Inspiring tales of justice
Hear true stories brought to extraordinary life
Meet amazing, costumed characters from Nottingham's history in our Grade II* listed Shire Hall. Explore the Victorian Courtroom, Georgian gaol, and ancient cells - all spread over five fascinating floors. Be inspired by exhibitions on themes of social justice, and discover our captivating collection. Experience justice and the law like never before.
WHAT'S ON
Adventures in history
Our thriving events programme explores the museum’s rich history and its unique collections in entertaining, intriguing and thought-provoking ways.
Tuesday 31 December, 7pm
Rest in Peace - NYE Cocktails & Crime
Until Friday 15 November 2024
Project Lab - Words We Live By
Friday 25 - Sunday 27 October, Wednesday 30 October- Saturday 2 November 2024, 5pm
Kids' Ghost Hunter Tours
Friday 25 - Saturday 26 & Wednesday 30 October - Saturday 2 November 2024, 6pm & 7pm
Victorian Condemned
Select dates from Saturday 21 September to 23 November 6pm and 7pm
Ghosts of the Gaol
Thursday 14 November, 6pm - 8pm
Edwardian Criminals
Thursday 17 October, 5.30pm-8pm
Juvenile in Justice Celebratory Event
Thursday 28 November - Friday 20 December 2024, 6.30pm
The Spirit of Solstice: A Festive Murder Mystery
Select dates April - November 2024
Guilty?! - A National Justice Museum Escape Room
Saturday 10 February - Sunday 3 November 2024
Juvenile In Justice
Friday 25 October, 10am - 12pm
Create and Make
Friday 18 October, 10am - 12pm
Drumming Hope
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Excellent place! So much to see, read and hear and fantastic actors staying true to their characters. We thoroughly enjoyed our visit!
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A fascinating day out and well worth the admission fee! Well done, good value for money
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Are you ready to join us?
Experience the harsh realities of life on the wrong side of the law. At the National Justice Museum we’re ready to share an adventure you’ll never forget. The question is, are you ready to join us?
LEARNING
Inspiring minds
Share a unique learning experience
Sparking imaginations and inspiring minds, our unique curriculum-linked learning programmes for children and young people offer true-to-life workshops in real courtroom settings. Through immersive and engaging digital sessions, we illuminate justice, the law and its practise in a way learners will never forget. Plan a visit today.
NEWS
Inspiring thinking
Read about our latest exhibitions, activities and initiatives about justice and the law.
The History of Borstals in England - Part 5 - Education and Routine
Dan Ewers is a PhD researcher based at the University of Leeds. During 2023 he explored the archives held at the National Justice Museum researching the history of borstal institutions in the United Kingdom. This blog shares another important element of life for juveniles living in a borstal: education and training.
Read moreThe History of Borstals in England - Part 4 - Health
Dan Ewers is a PhD researcher based at the University of Leeds. During 2023 he explored the archives held at the National Justice Museum researching the history of borstal institutions in the United Kingdom. Over the next few months we will be sharing what Dan found out about health, wellbeing, and everyday life within borstal institutions.
Read moreThe History of Borstals in England - Part 3 - Food
Dan Ewers is a PhD researcher based at the University of Leeds. During 2023 he explored the archives held at the National Justice Museum researching the history of borstal institutions in the United Kingdom. Over the next few months we will be sharing what Dan found out about health, wellbeing, and everyday life within borstal institutions.
Read morePicture This: Hope - Blog by last year's residency winner, Francesca Hummler
Winner of last year’s Creative Residency Prize, Francesca Hummler is a German-American visual artist, writer, researcher, and curator working with photography currently based in London, England. In this blog, she shares her experience working with the National Justice Museum during her residency.
Read moreThe History of Borstals in England - Part 2 - Farming and Agriculture
Dan Ewers is a PhD researcher based at the University of Leeds. During 2023 he explored the archives held at the National Justice Museum researching the history of borstal institutions in the United Kingdom. Over the next few months we will be sharing what Dan found out about health, wellbeing, and everyday life within borstal institutions.
Read moreThe History of Borstals in England - Part 1 - Timeline
Dan Ewers is a PhD researcher based at the University of Leeds. During 2023 he explored the archives held at the National Justice Museum researching the history of borstal institutions in the United Kingdom. Over the next few months we will be sharing what Dan found out about health, wellbeing, and everyday life within borstal institutions.
Read moreFind us on the Robin Hood Adventure Trail this summer
This summer, It’s in Nottingham invites families to embark on an exciting adventure with the Robin Hood Adventure Trail. This free event encourages families to help the legendary Robin Hood find his merry friends hidden across various cultural venues in Nottingham city centre.
Read moreNational Justice Museum announces judges for Picture This: Hope photography competition
The judging panel includes last year’s competition winner Francesca Hummler, London-based artist and writer Anthony Luvera, and ‘Godfather of Black British Photography’ Vanley Burke
Read moreNational Justice Museum and City of Caves Win Tripadvisor® Travellers’ Choice® Award 2024
Two iconic Nottingham attractions, the National Justice Museum and the City of Caves, are pleased to announce today that they have been recognised in Tripadivsor’s® Travelers’ Choice® Awards for 2024. The award honours businesses that consistently earn great reviews, placing them among the top 10% of listings around the world on Tripadvisor.
Read moreNational Justice Museum, Nottingham, appoints four new trustees to its board
The new trustees bring a range of expertise from the judiciary, diversity and inclusion, education, and media and communications to the historic Nottingham attraction
Read moreNational Justice Museum celebrates the life of its patron Lord Judge
National Justice Museum celebrates the life of its patron Lord Judge. Lord Judge was the former Lord Chief Justice of England and Wales and patron of our organisation.
Read moreNational Justice Museum and City of Caves Recognized as Tripadvisor® 2023 Travellers’ Choice® Award Winners
Two iconic Nottingham attractions, the National Justice Museum and the City of Caves, today announced they have each been recognized by Tripadvisor as a 2023 Travellers’ Choice award winner. The coveted award celebrates businesses that have consistently received great traveller reviews on Tripadvisor over the last 12 months, placing these winners among the 10% of all listings on Tripadvisor globally.
Read moreAn iconic piece of LGBTQ+ history returns to public display at the National Justice Museum
Oscar Wilde’s cell door from Reading Gaol, where he was incarcerated for “gross indecency”, was previously loaned to Queer Britain in London
Read moreNational Justice Museum is awarded a £249,996 grant by The National Lottery Heritage Fund
The funding will allow the iconic Nottingham venue to create new job roles, deliver more workshops across the country, and create a brand-new escape room attraction.
Read moreImmersive, site-specific performances come to the National Justice Museum for one day only
Four experimental performances will be scattered throughout the historic gaol for curious visitors to find
Read moreNational Justice Museum's Open Court podcast back for a second season
Retired Judge and former Barrister John Burgess leads a series of interviews taking you behind the scenes of the Justice system
Read moreFamily devastation brought closer to home in knife crime prevention workshops
The heart-breaking accounts of Nottinghamshire families who lost loved ones to knife crime will be added to an award-winning workshop.
Read moreNational Justice Museum announce recipient of £1000 photography award
The National Justice Museum has announced the recipient of a £1000 prize as part of their Freedom photography exhibition. The award includes a creative residency at the National Justice Museum in 2023 with a £1,000 budget, decided by a panel of esteemed and expert photographers Brian Griffin, Amanda Sinclair, and Ofilaye.
Read moreNational Justice Museum recognised as one of England’s outstanding cultural organisations through Arts Council England’s National Portfolio
The scheme highlights leading arts and heritage organisations in the country and comes with over £700,000 of investment for the Lace Market venue
Read moreNational Justice Museum’s new open-call photography exhibition, Freedom, to open in November
The exhibition opens on Saturday 12th November and will feature over 200 black and white images submitted by the public
Read moreThe National Justice Museum explores untold stories of Black presence
Tours, events, and displays are planned throughout October in the culmination of months of research into Black presence at the historic site
Read moreNational Justice Museum opens call out for object donations from Black Legal Professionals
The National Justice Museum is looking to expand its collection to reflect the diversity within the legal profession, and to share the lived experiences and the contributions made by Black legal professionals.
Read moreNational Justice Museum announces judges for Freedom photography competition
World world-renowned photographer, writer and director Brian Griffin leads a panel of judges for the National Justice Museum’s open call photography exhibition on the theme of Freedom. Griffin, along with fellow judges Amanda Sinclair and Ofilaye, will choose from hundreds of applicants to award a creative residency at the National Justice Museum in 2023 with £1,000 budget for the lucky winner.
Read moreNational Justice Museum Wins 2022 Tripadvisor Travellers’ Choice Award
National Justice Museum today announced it has been recognised by Tripadvisor as a 2022 Travellers’ Choice award winner. The award celebrates businesses that have received great reviews from travellers around the globe on Tripadvisor over the last 12 months. As challenging as the past year was, National Justice Museum stood out by consistently delivering positive experiences to travellers.
Read moreRolls Building Art and Education Trust & The Technology and Construction Court Art Competition
2023 is the 150th anniversary of The Technology and Construction Court (TCC), a major specialist Court that deals with disputes about building, engineering and all kinds of technology including software. The TCC is based in the Rolls Building, a spacious and modern courthouse in London's legal heartland.
As part of the anniversary celebrations, there will be a competition for young artists. Entries can be 2D artworks in any medium (except exclusively photography) and relate to the themes of Construction or Technology.
Read moreNational Justice Museum opens submissions for photography exhibition with a £1,000 prize at stake
The call out is open to photographers from around the UK, from professionals to amateurs
Read moreNational Justice Museum to receive £362,900 in fund which helps safeguard nation's cultural heritage
The National Justice Museum in Nottingham has been awarded a grant of £362,900 by the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sports, delivered by Arts Council England.
Read moreThe National Justice Museum publishes Letters of Constraint
The newly released book is an intimate collection of letters and diary entries from lockdown
Read moreNational Justice Museum wins Best Museums Change Lives Project at Museums Change Lives Awards 2021
The National Justice Museum has been awarded the Best Museums Change Lives Project at this year’s Museums Change Lives awards for our Make it Yours: Workshops in an Envelope project.
Read moreWelcome back S.H.E.D!
For two weeks in August 2021 summer, the National Justice Museum hosted a variety of exciting events, film screenings, talks and activities as part of S.H.E.D - the Social Higher Education Depot.
Read more‘Freed Soul’ letters
For Women’s History Month 2021, we’re sharing a collection of Charlotte Bryant letters from our archives.
Read moreJustice week 2021
An interview with His Honour Judge John Burgess about the impact of COVID-19 on legal proceedings in Nottingham.
Read moreGhost stories with Claire
We catch up with our former ghost tour extraordinaire Claire Finn to see whether she has any spooky stories to tell.
Read moreAutism and me
Michael, one of our educational facilitators at the National Justice Museum tells up about the positives of being Autistic.
Read moreStaying proud
With so many changes within legislation and human rights, the question has emerged in recent years; why is Pride still relevant?
Read moreUltimate travel list
We’re delighted that the National Justice Museum has been chosen as one of the 500 top experiences and hidden gems in Great Britain.
Read moreThe ‘Bloody Code’?
The Bloody Code imposed the death penalty for over 200 offences – many of which were surprisingly trivial.
Read moreSandford award
Nottingham’s National Justice Museum has received a prestigious Sandford Award for Heritage Education.
Read more