For Hobbit fans, it is an essential day out. Viewers of one of the most talked-about films of the moment should make a diary date, if they haven’t already done so, to visit The Swords Of Middle-Earth exhibition – one of many events of interest at the Royal Armouries Museum.

The exhibition features four heroic swords, based on weapons used in the epic Lord Of The Rings film trilogy, and celebrates The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey.

Crafted over the past two years by swordsmith Peter Lyon and award-winning production workshop Weta – creators of the original swords for the Lord Of The Rings and The Hobbit films – Anduril, Strider’s Sword, Glamdring and Sting are all artists’ proof copies of the long-since-sold-out limited-editions.

Royal Armouries is believed to be the only museum in the world to display the full set of swords. Their appearance follows the successful exhibition, The Wonderful World Of Weta: Arms And Armour From The Movies, staged in Leeds in 2008.

But it isn’t solely a stomping ground for Hobbit enthusiasts. As the nation’s Museum of Arms and Armour and Artillery, this venue has an educational value, exploring the weaponry and artillery used in combat through the ages.

Leeds is one of four sites – the others are the imposing Victorian fort of Fort Nelson, home to the Big Guns, and the White Tower, the central keep of the Tower of London – bearing a treasure trove of diamond encrusted weapons and the finest arms and armour.

In 2004, the Royal Armouries opened its newest museum in Louisville, Kentucky, in collaboration with the Frazier History Museum.

The impressive Hall of Steel, an elegant steel and glass tower, is the architectural centrepiece of the Royal Armouries in Leeds and boasts more than 2,500 objects, predominantly 17th century armour and 19th century military equipment, around and inside its stairwell.

Mortars and cannons are based around the base of the stairwell’s walls and beyond that lie five galleries showcasing more than 8,500 objects for visitors to learn about and explore.

The intriguing exhibits illustrate War, Tournament, Oriental, Self Defence and Hunting. Arms and armour from around the world are showcased within the displays, including Henry VIII’s personal tournament garnitures, illustrating his life as a king and a keen sportsman.

Ornately decorated armours of Japanese shoguns and the world record-breaking elephant armour are also on display.

The history and evolution of hunting, from prehistoric times to present day Olympic sports, is explained in the Hunting Gallery, and the Oriental Gallery focuses on the great civilisations of Asia, showing how arms and armour can provide a key to understanding Asian history.

Self Defence is an interesting gallery – here visitors can learn how travellers, traders and pilgrims protected themselves and how weapons evolved with advances in technology and changing trends. Simple daggers and swords developed into weapons, becoming elegant rapiers of the late 16th century.

Mail shirts are among the armoury showcased to illustrate the protective garments worn during combat in the Middle Ages.

The Armouries also boasts an outdoor arena with seating for around 1,200 visitors to watch popular jousting contests with competitors from all over the world. Exhibitions of military and sporting skill are also demonstrated here.

Throughout the year, the museum hosts special events and while some may be chargeable, admission is free.

An exhibition called Other Ranks, launched to commemorate the month of Remembrance, is a multi-sensory, sound-based installation portraying army life on ‘civvy street’.

The exhibition, which runs until the end of March, is the work of renowned sound artist, Amie Slavin, who is blind. Visitors can hear the stomping of the soldiers’ boots on parade played out from 16 wall-mounted speakers and four subwoofers.

On January 19, visitors have the rare opportunity of going behind the scenes at the museum. From 3.30pm until 7.30pm, there will be a seminar for the over-16s giving an exclusive insight into the museum’s world-class collections.

The event brings with it the chance to meet the experts, explore the museum stores and dine in a unique gallery setting. Visitors also get the opportunity to handle the original objects under the guidance of specialist curators.