Sarah Levitt was born 05/06/1956 in Macclesfield, Cheshire and grew up in Leek, Staffordshire.  A BA in Art History and an MA in the History of Dress were followed by work at Platt Hall Gallery of English Costume, Manchester City Art Galleries, Bristol Museum and Art Gallery and Gunnersbury Park Museum, West London.

She came to Leicester in 1997 as Head of Museums, and became Head of Arts and Museums in 2006. Sarah is a fellow of the Museums Association and has written and lectured extensively on a range of subjects related to museums.

Since 2010 Sarah and her team have been closely involved in the search for King Richard III, his discovery, the creation of the King Richard III Visitor Centre, and the reinterment programme