A beach is set to pop up in land-locked Leicester just in time for the summer.
The popular attraction will be open in the city’s Humberstone Gate from next Thursday (July 14) until Monday, August 29, so people don’t need to travel all the way to the coast for a bit of seaside fun.
The city beach is being run in partnership with Billy Bates & Sons’ Funfair, and entry is free of charge.
Opening hours will be 10am until 6pm, and from 11am to 5pm on Sundays.
As well as enjoying a bit of the seaside in landlocked Leicester, there are other events in the city centre for the children to enjoy as the summer holidays get underway. This includes activities as part of the Queen’s Baton Relay, which is coming to the city this Sunday, July 10.
From 11am until 3pm Leicester’s sports clubs will provide free and fun activities in Green Dragon Square and Jubilee Square to support the event.
The Queen’s Baton will arrive in Green Dragon Square at 12.02pm on Sunday, before heading to Gallowtree Gate, the Clock Tower (12.05pm), High Street, Carts Lane, Loseby Lane, St Martins, the King Richard III Visitor Centre (12.10pm), Peacock Lane, Applegate and – finally – Jubilee Square, where it’s due to arrive at 12.14pm.
There will be a brief opportunity to have photographs with the baton, before it leaves Leicester at 12.24pm and continues its journey to Nottingham.
Tasty foods and snacks will be available from a Vegan Market at Leicester Market, which is open from 10.30am until 4pm on Sunday (10 July).
Taking place every Wednesday in July will be a mini Playday in Town Hall Square, where there’ll be giant outdoor games, story-time, arts and crafts and a dedicated area for babies. The first mini Playday takes place on Wednesday (13 July), and will be repeated on 20 and 27 July from 11am-2pm. These mini events will be followed on Wednesday 3 August by the return of Leicester’s Playday.
There’s lots going on at Leicester’s Museums too, with a small charge for special events.
Abbey Pumping Station will be running its popular Railway Days on Tuesdays throughout the summer holidays, starting on 12 July. Rides on the narrow gauge railway cost 50p, with trains running between 12 noon and 4pm every Tuesday until 23 August.
Next weekend (16-17 July), there’s a chance to get close to a real-life Spitfire, thanks to the RAF Museum Midlands. The Spitfire will be in Jubilee Square on both Saturday and Sunday.
There’s a Festival of Archaeology Family Fun Day at Leicester’s Guildhall on 19 July, while Belgrave Hall hosts a Teddy Bears’ Picnic on 20 July and Newarke Houses Museums celebrates Peter Rabbit’s 120th birthday with crafts, games and storytelling on 24 July. A £3 admission charge applies for all three events.
Deputy city mayor Cllr Sarah Russell said: “We’ve got lots of ideas for low-cost and no-cost activities that children will enjoy this summer.
“Whether it’s playing on the Humberstone Gate beach, taking part in the Summer Reading Challenge, or joining us for a playday in Town Hall Square, there’s plenty going on from now until the end of August.”
More ideas for things to do in Leicester can be found at visitleicester.info
