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King Richard III Visitor Centre

About

The King Richard III Visitor Centre is one of Leicester’s most compelling modern heritage sites, built beside the exact location where the king’s remains were discovered in 2012. The centre tells the extraordinary story of how a lost monarch—killed at Bosworth in 1485 and buried without ceremony—was found beneath a city car park more than five centuries later. Its narrative blends archaeology, forensic science, and medieval history, making it both dramatic and deeply informative. Inside, the Dynasty Gallery sets the scene with the turbulent world of the Wars of the Roses, exploring Richard’s life, reign, and reputation. The Discovery Gallery is a highlight, revealing how archaeologists pinpointed the burial site, uncovered the skeleton, and confirmed its identity through DNA analysis and detailed forensic study. Interactive displays explain battle wounds, scoliosis, and the scientific techniques used to reconstruct Richard’s face. The most moving space is the grave site, preserved within the centre. Visitors can stand above the original burial trench, now respectfully displayed, offering a rare and intimate connection to a medieval king. The final gallery explores Richard’s reinterment at Leicester Cathedral and the ongoing reassessment of his legacy.

Leicester United Kingdom
King Richard III Visitor Centre
Location

The King Richard III Visitor Centre is an award-winning museum that tells one of the most remarkable archaeological detective stories in history. Built on the site of a former Victorian schoolhouse, the center stands directly over the former Greyfriars friary choir where the last Plantagenet king was buried. Inside, visitors can explore interactive exhibits tracing Richard's life, his defeat at the Battle of Bosworth, and the 2012 excavation that discovered his remains under a municipal parking lot. The full address is 4A St Martin's, Leicester, LE1 5DB. Its location in Leicester's historic quarter puts you right beside several other major heritage sites. Directly across the street sits Leicester Cathedral, where the king was reinterred in 2015. Next door to the cathedral, you can tour the Leicester Guildhall, a remarkably intact timber-framed medieval building dating back to 1390.A short walk west leads to the ancient Leicester Castle precinct, Castle Gardens along the River Soar, and the historic Church of St Mary de Castro. Nearby, you will also find the Newarke Houses Museum, which showcases local social and military history within two Tudor homes.Just a few minutes away on foot lie the Jewry Wall Roman ruins and its accompanying archaeology museum. Heading east into the city center brings you toward the Leicester Museum & Art Gallery on New Walk, making it easy to enjoy a full day exploring local heritage.

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