Leicester’s much-loved Spark Festival returns this May, transforming venues across the city into a nine-day celebration of creativity for children and families - and this year, children aren’t just taking part, they’re helping to lead the way. Running from Saturday 16 to Sunday 24 May 2026, the nine-day festival will transform schools, libraries, community spaces and venues across the city into a vibrant celebration of the arts for young people aged 0-13 with a packed program

May is shaping up to be a busy one at the National Space Centre - and not in a “quiet wander around the exhibits” kind of way. Think toddlers discovering space for the first time, sensory-friendly afternoons, pirates taking over the planetarium, a real-life astronaut and Queen blasting through the cosmos - all within a few short weeks. The month kicks off on 1 May with Small Space Days, a gentle introduction to space for the Centre’s youngest explorers. Designed for early yea

The Best Day Out in Leicestershire, the award winning Great Central Railway, is inviting Grandparents, grandchildren and families to enjoy a unique and affordable experience this spring with a special half price Grandparents Weekend on 18th and 19th April. Recognised as the Best Day Out in Leicestershire at the 2025 Leicestershire Promotions Tourism and Hospitality Awards, the Great Central Railway is offering half-price tickets for grandparents and £1 travel for children

Experience the roar of classic diesel power at the Great Central Railway’s Spring Diesel Gala, taking place from Friday 24 to Sunday 26 April 2026. Running along the UK’s only preserved double-track main line, this three‑day celebration promises an intensive timetable of frequent services and a stunning line‑up of both home fleet and visiting diesel locomotives. Against the backdrop of the blossoming Charnwood countryside, visitors will see an impressive selection of diesel t

Birmingham’s Punch Records today announces the return of Community Routes, its flagship free creative development programme offering 50 fully funded places for 18-25 year-olds in Birmingham and the West Midlands. The project supports the next wave of DJs, vocalists, broadcasters, photographers and digital artists, helping them to break into the highly competitive creative industries – and retain this talent in Birmingham and the West Midlands. Applications open 8 April and

Experience the roar of classic diesel power at the Great Central Railway’s Spring Diesel Gala, taking place from Friday 24 to Sunday 26 April 2026. Running along the UK’s only preserved double-track main line, this three‑day celebration promises an intensive timetable of frequent services and a stunning line‑up of both home fleet and visiting diesel locomotives. Against the backdrop of the blossoming Charnwood countryside, visitors will see an impressive selection of diesel t

The Great Central Railway is inviting families to hop aboard this Easter for a weekend of heritage rail travel and seasonal fun, headlined by a railway-wide Easter Egg Hunt. The award-winning railway – recently named Best Day Out at the Leicestershire Tourism Awards – will host the Great Central Easter Egg Hunt from Saturday 4 to Monday 6 April , transforming the line’s four heritage stations into a colourful adventure trail for young explorers and their families. Visitors ca

Remember a time when your fringe covered at least one eye, your MSN name was basically a cry for help, and your iPod Classic knew your feelings better than anyone else? Then good news: that version of you is getting a night out! For one night only, Cosmic Emo Night at the National Space Centre will be proving that you were right all along and it was never just a phase, by turning up the volume on heartbreak teenage angst and giving it a cosmic upgrade. Think less bedroom floo

This year Leicester will be vying again for the title of England Curry Capital, which it has held for the past 2 years, since being crowned in July 2024. Leicester will be going up against four of the country’s most iconic curry locations in a public vote to see who has the best Biryani, the finest Phal and the top Tarka Dal, not to mention a pile of poppadoms and pilau to mop them all up! The England Curry Capital competition was revived in 2023 by local journalist and

Leicestershire is set to feel the roar once again as the hugely popular Alex’s Wish Supercars charity event returns on Sunday 31st May, taking place in the stunning grounds of Ratcliffe College from 10am to 3pm. Following an incredibly successful event in 2025 – which raised an impressive £28,000 for the Duchenne charity – organisers are promising an even bigger, better and more exciting day out for car enthusiasts, families and thrill-seekers alike. The event is organise

Image by Nigel Julian The Great Central Railway is thrilled to confirm that Class 55 Deltic D9015 Tulyar will be based at the railway during 2026 — marking a major milestone for diesel preservation as the locomotive prepares to haul its first passenger train in 35 years. Owned by the Deltic Preservation Society (DPS), D9015 is one of the most historically important surviving Deltics, and its arrival continues the long-standing partnership between the Great Central Railway and