FREE museum entry, children’s activities and family fun will be on offer in Leicester this weekend, as the Friends of Jewry Wall Museum invite everyone to join them for a special day of celebration.
On Saturday 18 July, The Friends will be marking the first anniversary of the newly reopened museum - and bringing their own remarkable 22-year journey to a close.
Jewry Wall is what remains of a 2nd century bath house and is one of the largest civic Roman ruins in the United Kingdom. Originally opened as a museum in 1966, it was reopened on the 26th July 2025 after a multi-million-pound programme of restoration and refurbishment.
The Friends of Jewry Wall Museum were formed in 2004 for the improvement and promotion of Jewry Wall Museum and the Roman bath house site in Leicester. Over the years they’ve won a volunteering award, successfully brought in Heritage Lottery funding and welcomed more than 150 members.
Now, though, as the newly refurbished museum celebrates its first anniversary, the Friends are beginning a new chapter.
Samantha Glasswell from the Friends of Jewry Wall said: “In the past few years we have lost key members of our committee and have been unable to replace them. With great sadness, we decided it was time to say goodbye!
“That is not quite the end of the story, though. Some of us have become volunteers at Jewry Wall, and some support Heritage Sundays at St Nicholas Church, and will continue under the name Jewry Wall Living History.
“As we move on, we would like to invite everyone to come and share our love of Jewry Wall with a day of celebration.”
From 10am until 4pm on Saturday, Jewry Wall Museum will offer free entry for all to explore the museum and discover Leicester's ancient history, with free hands-on activities for children.
City mayor Peter Soulsby said: “I want to thank the Friends of Jewry Wall Museum for the huge contribution they have made over the years. Their dedication and enthusiasm has helped us to preserve our city’s extraordinary 2,000-year history and important Roman heritage. They will be much missed, but I’m delighted that some of the Friends will still volunteer with us at the museum and church, sharing their considerable knowledge with visitors.”
Assistant city mayor for culture, Cllr Vi Dempser, added: “This celebration day is a great chance for people to come along and enjoy Jewry Wall Museum – and it will all be free. We offer huge thanks to the Friends of Jewry Wall Museum for all their support over the years.”
A visit to Jewry Wall Museum usually costs £12.50 for adults and £6 for children, with family tickets and concessions available. All tickets provide visitors with a Roman Explorer Pass, which gives return access to the museum for a whole year. Subject to conditions, people can book as many visits as they like in a 12-month period, enjoying special events and re-enactment activities without having to pay again.
Find out more at https://www.jewrywall.com/
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