17/06/2026

The National Justice Museum in Nottingham has been awarded bronze at VisitEngland’s 2026 Awards for Excellence, in the Small Visitor Attraction of the Year category. This national recognition reflects the dedication and expertise of the Museum’s team, and places them amongst the country’s leading organisations in tourism. The winners were announced at the annual event hosted by journalist and broadcaster Sean Fletcher, on 3 June, at Aerospace Bristol. 

The prestigious VisitEngland Awards for Excellence have been running for more than 35 years and celebrate and champion the quality, innovation, best practice, and exceptional customer service of England’s tourism industry. The awards recognise businesses including hotels, self-catering accommodation, B&Bs, glamping operators, attractions, restaurants, pubs, museums, and individuals who continuously raise the bar across the sector.

This award marks yet another accomplishment of this small independent museum. The attraction recently won a regional award as Visitor Attraction of the Year at the Nottinghamshire Tourism Award 2026, highlighting the people and businesses making outstanding contributions to the region’s vibrant visitor economy. The museum is also an Arts Council National Portfolio Organisation, a scheme that recognises and supports organisations across the country that help communities everywhere to enjoy the best creativity and culture.

Located in the heart of Nottingham’s Lace Market, this unique attraction brings the past and present of justice to life inside a remarkable historic setting. Housed within the Grade II* listed Shire Hall and former County Gaol, visitors can explore five fascinating floors, from a grand Victorian courtroom to a sprawling Georgian gaol and centuries-old prison cells.

With costumed interpreters, immersive storytelling, and daily interactive performances (including gripping trial re-enactments) the experience is both educational and unforgettable. Alongside this, thought-provoking exhibitions shine a light on modern social justice issues, connecting history with the world we live in today. 

The organisation also manages the City of Caves, the largest publicly available section of Nottingham’s expansive cave system. This unique heritage site allows visitors to explore ancient caves, hand-carved beneath Nottingham’s city centre, featuring a WW2 air raid shelter, pub cellars used as covert Luddite meeting spaces, and the UK’s only remaining medieval caves tannery.

Their award-winning education programme has expanded nationally since its launch in 1995. In 2011, they became the learning provider for London’s Royal Courts of Justice and Supreme Court. Their learning team continue to expand the offer across the UK with a special programme of workshops called NJM On Tour, supported with funding from the National Lottery Heritage Fund. This programme sees the team travelling to real courtrooms around the UK to help children and young people gain a hands-on understanding of the law and justice.

Victoria Reeves, CEO of the National Justice Museum, said:

“We are absolutely thrilled to have been awarded Bronze at the VisitEngland Awards for Excellence 2026 for Small Visitor Attraction of the Year. This is a hugely proud moment for our team as our work is recognised and celebrated on the national stage. This award celebrates our commitment to providing amazing experiences for our visitors, delivering exceptional learning programmes across the country, and creating impactful exhibitions that highlight our collection and raise awareness of social justice issues.

We want to say a special thank you to all our visitors. Your continued support means we can keep delivering our work, looking after our amazing attractions at the museum and the City of Caves.”

Photographs: VisitBritain/Paul Groom Photography