The best things to do in Leicester for groups combine one activity everyone can compete in with the city's big-name sights and its famous food. Start with indoor airsoft target shooting at Shooters Range Leicester in the city centre, add the National Space Centre or the King Richard III Visitor Centre, and finish with a curry on the Golden Mile.
We run Shooters Range Leicester on Bedford Street South, and every kind of group comes through our doors: stag and hen parties, birthdays, couples, families and work teams. This guide covers the city's best group options, a ready-made day plan, how many people we can shoot at once, and the practical details organisers need.
If you already know the occasion, skip to our section on group ideas by occasion, where each one links to an in-depth guide. Everything else here works for any group.
At a glance
| Shooters Range Leicester | Details |
|---|---|
| Address | 65D Bedford Street South, Leicester LE1 3JR (city centre) |
| Phone | 0116 403 0334 |
| Opening hours | Monday closed · Tue–Thu 17:00–21:00 · Fri 17:00–22:00 · Sat 11:00–22:00 · Sun 11:00–19:00 (check the venue page for the latest times) |
| Price | From £25 per person |
| Session length | 1 hour on the range |
| Ages | 11+ (ages 11–16 with a supervising adult aged 18+) |
| Group size | 4 lanes, up to 3 shooters per lane, so up to 12 shooting at once |
| Parking | No on-site parking; NCP car park and on-street parking nearby |
| Reviews | Google 5.0 from 1,100+ reviews; Tripadvisor 5.0 from 300+ |
What are the best things to do in Leicester for groups?
The best group activities in Leicester work for mixed abilities, keep everyone involved together and are easy to reach from the city centre. Here are eight we recommend to groups, with what each is best for.
| Activity | Best for | Weather-proof? |
|---|---|---|
| Indoor airsoft target shooting at Shooters Range | Competitive groups, mixed abilities, any occasion | Yes, fully indoors |
| National Space Centre | Curious groups, families and big kids of all ages | Yes |
| King Richard III Visitor Centre | History and one of Leicester's best stories | Yes |
| Leicester Cathedral | A quieter, reflective stop nearby | Yes |
| Curve theatre | An evening show with a group | Yes |
| Abbey Park | A walk and fresh air on a dry day | No |
| Escape rooms, bowling, crazy golf and karaoke | Relaxed warm-ups and smaller teams | Yes |
| The Golden Mile, the Cultural Quarter and St Martins | Food, drinks and the night out | Yes |
Book the activities with limited capacity first. A Saturday range slot or an escape room for eight sells out well before a table at a bar does.
Indoor airsoft target shooting at Shooters Range Leicester
Indoor airsoft target shooting is a supervised range activity where you shoot premium airsoft replicas at electronic targets that score every hit automatically. At Shooters Range Leicester, each of our 4 lanes uses Attacksense smart targets that detect hits in real time and run 14 game modes, from timed challenges to tactical scenarios. All equipment is provided and no experience is needed.
It's the most reliable group activity in the city because it removes the usual problems. Nobody needs to be fit, sporty or experienced, the scoring is instant and fair, and a trained range officer supervises the whole session after a full safety briefing. Our 5.0 rating from more than 1,100 Google reviews says a lot about how groups feel when they leave.
Game modes for every kind of group
- Solo modes: Endurance, Target Practice, Shooting Gallery, Sudden Ambush, Rhythm and Clear the Board.
- Multiplayer modes (2 or 3 players on a lane): Blitz, Streak, Draw, Endurance and Clear the Board.
Every score goes onto the live national leaderboards, shared with our Nottingham and Sheffield venues, so your group isn't just competing with each other. Endurance is the headline board, and plenty of groups leave with a new target to beat next time.
What's included
The armoury includes premium airsoft replicas such as the electric M4 rifle, an HPA pistol and the Tokyo Marui MP7. Whichever package you choose, it includes your weapon(s), BBs, full safety equipment including eye protection, the safety briefing and a full hour on the range.
Leicester's big sights for groups
Leicester has a handful of headline attractions that are well worth building into a group day, especially if some of your group are visiting the city for the first time.
National Space Centre
The National Space Centre is one of Leicester's best-known attractions and a strong pick for curious groups and families. It's indoors, so it sits well alongside a range session on a wet day. Check its website for opening times and tickets.
King Richard III Visitor Centre and Leicester Cathedral
The story of Richard III, the king found under a Leicester car park, is the city's most famous tale. The King Richard III Visitor Centre tells it, and Leicester Cathedral stands close by. Together they make a good late-morning stop before lunch.
Curve theatre
For an evening with something to watch rather than do, Curve in the Cultural Quarter puts on a varied programme. A late-afternoon range session followed by a show and dinner makes a full, easy day.
Abbey Park
If the weather is kind, Abbey Park is a pleasant green space for a walk and a breather between activities. It's a nice option for family groups with time to spare.
Competitive and social activities in Leicester
For groups who want to keep the competition going, the city has plenty of indoor options that slot around a range session.
- Escape rooms suit puzzle lovers and usually work best in small teams, so larger groups split across rooms.
- Bowling and crazy golf are low effort, relaxed and good for keeping everyone in one place.
- Karaoke works brilliantly late in the evening once the group has warmed up.
- Comedy clubs give a group a shared night out without much organising.
What sets a range session apart from these is how much everyone takes part. Up to 3 shoot on each lane at once, the scores are live, and the multiplayer modes put friends head-to-head immediately. Bowling or crazy golf makes a nice second act, but shooting is the bit people talk about afterwards.
Where to eat and drink with a group in Leicester
Leicester is a brilliant city for a group meal, and its centre is compact enough to walk between activity, food and bars.
- The Golden Mile (Belgrave Road): famous for South Asian food and sweet shops, and the obvious choice for a group curry.
- The Cultural Quarter: bars and places to eat around Curve and the surrounding streets, with a relaxed, creative feel.
- St Martins: the old lanes near the cathedral, with independent bars and restaurants that suit smaller groups.
Our practical tip: shoot first and eat or drink afterwards. Everyone arrives focused, the session runs smoothly, and you get a whole meal to argue about the leaderboard.
Leicester group ideas by occasion
Different groups need different plans. This table points you to the right in-depth guide for your occasion.
| Occasion | What works | Read the guide |
|---|---|---|
| Stag do | Head-to-head shooting in the afternoon, then the city's bars | Stag do ideas in Leicester |
| Hen party | Something different from cocktails and brunch, with plenty of laughs | Hen party ideas in Leicester |
| Date night | One lane for two, then dinner in St Martins | Date night ideas in Leicester |
| Work team | Lane-against-lane competition that levels the hierarchy | Corporate team building in Leicester |
| Kids' and teens' birthdays (11+) | A supervised hour with a responsible adult present | Kids birthday party ideas in Leicester |
| Not sure yet | Match your occasion to the right package and timing | The best activity in Leicester for every occasion |
How to plan a group day out in Leicester
A good group day has three parts: a competitive anchor activity, something lighter, and a proper meal. Here's a sample Saturday you can adapt to your booking time.
| When | Plan | Why it works |
|---|---|---|
| Late morning | King Richard III Visitor Centre and the cathedral, or the National Space Centre | An interesting start while everyone arrives |
| Lunch | St Martins or the Cultural Quarter | Central and easy to walk from |
| Afternoon | 1-hour session at Shooters Range Leicester (arrive 10 minutes early) | The centrepiece that gets everyone competing |
| Early evening | Bowling, crazy golf or a drink in the Cultural Quarter | Keeps the rivalry going |
| Evening | A group curry on the Golden Mile | The best way to end a Leicester day |
On weekdays we open at 17:00, so an after-work session followed by dinner works well from Tuesday to Friday. On Sundays we close at 19:00, which suits an afternoon plan.
How many can shoot, and what does it cost?
Group-size planner
Shooters Range Leicester has 4 lanes with up to 3 shooters per lane, so up to 12 people shoot at once. Bigger groups run across lanes.
| Group size | Lanes | How to book |
|---|---|---|
| 1–3 | 1 lane | Online |
| 4–6 | 2 lanes, perfect for head-to-head | Online |
| 7–9 | 3 lanes | Online |
| 10–12 | All 4 lanes | Contact us for a tailored package |
| 13+ | More than can shoot at once | Contact us and we'll plan how to run it |
Packages and prices
Every package is a 1-hour session and includes your weapon(s), BBs, full safety equipment and the safety briefing.
- Rifle Experience: £25 per person, great for casual or first-time shooters
- Pistol Experience: £30 per person
- MP7 Experience: £35 per person
- Dual Firearm Experience: £40 per person
- Elite Experience: £60 per person
Add-ons include extra 500 BBs (£4), an Arcturus full metal pistol with 500 BBs (£15) and an MP7 gas blowback with 1,000 BBs (£20). Groups of 13 or more should contact our team for a tailored package; smaller groups can book Shooters Range Leicester online.
Practical tips for your visit
- Arrive 10 minutes early to check in at reception, get your safety briefing and get kitted out.
- Wear comfortable clothes covering arms and legs and closed-toe shoes (required). Avoid loose jewellery.
- Leave your own kit at home: personal guns and BBs aren't allowed; only our equipment is used.
- Parking: there's no on-site parking, but there's an NCP car park and on-street parking nearby.
- Book ahead: walk-ins are accepted subject to availability, but weekends and school holidays sell out.
- If plans change: bookings are non-refundable but can be rescheduled, and the first reschedule is free with 24+ hours' notice.
Never been to a range before? Read what to expect on your first shooting range visit so nobody in the group is caught off guard.
Frequently asked questions
What can a big group do in Leicester?
Big groups in Leicester do best with an activity that runs everyone at once. Shooters Range Leicester has 4 lanes with up to 3 shooters per lane, so up to 12 people shoot together, and groups of 13 or more can contact us for a tailored package. Add the National Space Centre or the King Richard III Visitor Centre, then a group curry on the Golden Mile.
How much is indoor shooting in Leicester?
Shooters Range Leicester starts at £25 per person for the Rifle Experience. The Pistol Experience costs £30, the MP7 Experience £35, the Dual Firearm Experience £40 and the Elite Experience £60. Each package is a 1-hour session including your weapon(s), BBs, full safety equipment with eye protection, and a safety briefing from a trained range officer.
Do we need any shooting experience?
No. Complete beginners are welcome and most groups include people who have never shot before. A trained range officer gives a full safety briefing and supervises the whole session. The Attacksense smart targets score every hit automatically, so beginners can focus on the fun while experienced shooters chase a place on the national leaderboards.
What is the minimum age at Shooters Range Leicester?
The minimum age is 11. Anyone aged 11 to 16 must be accompanied by a responsible adult aged 18 or over who stays and supervises for the whole session. There's no upper age limit, so mixed-age family groups, teen birthdays and multi-generation days out all work well at the range.
Where is Shooters Range Leicester and where can we park?
We're at 65D Bedford Street South, Leicester LE1 3JR, in the city centre, and you can call us on 0116 403 0334. There's no on-site parking, but there's an NCP car park nearby and on-street parking in the surrounding area. Being central also means food, bars and the Cultural Quarter are easy to reach after your session.
What can groups do in Leicester when it rains?
Shooters Range Leicester is fully indoors, so it runs whatever the weather. Pair it with the National Space Centre, the King Richard III Visitor Centre, bowling or an escape room for a day that never needs an umbrella. Weekends and school holidays sell out, so book your session ahead.
Can we change our booking date?
Yes. Bookings are non-refundable but can be rescheduled online. Your first reschedule is free with at least 24 hours' notice; otherwise it costs £5 per person, and later reschedules cost £5 to £10 per person. Change it yourself on our manage your booking page.