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Offered languages
- English
- English
This self-guided audio walking tour through medieval Leicester is hosted by historian and History Hit podcaster Matt Lewis.
On this walking tour, you'll discover the dramatic history hiding behind the 2012 discovery of King Richard III beneath a city car park. Over the next hour, your smartphone's GPS automatically plays Matt’s narration at exactly the right time and place, letting you safely explore at your own pace.
Starting at the Richard III Visitor Centre, you'll track the final footsteps of England’s last Plantagenet king. You'll learn the secrets of the Newarke Gateway, pass the drafty remains of Leicester Castle, and look down at the ancient Roman wall.
You'll walk to Bow Bridge to learn the grim legend of Richard's departure, explore St. Nicholas Church, and marvel at the architecture of Guildhall Lane. The tour finishes at the Cathedral Gardens by Richard's statue and final tomb.
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What's Included
Meeting and pickup
This tour starts at Visit Leicester Information Centre. Before arrival, please install the mobile app and use the code provided on your confirmation ticket. Detailed starting point instructions are available after downloading.
Itinerary
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King Richard III Visitor Centre (Pass by)
On this audio tour, you'll learn about how the 700-year-old remains of the lost king were discovered under a local car park in 2012, sparking a global fascination.
Admission ticket free -
Leicester Cathedral (Pass by)
On this walking tour, you'll hear about how Richard III was finally reburied here in 2015 with dignity inside a tomb of Yorkshire fossil stone etched with his personal motto, "Loyalty Binds Me".
Admission ticket free -
(Pass by)
On this GPS-guided tour, you'll find out how this imposing three-story sandstone archway featured an upper-floor medieval toilet that emptied directly into the ditch below.
Admission ticket free -
Turret Gateway (Pass by)
On this immersive smartphone tour, you'll discover the small gun loops carved into the medieval stone for muskets when Royalist forces stormed the town during the English Civil War.
Admission ticket free -
Leicester Castle (Pass by)
On this self-guided audio tour, you'll learn how Richard III chose to sleep at a public inn instead of this historic royal residence because the aging castle had become incredibly cold and drafty.
Admission ticket free -
(Pass by)
On this historical walking tour, you'll be treated to the story of the Leicester Town Wall, which contains some of the oldest Roman brickwork in the UK.
Admission ticket free -
(Pass by)
On this audio journey, you'll explore the site where a local wise woman supposedly predicted that the king's head would strike the bridge on his return from battle exactly where his spur hit it on the way out.
Admission ticket free -
(Pass by)
On this GPS-guided walk, you'll tune into how medieval builders recycled ancient infrastructure to build the church, utilizing bricks scavenged directly from neighboring Roman ruins.
Admission ticket free -
Leicester Guildhall (Pass by)
On this smartphone walking tour, you'll find out how the street once formed a dark tunnel of shadows lined with timber houses that leaned so far out they nearly touched across the cobbles.
Admission ticket free -
King Richard Ⅲ Statue (Pass by)
On this final tour stop, you'll hear about how the victorious Tudors used real physical traits like Richard's scoliosis to spin centuries of villainous propaganda.
Admission ticket free
Additional info
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Tags
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Cancellation Policy
- For a full refund, you must cancel at least 24 hours before the experience’s start time.
- If you cancel less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time, the amount you paid will not be refunded.
- Any changes made less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time will not be accepted.
You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.
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