Date set for opening of new £16.8m Roman museum

Leicester mayor Sir Peter Soulsby said the new attraction had faced "more than its fair share of challenges"

Leicester's new multi-million pound Roman museum is to open in July, the city council has confirmed.

The revamped Jewry Wall Museum will feature the remains of a Roman bath house and more than 100 Roman artefacts discovered across Leicestershire.

Work on the project began in 2021 but the council said progress had been delayed by the Covid-19 pandemic and contractors, originally carrying out the renovation, going bust.

The museum, which cost £16.8m, will officially open to visitors from 26 July, the authority said.

The new museum will feature more than 100 artefacts as well as interactive displays

Leicester mayor Sir Peter Soulsby said: "It's fair to say that this project has faced more than its fair share of challenges, with a global pandemic and not one but two key contractors going out of business during the construction phase, so I'm delighted that we can now – finally – look forward to the opening of this brilliant new attraction for Leicester.

"Everything that will be on display in the new museum has been discovered right here in Leicester and Leicestershire, from the Blackfriars Mosaic that's been described as one of the finest mosaics found in Roman Britain, to a beautifully crafted bronze key handle that depicts a man grappling with a lion."

The Grade II listed Jewry Wall Museum and the former Vaughan College have been refurbished with huge glass walls connecting the ancient wall, outdoor space and modern exhibition space.

The new museum, in St Nicholas' Circle, will include an immersive film, interactive displays, games and projections allowing visitors to explore the 2nd Century site and Leicester's 2,000-year history.