Our History
Read about our story so far and find out more about the history of our heritage sites, the City of Caves and the National Justice Museum, Nottingham.
About Us
About us. At the National Justice Museum in Nottingham, we inspire people of all ages to become active citizens. We do this through fun and engaging activities, exhibitions and educational programmes relating to law and justice.
A visitor attraction and award winning education provider, you can find us on High Pavement.
Our museum is based at Nottingham’s historic Shire Hall and County Gaol. A building steeped in history, there has been a court on this site since at least 1375 and a prison since at least 1449. When you visit us, you can delve into the fascinating history of justice through time. Meet historical characters, explore our immense collection, take part in a range of interactive activities, and discover how the law and justice contribute to all of our lives. See what’s on and Book a visit to the museum.
Our partner attraction, the City of Caves, tells the stories of people that lived and worked in the UK’s biggest network of caves. With over 800 caves city-wide, there’s plenty to discover on your visit. The caves entrance is located at the bottom of the steps next to Nottingham Contemporary on Garner’s Hill. Learn more about us and Book a visit to the City of Caves.
Education visits
We provide unique curriculum-linked learning for children and young people in real courtroom settings, including at the National Justice Museum in Nottingham, which was once the site of Nottingham assizes and County Gaol.
School visits to the Museum and courtrooms in the Royal Courts of Justice, London and across the north offer an optimum learning experience. Learn more here.
The National Justice Museum is a registered charity (1030554). Support us by donating to our JustGiving page here.
Awards and Testimonials
We are a multi award-winning organisation and have received many prestigious awards since we were established in 1995. These have included the prestigious Gulbenkian Prize for Museum of the year and a Visit England Gold Award for Best Visitor Attraction.
Governance
The National Justice Museum is governed by a board of trustees. Each trustees has a background relevant to the work that we do and provides inspiration and advice to the leadership team whilst also ensuring effective governance across the organisation.
