Museums & heritage in Leicester

Abbey Pumping Station

Leicester

Industrial museum with beam engines and vintage vehicles - free entry, but only open on holiday Mondays and special event days.

ToiletsWheelchair accessibleOutdoor playPicnic area+3 more

Armourgeddon Military Museum

Lutterworth · ages 8-80

A field full of tanks and military vehicles, some you can climb into, with real tank rides and driving experiences on selected days.

Accessible toiletCaféFree parkingGroup bookings+6 more

Ashby Boat Company

Nuneaton

Hire a narrowboat and pilot it yourselves along the Ashby Canal, a stretch with no locks to fumble with.

Ashby de la Zouch Castle

Ashby de la Zouch

Ruined Hastings Tower, siege tunnel and Ivanhoe-famous courtyards - a climb-and-explore castle day near Ashby.

ToiletsParkingPicnic areaDog friendly+1 more

BACKLIT

Nottingham

A free contemporary art gallery in Nottingham with step-free access, open Thursday to Sunday afternoons.

Step-free access

Bagots Castle

Coventry

Free ruins of a 14th century castle to poke about in, with a visitor centre and a picnic spot, open weekends only.

Picnic area

Bosworth Battlefield Heritage Centre

Sutton Cheney

Interactive Battle of Bosworth exhibition, Discovery Zone and free country-park trails near Market Bosworth.

ToiletsAccessible toiletBaby changeParking+7 more

Bradgate Park

Newtown Linford

830 acres of free deer park to roam, with a ruined house and Old John Tower to aim for.

ToiletsAccessible toiletParkingCafé+6 more

Canalside Heritage Centre

Beeston, Nottinghamshire

A recreated Victorian lock cottage by the River Trent, with lunch in the gardens if the weather's playing along.

CaféFood on sitePicnic area

Chapel Street Arts Centre

Derby

A sales and information point at Chapel Street Arts Centre, useful for sorting out details or bookings rather than a visit in itself.

City of Caves

Nottingham

Sandstone tunnels under Nottingham with WW2 shelters and a medieval tannery, walked with an audio guide.

Booking requiredCard onlyGift shopGroup bookings

Conkers Discovery Centre

Moira · ages 3+

A big woodland day out with rope trails, a splash park, a barefoot walk and an indoor play house for the rainy bits.

Accessible toiletBaby changeBirthday partiesBooking required+15 more

Coventry Canal Basin

Coventry

A free wander along the towpath and old canal buildings, good for stretching legs without spending a penny.

ParkingToilets

Coventry Music Museum

Coventry · up to age 15

A small, music-mad museum where kids can compose in the studio and sit in a Ghost Town car, not just look at cases of guitars.

Accessible toiletCaféCard onlyCash only+2 more

Derby Cathedral

Derby

Free to walk round, with a tower tour worth booking and monuments that'll keep older kids busy for a bit.

ToiletsCaféGift shop

Derby Computer Museum

Derby · ages 4+

Kids get their hands on actual 1970s to 90s computers, from a BBC Micro they can code to a Sinclair loading games off tape.

Birthday partiesBooking required

Derby Museum and Art Gallery

Derby · ages 0+

Free city museum on The Strand - Joseph Wright gallery, Royal Lancers displays and a Coffee House.

Bike parkingCaféGift shopFood on site+3 more

Foxton Locks

Market Harborough

Free walk around Britain's longest staircase locks - optional short canal cruises at weekends from spring to October.

ToiletsAccessible toiletBlue badge parkingCafé+6 more

Glenfield Tunnel

Leicester

Seasonal guided walks into a historic 1829 railway tunnel near Leicester - free with donation, book via LIHS.

Booking required

Great Central Railway

Loughborough · ages 0+

Hop between four vintage stations on a steam or heritage diesel train, with museums and tea rooms to explore along the platforms.

ToiletsCaféFood on sitePicnic area+7 more

Great Central Railway (Nottingham)

Nottingham

Free site entry, £3 parking and a flat, buggy-friendly 25-acre site with steam trains, old buses, mini railway rides and a dog-friendly café.

Baby changeBike parkingBlue badge parkingCafé+13 more

Green's Windmill & Science Centre

Nottingham · ages 0+

Free-entry restored windmill, science centre and garden in Nottingham, climb the mill (when not under repair), try science experiments, and let the kids run round the community garden.

Birthday partiesBooking requiredGift shopGroup bookings+6 more

Jewry Wall Museum

Leicester

Roman bathhouse ruins and interactive museum on St Nicholas Circle - adults from £12.50, kids free through Oct 2026.

ToiletsWheelchair accessibleGift shopBooking required+3 more

King Richard III Visitor Centre

Leicester

Museum on the Greyfriars dig site telling Richard III's story - adults from £12.50, under-4s free.

CaféGift shopWheelchair accessibleToilets+1 more

Kirby Muxloe Castle

Kirby Muxloe

Unfinished brick castle with moat and patterned gatehouse - English Heritage tours on select dates near Leicester.

ParkingPicnic areaDog friendlyBooking required

Lakeside Arts

Nottingham

Family theatre shows with puppetry, live music and storytelling at the University of Nottingham's arts centre by the lake.

Birthday partiesCaféFree parkingGift shop+11 more

Lapworth Museum of Geology

Birmingham

Free museum of fossils, rocks and prehistoric creatures on the University of Birmingham campus, no booking needed.

Accessible toiletBaby changeBlue badge parkingGift shop+4 more

Leicester Cathedral

Leicester

A free-to-enter cathedral with a Richard III history gallery, guided tours and quiet corners worth a wander with kids.

ToiletsCaféGift shop

Leicester Guildhall

Leicester

Free 600-year-old timber Guildhall with medieval galleries and a family quest - open daily near the Cathedral.

ToiletsWheelchair accessibleGift shop

Leicester Museum & Art Gallery

Leicester

Free museum on New Walk with dinosaurs, Ancient Egypt and Leicester Stories - some galleries shut for redevelopment.

Blue badge parkingGroup bookingsLockersPicnic area+4 more

Lunt Roman Fort

Coventry

Climb a reconstructed Roman gate, explore the granary and try a battle drill in the only known gyrus inside a Roman fort.

Birthday partiesBooking requiredParkingSchool visits

Maxstoke Castle

Birmingham

A guided tour round a genuine medieval castle, open on weekdays for a look behind its walls.

Middleton Hall & Gardens

Tamworth · ages 2-17

A 950-year-old house, a walled Georgian garden and a nature trail to hunt through on a kids' trail, with your ticket covering the whole day.

CaféGroup bookingsPicnic areaPicnics allowed+1 more

Midland Air Museum

Coventry · ages 5-15

Wander among historic aircraft outdoors and climb into cockpits like the Vulcan bomber's.

Blue badge parkingCaféDog friendlyFree parking+1 more

Museum of Making

Derby · ages 0+

Free entry to a museum built on Derby's 300 years of making, with workshops and maker spaces to poke around in.

Bike parkingBlue badge parkingCaféGift shop+3 more

National Fairground Museum Statfold

Tamworth

Vintage fairground rides, a heritage railway and a soft play barn on one site near Tamworth, plus mini golf outdoors.

Accessible toiletAllergy awareBaby changeBirthday parties+12 more

National Gas Museum

Leicester

Free gas-history museum with 500+ exhibits - temporarily closed until 13 October 2026 for maintenance works.

ToiletsFree parkingBike parking

National Justice Museum

Nottingham

A Georgian gaol and Victorian courtroom where actors re-enact real trials and executions, daily.

Accessible toiletBirthday partiesBooking requiredCafé+6 more

National Space Centre

Leicester · ages 0+

A planetarium show, rockets to climb through and hands-on galleries about space, all under one roof in Leicester.

Booking requiredCaféGift shopParking+8 more

Nene Valley Railway - (Wansford, Station)

Peterborough · ages 1-15

Steam and diesel trains along the Nene Valley, with a miniature railway, playground and museum to fill the gaps between departures.

Accessible toiletBaby changeDog friendlyFree parking+5 more

New Art Exchange

Nottingham

Free gallery visits and a Saturday art club with hands-on making, right opposite the Forest tram stop.

Allergy awareBlue badge parkingCaféGroup bookings+4 more

Newarke Houses Museum

Leicester

Free social-history museum with toys, a 1950s street and gardens - limited Saturday and holiday opening, so check dates.

School visitsGroup bookingsPicnic areaLockers

Northampton & Lamport Railway

Northampton · ages 2-17

A heritage steam or diesel train ride out to Boughton and back, with a buffet and shop at the home station.

Accessible toiletBaby changeBlue badge parkingCafé+4 more

Nottingham Heritage Railway

Ruddington

Steam and diesel trains, a miniature railway and a working bus depot to explore near Ruddington.

ParkingToiletsCaféGift shop+1 more

Nottingham Industrial Museum

Nottingham

Volunteer-run heritage museum in Wollaton Hall's stables, free entry for accompanied kids, five hands-on galleries, and monthly Steaming Days when the engines actually run.

CaféGift shopGroup bookingsFood on site+2 more

Nottingham Society Of Artists

Nottingham · adults only (18+)

A free city centre gallery showing work from Nottingham's artists, open to over-18s only.

Pickford's House

Derby · ages 0+

Free Georgian townhouse museum on Friar Gate - rooms, toys and a garden shop, Tue-Sat 10-5.

Bike parkingFree parkingGift shopParking+2 more

Princess River Cruises

Colwick

Cruise the Trent on a heated river boat with live commentary, a companion map and a sit-down meal.

Free parkingToiletsBirthday partiesGroup bookings

Retro Computer Museum

Leicester

A hands-on trip through gaming history where the kids actually play the old Spectrums, Commodores and arcade machines rather than just look at them.

Booking requiredFree parkingGift shopFood on site+2 more

Rockingham Castle

Market Harborough · ages 4-15

A 950 year old family home to explore on foot, with garden trails and free outdoor tours for the kids to tag along on.

Blue badge parkingCaféFree parkingOutdoor play+3 more

Rose Narrowboats Ltd

Rugby

Take the wheel of your own narrowboat for a weekend, a week or a whole season, or gather a group of up to twelve for a day out on the water.

Booking requiredGroup bookings

Rugby Visitor Centre

Rugby

Free maps, heritage trails and guided town walks that turn Rugby's rugby history into an easy afternoon out.

Accessible toiletDog friendlyWheelchair accessible

Snibston Colliery

Coalville

Former-miner surface tours plus the Into the Dark coalface simulation - no real underground, but a proper Leicestershire pit day out.

ParkingBlue badge parkingEV chargingCafé+7 more

Stanford Hall

Lutterworth · up to age 14

A guided hour-long tour round a Grade 1 listed 1697 hall, open only on a handful of set dates.

Booking required

Surface Gallery Limited

Nottingham

Free contemporary art shows in a small Nottingham gallery, open only when there's an exhibition on.

Tamworth Castle

Tamworth · ages 2-16

Climb 900 years of chambers and stairs, from Saxons to Victorians, in a proper working castle right by the town centre.

Toilets

The Victory Show

Leicester

A weekend of WW2 aircraft, tanks and living history on grass farmland, with an airshow from 9am and hundreds of vehicles to gawp at.

Accessible toiletBlue badge parkingDog friendlyFree parking+4 more

Triumph Factory Visitor Experience

Hinckley

A free 90-minute tour round a working motorcycle factory, plus an exhibition on Triumph's history.

Booking requiredCafé

Two Queens Leicester

Leicester

Free gallery exhibitions, drop-in art workshops and oil painting courses in a step-free space near Leicester train station.

School visits

Watermead Country Park

Leicester

Free country park with a Jurassic play trail, a lake full of birds and meadows thick with dragonflies.

Accessible toiletBlue badge parkingDog friendlyOutdoor play+3 more

Wollaton Hall & Deer Park

Nottingham · ages 0-15

A dinosaur gallery inside a Grade I mansion, plus 500 acres of deer park to walk off the museum legs.

Baby changeBlue badge parkingBottle warmingBreastfeeding friendly+13 more

Woolsthorpe Manor

Grantham · ages 5-17

The actual house where Newton watched an apple fall and split light with a prism, plus a hands-on science centre in the grounds.

ToiletsCaféGift shopParking