.00pm, with extended hours on Saturdays and bank holidays when the centre remains open until 5.00pm. The centre closes on Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, Boxing Day, New Year’s Eve, and New Year’s Day. Last admission to the King Richard III Visitor Centre is 90 minutes before closing time.
Admission prices for the King Richard III Visitor Centre are: adults (16+ years) £12.50, children (5 to 15 years) £6.25, family tickets (2 adults and 2 children) £32, and concessions (over 65s, students with valid ID, Blue Light Card holders, Defence Discount Card holders) £11.50. Children aged 4 and under receive free admission to the King Richard III Visitor Centre, though tickets must be obtained upon arrival. Official carers also receive free admission with valid proof.
Full-priced tickets to the King Richard III Visitor Centre are valid as annual passes for one year from purchase date, allowing unlimited return visits. Complimentary, discounted, group, and school visit tickets are only valid on the day of first use. Anyone under 16 must be accompanied by an adult, with up to four under-16s permitted per adult.
The average visit to the King Richard III Visitor Centre lasts approximately two and a half hours.
Getting to the King Richard III Visitor Centre Leicester
The King Richard III Visitor Centre is located at 4A St Martins, Leicester LE1 5DB, in Leicester’s Old Town, directly opposite Leicester Cathedral where Richard’s remains were reinterred in 2015.
By car: Leicester is just off the M1 motorway. From the south, exit at Junction 21 (signposted M69 and Leicester). Nearby parking includes John Lewis car park (approximately 10 minutes’ walk) and other city centre car parks. Coach drop-off is on Southgates, a 5-minute walk from the centre.
By public transport: Leicester railway station is within walking distance of the King Richard III Visitor Centre. The Meynells Gorse Park and Ride (just off the M1) offers frequent services to Jubilee Square in the city centre, with the centre just minutes away. Multiple bus services serve Leicester city centre.
King Richard III Visitor Centre accessibility and facilities
The King Richard III Visitor Centre is wheelchair-friendly with accessible facilities throughout. Wheelchair-accessible toilets and baby-changing facilities are available. The centre welcomes assistance dogs and is pushchair-friendly, though pushchairs cannot be left unattended. Parking is available nearby with some accessible spaces.
The White Boar Café opens daily at 10.00am (stops serving approximately one hour before the centre closes), offering fully air-conditioned indoor seating or alfresco dining in the courtyard, open year-round weather permitting. The Visit Leicester Tourist Information Centre operates from the entrance, providing knowledgeable staff and event booking services.
The gift shop stocks King Richard III and Leicester-related books, gifts, and souvenirs to suit all budgets. The shop and tourist information centre can be visited without paying admission to the exhibition.
Tips for visiting the King Richard III Visitor Centre
- Book tickets online in advance to guarantee entry, especially during peak periods and school holidays.
- Download the free Rex Factor app before visiting if travelling with children — it transforms the exhibition into an interactive adventure.
- Allow at least two hours to properly explore the exhibition and original grave site.
- Visit Leicester Cathedral opposite (voluntary contribution requested) to see Richard’s final resting place and complete the story.
- Some visitors find navigating the exhibition confusing — don’t hesitate to ask volunteers for guidance.
- Combine your visit with other Leicester Old Town attractions: Leicester Guildhall (next to the cathedral), St Nicholas Church (Leicester’s oldest place of worship), and Jewry Wall Museum are all within short walking distance.
- The Wars of the Roses narrative is complex — consider researching basic background before visiting to maximise understanding.
- Volunteers are enthusiastic and knowledgeable, particularly at the original grave site — take advantage of their expertise.
- If visiting during Leicester Comedy Festival, the centre hosts performances in the King’s Suite (Victorian room accommodating up to 80 people) — pre-booking a show ticket makes you eligible for a £5 annual visitor pass.
Nearby attractions to the King Richard III Visitor Centre
Leicester Cathedral sits directly opposite the King Richard III Visitor Centre, where Richard’s remains were reinterred in 2015 in a magnificent tomb. The Leicester Guildhall (medieval hall with Tudor Great Hall) is next to the cathedral. St Nicholas Church, Leicester’s oldest place of worship, is a short walk away, as is the Jewry Wall Museum with Roman ruins. The National Space Centre is Leicester’s other major attraction. Bosworth Battlefield Heritage Centre (approximately 15 miles from Leicester) preserves the site where Richard died in 1485 and complements the visitor centre experience. Leicester city centre offers shopping, restaurants, and pubs throughout the Old Town and beyond.
More Leicestershire travel
Other Leicestershire travel articles on Planet Whitley include:
