Loughborough Carillon Tower and War Memorial Museum

About the museum

After the First World War the people of Loughborough voted in a ballot in November 1919 on how to remember the town's war dead, and a carillon tower was the favourite choice. Money came from public subscription, a Buy a Bell campaign and gifts from local firms, including the bell founders Taylor's, and more than £7,000 had been raised by May 1920. Local companies built the tower, the foundation stones were laid in January 1922 and it was dedicated in July 1923 by Field Marshal Sir William Robertson. Recitals on the carillon were broadcast by the BBC from early on.

The tower stands in Queen's Park and remains first of all a memorial to those who fell in the two world wars. A two-floor museum opened in the building in February 1989 and was run by the Charnwood Museum Trust; it became a registered museum in November 2001. The tower is owned by the local authority, administered by a board of trustees and run day to day by volunteers.

The tower was repaired in 2018 and 2019, including the copper roof, windows, stonework, the clavier and the bells. A project costing £110,000, supported by the UK Shared Prosperity Fund, created new displays on the First World War, the history of the tower and the people of Leicestershire who served in the armed forces, and was opened by the Mayor of Charnwood in August 2025.

The collection includes medals, cap and patch badges, uniforms and original letters sent home from the front. The museum is currently closed while the displays are reviewed, with reopening announced for Easter 2027.

Key themes

• Carillon tower from 1923 in Queen's Park, a memorial to the fallen of two world wars
• Collections of First and Second World War medals
• Regimental cap badges and formation patch badges
• Original wartime letters home with transcriptions
• Online catalogue and virtual tour of the museum

Permanent exhibition

• Museum collections – Medals, cap and patch badges, uniforms and original letters from soldiers, with new displays on the First World War and the history of the tower.

Founded

1989

Operated by

Board of trustees, run by volunteers; tower owned by the local authority

Admission & discounts

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Accessibility

• Partially wheelchair accessible
• Elevator: no information
• Accessible restroom: no information
• Accessible parking: no information
• Service dogs welcome: no information
• Tactile models & exhibits: no information
• Sign language tours: no information
• Easy-to-read materials: no information
• Audio description: no information

The museum is on the ground floor of the tower and a ramp gives wheelchair access. The 138 steps up to the viewing balcony cannot currently be climbed because of fire regulations. The tower has no toilets of its own; public toilets in the park include a free disabled toilet for radar key holders, and toilets are also available at the nearby Charnwood Museum.

Kids & families

The website has a page of suggested activities for children. Queen's Park next to the tower has an under-12s play area.

Getting there & parking

The tower stands in the middle of Queen's Park, near the town centre; the M1 is about 3 miles (4.8 km) to the west.

Amenities & dining

• Café: not available
• Museum shop

There is no catering at the tower, but there is a café at the nearby Charnwood Museum and many cafés in the town centre. A gift shop is listed on the website.

Events & venue rental

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Plan your visit