Heritage and Culture
The University of Leicester’s Heritage Hub facilitates collaborations that combine cutting-edge university research, sector and lived experience. We support people and organisations to explore, investigate and celebrate their heritage, undertaking innovative data gathering and research to inform strategy and maximise social and economic impact. We are committed to researching and removing barriers to participation, working collectively and equitably through heritage to address inequalities – for example, in education and health.
We are based on campus, but work across our city and region, across disciplines and sectors to innovate inclusive, financially resilient and impactful projects and partnerships. We collaborate with organisations of all sizes, including local authorities, museums, heritage sites, libraries and archives, education and health providers, charities, community organisations and local businesses. We support and empower young people through learning programmes, placements, work experience and enrichment opportunities with a focus on local heritage.
Contact us
We facilitate sector and public access to University of Leicester expertise, collections and research and connect our students and staff with the rich heritage of our city and region. Bringing people and organisations together through heritage our mission is to spark innovative collaborations that make positive change in our world.
If you would like to find out more about the kinds of support and services the Hub can offer, please contact us at heritageuol@le.ac.uk.
Key people
- Sarah Scott, Professor of Archaeology, Heritage Hub Director
- George Lewis, Professor of History, Deputy Director
- Simon Dixon, Associate Director and Head of Archives and Special Collections
- Ali Brand-Barker, Heritage Partnerships Officer
- Sue Wood, Heritage Hub Administrator
Events
Botanic Garden Festival
Sunday 31 August 2025 11.00am onwards
Botanic Gardens Leicester
Students and staff from the Heritage Hub are excited to be joining teams from University of Leicester, Wigston Framework Knitters, Oadby and Wigston Fieldworkers, Greater Wigston Historical Society, Stanwick Lakes Heritage Textiles and many other organisations for the Botanic Garden Festival.
Join us to explore the rich heritage of our city and region. There will be hands-on activities for all ages, including a dig pit where you can dig for Roman artefacts and demonstrations from the Northamptonshire Guild of Spinners, Weavers and Dyers!
This free public event includes a packed programme of events including live entertainment, outdoor games, arts and crafts and plenty of food and drink vendors. Sign up to one of our Mini Change Makers: The Bone Lab sessions where you can learn all about the human skeleton and find out how archaeologists use it to understand more about past people! We'll get hands-on by becoming real-life osteologists for the day, figuring out how to piece back together a (replica) human skeleton. Using archaeological detective work, we'll learn how to reconstruct the life of a person from the past using just their bones for evidence!
Registration is highly recommended to ensure access to the festival.
We hope to see you there!
Heritage Open Days 2025
Architecture Tours at the University of Leicester Central Campus and Brookfield (School of Business)
The Heritage Hub is excited to invite you to our Architecture Tours as part of the annual Heritage Open Days festival, which is England’s largest festival of history and culture!
Saturday 13 and Wednesday 17 September 2025 – University of Leicester Central Campus
Join us to explore the campus of the University of Leicester which is notable for the range and importance of its architecture. The oldest building, the imposing Fielding Johnson Building, was built in the 1830s as the Leicestershire and Rutland Lunatic Asylum. Towering above the old asylum are three distinctive buildings from the 1960s: the Engineering Building, the Attenborough Tower and the Charles Wilson building.
Visitors will be led on a guided tour of campus architecture and will hear about the contribution of celebrated architects including James Stirling and James Gowan, Denys Lasdun, and Leslie Martin.
Pre-booking is required for each tour.
Tuesday 16 September 2025 – Brookfield Campus
Set in seven acres in the historic Stoneygate Conservation area, Brookfield is the home of the University of Leicester School of Business. Built in the 1840s, it was remodelled for University founder Thomas Fielding Johnson by celebrated architects Goddard and Paget. It has now been sympathetically extended and restored by Shepheard Epstein Hunter to provide state-of-the art learning and teaching spaces, while retaining many original architectural features. Join us to find out about some of the people who lived here, and for a guided tour of the campus.
Pre-booking is required for this tour.
These tours are very popular so early booking is advisable.
We look forward to seeing you on the day!