National Justice Museum
High Pavement · Nottingham · Nottinghamshire
Take your place in court, descend into the cells and discover the stories that still haunt Nottingham’s former gaol.
Photo: Roland Turner, via Wikimedia Commons. Cropped version by Ham II. CC BY-SA 2.0. Further cropped for display with a purple gradient overlay; adapted photograph shared under the same licence.
A day in court. A journey beneath it.
A grand courtroom tells one side of the story. The cells below tell another. Here, the machinery of justice becomes something you can walk through: a place of judgement, confinement and human stories, with a ghostly reputation that follows you downstairs.
Your visit at a glance
Research checked 26 October 2026Visitor details: official visit page, FAQs and accessibility guide. Duration is a ParaMaps planning estimate.
On one side of the door, a verdict. On the other, a cell.
The museum occupies Nottingham’s Grade II* listed Shire Hall. Its Victorian courtroom, Georgian gaol and older cells bring different chapters of justice together under one roof.
Enter the courtroom
The courtroom gives the law a stage: judge, accused and public brought together in a room where the outcome mattered. Today’s trial performances invite visitors into those roles.
Below the formal rooms
Continue into the gaol and the mood changes. Cells and underground spaces shift attention from the spectacle of a trial to the experience of imprisonment.
The exercise yard
The museum’s execution performance explores punishment as public spectacle. It uses a gallows as a teaching setting; the museum specifies that the noose is never used during the performance.
History and interpretation: the museum’s overview and performance information.
Who follows you into the dark cells?
Former guide Claire Finn described a ghost tour that became unsettling in the dark cells. Members of her group reported feeling watched; one woman said her arm had been pulled. Another visitor later showed scratches on his arm and believed something in the cell had caused them.
In the museum’s published account, Claire also recalls collecting stories of dark figures in the exercise yard. These are staff and visitor accounts, passed on by a named guide who worked in the building.
It is an evocative setting for a ghost story: the formal courtroom above, the confined spaces below, and the yard waiting beyond the cell doors.
The building after the visitors leave.
A tug from nobody
In a 2025 LeftLion interview, employee Lauren Williams described her ponytail being pulled while she stood alone in a back-of-house kitchen during her first week at the museum.
Stones in the caves
In the same interview, Lauren spoke of reports of small stones being thrown in the cave areas, alongside visitors describing an oppressive presence.
Choose your atmosphere
A daytime visit offers history with theatrical storytelling. For a different mood, look at the museum’s current Ghosts of the Gaol programme and other separately listed evening experiences.
Accounts: Claire Finn’s museum article, 2020 and LeftLion’s interview with Lauren Williams, 2025. Ghosts of the Gaol details ↗
Why 4★?
This offers enough history, atmosphere and activity to build a substantial part of a Nottingham day around. Our rating considers the ordinary museum visit alongside its mysterious reputation.
Plenty to explore
The historic rooms and live interpretation give visitors several ways into the story. It rewards time spent exploring, rather than a quick photograph and a glance at a display.
Traveller consensus
Recent individual reviews repeatedly praise the performers, staff and freedom to explore. Several describe spending a few hours here or wishing they had allowed longer. We also noted comments about the maze-like layout and the humorous performance style.
Value & fit
The £16 adult admission includes a year of return visits, subject to terms. That strengthens the value for repeat visitors. For a single visit, leave time for the performances. Access needs and comfort with dark spaces are worth considering when planning.
Review sample: individual Tripadvisor reviews from 2026. This is our research-based judgement, not a conversion of a review average. How ParaScores work →
Give the building time to tell its story.
Arrive with room in your day to wander. A late entry can leave you choosing between exploring the rooms and catching the performances.
Make the most of your visit
Use the day’s performance schedule to shape your exploration.
Ask at reception
Get that day’s trial and yard performance times before heading into the museum. Timings can vary.
Explore between performances
Take your time with the rooms and displays. The layout invites curiosity, so keep track of areas you want to return to.
Extend the day
The separately located City of Caves offers another side of Nottingham underground. Joint tickets are available; check its access arrangements and reserve your time.
Tickets & getting here
Concessions £15; family options available. General admission includes return visits for 12 months, subject to availability and terms. Selected exhibitions are free. The museum closes on Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year’s Day.
Access & comfort
Expect uneven floors, low ceilings and steps. Accessible toilets, hearing loops, audio guides and virtual access material are available. Contact the museum about specific rooms and book the free accompanying carer ticket where needed.
Photography: follow the museum’s restrictions on performances, staff and recording. Check official details before travelling.
Keep exploring the wider region.
These are separate journeys from Nottingham, ideal for another stop on a regional trip.
Creswell Crags
A limestone gorge with prehistoric stories and protective marks in its caves. A different kind of mystery beneath the surface.
Discover Creswell Crags →Tutbury Castle
Castle ruins, royal imprisonment and a haunting tradition. Check current opening dates when planning a visit.
Discover Tutbury Castle →Come for the cells. Stay for the stories.
From the courtroom to the dark spaces below, this is a place that makes history feel close. Leave a few hours free, follow your curiosity and see which part of the building stays with you.