Free Cabinet of Curiosity comes to Leicester on 8 August
Leicester’s Cabinet of Curiosity mobile museum will visit Highcross Shopping Centre on Saturday 8 August 2026. The free display runs from 10am to 4pm and is intended for families, neighbourhoods and the wider community.
Created by Leicester Museums & Galleries, the pop-up brings natural history, archaeology and technology together in one compact collection. Visitors can see exhibits ranging from dinosaur fossils and mammoth teeth to Roman pottery and retro devices without needing to visit a conventional museum building.
When and where to see the mobile museum
| Event detail | Confirmed information |
|---|---|
| Date | Saturday 8 August 2026 |
| Time | 10am to 4pm |
| Venue | Highcross Shopping Centre |
| Address | 5 Shires Lane, Leicester, LE1 4AN |
| Price | Free for everyone |
| Organiser | Leicester Museums & Galleries |
The central shopping-centre setting may be particularly useful for families and other visitors who want to encounter museum objects as part of a day in Leicester. The source describes the Cabinet as a mobile museum designed to bring its collection directly to families and communities.
Fossils, Roman finds and a croc in a box
The Cabinet of Curiosity has six advertised highlights:
- Retro technology
- Mammoth teeth
- Dinosaur fossils
- Mystery creatures
- Roman pottery
- The popular “croc in a box”
The collection covers markedly different periods and subjects. Dinosaur fossils and mammoth teeth introduce evidence of prehistoric life, while Roman pottery brings archaeology into the display. Retro technology provides a more recent point of reference, giving visitors an opportunity to move between natural history, the ancient world and familiar technology within the same pop-up.
The listing does not provide further descriptions of the “mystery creatures” or “croc in a box”, so those exhibits remain part of the discovery on the day. No separate programme, performance schedule or timed activity has been published beyond the overall opening period of 10am to 4pm.
What to check before attending
Visit Leicester Events displays a “Book now” option, but the supplied information does not state whether advance booking is required or whether visitors can simply arrive. It also gives no event-specific transport or accessibility information. Anyone who needs confirmation about entry arrangements or access should check with Highcross Shopping Centre or the event organiser before travelling.
The event information is published by Visit Leicester Events, credited to Data Thistle and supplied to Leicester City Council. The listing warns that details may change and advises visitors to verify the information with the venue or organiser before relying on it. The confirmed practical details currently remain Saturday 8 August, 10am to 4pm, at Highcross Shopping Centre, with admission advertised as free for everyone.
Source: Visit Leicester Events
Context & actions About this article
Source check Source trail
The date, opening hours, venue, price and advertised exhibits were checked against the Visit Leicester Events listing.
- Confirmed the event date as Saturday 8 August 2026.
- Confirmed opening hours of 10am to 4pm.
- Confirmed Highcross Shopping Centre and the listed Leicester address.
- Confirmed free admission and the six advertised collection highlights.
- Source
- Visit Leicester Events
- Scope
- Leicester
- Updated
- 2026-08-08 09:14
Source check
Report a trust issue
Send a clear signal to community moderation if the source, facts or context need review.
Comments