Summer is here and if you're looking for things to do as a family without breaking the bank, Leicestershire has plenty to offer.
The excitement is set to spread all over the city and county with outdoor events and festivals to get you into the swing of summer.
If something indoors is more your thing - New Walk Museum is offering an exciting exhibition for the whole family in the Magic Worlds exhibition.
Explore the world of fantasy, illusion and excitement, the exhibition includes a large range of costumes, tricks, vintage toys, paintings, ceramics, illustrations, posters and more. With replicas of magical artifacts such as Harry Potter's broomstick and puppets from A Midsummer Night's Dream, dating from the 1940s.
James Hickford, of the city council's museums service, said: "We're running a range of activity sessions alongside our Magic Worlds exhibition, where for £2.50 children can get the chance to make magic wands, zoetropes, clay dragons and lots more magical creatures. The sessions run from 11am-1pm and 2pm-4pm from Monday to Friday during the school holidays. Plus the exhibition itself, which is free, features a huge range of tricks, puppets and games, and the chance to see a replica of Harry Potter's broom. The exhibition is open from Monday to Saturday, 10am until 5pm and from 11am to 5pm on Sundays."
The exhibition is free and runs until September 29. Details of special events such as the optical illusions workshops or mythical monsters details can be found on the exhibition's website.
See the website www.visitleicester.info
If that's whetted your appetite for great things to do over the summer, here are 10 more exciting events happening near you...
1) If you're feeling brave enough, you could explore the spooky Belgrave Hall as it is transformed into a ghostly mansion for The Creepy House event, on Wednesday July 17, from 11am to 3.30pm. The event is part of Leicester Libraries' summer reading challenge, which invites young readers to collect a host of Creepy House goodies every time they read a book borrowed from a city library. Visitors are invited to come to Belgrave Hall dressed to scare and pick up a free summer reading pack while they explore the frightening grounds of The Creepy House. For more details about the Summer Reading Challenge and a full programme of Creepy House events taking place at Leicester libraries, visit leicester.gov.uk/librariesBelgrave Hall, Church Road, LE4 5PE
2) If a close encounter with some gorgeous owls sounds more like your thing, head to Bosworth Battlefield Heritage Centre & Country Park on Sunday July 21 from 4pm to 5.30pm to enjoy cream tea in the Tithe Barn followed by the opportunity to fly one or two beautiful birds. £5 admission. See the website bosworthbattlefield.com/ for more details.Bosworth Battlefield Heritage Centre & Country Park Sutton Cheney, Nr. Market Bosworth, Leicestershire CV13 0AD. T. 01455 290429
3) Go wild on August 3 and dress up as your favourite animal at the Abbey Pumping Station Animal Rescue Railway Day. You can explore, take a train ride and support local animal charities at the same time as meeting exotic animals and take part in some fun animal themed crafts. Free admission and small charges for train rides and handling animals donated to animal charities locally. It's on from 11am to 4.30pm. See the website abbeypumpingstation.org for more details.Abbey Pumping Station, Corporation Road, Leicester, LE4 5PX. T. 0116 299 5111
4) Colour your summer by going to the city's 28th annual Caribbean Carnival. As the largest single multicultural event in the East Midlands with an estimated 20,000 people attending each year, it is perfect for the whole family. Celebrations begin on Victoria Park followed by the street parade, featuring troupes and floats displaying the magnificent costumes. This colourful event takes place on August 3. See the website leicestercarnival.com for more details. Victoria Park, London Road, Leicester, LE1 7RY. T. 0116 273 6649
5) There's fun and excitement in the city centre from August 5 to 23 with the Summer Funfair in town. Combine your shopping with a trip to the fair. Explore the rides and more right in the middle of Leicester. City Centre, Leicester, LE1 1DA. T. 0116 252 7000.
6) If you're still itching to find out more about the exciting discovery of King Richard III in Leicester you could head over to the exhibition at the Guildhall. It features interactive touchscreens suitable for all ages. On loan from Loughborough University is a model of King Richard's skill, made from the CT scan of the skeleton taken at Leicester Royal Infirmary and 3D printed to create the fantastic replica. The exhibition has extended opening over the summer holidays and is open from 10am to 5pm. See the website leicester.gov.uk for more details.The Guildhall, Guildhall Lane, Leicester, LE1 5FQ. T. 0116 253 2569
7) Looking for a peaceful day? Why not head to the tranqil Leicestershire countryside and spend the day at Foxton Locks watching the narrowboats heading through the locks. The Foxton Locks museum from 10am to 5pm and includes interactive displays while a wide range of waterway artifacts tell the story of the lift, the Locks, the waterways and the people who lived on the canals. See the website goleicestershire.com for more details. Foxton Locks, Gumley Road, Foxton, Market Harborough, Leicestershire, LE16 7RA
8) Leicester City Council are again offering free swimming for all under -16s from Monday, July 29 to Sunday, August 25 in four leisure centres across the country including Spence Street Sports Centre, Cossington Street Sports Centre, Leicester Leys Leisure Centre and Braunstone Leisure Centre. You could spend some time improving your swimming skills or just having fun in the water. See the website .leicester.gov.uk for more details.
9) Still buzzing from Andy Murray's fantastic Wimbledon win? Test out your miniature tennis skills on "Permanent Ping" tables around the city's parks. Including tables and Victoria and Abbey Park, take along your bats and balls and you're ready to play. See the website leicester.gov.uk for more details.
10) If you're still itching for more activity, you could check out the city's Sports Fest on 11am to 4pm on the August 25. A free, family friendly celebration that will showcase the catalogue of sporting opportunities open to people within the city. The event will take place on Humberstone Gate in Leicester, turning it into a sporting arena for the day, with activities taking place in front of the Big Screen and behind the Clock Tower. See the website leicester.gov.uk for more details.
• Let us know what you'll be doing to keep the children happy over the summer holidays in Leicester and Leicestershire. Just complete the form below and we'll add the suggestions to our top 10. Thanks
• Let us know what you'll be doing to keep the children happy over the summer holidays in Leicester and Leicestershire. Just complete the form below and we'll add the suggestions to our top 10. Thanks
