Art GalleriesSpeciality Museums

10:00 AM - 4:00 PM

Monday

10:00 AM - 4:00 PM

Tuesday

10:00 AM - 4:00 PM

Wednesday

10:00 AM - 4:00 PM

Thursday

10:00 AM - 4:00 PM

Friday

10:00 AM - 4:00 PM

Saturday

10:00 AM - 4:00 PM

Sunday

11:00 AM - 4:00 PM

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About

Newarke Houses Museum is composed of two historic houses, Wygston's Chantry House and Skeffington House and tells the story of contemporary Leicester and the history of the Royal Leicestershire Regiment. The museum displays include a cinema experience, a collection of toys from Tudor to present day and a play area for children to try various games. Find out more about Leicester's famous son Daniel Lambert and visit a 1950s street scene inspired by Wharf Street that includes the Jolly Angler public house, a grocer and a pawnbroker, with sounds and conversations from the times. Discover more about the story of Leicester at War. Through personal stories find out about the home front and the history of the Regiment, including a recreation of a First World War trench with sound and lighting. Through oral histories, archive film, computer interactives and collections discover the histories of Newarke Houses, the surrounding historic area and contemporary Leicester.

Duration: 1-2 hours

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See what travelers are saying

fire-tower
3,099 contributions
If you are into history, the displayed should be interesting to you
We drove into Leicester and was in the vicinity, and visited the Newarke Houses Musuem which holds the collections of the Leicestershire Regiment in dedicated galleries. If you are into history, the displayed should be interesting to you. The museum is well maintained and the staff friendly and polite. Entry is free.
Visited September 2023
Traveled with family
Written October 16, 2023
Lisa F
12 contributions
Amazing museum, well thought out and executed
A fabulous find, really interesting & worth a visit. So much more than I expected, free but well worth a donation to keep it going. trenches, street with shops, history of Leicester. Will be back.
Visited February 2024
Traveled as a couple
Written February 26, 2024
Voyage55647359255
Leicester, United Kingdom2 contributions
Great day out
We took our grandchildren there, They are 13 and 11. We all had a lovely time. Everything is so well presented and extremely interesting. The staff were very welcoming. the gardens are a gem and the variety of fascinating things for the kids. we are palnning on going back ourelves to pay more attention to the detail. What a great day out for free !
Visited April 2024
Traveled with family
Written April 3, 2024
lincolnhatter
Lincoln, United Kingdom796 contributions
Very good social history
We do love a social history museum and there are some really interesting displays about life and work in Leicester, some good film footage, very interesting film about the Leicester suffragette Alice Hawkins. The exhibition on the Leicestershires was very good with lots of info and interesting personal stories. Fascinating display about the Ugandan Asians who came to Leicester and the story behind their expulsion by Amin, I remember this a child but didn't know much about it, but this displays explains its very well Really enjoyed this little museum and its well worth a decent donation as its a freebie. Oh, and the toilets are pristine!!
Visited March 2024
Traveled as a couple
Written April 5, 2024
Richard W
3 contributions
Didn't know what to expect
From being welcomed at the reception with a brief but friendly introduction this relatively small museum packs a big punch with lots of interesting things for all ages. Beautiful garden to thr rear as well. Thoroughly recommended
Visited April 2024
Traveled with friends
Written April 12, 2024
Mike R
Leicester, United Kingdom1 contribution
What a great experience, kept the grandkids busy for hours
Had a great day at the museum, took our grandkids down for the Daniel Lambert day expecting to be there for an hour or so to complete the clay model of Daniel and other Daniel related crafts. We ended up staying for over 5 hours. The kids (aged 5 and 8 ) can’t wait to go back. We enjoyed the fairy trail in the stunning gardens and our grandson did the Daniel Lambert trail learning great stuff on the way. We met the lovely helpful team at the museum, supported by volunteers. Can’t thank you enough. Regards Mike, Carol, April and Aussie
Visited July 2024
Traveled with family
Written July 17, 2024

These reviews are the subjective opinion of Tripadvisor members and not of TripAdvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.

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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.

Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.

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4.5

268 reviews

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93

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Victoria

Leicester, UK223 contributions

Just wasn't child friendly enough.

Aug 2021 • Family

I've been here before and enjoyed it in the past. Today I came here as a group with quite a few children and my friends. Anyways the young children were quite excited to see many stuff around the museum. My overall view of the museum wasn't great today... staff that are unsure how to crack a smile. I felt quite unwelcome by the staff from the very beginning of entry. This place had a lack of a child-friendly feeling compared to New Walk.

Anyways I respect children were quite loud at some stages and there were many other kids running about too that I didn't even know. I found it quite rude when the museum lady shouted up the stairs to me like 'can you guys keep the noise down, other visitors are complaining' and other museum lady saying 'There's a monster in here be quiet' ... like OK.

I'm sorry but we are visitors ourselves and although sometimes kids can be quite noisy, what do you expect in public places also? At the end of the day we could just keep the children on Ipads at home but thought we take them out. Also visitors keeps them in a job. One lady in the old toy room didn't look like she wanted to be there and I felt a negative vibe in there when I was looking.

The gardens that lead to the other gardens were great and we explored that and also went on a walk near Castle Motto, near St. Mary's and other surrounding areas.the building is an interesting history. It is an interesting area in that part of Leicester.

Written August 9, 2021

This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Patrick Scattergood - Author

Leicester, UK8 contributions

A Wonderful, Hidden Treat

Aug 2021

This museum really gives a sense of the history that Leicester is known for, even giving it a personal experience to people that served in the various wars overseas.

The gardens are absolutely gorgeous too. Really gives you a sense of beauty and serenity.

Written August 12, 2021

This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

rebeljenn

Ruislip, UK902 contributions

Nice museum

Aug 2021

You can see military exhibits upstairs and information on society - old shops, etc. It gives a glimpse of earlier society. There's a little bit of garden too. Don't forget the murals on the side

Written August 27, 2021

This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

alisdair t

Workington, UK6,340 contributions

An excellent museum, so much to see

Sep 2021

The museum is housed in 2 houses, built around 1510, (with extensions), and houses a plethera of interesting artefacts, from history, the local regiment museum, ( with a mock up of a war tench) and a mock up street of old shops, from the 1950s... Its free to get in, and wander around at your leisure. There is no real route to follow, wetried to follow the numbers, but had to double back a couple of times. Nice gardens at the rear of the museum..

Written September 26, 2021

This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

fire-tower

3,099 contributions

If you are into history, the displayed should be interesting to you

Sep 2023 • Family

We drove into Leicester and was in the vicinity, and visited the Newarke Houses Musuem which holds the collections of the Leicestershire Regiment in dedicated galleries. If you are into history, the displayed should be interesting to you. The museum is well maintained and the staff friendly and polite. Entry is free.

Written October 16, 2023

This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

lincolnhatter

Lincoln, UK796 contributions

Very good social history

Mar 2024 • Couples

We do love a social history museum and there are some really interesting displays about life and work in Leicester, some good film footage, very interesting film about the Leicester suffragette Alice Hawkins. The exhibition on the Leicestershires was very good with lots of info and interesting personal stories.
Fascinating display about the Ugandan Asians who came to Leicester and the story behind their expulsion by Amin, I remember this a child but didn't know much about it, but this displays explains its very well
Really enjoyed this little museum and its well worth a decent donation as its a freebie.
Oh, and the toilets are pristine!!

Written April 5, 2024

This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

memee08

Perth, Australia467 contributions

A mis-match of interesting things

May 2023

Interesting place. It is a real mish-mash of different things thrown together, including the history of manufacturing in Leicester, an old-fashioned street, historical toys, arrival of Ugandan Asians in Leicester, World Wars 1&2, a created trench experience and a lovely garden. They have certainly catered for kids with some good interactive displays (but fairly basic information) and have some very detailed adult regimental displays. It feels very mis-matched, but quite enjoyable. It’s free to enter and central to the city centre. Lovely area with a church next door and the castle garden around the corner.

Written May 3, 2023

This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

tinkle_24

Northampton, UK1,776 contributions

Compact and informative

Jun 2023

Housed in what used to be homes of eminent businessmen in Leicester, several rooms exhibited different themes. A paved street from the old days, history of the city, Leicester regiment and their contribution. Also a temporary exhibition of toys of yore. Tranquil wild garden for contemplation. Pleasant time spent!

Written June 10, 2023

This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Simon B

10 contributions

Hidden Gem

Dec 2021 • Friends

This is a hidden gem on the De Montfort campus. Really well set out local history museum with very interesting range of exhibits. The regimental museum upstairs was well laid out and very evocative. Really looking forward to taking grandchildren. Row of shops is great. All in a a great experience which I would thoroughly recommend - and it's free!

Written December 5, 2021

This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Dave B

Dunfermline, UK866 contributions

Quick visit

Feb 2020 • Couples

Lots to see here. There is a mini cobbled street with shop fronts and a tiny pub and shop, more little shops you can go in would have been good. There was an exhibit about ethnic minorities in soccer. Strange, but shows you how many of them must live here. We skipped that. There was a place you could sit down and watch old movies about Leicester, with English people, sad to see how it has changed. They have placed this next to a toy room for kids, because the poor little dears can’t go anywhere without playing of course. The problem was, we couldn’t hear for the yelling and screaming. Why take your kids to a museum to ruin it for everyone else? Stay at home! We ended up having to leave, it was really annoying. There was also, I assume, an original wood panelled room, original stain glass and a war exhibit, including a mascot war dog.

Written March 1, 2020

This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

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