Leicester’s award-winning King Richard III Visitor Centre tells the incredible story of the much-maligned monarch who was discovered under a city-centre car park in 2012. The exhibition – Dynasty, Death and Discovery – gives visitors the chance to learn more about the King’s life and reveals one of the greatest archaeological detective stories ever told, including the first ever genome sequencing of ancient DNA. Visitors can also see the place where KRIII was hastily buried, now transformed and preserved under a glass floor.
Leicester Cathedral, where Richard III’s remains were reinterred in March 2015 was rebuilt and enlarged between the 13th and 15th centuries and became the ‘Civic Church’, with strong links with the merchants and guilds. Just over 100 years ago the Victorian Architect, Raphael Brandon, restored and, in places, rebuilt the church.
Group Talk: The King Under the Car Park- The focus of this talk is the “Looking for Richard” project, the Greyfriars dig of August 2012 and what the archaeologists found under the car park. Bone analysis, DNA and genealogy, injury analysis and carbon dating also feature in this fascinating talk, concluded with an insight into the re-burial of Richard.
After your guided tour of Leicester Cathedral you may wish to visit the Guildhall nearby, dating back 600 years.
Lunch options: Wild Boar Café at the Visitors Centre or the White Rose Café by the Cathedral or at a local eatery.
ITINERARY
Depart by coach from Old Amersham (Tesco lay-by) 8.00
Group Talk and Coffee/Tea & biscuits (King’s Suite) on arrival (inc.) 10.15
Group A Self- guided tour of visitors centre
Group B guided tour of Cathedral (optional visit to The Guildhall) 11.30
Lunch at own expense 1.00-2.15
Group A guided tour of Cathedral (optional visit to The Guildhall)
Group B self- guided tour of visitors centre 2.15
Leave from Southgates drop off point 4.00
Return to Old Amersham (approx.) 6.30
BOOKING OPENS Thursday 1 November 2019