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King Richard III Visitor Centre, City Centre

Companionship careLeicester

Days out in Leicester for an older parent

Eight places in Leicester that make a good day out for an older parent, from King Richard III Visitor Centre to Watermead Country Park South. For each one: what its own access information confirms, what it costs, how long to allow, and the carers nearby who drive and could take them.

Researched by PrimeCarers from each place’s own website and access information  ·  Updated October 2026

King Richard III Visitor Centre. Photo: Mat Fascione, CC BY-SA 2.0

Eight days out across five towns

The best places to take an older parent in Leicester

Five of them are free to visit or to walk around. The access information for four confirm an accessible toilet. Where a place does not publish its access, we say so.

King Richard III Visitor Centre, City Centre

Photo: Mat Fascione, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Museum · City Centre

King Richard III Visitor Centre

The King Richard III Visitor Centre tells the story of the king's life, death at Bosworth and the 2012 discovery of his remains under a Leicester car park. Visitors can see the original grave site under a glass floor, and the White Boar Café is on site.

The exhibition, grave enclosure and café have level paths, there is a lift to the first floor, seating in every gallery, a fully accessible toilet by the café, and carers go free.

Time to allow
An hour or two
Cost
Carers go free

What their access information confirms

  • Accessible toilet
  • Café

Their websiteAccess information

Carers who drive, based near City Centre

Leicester Cathedral, City Centre

Photo: DeFacto, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Cathedral · City Centre

Leicester Cathedral

Leicester Cathedral is a medieval church in the heart of the old town and holds the tomb of King Richard III, reburied here in 2015. It sits beside Cathedral Gardens and the King Richard III Visitor Centre, with a new Heritage and Learning Centre alongside.

The main entrance through the south door is wheelchair accessible, the floor is level throughout, and there is an accessible toilet in the Heritage and Learning Centre.

Time to allow
An hour or two
Cost
Check prices

What their access information confirms

  • Accessible toilet
  • Blue Badge parking

Their websiteAccess information

Carers who drive, based near City Centre

Leicester Museum and Art Gallery, New Walk

Photo: Alex Liivet from Chester, United Kingdom, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons

Museum · New Walk

Leicester Museum and Art Gallery

Leicester Museum and Art Gallery on New Walk has collections spanning dinosaurs, ancient Egypt, German Expressionist art and Picasso ceramics. It is set on a tree-lined Georgian promenade a short walk from the city centre.

General entry is free and Blue Badge holders can park free on the street nearby, though the café is closed during refurbishment, so plan a drink elsewhere.

Time to allow
An hour or two
Cost
Free entry

What their access information confirms

  • Blue Badge parking

Their website

Carers who drive, based near New Walk

Leicester Guildhall, City Centre

Photo: Roger Templeman, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Museum · City Centre

Leicester Guildhall

Leicester Guildhall is one of the best preserved timber framed halls in the country, built around 600 years ago beside the cathedral. Visitors can see the Great Hall, the old police cells and the library, and there is a small café and shop.

General entry is free and it sits next to the cathedral and King Richard III Visitor Centre, so the three can be combined in one short trip.

Time to allow
An hour or two
Cost
Free entry

Access

Their website does not set out its access in detail, so ring ahead about parking, paths and toilets.

Their website

Carers who drive, based near City Centre

Newarke Houses Museum, The Newarke

Photo: RobinLeicester, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Museum · The Newarke

Newarke Houses Museum

Newarke Houses is a social history and regimental museum in two historic houses near De Montfort University, with a recreated Victorian street, toy collections and the story of the Royal Leicestershire Regiment. There is a period garden behind the houses.

Entry is free except on event days, and the rooms of household objects and toys often spark memories, which suits a gentle hour at your parent's pace.

Time to allow
An hour or two
Cost
Free except on event days

Access

Their website does not set out its access in detail, so ring ahead about parking, paths and toilets.

Their website

Carers who drive, based near The Newarke

National Space Centre, Belgrave

Photo: Matt Brown, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Museum · Belgrave

National Space Centre

The National Space Centre has galleries about rockets, planets and space exploration, a tall rocket tower with real rockets, and a planetarium dome show. Boosters Café is on site.

Manual wheelchairs and walking stick chairs can be borrowed on the day, there are accessible toilets on the ground floor and Blue Badge parking, and essential carers go free.

Time to allow
Half a day
Cost
Essential carers free

What their access information confirms

  • Accessible toilet
  • Blue Badge parking
  • Café

Their websiteAccess information

Carers who drive, based near Belgrave

Abbey Park, Belgrave

Photo: Tim Heaton, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Park · Belgrave

Abbey Park

Abbey Park is Leicester's best known park, with the ruins of Leicester Abbey where Cardinal Wolsey died, formal gardens, a sensory garden, a lavender maze, a lake and riverside walks. There is an on-site car park.

There are public toilets and a Changing Places toilet, but the café is closed for now, so bring a flask and plan a short loop of the gardens and lake.

Time to allow
An hour or two
Cost
Free entry, parking charged

What their access information confirms

  • Accessible toilet

Their website

Carers who drive, based near Belgrave

Watermead Country Park South, North Leicester

Photo: Mat Fascione, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Nature reserve · North Leicester

Watermead Country Park South

Watermead Country Park South is a large area of lakes, woodland and wetland on the River Soar in north Leicester, created from old gravel workings. It is good for watching swans, ducks and other water birds.

The entrances are step-free and some routes are level enough for wheelchairs, so the carer can pick a surfaced path along the lakes and turn back when needed.

Time to allow
An hour or two
Cost
Free

What their access information confirms

  • Partly step-free

Their website

Carers who drive, based near North Leicester

Regular groups and events in Leicester

Something to go back to every week or every year, from our research into what older people enjoy doing in Leicester.

  • Gardening · LeicesterHeritage gardening volunteers at Abbey Pumping StationLeicester Museums recruits volunteers to help look after the grounds at Abbey Pumping Station, and says willingness matters more than experience. A carer could go along with someone for the first few sessions and keep the tasks to light jobs like potting and deadheading.Details
  • Dancing · LeicesterLeicester Caribbean CarnivalA community carnival held each August since 1985, with masquerade bands, steelpan and calypso in the Trinidadian tradition. A carer can find a shaded spot along the route with a seat, and keep the visit to an hour or two rather than the whole day.Details
  • Dancing · LeicesterDiwali celebrations on Belgrave RoadLeicester's Diwali programme includes the switch-on of thousands of lights along Belgrave and Melton Roads plus dozens of linked events across the city. A carer can pick a quieter daytime event rather than the crowded switch-on night, and sort parking or a taxi drop-off close by.Details
  • Photography · LeicesterLeicester and Leicestershire Photographic SocietyA society founded in 1885 that meets weekly on Friday evenings from September to May in Clarendon Park, open to all levels. A carer can help with lifts and with getting images ready to show, which is often the barrier rather than the photography itself.Details
  • Painting · LeicesterLeicester Society of Artists annual exhibitionA society of local artists running annual and themed exhibitions at Leicester Museum and Art Gallery, with work from professionals and newer artists. A carer can make a regular outing of each show, and it can be a prompt to get someone painting again at home.Details
  • Reading · LeicesterEverybody's Reading festivalA city-wide literary festival held each October, with well over a hundred free and low cost events in venues across Leicester. A carer can pick out one or two daytime events near home rather than trying to cover the programme.Details

Hobbies and carers who share them in Leicester

At a glance

The eight places side by side

What each place’s own access information confirms. “Ask” means it does not say, not that it is missing.

PlaceTimeCostStep-freeToiletCafé
King Richard III Visitor CentreCity Centrean hour or twoPaid entryAskYesYes
Leicester CathedralCity Centrean hour or twoCheck pricesAskYesAsk
Leicester Museum and Art GalleryNew Walkan hour or twoFreeAskAskAsk
Leicester GuildhallCity Centrean hour or twoFreeAskAskAsk
Newarke Houses MuseumThe Newarkean hour or twoFreeAskAskAsk
National Space CentreBelgravehalf a dayPaid entryAskYesYes
Abbey ParkBelgravean hour or twoFreeAskYesAsk
Watermead Country Park SouthNorth Leicesteran hour or twoFreePartlyAskAsk

Where the places are in Leicester

The county’s boundary, numbered as on this page, with the main towns for reference.

12345678
  1. 1King Richard III Visitor Centre, City Centre
  2. 2Leicester Cathedral, City Centre
  3. 3Leicester Museum and Art Gallery, New Walk
  4. 4Leicester Guildhall, City Centre
  5. 5Newarke Houses Museum, The Newarke
  6. 6National Space Centre, Belgrave
  7. 7Abbey Park, Belgrave
  8. 8Watermead Country Park South, North Leicester

What it costs

What a day out with a carer costs in Leicester

Carers in Leicester charge £19 to £20 an hour through PrimeCarers, typically £19, with our fee included. A four-hour outing is about £76 for the carer’s time. Entry, food and parking are extra, and travel costs are only payable if you agree them with the carer in advance, in writing. The cost of home care in Leicester has the full figures.

Photographs on this page are from Wikimedia Commons, credited under each one.

Questions

Questions families ask about days out in Leicester

King Richard III Visitor Centre in City Centre, Leicester Cathedral in City Centre, Leicester Museum and Art Gallery in New Walk, Leicester Guildhall in City Centre, Newarke Houses Museum in The Newarke, National Space Centre in Belgrave, Abbey Park in Belgrave and Watermead Country Park South in North Leicester. Each has its own section on this page with what its access information confirms, the cost and how long to allow.

King Richard III Visitor Centre, Leicester Cathedral, National Space Centre and Abbey Park have an accessible toilet. Access changes, so ring ahead about anything your parent depends on.

Leicester Museum and Art Gallery, Leicester Guildhall, Newarke Houses Museum, Abbey Park and Watermead Country Park South. Parking is often charged even where entry is free.

Yes. A companion carer can drive your parent there, walk at their pace, help with the toilet and meals, and bring them home. 25 of the carers with a rate near Leicester drive. Visits are booked by the hour, typically £19 an hour here with our fee included. Companionship care in Leicester shows who is available.

Often. Many attractions let a carer or companion in free, or at a reduced price, with a disabled visitor, and some ask for proof such as a letter or a benefit award. It varies, so check each place’s access or prices page before you go.

Where the nearest carers live

From the profiles of the carers based within about 45 minutes of Leicester

Where the nearest carers live. A carer close to home can manage a longer day out.

Companionship care in the counties around Leicester

Days out in the areas around Leicester

Find a carer who could take them out in Leicester

See carers near Leicester who drive, with their photos, interests, rates and reviews. Talking to them is free and nothing is booked until you say so.

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