King Richard III Visitor Centre
- Ideal for kids, teens
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Opening hours
Today10:00 – 16:00Show all
Shorts
Why go
- The covered grave of Richard III in the friary choir, over part of the church choir floor.
- The Rex Factor: Lost In Time app, in which visitors turn detective to uncover the story's plot lines and family links.
- The Roman bathhouse ruins, with a multimedia exhibition on everyday life in Roman Leicester.
- The Roman market, where visitors can shop and then make their own Roman meal.
Tips for your visit
- You can arrive on the day and pay at the door, but entry on busy days is not guaranteed late in the slot.
- You can spend as long as you like on the exhibitions or in the White Boar Café.
- The centre has no parking of its own. The nearest long-stay car parks are in the West and South Zones.
- Two park and ride services run very close to the centre, and a third is a short walk away.
- National Express and regional buses end at St. Margaret's Bus Station, a short walk away.
- Coach groups are met at the Southgates drop-off by a team member and escorted in. Book coach spaces in advance through the group bookings team.
With kids
- Ages 3-6 can hunt for wild boars hidden around the centre, some in plain sight and others more disguised.
- Ages 7-12 can follow a medieval quest with an activity sheet, with tasks to investigate and research.
- A free app, found only at the centre, has children help a time traveller get back to the present day.
- A dressing-up area offers knight, princess, monk, archaeologist or scientist outfits for photos.
- Visitors can make a rubbing of a heraldic shield for a family involved in the Wars of the Roses.
- The café has an arts and crafts area to make a crown, colour in pictures or make your own art.
- A large chalk board in the café lets children doodle on a bigger scale.
- Kids' activities are included with a ticket or annual pass unless stated otherwise. Activities may change.
- Families can follow how the king's remains were found, more than 500 years after his death.
- Interactive displays and storytelling make medieval history engaging for younger visitors.
- Children can learn what daily life was like in medieval times and about the battles of the era.
- Families can learn about Richard's childhood and his life as a member of the House of York.
What's inside
- Exhibits on how Richard rose to power and became the last Plantagenet king.
- Exhibits on the Wars of the Roses, where visitors can unravel the facts.
- The White Boar Café, which has an arts and crafts area for making a crown or art.
Know before you go
- Open Monday to Friday and on Sunday, 10:00 to 16:00. On Saturday it is open 10:00 to 17:00.
- Book a timed visit online by choosing a date and a 30-minute slot.
- You can also arrive on the day and pay at the door, though advance booking is recommended.
- Arrive before your slot ends; on busy days, entry is not guaranteed after that time.
- Anyone under 16 must be with an adult aged over 18; one adult may look after up to four under-16s.
- Holders of a complimentary ticket or discount voucher can book by phone on 0116 299 4444.
- Tickets are sold online through the centre's own website.
- Download the Rex Factor: Lost In Time app before your visit; play it on the day.
Interesting facts4
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Richard III is the last English king to have died in battle, and the first to be DNA tested.
Home - King Richard III Visitor Centre -
The burial site forms part of a scheduled monument.
King Richard III Visitor Centre - Wikipedia -
The Visit Leicester tourist information office is also based inside the centre.
Home - King Richard III Visitor Centre -
The centre leaves it to visitors to judge what became of the Princes in the Tower.
Home - King Richard III Visitor Centre
History
Richard III died at the Battle of Bosworth Field in 1485. He was buried at Greyfriars, a medieval friary in Leicester. For a long time the burial place was unknown, and it was thought to lie under a car park. An excavation in the car park began on 25 August 2012, led by Philippa Langley and the Richard III Society. DNA testing made it possible to identify them. Worldwide interest led the city council to turn a Victorian school into the visitor centre, which opened in July 2014 on the friary site.
- 1485Richard III dies at Bosworth Field and is buried at Greyfriars friary in Leicester.
- 25 August 2012The excavation starts in the car park; the remains are found on the first day.
- July 2014The visitor centre opens on the site of the excavated Greyfriars friary.
How to get there
- 15 minOn footLeicester Railway Station is less than a 15-minute walk away. East Midlands Trains and Cross Country trains serve it.
- 3 minOn footCoaches drop off on Southgates, a three-minute walk from the entrance. A free hop-on hop-off bus stops right beside it.
- 30 minCarEast Midlands Airport is about a 30-minute drive away. A Skylink bus runs 24 hours a day from the airport to St. Margaret's Bus Station.
- 50 minCarBirmingham International Airport is about a 50-minute drive away.
Accessibility
- Parking on site The centre has no designated parking of its own, so nearby city car parks are used. The area is largely pedestrianised.
Sources: King Richard III Visitor Centre - Wikipedia · Home - King Richard III Visitor Centre · Getting Here - King Richard III Visitor Centre · Booking - King Richard III Visitor Centre · King Richard III Visitor Centre: booking (its o… · King Richard III Visitor Centre: menu (its own … · Fun for the Kids - King Richard III Visitor Cen… · Kids Go Free at the King Richard III Visitor Ce… · checked 26 Oct 2026
- Website
- kriii.com/
- Phone
- +44 116 454 4554
Questions and answers
How long does a visit to the King Richard III Visitor Centre take?
Visits are booked as 30-minute timed slots. Once inside, visitors can spend as long as they like on the exhibitions or in the White Boar Café.
What are the opening hours of the King Richard III Visitor Centre?
It is open Monday to Friday and on Sunday from 10:00 to 16:00. On Saturday it is open from 10:00 to 17:00.
Do I need to book a visit to the King Richard III Visitor Centre?
Advance booking online is recommended, by choosing a date and a 30-minute slot. You can also arrive on the day and pay at the door, but on busy days entry is not guaranteed after your slot ends.
How do I walk to the King Richard III Visitor Centre from Leicester railway station?
Leicester Railway Station is less than a 15-minute walk away. The centre stands in the city centre, next to Leicester Cathedral and the Guildhall.
Is the King Richard III Visitor Centre good for children?
Children aged 3-6 can hunt for wild boars hidden around the centre, and ages 7-12 can follow a medieval quest. Kids' activities are included with a ticket or annual pass. Under-16s need an adult aged over 18.
Where can I park when visiting the King Richard III Visitor Centre?
The centre has no designated parking of its own. The nearest long-stay car parks are in the West and South Zones, and two park and ride services run very close to it.
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