Leicester Guildhall
ENTRY
Free
SETTING
Indoors
WHERE
Leicester
What it’s like
Free 600-year-old timber Guildhall with medieval galleries and a family quest - open daily near the Cathedral.
Walk into a timber-framed Great Hall from around 1390, then explore the Medieval Leicester galleries with digital interactives and a family quest that gets kids dressed up and walking the old streets.
General entry is free (suggested £3 donation). Open daily 11:00-16:30. Victorian police cells and one of England's oldest public library rooms sit in the same building.
No on-site parking - use nearby city car parks (St Nicholas Circle is handy). Opposite the King Richard III Visitor Centre if you want a history double-bill.
Performances and private hire run separately - museum galleries are the daytime visit.
Facilities
Plan your visit
How much does Leicester Guildhall cost?
It's free to get in. Some extras are priced; the full list is on this page.
How accessible is it?
The venue lists wheelchair access.
What if it rains?
You're covered, it's indoors.
How do we find it?
There is no parking at the Guildhall, however there are several car parks within a 5-10 minute walk.
Experiences
Ghost Vigils
Evening ghost vigil events held in the building, organised by external professional paranormal groups, exploring the Guildhall's reputation as the most haunted building in the city.
Areas to explore
Leicester's Town Library rooms
Rooms that housed Leicester's Town Library from 1632, originally living quarters for priests of the Corpus Christi guild; one of only two older public libraries in the country.
Lord Mayor's Parlour
Room featuring 15th century painted glass window fragments showing the emblem of the Guild of Corpus Christi, the Host and Chalice.
Medieval Leicester Galleries
Galleries with original objects and digital technology showing what medieval Leicester was like, including a family quest to choose a character, get dressed up and walk the streets of the medieval town.
The Great Hall
Hall built around 1390, used historically for meetings, feasting, learning, courts, civic dinners, concerts and dramatic entertainment; now a performance venue for concerts and events.
Victorian Police Cells
Cells from when the Guildhall was Leicester's first police station from 1876, featuring characters 'Crankie Gemmie' and 'Emma Smith', two of Leicester's notorious pick-pockets.
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