Leicester Literary and Philosophical Society

Providing lectures at the cutting edge
of modern thinking since 1835

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About the Lit&Phil

The “Lit & Phil” organises an annual series of lectures and discussions for the advancement of education in Literature, Science and Art - this season they will be held at Hansom Hall in Leicester. The Society publishes reports, papers and proceedings and supports the Leicester Museum and Art Gallery. There are also Natural History and Geology Sections, which organise further events.

The 'Lit&Phil' was founded in 1835.

Lectures, held on Mondays are in Hansom Hall, Leicester Adult Education College, LE1 6QL, and are also streamed on Zoom.

The Natural History and Geology Sections provide more specialist events

The Society publishes transactions every year.

Why not join us?

The Geology section of the Lit&Phil has a separate website. This can be found at: www.charnia.org.uk

Forthcoming Events

Forthcoming Lit&Phil lectures

Our lectures take place in Hansom Hall in the Leicester Adult Education College, 50-54 Belvoir St., Leicester, LE1 6QL. All lectures are also streamed using Zoom. Recordings of many lectures are made available to members for a limited period.

Visitors are welcome to join many of the events either in person or on Zoom.

Our full programme for the 2025 - 2026 season will be published during the summer. Our next few events are shown below.

Lit&Phil members' 2025Annual Members' Meeting

29 Sep 2025 18:40 • Hansom Hall in the Leicester Adult Education College, 50-54 Belvoir St, Leicester LE1 6QL
What has Leicester done for Nature? Celebrating Leicestershire Natural History and Historians Past and Present.

13 Oct 2025 19:30 • Hansom Hall in the Leicester Adult Education College, 50-54 Belvoir St, Leicester LE1 6QL
Rural Britain’s Colonial Histories: Country Walks through Hidden Histories of Empire

27 Oct 2025 19:30 • Hansom Hall in the Leicester Adult Education College, 50-54 Belvoir St, Leicester LE1 6QL

Forthcoming Natural History Section events include:

Wildlife of Leicestershire Quarries - Chris Hill

1 Oct 2025 19:30 • Quaker Meeting House, 16 Queens Road, Leicester LE2 1WP
Leicestershire, Leicester and Rutland Local Nature Recovery Strategy - Paul Killip - The Sowter Lecture

5 Nov 2025 19:30 • Quaker Meeting House, 16 Queens Road, Leicester LE2 1WP
Wildlife of the Hebrides - Nigel Slater

3 Dec 2025 19:30 • Quaker Meeting House, 16 Queens Road, Leicester LE2 1WP

2024/54 President Nigel Siesage (centre), with the Lord Mayor of Leicester,Councillor Bhupen Dave and the Lady Mayoress, his wife, Usha

Welcome to the Leicester Lit&Phil

The Lit and Phil was founded in 1835 to provide opportunities for local people to hear lectures from speakers who are experts in their fields. The Society was influential in establishing the Leicester Museum & Art Gallery in 1849, the City Library in the 1860s and University of Leicester in 1920. Our lectures cover a broad range of topics in the arts, literature, natural history, philosophy and the sciences.

Members can listen, reflect, ask questions and chat informally with the speaker and other members of the audience over refreshments. We hope you'd like to join us.

Nigel Siesage, President

Join us