Attenborough Arts Centre
ENTRY
Free
SETTING
Indoors
WHERE
Leicester
What it’s like
An arts centre with galleries, family workshops and Sunday drop-in sessions for kids who fancy getting stuck into art rather than just looking at it.
The galleries here are free to wander and open daily, but the bit worth planning round is the Saturday Gallery Art Club, where kids get hands-on with a proper activity rather than being told to look with their eyes not their hands. There's also a relaxed version of the art club for families who find the main one a bit much, which is a genuinely useful option if a busy room isn't your kid's idea of fun.
Sunday Sessions run £14 to £19 and mix creative activities with board games in the café, which sounds like a decent way to fill a couple of hours if the weather's grim. Soundbites lunchtime concerts are £7.50 to £10 and free lunchtime slots crop up too, worth knowing if you want music without committing to a full evening out.
The café does hot and cold food, toasted sandwiches, jacket potatoes and soup, with gluten-free, vegan, vegetarian and halal options, so fussy eaters and grown-ups with dietary needs are both covered. Parking is the one bit that stings a little: only four blue badge bays out front, though the Medical Sciences Building car park next door is free after 5pm on weekdays and all day at weekends, and it's a 10 minute walk from Leicester railway station if you'd rather leave the car at home.
Do bear in mind the centre is going into refurbishment from November 2026, which could shake things up, and quite a few events want booking in advance rather than a turn-up-and-see approach.
Facilities
Need to know
- Parking
- Four blue badge spaces directly at front on first-come basis
- Food
- Attenborough Café with hot and cold food, cakes, snacks, toasted sandwiches, baguettes, jacket potatoes and soup
- Wheelchairs
- Wheelchair spaces in hall and studios
- Dogs
- Assistance dogs welcome in all areas
- Getting there by bus or train
- 10 minutes walk from Leicester railway station
- A free companion ticket is available for a parent or carer if extra assistance is needed
- Printed café allergen menus can be out of date, so ask staff on the day rather than trusting an old printout
- The relaxed art club is a good shout if the main Saturday club feels too full-on
- Blue badge parking out front is only four bays and first-come-first-served
Plan your visit
How much does it cost?
Depends what you're going for. Sunday Sessions run £14 to £19, Soundbites lunchtime concerts are £7.50 to £10, and the galleries themselves are free to visit.
Do we need to book?
Many events and performances want booking ahead, so it's not always a walk-in job.
What are the opening hours?
The building's open 9am to 5pm weekdays, 10am to 5pm Saturdays and 10am to 4pm Sundays. The art galleries keep slightly shorter hours, noon to 5pm on weekdays and noon to 4pm at weekends.
Is there a relaxed option if my child struggles with busy spaces?
Yes, there's a relaxed art club aimed at families and young people who find the main Saturday club too busy, with a calmer atmosphere.
What food is available?
The Attenborough Café does hot and cold food, toasted sandwiches, jacket potatoes and soup, with gluten-free, vegan, vegetarian and halal options.
Is there parking?
Four blue badge bays sit right at the front on a first-come basis. Otherwise the Medical Sciences Building car park next door is free after 5pm on weekdays and all day at weekends.
Can we get there without a car?
It's a 10 minute walk from Leicester railway station, and the free Hop! service loops the city centre every 10 minutes Monday to Saturday.
Are dogs allowed?
Assistance dogs are welcome throughout the building, just let them know when you book.
Is it wheelchair accessible?
There's a ramped entrance, lift access, wheelchair spaces in the hall and studios, and an accessible fire escape with an evac chair.
What happens at Sunday Sessions?
Creative activities and board games in the café, aimed at a relaxed family session rather than a formal class.
Is there support for additional needs during workshops?
A volunteer can assist in creative course classes if you need extra support, just mention it when booking.
Should we know anything before visiting long term?
The centre is going into refurbishment from November 2026, which may affect what's running, so it's worth catching things before then if you can.
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