The music of Ancient Rome will echo around Leicester’s Jewry Wall this weekend as the city’s newly revamped Roman museum opens its doors to the public.
Lyre player Michael Levy will perform alongside Roman re-enactors and City Mayor Peter Soulsby at a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Saturday, 26 July at 9:50am. The first ticketed visitors will enter at 10am to explore immersive multimedia exhibits, interactive displays, and vivid video storytelling.
Picture credit: Leicester City Council
Blending 21st-century technology with authentic archaeology, the museum showcases over 100 artefacts found in Leicester and Leicestershire—including rare mosaics, jewellery, pottery, bronzework, and coins. Highlights include the Peacock and Blackfriars mosaics, among the UK’s finest.
Developed in collaboration with the University of Leicester, the exhibition covers Roman hairstyles, clothing, language, and religion, making it both educational and engaging.
Mathew Morris of University of Leicester Archaeological Services, who has studied Roman Leicester for two decades, said: “Leicester was a key regional hub in Roman Britain, with links reaching as far as Egypt. The lives of its soldiers, civilians, and slaves are revealed through remarkable finds, now brought to life in this exciting new museum.”
Housed in a Grade II listed building—formerly Vaughan College—the museum has been fully refurbished and is now fully accessible via a new pedestrian bridge from St Nicholas Circle.
City Mayor Peter Soulsby said: “This new attraction proudly tells the story of Leicester’s Roman past through technology and archaeology. With over 100 locally discovered items, visitors can glimpse daily life in Roman Ratae—from mosaics and jewellery to the tools Romans used to stay clean!”
The Jewry Wall Museum, located on St Nicholas Walk, is the only major Roman-focused attraction within 80 miles and aims to become a cultural landmark for the Midlands.
Museum general manager Phil Hackett added: “This isn’t just a museum—it’s a bold reimagining of Leicester’s Roman story, combining cutting-edge tech with world-class archaeology to create an immersive, educational experience for all.”
Admission includes a Roman Explorer Pass offering unlimited visits for 12 months. Tickets are £12.50 for adults, half-price for children aged 5–15, and £32 for a family of four.
The museum shop features Roman-themed souvenirs—from replica brooches and mosaic tiles to a humorous take on the Roman ‘tersorium’ (sponge-on-a-stick toilet tool). Visitors can also relax at the museum café overlooking the Roman bath house, open daily from 10am with no ticket required.
More information and tickets: jewrywall.com
