About
Bosworth Battlefield Heritage Centre occupies the site of one of the most decisive battles in English history — the Battle of Bosworth Field, fought on 22 August 1485. It was here that King Richard III fell in combat and Henry Tudor claimed the English crown to become Henry VII, ending the Plantagenet dynasty and ushering in the Tudor era that would transform England forever.
The centre opened in 1985 to mark the 500th anniversary of the battle and has since become one of the Midlands' most visited heritage sites. Situated on Ambion Hill near Sutton Cheney in Leicestershire, the landscape itself forms the heart of the experience. Visitors can walk the very ground where the two armies clashed, following marked trails across meadows and through woodland, with viewing points overlooking the terrain as it may have appeared in 1485.
The visitor centre houses an outstanding collection of original artefacts and replica weaponry recovered from and relating to the battle, including rare finds that have helped rewrite the historical narrative. Exhibits explore the political turmoil of the Wars of the Roses — the decades-long dynastic struggle between the Houses of York and Lancaster — and examine the characters of Richard III and Henry Tudor with nuance and depth, drawing on the latest historical and archaeological research.
Interactive displays bring the battle to life: visitors can handle replica swords and armour, follow animated maps of the battlefield movements, and watch dramatised reconstructions of the key moments that decided England's fate. The centre makes particular use of the landmark 2009 discovery of the true battle site, which shifted understanding of where the armies engaged and where Richard was killed.
Beyond the main exhibition, the grounds include a reconstructed medieval camp, a herb garden typical of the period, a picnic area overlooking the battlefield, and waymarked trails of varying lengths. The centre is particularly renowned for its annual Bosworth Battlefield re-enactment, held in August, which draws thousands of visitors to witness cavalry charges, archery demonstrations, and medieval encampments spread across the historic landscape.
Categories:
Highlights
The Battle of Bosworth Exhibition
The centrepiece of the visitor centre traces the events of 22 August 1485 in extraordinary depth. Explore the political background of the Wars of the Roses, the rival claims of Richard III and Henry Tudor, and the shifting loyalties that determined the battle's outcome. Multimedia displays, original artefacts, and dramatic dioramas tell the story with immediacy.
The exhibition incorporates findings from the 2009 archaeological survey that relocated the true battle site, fundamentally changing what we know about where Richard III fell.
Authentic Battlefield Artefacts
Among the most remarkable holdings are artefacts recovered from metal-detecting surveys of the battlefield, including late-medieval lead shot, medieval horse furniture, and a boar badge — the personal emblem of Richard III — discovered near the core battle area. These objects connect visitors directly to the combatants who fought here and represent some of the earliest battlefield archaeology in Britain.
Displays also include replica armour and weapons typical of the period, giving tangible form to the human scale of the conflict.
Battlefield Walking Trails
Step out onto the very ground where the two armies met. Clearly waymarked trails lead across Ambion Hill and into the surrounding countryside, with information boards at key points explaining the troop positions, cavalry charges, and the final moments of the battle. Three routes of varying lengths (1, 2, and 3+ miles) allow visitors to explore at their own pace.
The landscape has changed surprisingly little since 1485, and standing on Ambion Hill looking out across the vale below gives a visceral sense of the tactical situation.
Richard III: King and Man
Richard III remains one of English history's most contested figures — vilified by Tudor propagandists, reassessed by later historians. The centre gives him a balanced and nuanced treatment, examining his record as a northern administrator, his legal reforms, and the controversy surrounding the Princes in the Tower, alongside the discoveries surrounding his burial in Leicester.
The 2012 rediscovery of Richard's remains beneath a Leicester car park and the subsequent DNA confirmation are explored, placing the battlefield in the context of Richard's extraordinary modern afterlife.
Collections
The Battle of Bosworth 1485
The main permanent exhibition covering the Wars of the Roses, the rival claimants, the battle itself, and its lasting significance in English history, incorporating the latest archaeological research.
Battlefield Archaeology
Displays the extraordinary finds from surveys of the true battlefield site, including boar badges, lead shot, and medieval horse equipment, with commentary on the methods used.
Richard III: The Last Plantagenet
An in-depth examination of Richard III's life, reign, and legacy, including the dramatic rediscovery of his remains in Leicester in 2012.
Current Exhibitions
No current exhibitions. Please check the museum website for updates.