About
The King Richard III Visitor Centre stands at the epicenter of one of the most extraordinary archaeological discoveries of the 21st century - the rediscovery of King Richard III's remains beneath a Leicester car park in 2012. Opened in July 2014, this award-winning heritage center tells the remarkable story of England's last Plantagenet king, his death at the Battle of Bosworth in 1485, and the dramatic archaeological investigation that located his lost grave after 527 years.
The modern purpose-built center sits adjacent to the excavation site where Richard's skeleton was found, directly opposite Leicester Cathedral where he was reburied with full honors in 2015. Designed by van Heyningen and Haward Architects, the building's contemporary glass and timber construction deliberately contrasts with the medieval Greyfriars friary ruins it overlooks, creating a powerful dialogue between past and present. The centre's location within Leicester's historic Old Town allows visitors to walk in Richard's footsteps through the medieval street pattern that has survived 500 years.
Through immersive exhibitions combining original artifacts, interactive technology, film projections, and audio dramatizations, visitors experience Richard's life from his birth at Fotheringhay Castle through his brief reign (1483-1485) to his violent death and hasty burial. The center presents balanced perspectives on Richard's controversial reputation - was he the villainous child-murderer of Shakespeare's portrayal, or a capable monarch maligned by Tudor propaganda? The archaeological story unfolds through displays of the excavation process, forensic analysis of the skeleton, and DNA testing that confirmed the remains' identity. Visitors can view the exact spot where Richard's body lay for over five centuries through a floor window overlooking the excavation trench.
With over 200,000 visitors annually, the King Richard III Visitor Centre has become Leicester's premier heritage attraction, drawing international visitors fascinated by medieval history, archaeology, and one of the most compelling detective stories of modern times.
Categories:
Annual Visitors (2019)
200,000
Plan Your Visit
⏱️ Recommended Visit Duration
📅 Best Times to Visit
Quietest: Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday
Busiest: Saturday, Sunday
💡 Weekday mornings (10:00-11:30) offer the best experience with smaller crowds for the immersive audio-visual presentations
💡 Visitor Tips
- Book timed entry tickets online in advance, especially for weekends and school holidays when the center gets very busy. Online tickets often include a small discount and guarantee admission.
- Allow 90 minutes minimum for your visit to fully experience the multimedia presentations, excavation site, and interactive displays. The audio-visual content cannot be rushed and rewards careful attention.
- Visit Leicester Cathedral immediately after the center (1 minute walk) to see Richard III's impressive modern tomb and complete the story. Combined tickets are sometimes available - check the website.
- The excavation trench viewing window on the ground floor is the emotional heart of the visit - save this for last as it provides the most powerful moment of connection to history.
- Download the audio guide app before arrival if possible, or use the provided audio devices. The narration adds essential context and brings the story to life, especially in the Battle of Bosworth section.
- Weekday mornings (10:00-11:30) offer the quietest experience with better opportunities to engage with interactive displays without crowds. Saturday afternoons are busiest and can feel rushed.
- The on-site café serves good quality food and themed treats. Consider timing your visit to include lunch, as the café provides a pleasant break between exploring the two floors of exhibitions.
- Photography allowed for personal use (no flash), making this excellent for documenting your visit. The excavation trench through the glass floor creates dramatic photographs that capture the discovery's significance.
Highlights
The Excavation Trench Viewing Window
The center's most powerful moment - a glass floor window that allows visitors to look down upon the exact location where King Richard III's skeleton was discovered on August 25, 2012. The excavation trench, preserved beneath protective covering, shows the distinctive curved spine and the arrow lodged in Richard's back, exactly as archaeologists found them beneath what was once a Leicester car park.
Standing above this grave provides an extraordinarily direct connection to history - visitors gaze upon the resting place of England's last medieval king, who died violently at Bosworth Field in 1485.
The viewing window represents the culmination of the visitor experience, transforming abstract history into tangible reality. Information panels explain the archaeological context, excavation methods, and the remarkable coincidence that Richard's grave survived intact beneath centuries of development.
The Search for Richard Interactive Exhibition
This immersive multimedia exhibition chronicles the extraordinary detective story that led to Richard's rediscovery. Through film dramatizations, archaeological documentation, and interactive displays, visitors follow Philippa Langley's obsessive quest to locate Richard's lost grave, the securing of excavation permissions, and the tense three-week dig in August-September 2012.
The exhibition reveals the mounting excitement as distinctive skeletal features emerged - the curved spine consistent with contemporary descriptions, battle injuries matching historical accounts, and ultimately the DNA evidence that confirmed the skeleton's identity.
Touch screens allow visitors to explore excavation photographs, forensic analysis results, and scientific reports. The narrative emphasizes how modern scientific techniques combined with historical detective work to solve a 527-year-old mystery.
Richard III: The Man and the Myth
A balanced exploration of Richard III's life, reign, and contested reputation, presenting multiple perspectives on one of England's most controversial monarchs. The exhibition traces Richard's early life as youngest brother of Edward IV, his role as Duke of Gloucester and Lord of the North, his seizure of the throne in 1483, and his brief two-year reign.
Interactive displays examine the accusation that Richard murdered his nephews (the Princes in the Tower), presenting evidence both supporting and challenging this claim.
The exhibition explores how Shakespeare's villainous portrayal shaped popular imagination, contrasting Tudor propaganda with historical records that suggest a more complex figure.
Visitors encounter Richard as capable administrator, military commander, and controversial usurper, gaining tools to form their own judgments about his character and actions.
The Battle of Bosworth Field Experience
An immersive audio-visual recreation of Richard III's final battle on August 22, 1485, which ended the Plantagenet dynasty and brought the Tudors to power. Using dramatic projections, sound effects, and contemporary accounts, visitors experience the chaos and violence of medieval warfare. The exhibition details Richard's military strategy, Henry Tudor's invasion from France, and the crucial betrayal by the Stanley family that sealed Richard's fate.
Archaeological evidence from the Bosworth battlefield, including the discovery of Richard's actual battlefield location in 2009-2010, illuminates how the battle unfolded. The presentation emphasizes the battle's historical significance as the last time an English king died in combat, marking the transition from medieval to early modern England.
Collections
The King Richard III Visitor Centre focuses on experiential storytelling rather than artifact-based collections. Its primary 'collection' comprises the archaeological excavation site itself, preserved in situ beneath the building. Original artifacts from the excavation are limited, as Richard's body contained few grave goods (consistent with a hasty battlefield burial).
The center's strength lies in multimedia presentations, interactive technology, dramatic reconstructions, and comprehensive historical interpretation that brings Richard's story to life. Reproductions, models, and contemporary historical documents supplement the archaeological evidence. The overall effect creates an immersive experience that places visitors within the investigation itself, allowing them to follow the detective story from initial research through excavation to scientific analysis and identification.
The Life and Death of Richard III
Comprehensive biographical exhibition tracing Richard's life from his birth during the Wars of the Roses through his controversial accession to the throne and violent death at Bosworth. The display presents multiple perspectives on Richard's character and actions, particularly regarding the disappearance of the Princes in the Tower.
Interactive elements allow visitors to explore primary source documents, contemporary accounts, and historical debates.
The exhibition balances Tudor propaganda with modern historical research, encouraging visitors to form their own conclusions about this complex and controversial figure.
📍 First Floor
The Search and Discovery
The archaeological detective story of how Richard's grave was located and excavated in 2012. This exhibition follows researcher Philippa Langley's quest, the formation of the Looking for Richard Project, securing archaeological permissions, and the dramatic three-week excavation. Visitors experience the mounting excitement as distinctive skeletal features emerged, forensic analysis revealed battle wounds matching historical accounts, and DNA testing confirmed the identification.
The presentation emphasizes scientific methodology, archaeological best practice, and how modern technology solved a 527-year-old mystery.
📍 First Floor and Ground Floor
The Excavation Site
The preserved archaeological trench where Richard III's skeleton was discovered, viewable through a glass floor window. This represents the center's most powerful exhibit - the actual location where England's last medieval king lay buried for 527 years. The site shows the distinctive curved spine and position of the body exactly as found.
Interpretive panels explain the archaeological context, excavation methodology, and why this particular location survived centuries of development. Visitors gain direct physical connection to history by standing above Richard's original grave.
📍 Ground Floor
Themes
Time Periods
Current Exhibitions
No current exhibitions. Please check the museum website for updates.