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Leicestershire News
For the latest news, events and developments from the Leicester and Leicestershire tourism industry, please click on the links below. If you represent a Leicester and Leicestershire tourism business and wish to see your story posted here, please email simon.gribbon@l-p-l.com with the details and an appropriate image, if available.
Also email this address if you want to sign up to receive regular updates on these news stories.
Twycross Zoo launches a permanent recycling scheme for mobile phones to protect great apes in the wi
2 June 2017
From Monday 5 June visitors to Twycross Zoo will be able to dispose of their old and unused mobile phones in an environmentally friendly way. The recycling scheme, launching on World Environment Day, will complement the zoo’s efforts to conserve great apes, particularly bonobos in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
Join Sooty and friends at CONKERS this Whitsun half-term
9 May 2017
Families can enjoy entertainment and magic shows, plus activities, performances and new 4D cinema from 27 May to 4 June
Twycross Zoo sets out to build a new chimpanzee habitat
3 May 2017
Work on a brand-new chimpanzee habitat has begun at Twycross Zoo in the Midlands. The zoo’s iconic species will move into a large immersive habitat that encourages natural behaviours, while visitors can look forward to a more engaging way of watching and learning about chimpanzees. Construction of the £2.6million facility started mid-March
Critically endangered northern white-cheeked gibbon is born at Twycross Zoo
25 April 2017
The world renowned primate centre Twycross Zoo in the East Midlands is delighted to announce the birth of a northern white-cheeked gibbon (Nomascus leucogenys), which was born at the zoo on Tuesday 18 April 2017, and is the first infant northern white-cheeked gibbon to be born in Europe this year.
£5,000 grant awarded to support Active Choice programme in Leicestershire
24 April 2017
Programme aims to ensure long-term reductions in crime and anti-social behaviour
New guide to help visitors plan a great day out in Leicester and Leicestershire
10 April 2017
Visitors can plan a great day in Leicester and Leicestershire with the help of a new guide
A cinematic revolution at CONKERS
6 April 2017
New 4D cinema opens to show films that stimulate all the senses
Twycross Zoo celebrates the birth of critically endangered Bornean orangutan
30 March 2017
Twycross Zoo is excited to welcome into the world a critically-endangered Bornean orangutan baby, third offspring to father Batu and mother Maliku. The new arrival is the first great ape baby to be born at the Leicestershire visitor attraction this year and an important part of a European-wide breeding programme to conserve the iconic orangutan species which faces an uncertain future in the wild.
New Day boat on ‘The Ashby’ ‘HARRY AND SALLY’ BOSWORTH MARINA’S DAYBOAT
16 March 2017
As the sun starts to shine, Bosworth Marina’s brand new day boat will be seen out and about on the lovely lockless and tranquil Ashby Canal. Starline Boats from Nuneaton completed the build of the 43 foot luxury stern cruiser ‘Harry and Sally’ during 2016 with a specification for easy access and the ability to accommodate a wheelchair.
Gibbons at Twycross Zoo celebrate first year in new home
15 February 2017
Twycross Zoo in Leicestershire is celebrating the first anniversary since their opening of Gibbon Forest, an innovative habitat for its wide collection of gibbons
Great Central Railway Salutes Valiant Volunteers
24 January 2017
The Great Central Railway has celebrated the volunteers who keep the award winning Leicestershire line alive and uncovered a staggering track record. Sixty six of them have each clocked up more than forty years of service. To put it another way, that's two thousand and six hundred years combined!
Twycross Zoo set to blossom with new landscaping project
19 January 2017
Twycross Zoo in Leicestershire is pleased to announce that it has commissioned landscape architect Dominic Cole, best-known for his designs at the Eden Project and the Lost Gardens of Heligan in Cornwall, to create a new vision for the zoo’s landscaping.
Twycross Zoo takes key steps to become one of UK’s leading visitor attractions
16 January 2017
Twycross Zoo has many reasons to celebrate the start of 2017 as the visitor attraction looks back on an extraordinarily successful year. The past twelve months have seen an unprecedented number of important animal births, many new developments at the 88-acre site in rural Leicestershire and numerous awards, all crowned with a record number of visitors, representing an 8% increase from 2015.
Designs revealed for Jewry Wall revamp
12 January 2017
Stunning designs have been revealed for a project to transform the site of Leicester’s biggest Roman ruins into a world-class visitor centre.
Bring your little monkeys to meet their mischievous mates at Twycross Zoo
12 December 2016
On Wednesday 14 December, Twycross Zoo in Leicestershire will be celebrating the World Monkey Day to raise awareness of the various primate species and the threats they face in the wild. Visitors to the zoo can learn about twenty different species of monkeys, seven of which are threatened with extinction.
Rare birth of endangered François langurs at Twycross Zoo
21 November 2016
Twycross Zoo in Leicestershire celebrates the arrival of two endangered François langur babies born less than four weeks apart between October and November. The new-born monkeys, easily recognisable by their bright orange fur, are the 4th and 5th François langurs bred at Twycross Zoo. Including this pair, there were only six babies born in Europe in the last year.
King Richard III Visitor Centre launches exclusive ticket offer…
1 November 2016
From 1st November until 23rd December Leicestershire and Rutland residents can buy two tickets for £10.00. To qualify for the “two for a tenner” offer, all you have to do is bring along a utilities or Council Tax bill with your Leicestershire or Rutland address on it. And if that wasn’t already a great offer, both tickets are valid for twelve months!
Iconic building selected for new Leicester City Railway musuem
27 October 2016
WilkinsonEyre design will host unique collection of locomotives at the Great Central Railway
Every day is ‘World Gibbon Day’ at Twycross Zoo
20 October 2016
What better way to enjoy World Gibbon Day on Monday 24 October, than with a visit to one of the largest gibbon facilities in Europe at Twycross Zoo in Leicestershire.
Don’t miss your chance to follow in the footsteps of the stars of ITV's "Victoria"
17 October 2016
Those that enjoyed ITV's new drama "Victoria" might be interested to know that the railway scenes featured in the series were filmed at the Great Central Railway's Mountsorrel branch line. In the drama Queen Victoria and Prince Albert enjoy their first exhilarating experience of riding on a train through the Leicestershire countryside.
A gift from the sky for Twycross Zoo
7 October 2016
Great apes at Twycross Zoo have received a generous gift from a very unlikely donor. The largest station in the Royal Air Force and home to the RAF Transport Fleet, RAF Brize Norton spotted a novel way of recycling discarded cargo nets by donating twelve of these to Twycross Zoo to enrich the habitats for the chimpanzees, gorillas, orangutans and bonobos.
Land secured for Leicester's new railway museum
16 September 2016
Land that's currently leased to a local allotment society is to be returned to the city council to keep plans for Leicester’s new heritage railway museum on track.
Bill Ford to retire as Managing Director of Great Central Railway
1 September 2016
For some time Bill has recognised the impact of running the railway has had on his health, and that as a youthful 78 year old a slight reduction in workload may be a good idea. Bill has therefore chosen to retire as Managing Director at the end of September 2016.
British Sign Language tours at the Visitor Centre
17 August 2016
Following the previous success of BSL tours at the Visitor Centre, the award-winning attraction has announced two dates for this year.
Leicester Racecourse prepare for Ladies Day 2017
17 August 2016
It’s their biggest event of the year, and Leicester Racecourse certainly didn’t disappoint at Ladies Day 2016, exceeding all expectations, with record breaking results, which have just been released.
Fans flock to Fearless Foxes exhibition
12 August 2016
Leicester's 'Fearless Foxes’ exhibition at the city’s New Walk Museum & Art Gallery is proving to be a big hit with the public.
Curve announces Ian Squires as Chair of the Board
3 August 2016
Today, Curve announced that Ian Squires has been appointed Chair of the Board of Curve. Squires is an experienced theatre trustee and board member
Twycross Zoo celebrates birth of its second pair of rare Amur leopard cubs
3 August 2016
Two new cubs mark the zoo’s key role in the global endeavour to save the species from extinction
Get digging at the King Richard III Visitor Centre this summer!
18 July 2016
This summer at the King Richard III Visitor Centre younger visitors can discover the techniques used by archaeologists during the Greyfriars dig, which took place in 2012 and uncovered the remains of King Richard III.
Top bosses meet over Twycross Zoo transformation
12 July 2016
Twycross Zoo CEO Sharon Redrobe guided Alison Rose, CEO of NatWest’s Commercial &Private Banking on a tour of recent developments at the zoo, some of which have been funded by a loan from the bank.
Michaela Strachan brings her show back to Twycross Zoo
13 April 2016
Animal lovers will be able to meet Michaela Strachan at Twycross Zoo in Leicestershire as the popular television presenter comes back for another set of her ‘Really Wild Adventures’ shows.
Ragdale Hall reveals new Verandah Bar Dining Experience
13 April 2016
Award-winning Ragdale Hall Health Hydro and Thermal Spa's eagerly awaited new dining area - the extended and completely refitted Verandah Bar - is now open, and is already a huge hit with guests at the Leicestershire-based spa.
Twycross Zoo hosts unforgettable birthday parties
8 April 2016
Getting up close to the zoo’s pets and rare animals makes for a very special birthday
Major improvement plans for Jewry Wall
1 April 2016
Leicester's finest Roman remains could become a top-class visitor attraction under new plans to improve the historic site.
Come face-to-face with wildlife in an ‘Animal Encounter’ at Twycross Zoo
30 March 2016
How do you feed the world’s tallest animal, the giraffe? Find out how with an Animal Encounter experience at Twycross Zoo, which, for the first time, is offering visitors the chance to feed its giraffes.
Remembering the reinterment - King Richard III in pictures
26 March 2016
Following the launch of its photography exhibition Reinterment: One Year On in February and subsequent appeal for images from the reinterment, the King Richard III Visitor Centre will unveil a huge photo-mosaic portrait of the King
One year on: Richard III reinterment
22 March 2016
The University of Leicester looks back on the anniversary of the reinterment of the last Plantagenet king
Second baby bonobo at Twycross Zoo in seven months
9 March 2016
A wonderful act of mother’s care spotted at the only zoo in the UK to house the endangered great ape
Visitor numbers rocket after Twycross Zoo opens Gibbon Forest
22 February 2016
In the first 12 days since the opening of Gibbon Forest, an innovative £2million gibbon habitat, over 18,000 people have visited the new attraction at Twycross Zoo
Education Secretary visits Twycross Zoo
16 February 2016
Sharon Redrobe, CEO at Twycross Zoo accompanied Rt. Honourable Nicky Morgan on a visit of the zoo’s newest habitat, the Gibbon Forest
One year on - remembering the reinterment of King Richard III
16 February 2016
To mark the occasion, the King Richard III Visitor Centre has launched a photography exhibition – Reinterment: One Year On – which tells the story of what was a truly historic week for Leicester and Leicestershire
New £2m gibbon habitat opens to the public at Twycross Zoo
10 February 2016
Twycross Zoo in Leicestershire has officially opened one of the largest gibbon facilities in Europe in its most ambitious development to date
Great Central Railway reunification begins
8 February 2016
One of the biggest projects in railway preservation is about to get underway. A new bridge will be built in Loughborough to carry the tracks of the award winning heritage line, the Great Central Railway over the Midland Main Line.
Visitor Centre achieves national tourism accreditation
28 January 2016
The new year at the King Richard III Visitor Centre has started with a bang with an award, an accreditation and great news for visitors buying tickets for the city centre attraction.
Special thanks from Twycross Zoo
26 January 2016
Zoo thanks donors and makes new appeal to local gardeners
Abbey Pumping Station set to grow
11 January 2016
Leicester’s popular museum of technology at the Abbey Pumping Station could be set for expansion as part of a wider project that will consider how the city council can put more of its historic items on display.
Revamp due for Abbey Pumping Station Museum
11 January 2016
Abbey Pumping Station Museum could be set for a £500,000 revamp as part of improvement works designed to increase visitor numbers and better showcase its historic collections.
The National Attractions Marketing Conference - 11 February
22 December 2015
The 4th National Marketing Conference for Visitor Attractions takes place on 11th February at St George’s Park, the FA’s National Football Centre of Excellence and is open to all types of visitor attraction and event, including theme parks, museums, zoos, steam railways, castles, cathedrals and stately homes and gardens.
Twycross Zoo carries out its annual animal census
22 December 2015
Keepers at Twycross Zoo are gearing up to carry out the annual stock take of the zoo's animals. Counting each individual of the 163 species will surely keep the staff busy on the first day of 2016.
Celebrate Christmas at Twycross Zoo
2 December 2015
In the advent of Christmas, there are ample opportunities for festive family entertainment at Twycross Zoo in Leicestershire, which is hosting a variety of activities, special events and Yuletide offers. From the chance to meet Santa to a festive Sunday lunch, children as well as adults can enjoy the seasonal programme right up until Christmas Eve.
Great Central railway Bridge Statement
2 December 2015
The recent delay and revised timescale of the electrification of the Midland Mainline has had an inevitable impact on the Bridging the Gap project in that the efficiency savings, which were originally anticipated as a result of contractors combining work on both projects, are now lost.
Walking in a Winter Wonderland at CONKERS
11 November 2015
Raise your Christmas spirits with Santa and his reindeers, snowfalls, mulled wine and mince pies, and a polar bear bandstand from 28 November to 24 December 2015
Record-breaking half-term at National Space Centre
2 November 2015
Over the October half term period almost 20,000 family visitors enjoyed a day out at the National Space Centre, making it one of the busiest holiday periods since the award winning visitor attraction opened its doors to the public in 2001
Let CONKERS creep you out this Halloween
20 October 2015
Fun and fearful Halloween events from 29-31 October 2015
Twycross Zoo’s baby bonobo officially named Ndeko
7 October 2015
Twycross Zoo can reveal that the name chosen by the public for its new baby bonobo is Ndeko
Visitors flock to CONKERS this summer
7 October 2015
Numbers up by 16 per cent on last year – a 15-year high
The story of King Richard III in Leicester and Leicestershire named on Smithsonian list
18 September 2015
The team behind the story of King Richard III in Leicester and Leicestershire are celebrating after featuring on the Smithsonian’s 21st Century Life List of 25 Great New Places to See
Chris Stafford appointed Chief Executive of Curve
5 August 2015
Chris Stafford has been appointed the new Chief Executive of Curve Leicester following Fiona Allan’s departure to lead Birmingham Hippodrome this autumn
Great Central Railway welcomes 10,000th Driver Experience customer
4 August 2015
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The Great Central Railway is celebrating making ten thousand childhood dreams come true
New aerial experience at CONKERS is a real work of art
30 July 2015
Portrait to celebrate opening of new Hi and Lo Ropes adventure has been produced by local artist
Twycross Zoo opens brand new animal kitchen
30 July 2015
New facilities at the zoo to prepare over 80 tonnes of food a year
Visitor Centre celebrates first birthday
24 July 2015
The King Richard III Visitor Centre will be celebrating its first birthday this weekend and since opening on 26th July 2014, has welcomed 81,627 visitors, with a further 3,000 visitors attending corporate events
Great Central Railway reunification on track
20 July 2015
Landmark heritage project continues despite Midland Main Line Electrification 'pause'
Tackle the Wistow Maze this summer
16 July 2015
With England hosting this year’s Rugby World Cup, Leicestershire’s famous Wistow Maze is joining in the fun
Can you conquer the new ariel experience at CONKERS?
7 July 2015
Hi and Lo Ropes Aerial Adventure opens
Explore city museums with passport scheme
1 July 2015
A new scheme that will encourage people to explore all of Leicester’s museums this summer has been launched in time for the school holidays
CONKERS can keep the kids busy all summer
23 June 2015
Daily outdoor activities and adventures for families and children from 11 July to 6 September
Twycross Zoo needs your vote!
23 June 2015
Zoo appeals for public support to gain grant funding for new disabled access facilities
Twycross Zoo scoops top awards
16 June 2015
Twycross Zoo is honoured for outstanding contribution to wildlife conservation
CONKERS welcomes three millionth happy visitor
29 May 2015
CONKERS, the award-winning visitor attraction at the heart of The National Forest, has welcomed its three millionth ever visitor during the May half term week
Update on Swift Nest boxes at Conkers
28 May 2015
Following the erection of 10 Swift nest boxes in January, LROS and Conkers' staff have fitted a Swift lure
Get wet and wild at Twycross Zoo
22 May 2015
With half-term looming there are ample opportunities for family fun all week at Twycross Zoo in Leicestershire
Leicester's world class railway museum on track
20 May 2015
Heritage Lottery Fund earmarks funding and releases development grant
CONKERS is the place for kids this May half-term
11 May 2015
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Fun performances, crafts and outdoor activities on offer all week from 23-31 May
The BoilerHouse at Foxton Locks now open for a fantastic day out
5 May 2015
Visitors can explore the history of the Inclined Plane in new interactive exhibit with smartphone app that recreates the famous boat lift using virtual reality
Outdoor activities for the kids at CONKERS during May
22 April 2015
Wide range of outdoor family activities lined up for May Day Weekend 2-4 May and Activity Weekend from 9-10 May
Corporate adventure days in the great outdoors at CONKERS
20 April 2015
New opportunities for corporate team building and activity days including outdoor adventures, water sports, bush crafts, assault course and new high and low ropes adventure opening in July
Giraffes are back at Twycross Zoo
20 April 2015
Twycross Zoo welcomes the return of giraffes in brand new exhibit
Three millionth visitor anticipated
7 April 2015
After another record breaking weekend, the National Space Centre anticipates the 3 millionth visitor will be welcomed to the Centre tomorrow (08/04/2015)
Great Central Railway launches 'Raleway Ale'
25 March 2015
There has been a plan brewing at Great Central Railway during the past few weeks
Battlefield bus takes to the road
16 March 2015
Following the Richard III trail is being made easier - thanks to a special shuttle bus between Market Bosworth and Bosworth Battlefield Heritage Centre.
Still time to vote for a Green Plaque award
16 March 2015
There's still time to cast your vote and honour the people and places of Leicestershire’s past.
A shortlist of 12 people and places is seeking the public vote as part of Leicestershire County Council’s Green Plaque Awards scheme.
Family Friendly Museum Award 2015 Launched
15 March 2015
What's your favourite family friendly museum? The 2015 Telegraph Family Friendly Museum Award is launched – giving you the chance to say which museum, gallery, heritage site, science centre or historic home in Britain gives the warmest welcome to families.
Bring the kids to CONKERS this Easter to enjoy great days out
13 March 2015
CONKERS, the award-winning visitor attraction at the heart of The National Forest, has a great choice of family activities on offer this Easter from 28 March to 19 April. Visitors will have plenty of fun activities from which to choose including pirate, wizard and clown shows, pony rides, arts & crafts, and animal encounters.
Vote now for the King Richard III Visitor Centre Leicester for the 2015 Museums and Heritage Awards
12 March 2015
The King Richard III Visitor Centre has been shortlisted for one of the 2015 Museums and Heritage awards following a search led by the Guardian Cultural Professionals Network for the most inspiring museum or heritage visitor attraction of the past 12 months
Go back to the wild at CONKERS
10 March 2015
If you’ve got a budding Bear Grylls or Ray Mears in the family, CONKERS is offering an action-packed day of bushcraft and orienteering on 14 March 2015.
King Richard III – as you’ve never seen him before…
10 March 2015
The results of DNA testing carried out by Dr Turi King of University of Leicester in early 2014 showed that King Richard's hair was likely to have been blond, at least in childhood, and that he would have blue eyes. As a result of these findings, the reconstruction has now been updated.
Twycross Zoo unveils major redevelopment plans
10 March 2015
A £55 million investment programme over the next 20 years
Visitor 3 million – the search is on
3 March 2015
The National Space Centre opened its doors to the public in 2001. Since that date the attraction has welcomed just under 3 million visitors, so the Centre is now looking for that very special person to step onto the launch pad.
