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Indoors

National Justice Museum

Nottingham, 0.3 miles from the city centre
Courtesy of National Justice Museum

ENTRY

from £11.50

SETTING

Indoors

WHERE

Nottingham

What it’s like

A Georgian gaol and Victorian courtroom where actors re-enact real trials and executions, daily.

This is a proper old courthouse and prison, not a museum with a few cases in glass. You walk through Georgian gaol cells that are hundreds of years old, then into a Victorian courtroom where actors re-enact real historic trials. There's a public execution re-enactment too, done in the old exercise yard, which is exactly as grim as it sounds and part of why this suits older children better than toddlers.

The re-enactments happen daily and you don't need to book them separately, they're included in your admission. Weekends and school holidays the court sits at 11:15, 1:15 and 3:15, with the execution scenes at 12:15, 2:15 and 4:15. Weekday times vary so it's a case of asking at reception when you arrive rather than planning around a set schedule.

It's spread across five floors of a Grade II* listed building, with a lift to most areas but stairs down to each level and some bits only reachable by steps. Some of the prison areas are dimly lit, which adds to the atmosphere for a nine-year-old and might spook a four-year-old. There's a sensory map for anyone who wants quieter spaces with seating if it's all a bit much.

A family ticket for two adults and two children is £42, or £48 if you've got three kids, and under-5s get in free. Last entry is 4pm and there's a café on site. There's no parking on site, but the Stoney Street multi-storey and Lace Market car park are both a five-minute walk, and turning up by tram gets you 10% off admission.

What’s on here

Facilities

Accessible toilet
Birthday parties
Booking required
Café
Gift shop
Group bookings
Hearing loop
Public transport nearby
School visits
Toilets

Need to know

Last entry
4pm
Booking
Walk-ups accommodated when available
Parking
No on-site parking. Nearby multi-storey at Stoney Street and Lace Market car park within 5 mins walk
Wheelchairs
Museum spread across five floors with lift to most areas
Getting there by bus or train
Nottingham Train Station 0.8 miles (10-15 min walk)
Worth knowing
General admission ticket grants unlimited entry for a year from the day you purchase
  • Your admission ticket gives unlimited entry back for a full year from the day you buy it
  • Arriving by tram gets you 10% off admission
  • There's a sensory map for quieter spaces if the gaol areas feel a bit much
  • Bookings are non-refundable, though the museum will exchange for another date or a gift voucher if someone can't make it

Plan your visit

How much does it cost?

£16 for an adult, £11.50 for a child aged 5 to 15, under-5s free. A family ticket for two adults and two children is £42.

Do we need to book?

Walk-ups are fine when there's space, but booking ahead is recommended, especially at weekends. Groups and educational visits have to book in advance.

Do we need to book the trial and execution re-enactments separately?

No, they're included in your admission ticket. Ask at reception when you arrive for that day's timings.

What time are the re-enactments?

Weekends and school holidays, the courtroom runs at 11:15, 1:15 and 3:15, and the execution scenes at 12:15, 2:15 and 4:15. Weekday times vary so check at reception.

Is it suitable for young children?

There are family-friendly interactives for all ages, but some very young children find parts of the building unnerving, particularly the dimly lit prison areas.

Is there parking?

No on-site parking, but the Stoney Street multi-storey and Lace Market car park are both about five minutes' walk. There's also pay-and-display on High Pavement opposite.

Is the building accessible?

It's spread across five floors with a lift to most areas, though it's a Grade II* listed building and some parts are only reachable by stairs. A carer or personal assistant goes free with a free ticket.

What time do you close?

Open daily 10am to 5pm, with last entry at 4pm, except Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year's Day.

Also on site

  • Deli-Cious Chocolate

    indoors

    Independent cafe within the museum offering hot and cold drinks, cakes, sandwiches and snacks.

  • Gift Shop

    indoors

    Museum shop selling items reflecting the museum's themes and exhibitions.

Experiences

  • Exercise Yard

    outdoors

    The gaol's historic exercise yard, used for the daily public execution re-enactment.

  • Georgian Gaol

    indoors

    Georgian-era gaol housed within the museum building.

  • Historic Cells

    indoors

    Cells within the building dating back hundreds of years.

  • Historical Trial Re-enactment

    indoors

    Live re-enactment of a historic court case performed daily in the Victorian courtroom, included in admission.

  • Public Execution Re-enactment

    outdoors

    Live re-enactment of a public execution performed daily in the gaol's exercise yard, included in admission.

  • Victorian Criminal Courtroom

    indoors

    A historic courtroom where a live re-enactment of a historic court case takes place daily.

Areas to explore

  • Free Exhibition Spaces

    indoors

    Free exhibition spaces exploring modern themes of social justice, do not require a museum admission ticket to enter.

Featured in 2 Huddlepin lists

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