Easy to get around and fun to explore, Leicester and Leicestershire combine to make the ideal destination for families wanting to experience a fun-filled day out.
Start your journey of fun and discovery at the award-winning National Space Centre in Leicester ? Britain?s largest attraction dedicated to space discovery. With 250 exhibits, you can do everything from ascend the awesome 42-metre high Rocket Tower to undertake real ?astronaut training? in the human spaceflight 2025, featuring the UK?s most thrilling space simulator. Visit www.spacecentre.co.uk for more details.
Back on earth, let the kids? imagination run riot at Snibston in nearby Coalville. The former colliery site offers 90 indoor and outdoor exhibits including a diesel hauled locomotive and interactive discovery zones. Visit www.leics.gov.uk for more details.
Or, head for some outdoor adventure at The National Forest. Visit Conkers to enjoy 120-acres of true British woodland, four discovery zones, a huge tree-top canopy walk, an outdoor play area for children of all ages, and several lakeside, sculpture and nature trails. The area is also home to Moira Furnace – one of the best examples of an early 19th Century iron-making blast furnace in Europe.
A quintessential English lunch can be enjoyed at the award-winning Stanton Stables at the superb Ferrers Centre for Arts and Crafts in Staunton Harold ? one of the largest concentrations of art and craft workshops in the country. Visit www.visitconkers.com and www.nationalforest.org for more information.
About a 20-minute drive from Leicester is one the UK?s leading zoos, Twycross. The zoo is home to 1,000 animals from more than170 species and is famous for its rare and endangered primates ?from Pygmy Marmosets to Western Lowland Gorillas. www.twycrosszoo.com.
Events
2009 Special Olympics 2009, 25-31 July 2009 various venues across Leicester and Leicestershire
More than 2,700 athletes representing 19 Special Olympics regions across the UK will visit the city of Leicester over the seven day period along with 1200 coaches and 1500 volunteers. The athletes will compete in a range of Olympic style sports competitions across the city. Leicestershire County Cricket Club, Leicester City Football Club and Rutland Water are just some of the 21 sporting venues confirmed to host the 2009 Games.
Tel: 0870 247 8891, Web: www.sol2009.com
Opening Ceremony of Special Olympics 2009, 25 July 2009, Walkers Stadium, Leicester
Saturday 25th July 2009 sees the Opening Ceremony of the (8th) Special Olympics Great Britain National Summer Games at Leicester City Football Club?s Walkers Stadium from 6.30pm. The Special Olympics Leicester 2009 Opening Ceremony will be a magical and stunning event and everyone who attends will enjoy the carnival atmosphere and unique celebrations.
The Opening Ceremony will be a fantastic launch to the Games week and will host a range of amazing performances commissioned especially for this one off event, involving hundreds of people from Leicestershire bringing the stadium to life. Highlights of the night include the parade of the 2,700 athletes competing in the Games, and the Special Olympic torch lighting the flame to mark the start of Games.
Tel: Leicester City Football Club Opening Ceremony ticket ? Tel: 0844 815 5000 Email: ticket.sales@lcfc.co.uk
Tickets: Adults: (Over 16s) ?5.00 per person, children: (Under 16s) ?1.00 per child (only available with a purchase of one adult ticket), Concessions: ?3.00 per person
Short break offer: special accommodation rates for those wanting to make a short break of their visit to the Special Olympics are available from Leicester Shire Promotions ? visit www.goleicestershire.com/shortbreaks
Moto GP, 25-26 July, Donington Park, Leicestershire
MotoGP is the world?s premier motorcycling championship, with a season of 18 Grands Prix in 14 countries bringing together the world?s top motorcycle manufacturers.
Valentino Rossi is aiming to resume his winning spree at the Donington circuit that he regards as his second home but first the six times holder of the World MotoGP crown will have to head off the challenge of Casey Stoner theDucati rider who has beaten him in each of the previous two races at the Leicestershire circuit.
ContacTel: Tel: 0171 230 7134, Web: www.donington-park.co.uk
Tickets: visit www.donington-park.co.uk
Leicester Caribbean Carnival, 1 August 2009, Victoria Park, Leicester
One of the UK?s most popular carnivals, The Leicester Caribbean Carnival has been held annually in Leicester since 1985. With a stunning parade around the city centre made up of troupes, floats, and an extravaganza of music and Caribbean food, the carnival is set to attract a record number of visitors this year. It is the second-largest Caribbean carnival in the UK, after the Notting Hill Carnival.
Tel: 0116 221 1785
Summer Sundae Weekender, 14-16 August 2009 – De Montfort Hall and Gardens
Summer Sundae at Summer Sundae Weekender
A three day family friendly music festival with full camping facilities offering festival goers over 100 acts with an eclectic mix of live bands of all styles and genres, and high calibre comedy in the Festivals Comedy Tent. The dates for the ninth Summer Sundae Weekender held at De Montfort Hall, Leicester are confirmed as Friday 14th to Sunday 16th August.
Line up includes The Streets, The Charlatans, Saint Etienne, The Zutons and Ben Iver.
ContacTel: Tel: 0116 233 3111, Web: www.summersundae.com
Tickets: ‘Early bird’ tickets are on sale priced at ?92 for an adult ticket or ?99 for an adult ticket with camping. An adult and child with camping is priced at ?129, an adult and child combination ticket is priced at ?122, and an adult with 2 Kids is priced at ?152, with an additional ?7 for camping.
Short break offer: special accommodation rates for those wanting to make a short break of their visit to the Summer Sundae Weekender for as little as ?55 are available from Leicester Shire Promotions ? visit www.goleicestershire.com/shortbreaks
5,000th Anniversary celebrations ? family fun weekend, 29-31 August 2009
Belvoir Castle, Leicestershire
Belvoir Castle has belonged to the Duke of Rutland’s ancestors since 1509. The Castle was built after the Norman invasion by Robert de Todeni who was William the Conqueror’s Standard Bearer at the Battle of Hastings.
To celebrate 500 years of the Manners family at Belvoir enjoy a Bank Holiday full of Family Fun – Games, storytelling and much more – a great day out for all of the family.
Tel: Tel: 01476 871 002, Web: www.belvoircastle.com
Tickets: Adult: ?10, children: ?6 (under 5s free), family (two adults and up to three adults): ?28
Family friendly short-break package:
Stay, Play, Explore ? a family fun short break in Leicester and Leicestershire for as little as ?99.
Five Leicester and Leicestershire family attractions and three family friendly hotels have teamed up with Leicester Shire Promotions to offer the unique Stay Play Explore short break. This family fun package allows a family of four to visit three world class attractions (from a choice of five) and enjoy a night?s accommodation for as little as ?99.
The participating attractions include the National Space Centre, Conkers, Snibston, Bosworth Battlefield and Twycross Zoo.
The participating hotels include the Marriott Leicester, Holiday Inn and Barcel? Hinckley Island.
To book, simply log onto www.stayplayexplore.co.uk , select a participating hotel and make a reservation and ticket booking by quoting special promotional code. Stay, Play, Explore tickets can be purchased independently for ?60 for a family of four. Tickets will be available from 1 June 2009.
Short break offers at The National Forest
The growing woodlands at The National Forest, of the country?s boldest environment projects, is changing the face of this part of Leicestershire, providing lots of opportunity for outdoor adventure including walking and cycling .
To encourage visitors to extend their stay and take in more of these activities at the stunning Forest, Leicester Shire Promotions and the National Forest Company have teamed up with local accommodation providers to offer some great accommodation rates from just ?55 prpn (per room per night).
Visit www.goleicestershire.com for more information.
