CLAYBROOKE MAGNA AND PARVA COMPETITION (NEW FOR 2026)
Sunday 8th June – Saturday 1st August
A competition to produce a piece of art (drawing, photo, painting, dance, poetry etc) on the theme of Archaeology and Nature by choosing a local subject and explaining how we know that it is old (size of a tree, lichen on stones, historical records etc).
The competition will run from 8th June -1st August and is open to all age groups. The results will be announced and the entries displayed in St Peter’s Church, Claybrooke Parva from 2-4pm on Sunday 9th August. Please join us for tea and cake and to see the entries.
Entry forms and further details are available from christine.horsfall@gmail.com
FRIENDS OF GRACE DIEU PRIORY 20TH ANNIVERSARY MEDIEVAL FAIR (NEW FOR 2026)
Sunday 28th June: 10.30am
Grace Dieu Priory, Ashby Road, Coalville LE67 5UG
Twenty years ago, works to stabilise and conserve the ruins of Grace Dieu were coming to a close and the site was opened to the public for the first time in its 760-year history! To celebrate, the Friends invite you to join us for a medieval-style fair, including re-enactment groups, market stalls, food and music. Why not join us for a summer’s day-worth of history, archaeology, feasting, and entertainment! Entry is free, with gates opening at 10:30am.
Find us on Facebook @gracedieupriory and at https://www.gracedieupriory.org.uk/ or email gracedieu.priory@outlook.com for more information
FREE, drop in
LOUGHBOROUGH OLD RECTORY OPEN DAY
Saturday 4th July: 10am – 4pm
The Old Rectory, Rectory Place, Loughborough LE11 1UW
During the day there will be guided tours of the building, inside and out and a walk of the rectory Bounds. There will be two small group lectures in the building in the late morning and afternoon too, as well as a raffle.
FREE, drop in
CHARNWOOD FOREST UNCOVERED – TEST PITTING AT WOODHOUSE & WOODHOUSE EAVES (NEW FOR 2026)
Saturday 4th July and Sunday 5th July: 10am – 5pm
Woodhouse & Woodhouse Eaves, Leicestershire
This summer, communities across Charnwood Forest have an extraordinary opportunity to uncover the deep histories lying beneath their lawns, village greens and garden soil. As part of Charnwood Forest Geopark’s Charnwood Forest Uncovered project, archaeological test pits will be excavated across Woodhouse and Woodhouse Eaves over the weekend of 4th – 5th July. Local residents and volunteers are warmly invited to take part.
Led by Professor Carenza Lewis from the University of Lincoln (well known from Channel 4’s Time Team) together with archaeologists from University of Leicester Archaeological Services, the project is funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund.
Volunteers can get involved in several ways: by offering a patch of garden for a test pit, joining a team of diggers, or helping with finds washing and recording. No experience is needed, and all ages and abilities are welcome. It’s a fun, fascinating way to spend a productive weekend with family, friends and neighbours!
For more information visit https://ulasnews.com/2026/02/17/charnwood-digs-woodhouse/
FREE, sign up via https://forms.office.com/e/w5Z267B9E1
EXCAVATION IN MARKET HARBOROUGH (NEW FOR 2026)
Saturday 4th July and Sunday 5th July: 11am – 3pm
Ridgeway Primary Academy, Market Harborough LE16 7HQ
The Oadby and Wigston Fieldworkers, in collaboration with the Learn Academies Trust and Jen Browning from University of Leicester Archaeological Services, will be carrying out a small-scale excavation at Ridgeway Primary Academy, where a geophysical survey has indicated Iron Age features.
Visitors welcome from 11am to 3pm – Entrance to the site via the gate into the school playing field to the west of the main school entrance. For further information please contact Bob Gale at owfieldworkers@gmail.com
FREE, drop in
FINDS DAY AT CHARNWOOD MUSEUM
Saturday 11th July: 10am – 1pm
Charnwood Museum, Granby St, Loughborough LE11 3DU
A chance to bring your finds in to be identified by Megan Harvey, Finds Liaison Officer for the Portable Antiquities Scheme.
FREE, drop in
CREATIVE ROMANS AT CULTURAL QUARTER EARLIES
Saturday 11th July: 12 noon – 4pm
Cultural Quarter, Leicester
Cultural Quarter Earlies, Leicester’s monthly creative family festival, travels back in time to Roman Leicester this July. Find out what it was like to live in Roman Leicester, handle real Roman pottery and try your hand at archaeological excavation with University of Leicester archaeologists:
- Aqueducts, Army drills, Excavations, Roman Fashion and more at LCB Depot, 31 Rutland St, Leicester LE1 1RE
- Miniature Roman Busts at Two Queens, 2 Queen St, Leicester LE1 1QW
- Create drypoint prints inspired by Roman pottery at Leicester Print Workshop, 50 St George St, Leicester LE1 1QG
- Roman Tales storytelling sessions! At Curve, Rutland Street, Leicester LE1 1SB
- Make Swords & Shields. Step into your favourite film world and design your own sword and shield. Build, decorate, and get ready for adventure! Be inspired by the romans and go forth with your own battle gear at Phoenix Cinema and Art Centre, Phoenix Square, 4 Midland St, Leicester LE1 1TG
- Travel in between in style on a Roman Rickshaw!
- And much more…!
FREE, drop in. Find out more at https://linktr.ee/culturalquarterearlies
FINDS DAY AT HARBOROUGH MUSEUM
Tuesday 14th July: 10am – 1pm
Harborough Museum, Adam and Eve Street, Market Harborough LE16 7LT
A chance to bring your finds in to be identified by Megan Harvey, Finds Liaison Officer for the Portable Antiquities Scheme.
FREE, drop in
TEST PIT IN MOUNTSORREL
Wednesday 15th July: 10.30am – 4pm
The Swan Inn, 10 Loughborough Road Mountsorrel LE12 7AT
The Mountsorrel Heritage Group will be digging an archaeological test pit in the garden of the 17th century Swan Inn.
FREE, drop in
JEWRY WALL MUSEUM SPECIAL OFFER!
Saturday 18th – Sunday 2nd August
Jewry Wall Museum, St Nicholas Circle, Leicester LE1 4LB
Special offer! Adult tickets to Jewry Wall are just £10, and Child tickets just £5 for the duration of the Festival of Archaeology, (Saturday 18th July to Sunday 2nd August.)
For more information visit https://www.jewrywall.com/
HERITAGE CRAFTS DAY
Saturday 18th July: 10.30am – 4.30pm
The 1620s House and Garden, Manor Road, Donington le Heath, Coalville, Leicestershire LE67 2FW
Witness various historical craft demonstrations around our site.
Included with Admission. To find out more and to book, please visit https://1620shouse.org.uk/whats-on/
A BIRTHDAY AND A GOODBYE – AVE ATQUE VALE
Saturday 18th July: 11am-4pm
Jewry Wall Roman Museum, St. Nicholas Circle, Leicester LE1 4LB
Help celebrate the 1st birthday of the new museum and say goodbye to the Friends of Jewry Wall Museum. The Friends are winding up after 22 years of children’s activities, research, raising money, eating cake and dressing up! Help The Friends go out in style and celebrate the fantastic new Jewry Wall Real Roman Experience. Of course, there will be free activities for children and adults can have a go too! AVE ATQUE VALE (hail and farewell).
FREE children’s activities.
STONE AGE FLINTS AND FLINT KNAPPING
Saturday 18th July: 2pm
Lutterworth Museum ‘Highpoint’, Market Street Lutterworth LE17 4DY
Come along to Lutterworth Museum to see how our ancestors made tools as well as viewing other local finds.
FREE, drop in
SHERLOCK HOLMES – BE YOUR OWN HOUSE DETECTIVE (NEW FOR 2026)
Sunday 19th July: 12 noon – 4pm
The village hall, High Street, Great Easton LE16 8ST
Find out who lived in a specific house in the village with help from members of the Great Easton and District Local History Society. You just need a mobile phone or camera.
Be a detective!
- Delve into the database of Great Easton residents from the 12th century
- Look at the Censuses of Great Easton from 1841-1911
- Find the house on old maps going back to 1810
- Find a photograph of the house from the 1980’s plus a list of known previous owners and past sale prices!
- Find the house on aerial photographs
- Enjoy home-made tea and cake
- Don’t forget your mobile phone or camera!
FREE, drop in
PURSUED BY A BEAR! KIDS FUN CRAFT DAY (NEW FOR 2026)
Sunday 19th July: 12pm, 1pm, 2pm
Leicester Guildhall, Guildhall Lane, Leicester LE1 5FQ
Shakespeare’s plays were performed at Leicester Guildhall. Now bring the kids to join in our craft event, inspired by some of Shakespeare’s famous characters. Make a donkey ears hat, a fairy wand and bear game, and find the pictures in our Shakespeare plays trail around the museum.
Tickets: £4 Advance online for each participating child, £5 on the door, adults free.
Timed Slots: 12pm, 1pm & 2:30pm. Limited to 35 children participating only. Pre-booking recommended.
Find out more at https://www.leicestermuseums.org/event-details/?id=d27267c7-d0a9-4532-83d8-f31f08ee3e4b or call 0116 454 4554
CHURCHYARD DETECTIVES (NEW FOR 2026)
Monday 20th July: 10am – 1pm
St Helen’s Church, Ashby-de-la-Zouch LE65 1AB
What can churchyards tell us about what people believed in the past? What does a snake on a memorial mean? Why were residents of Ashby terrified of their bodies being stolen after death? Come along to this family-friendly event to find out more! Complete our churchyard trail and then pop into the Heritage Centre for coffin decorating, grotesque making and more!
This event, run by Rachel Askew, is being held in conjunction with Our Digital Ancestors, a project funded by The National Lottery Heritage Fund and Historic England. Thanks to National Lottery players, we are able to record burial grounds across England and tell the stories of the people buried there.
The event is aimed at KS1 & KS2 children, though younger children are welcome. Children must be accompanied by a parent/carer.
FREE, drop in. Donations welcomed. Refreshments available in the Heritage Centre. Any enquiries, please email heritage@sthelensashby.net
AMAZING ANGLO-SAXONS
Tuesday 21st – Saturday 25th July: 10am – 4.30pm
Melton Carnegie Museum, Thorpe End, Melton Mowbray, Leicestershire LE13 1RB
Free trail around the museum, a free craft and make an Anglo Saxon helmet for £2.50.
For more information please contact the museum via meltonmuseum@leics.gov.uk, call 0116 305 3860 or visit https://www.meltonmuseum.org/
ANCIENT CRAFTS FOR CHILDREN
Wednesday 22nd July: 10.30am – 12 noon & 2pm – 3.30pm
Rutland County Museum, Catmose Street, Oakham, Rutland LE15 6HW
Join us for our family friendly ‘classical’ crafts inspired by the Ancient Egyptians, Greeks and Romans.
Tickets: £3.50 per child (free for under 4s and adults). No need to book, but places will be on a first come, first served basis.
For more information, call 01572 758440 or visit www.rutlandcountymuseum.org.uk
FOSSE WAY FINDS TABLE (NEW FOR 2026)
Thursday 23rd July: 10am – 12 noon
Fosse Meadows Country Park, Sharnford, LE10 3AB
A ‘hands on’ finds table, including detecting and field walking finds from the locality. Some pre-historic ‘tools’ but mainly Roman (coins, pottery, fibulae etc) through medieval: crotal bells, spindle whorls etc.
Location: Roman Road, LE10 3AB. What 3 words: giants.crashing.recover
On site parking is available from 7am – 8pm
Food and Drink: Mason’s Il Cappo Del Caffe Coffee Van is based here serving a selection of hot and cold drinks and snacks.
FREE, drop in
AWESOME ARCHAEOLOGY
Thursday 23rd July: 11am – 1pm
Bosworth Battlefield Heritage Centre, Sutton Cheney CV13 0AD
Become an archaeologist for the day with our fun workshop!
Dig in to an exciting hoard of history themed activities and crafts and get the chance to see some real archaeological finds from our site!
Recommended for ages 5-12
Tickets: £7 per child. To find out more and to book, please visit https://www.bosworthbattlefield.org.uk/events/awesome-archaeology/
DISCOVERING THE HALLATON TREASURE (NEW FOR 2026)
Thursday 23rd July: 11.30am – 12.30pm
Harborough Museum, Adam and Eve Street, Market Harborough LE16 7LT
An interactive and sensory session for Early Years (3-5yrs) and children with SEND
Limited places, please call the museum on 0116 305 3627
ARCHAEOLOGY FUN DAY
Friday 24th July: 11am – 3pm
Leicester Guildhall, Guildhall Lane, Leicester LE1 5FQ
Bring the Kids to Leicester Guildhall to become an archaeologist for the day. Make your own archaeologist’s hat, trowel and ID badge and have a go at digging up some pictures of treasure in our dig trays. Find the pictures of uncovered artefacts around the museum and then discover the actual items in our galleries.
Tickets: £4 Advance online for each participating child, £5 on the door, adults free.
Find out more at https://www.leicestermuseums.org/event-details/?id=3eaba0eb-237a-4c01-bb6b-786982d0f00e or call 0116 454 4554
ROMAN GLADIATORS
Saturday 25th – Sunday 26th July: 10am – 12pm & 1pm – 3pm
Bosworth Battlefield Heritage Centre, Sutton Cheney CV13 0AD
Step into the colosseum as you discover what life was like as a Roman Gladiator!
Tickets: £7 per person. To find out more and to book, please visit https://www.bosworthbattlefield.org.uk/whats-on/
A DAY OF HANDS-ON ARCHAEOLOGY (NEW FOR 2026)
Saturday 25th July: 10.30am – 5pm
Husbands Bosworth Playing Fields, 5 Kilworth Road, Husbands Bosworth, LE17 6JY
Join the new South Leicestershire Fieldwork Group for a day of hands-on archaeology including finds to look at, test pits, metal detecting, geophysical survey and demonstrations and displays
FREE, drop in
AT RISK WAR MEMORIALS PROJECT
Saturday 25th July: 11am – 4pm
The Chancel, All Saints Church, Highcross Street, Leicester LE1 4PH
Why are war memorials important? Often, they are the only memory of someone who died on our behalf. In the words of King George V “Let those who come after see to it that their names be not forgotten.” At All Saints, we now have 54 war memorials of all kinds, which we have taken into care and had we not done so, most would have been lost for ever. Stories of their “rescue” vary from the last-minute reprieve at auction to narrow escape from being turned into scrap – and many more.
They are part of our heritage. Come and learn how you can help. You may even find your ancestor’s name on a memorial you thought had been lost forever.
Special Event: Robin Jenkins will be giving a two-part talk:
Part 1: 12 noon -12.30pm: “Three before Breakfast” – the loss of the armoured cruisers Aboukir, Hogue and Cressy on September 22nd1914.
Part 2: 2.00 pm – 2.30 pm: Seaman Walter Waudby and his shipmates of the cruiser squadron.
In the churchyard. Bring a picnic. Teas and coffees available.
FREE, drop in
For more information please contact Denis Kenyon via 07834 324 352 or mail@atriskwarmemorials.co.uk
NATURE: ARCHAEOLOGICAL TOOL SHED (NEW FOR 2026)
Sunday 26th July: 11am – 3pm
St Nicholas Church, St Nicholas Circle, Leicester LE1 4LB
Join the Friends of Jewry Wall Museum to explore what nature provided to early people. What was used before plastic? How can you cut something without steel? Just how many things can you get from one animal? Also, a chance to look round this fascinating ancient church to discover its Roman and Anglo-Saxon secrets.
Event for all ages, lone explorers and family tribes welcome. Free activities for children.
FREE, drop in. Part of Heritage Sunday.
FOUNDING MEETING OF THE VAUGHAN ARCHAEOLOGY DISCOVERY CIRCLE! (NEW FOR 2026)
Tuesday 28th July: 2pm
Jewry Wall, St Nicholas Circle, Leicester LE1 4LB
Leicester Vaughan College (LVC) is starting a new group for people interested in archaeology. This will take the form of a Discovery Circle, an informal, free, sociable learning group in which participants explore ideas and topics together. LVC offers a range of these Discovery Circles and you can find out more about them at https://vaughan.coop/discovery-circles/.
This first gathering of the Archaeology Circle will be led by archaeologist Dr Ulla Rajala. It will take place in the cafeteria of Leicester’s Jewry Wall Museum. Anyone over 18 is welcome to come along, but those under 18 will need to be accompanied by an adult. This founding meeting offers you the chance to discuss what form you would like the Circle to take and to learn more about the original Vaughan Archaeological and Historical Society which met above the Jewry Wall Museum for many years. We’ll decide when we want to meet and the kinds of activities we’d like to do. These might involve exhibition visits, town walks, discussing archaeological controversies, or explorations of the archaeology finds in the Jewry Wall Museum. Come and make your mark!
Find out more about the Archaeology Discovery Circle at https://vaughan.coop/archaeology-discovery-circle/ and the founding meeting at https://vaughan.coop/course/archaeology-discovery-circle-launch/.
FREE. Sign up to join the first gathering of this circle here https://www.tickettailor.com/events/leicestervaughancollege/2220484
ARCHAEOLOGY FAMILY FUN DAY AT BRADGATE PARK
Wednesday 29th July: 11am – 3pm
Bradgate Park, Newtown Linford LE6 0HB
Explore what lies beneath Bradgate Park! Hands-on family friendly activities across the park, from a Stone Age site to the historic ruins, including drop in crafts and fascinating activities for budding archaeologists of all ages.
FREE, drop in. For more information, visit https://www.bradgatepark.org
MEDIEVAL MAYHEM
Thursday 30th July, 11am – 1pm. £7 per child.
Bosworth Battlefield Heritage Centre, Sutton Cheney CV13 0AD
Travel back in time and take part in some exciting medieval games and crafts!
Tickets: £7 per child. To find out more and to book, please visit https://www.bosworthbattlefield.org.uk/whats-on/
WIZARD SCHOOL! (NEW FOR 2026)
Thursday 30th July: 11am – 3pm
Leicester Guildhall, Guildhall Lane, Leicester LE1 5FQ
Make a wizard wand, hat and magical “rabbit in a hat” toy. Find the pictures around the museum in our wizard world trail and join in our broomstick game in the courtyard (broomsticks provided).
Tickets: £4 Advance online for each participating child, £5 on the door, adults free.
Find out more at https://www.leicestermuseums.org/event-details/?id=18452b59-8234-4b0a-b23a-520480f31c0c or call 0116 454 4554
ROMAN WEEKEND (NEW FOR 2026)
Saturday 8th and Sunday 9th August
Jewry Wall Museum, St Nicholas Circle, Leicester LE1 4LB
Join us for a whole weekend of Roman activities at Jewry Wall Museum this summer. Learn how to be a Roman solider, dig for artefacts in our Dig Pits, carve your own votive from soap, enjoy a guided tour of the Baths site – as well as our amazing exhibition. Some additional charges for activities apply.
Special offer! Adult tickets to Jewry Wall are just £10, and Child tickets just £5 for the duration of the Festival of Archaeology, (Saturday 18th July to Sunday 2nd August.)
For more information visit https://www.jewrywall.com/