We’re thrilled to share that the King Richard III Visitor Centre has scooped a Silver Award in the Small Visitor Attraction of the Year category at the prestigious Visit England Awards for Excellence our first ever national award from Visit England!

This recognition couldn’t come at a more exciting time, as we celebrate the 10th anniversary of King Richard III’s reinterment and look ahead to the reopening of the Jewry Wall Museum: A Real Roman Experience, coming later this summer.

Our Centre was honoured alongside two other fantastic Leicestershire venues:

  • The National Space Centre (Silver – Large Visitor Attraction of the Year)
  • The Griffin Inn, Swithland (Bronze – Pub of the Year)

These awards, held in Brighton on 4 June, celebrate the very best in English tourism. Only a select few attractions from hundreds of entries across the country make it to the finals, making this achievement all the more special.

Phil Hackett, General Manager of the award-winning King Richard III visitor centre added: ‘This national recognition means a great deal, it highlights the dedication and the warm, welcoming experience our amazing team offer to all our visitors, the same team that are behind the soon to open Jewry Wall Museum: A real Roman Experience. Thank you to everyone who has supported us over the last decade, including our incredible volunteers and every visitor who's helped us celebrate the most incredible archaeological detective story ever told…’

Mike Denby, Director of Place Marketing at Visit Leicester said: "We are absolutely delighted to have three of our Leicestershire attractions reach the finals of the Visit England awards for excellence and be placed alongside the very best this country has to offer.


“The National Space Centre and the King Richard III Visitor Centre are two of our top attractions, and receiving silver awards simply underlines their importance to regional tourism. As Leicester and Leicestershire's LVEP we would like to thank all of our partners, but especially Leicestershire Promotions, who run our regional Tourism & Hospitality Awards."

This trio of awards is proof that Leicester has firmly established itself as a tourism powerhouse that continues to drive economic growth and prosperity. In 2023, the city’s tourism industry contributed nearly £2.4 billion to the local economy, attracting more than 31.28 million visitors to the city and surrounding county. This surge in tourism has led to a significant increase in employment, with over 22,923 people now working in tourism-related jobs. The city’s rich history and diverse cultural offerings, including the iconic (and award winning) King Richard III Visitor Centre and National Space Centre, alongside the Jewry Wall Roman Museum — which is set to reopen later this summer — continue to captivate visitors from around the globe. Leicester’s flourishing tourism sector is not only enhancing the city's global reputation but also solidifying its place as a key player in the UK's tourism landscape.