King Richard III Visitor Centre, Leicester UK.
King Richard III
Killed in battle in 1485.
His remains were lost for centuries.
Only to be discovered in a car park in Leicester.
Leicester Cathedral King Richard III Resting Place
Leicester Cathedral King Richard III Resting Place
Over 80,000 Visitors Flock to Richard III Visitor Centre in First Year
Original Post Date: 24 July 2015
This weekend the King Richard III Visitor Centre is officially one year old, and since opening on 26th July 2014, has welcomed 81,627 visitors, with a further 3,000 visitors attending corporate events.
Visitors have come from as far away as Canada, USA, Australia, New Zealand and The Bahamas.
Visitor Centre Director, Iain Gordon said: “We have been thrilled with the response to the Centre over the past year.
“We tell an incredible story at the Visitor Centre and the team have really enjoyed sharing that story with so many people from all over the world, as well as many local residents. It is due largely to the efforts of the team that we have received so much positive feedback.
“As well as tourists and local visitors, we are gaining momentum as an attraction and developing a good reputation within the schools and groups market, who generally plan visits well in advance and are now visiting in increasing numbers.
“The Centre has won a number of national and international awards in both tourism and architecture sectors, with Lonely Planet naming us one of the world’s hottest new experiences in 2015.”
Leicester City Mayor Peter Soulsby said: “When this stunning building was first purchased, we didn’t yet know for sure if the remains discovered nearby were indeed those of King Richard.
“The subsequent transformation from derelict grammar school to cutting edge visitor centre was astonishing, and it is now a real landmark in the city’s cathedral quarter.
“I’m delighted that it has proven to be so successful, which is a credit to the trust which run it, and the staff who help ensure the tens of thousands of visitors who have passed through its doors have had a truly memorable experience.”
Martin Traynor, Chairman of the King Richard III Visitor Centre Board of Trustees commented: “The Board are very pleased with the results from the Visitor Centre during its first year of operation.
“Visitor numbers are a key business measure but it is equally as important to recognise and acknowledge the Centre’s other achievements. The Visitor Centre is essentially a start-up business and to be profitable within the first eight months of operation is outstanding. This can be attributed to its immediate popularity and the unparalleled coverage in the media, particularly during reinterment however, the good retail offering has also played a big part in this. Also contributing is the development of the Centre as a venue for corporate entertainment and conferences.
“As a Board, we are very optimistic about the future development of the Centre.”
Within a month of opening the Visitor Centre welcomed over 10,000 visitors and by the end of 2014, that number stood at 30,000.
During the period of reinterment, in March, the Visitor Centre welcomed over 8,000 people, including those who visited as part of the Leicester Glows event. In addition, approximately 2,000 people visited the Centre shop to make purchases, without visiting the exhibition.
Nearly 1650 school children and students have visit the Centre since opening, in 65 separate visits. This includes organised groups of home educated children and university students.
The overall majority of schools visiting are from Leicester and Leicestershire. The groups visiting from further afield tend to be from secondary schools, who take the opportunity to visit other attractions in the area, including Bosworth Battlefield.
The Visitor Centre shop currently stocks nearly 160 products and since opening has sold nearly 57,000 souvenirs.
The Visitor Centre has hosted 75 events, welcoming over 3,000 guests.
The Visitor Centre has recruited over 50 volunteers, who have contributed 2,600 hours to the Visitor Centre.
King Richard III Leicester. Circular walk from Bow Bridge
Fully accessible although a little bumpy in places 26.08.17
King Richard III Makes His Final Journey Through The Streets Of Leicester 22.3.2015
King Richard's cortège makes its way through the streets of Leicester. The coffin passes down High Street to the clock tower, along Gallowtree Gate and finally proceeds up Belvoir Street towards the cathedral. Filmed from amongst the large crowds that lined the route.
King Richard III final journey through Leicester City Centre
King Richard III final journey to the Cathedral through Leicester City Centre. Sunday 22nd March 2015.
A Look at Leicester - Richard III
A video tour of sites associated with Richard III in Leicester, made while I was waiting for the queue to the Richard III archaeological dig to shorten. There is also a downloadable trail available on the Leicester City Council website and one for mobile phones on the Empedia website. For information about tours of the buildings in the video contact Leicester Arts & Museums Service.
At the end of 2013 there are now interpretation panels along the route of this walk. In June 2014 the statue of Richard III was moved from Castle Park to the Cathedral.
Richard III Leicester Tour -
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Richard III Society --
King Richard III Leicester Road
Coming Home: King Richard III Portrait New Walk Museum Leicester
As part of the National Galleries Coming Home project well known portraits are loaned to the place most linked to the person featured, in this case King Richard III whose remains where famously found under a car park in the city of Leicester in 2012.
The (surprisingly small) late 16th century portrait is hung at the New Walk Museum in the city as the centerpiece of an exhibition exploring the story of the King, the discovery of his remains and what these reveal about his life and death.
The exhibition in partnership with Leicester Cathedral and The King Richard Visitor Center runs until September 22nd 2019 and is well worth a visit to see this historic portrait in person.
King Richard III burial site, Leicester
Bosworth Battlefield expert explaining how Richard III was killed.
also check out my website
How did they locate the body of Richard III?
This video is from ‘England in the Time of King Richard III' is a free online course by the University of Leicester available on FutureLearn.com
During the initial top-level excavation of the trench two, using machine tools (a JCB), a skeleton was found just poking out of the medieval layer. This was covered up again to preserve it for detailed study, and Richard Buckley describes how the skeleton was excavated, and what started to come to light.
© University of Leicester
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King Richard 111. Documentary (Return of the King)
Return of the King. Richard 111. Documentary. King Richard 111 Cortege makes it's way through the City to the Cathedral.Tomb of Richard 111 Richards final resting place. Week long celebrations in Leicester. Leicester Glows. Cathedral illuminations. Fireworks.
Richard III - Uncovering the Church of the Friars Minor Leicester
In the summer of 2013 University of Leicester Archaeological Services returned to the Greyfriars site where they found the remains of Richard III. A second dig at the site was necessary because Leicester City Council were about to start work on the King Richard III Visitor Centre, part of which would cover the archaeological site.
The second dig gave the archaeologists the chance to explore a much wider area than the 2012 dig and also gave opportunities to exhume further human remains from the site.
This film was produced by External Relations, University of Leicester.
Filmed & Edited by Carl Vivian
Top Tourist Attractions in Leicester: Travel Guide England
Top Tourist Attractions in Leicester: Travel Guide England
Abbey Park, Abbey Pumping Station, Belvoir Castle, Bosworth Battlefield Heritage Centre, Bradgate Park, Curve Theatre, Haymarket Memorial Clock Tower, Jewry Wall Museum, King Richard III Visitor Centre, Leicester Cathederal, Leicester Guildhall, Leicester Town Hall, National Space Centre, New Walk Museum and Art Gallery, Tropical Birdland, University of Leicester Botanic Garden
Richard III Tomb (4K)
The sealed tomb of King Richard III has a two-tonne block of pale Swaledale fossil limestone which bears a deeply incised cross, while the darker plinth has his name, dates, motto and coat of arms. The last Plantagenet king was killed at Bosworth in 1485 and remains were found beneath a Leicester car park in 2012.
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Leicester is a city in England’s East Midlands region. Leicester Cathedral, where Richard III was reinterred in 2015, has stood at the city’s heart for over 900 years. Close by, the King Richard III Visitor Centre tells the story of the king’s life and death and displays his original burial site.
The ruins of Leicester Castle, where Richard III spent some of his last days, lie in Castle Gardens, near the River Soar.
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Reburial of King Richard III: Marching on the Coffin
Cadets march on the coffin holding the remains of King Richard III at the opening ceremony of the reburial of King Richard III at the Bosworth Battlefield Heritage Centre on the 22nd of March.
King Richard III Visitor Centre, Leicester, on Opening Day 26/7/14.
Slideshow of photos I took at the new King Richard III Visitor Centre - Dynasty Death And Discovery. I was fortunate enough to be one of the first visitors through the doors! A truly amazing experience including a chance to visit the actual grave site where the remains of Richard III were found. I highly recommend a visit to everyone as it appeals to all age groups and kids will love the educational hands-on interactive displays. Beautifully done, everything is laid out to make it easy to learn more about the story of Richard III.
Life in Leicester – DMU
De Montfort University Leicester (DMU) students take you on a tour of the vibrant, multicultural city of Leicester. The bustling city centre is just five minutes’ walk away from the university campus.
Things to see include the King Richard III Visitor Centre, the Curve, one of the UK’s leading producing theatres, and top brand names at the Highcross shopping centre.
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Credits:
Sports match footage provided by Leicester Tigers and Leicestershire County Cricket Club
Music event footage provided by Univibe
Diwali footage provided by Leicester City Council
Image provided by the National Space Centre, Leicester
King Richard III Exhibition opens in Leicester Guildhall
Richard III: Leicester's Search for a King, a new exhibition has opened today at Leicester's historic Guildhall. Crowds gathered at the entrance, before its opening at 10am this morning.