The National Holocaust Centre and Museum

About

The National Holocaust Centre and Museum is so much more than a museum. It’s a vibrant memorial, a place of testimony and a Centre of learning for communities of all faiths, and none, across the UK.

Since the Centre was established in 1995, in the grounds of a former farmhouse in the village of Laxton, on the edge of Sherwood Forest in North Nottinghamshire, it remains the first and only place of its kind in the UK. Dedicated to Holocaust remembrance and education, the surrounding countryside provides a peaceful setting and the Centre itself is surrounded by a beautifully landscaped Memorial Garden. The scent and sight of more than 1,000 white roses in full bloom stands as a poignant living commemoration of the Holocaust. Each individual rose carries a precious reminder, and together they make a powerful statement. The Children’s Memorial, dedicated to the young people murdered in the Holocaust, is being built slowly over time by visitors to The National Holocaust Centre and Museum. Visitors are invited to select a stone from the trough and place it on the memorial, in tribute to one of the 1.5 million individual children who died. The garden is a unique space of healing, reflection and contemplation for all to share.

The Museum is accredited by the Arts Council, and features a permanent exhibition suitable for adults and children 12 years and older, as well as an age-appropriate interactive exhibition for younger children. Both exhibition areas are infused with survivor’s testimony and artefacts, providing a human and personal perspective on pre-war Jewish life in Europe, the rise of National Socialism, the Holocaust survival and post-war justice. The Journey, Europe’s first and only Holocaust exhibit aimed specifically at primary school children follows the story of Leo, a fictional German-Jewish boy living in 1938 Berlin. His story unfolds in a series of rooms, which not only detail his experiences but also the historical events that characterised the Nazi domination of Europe and that of children who lived during the Holocaust and survived.

But what makes a visit particularly unique is the opportunity to meet a survivor of the Holocaust and to hear their story. The Centre is privileged to host survivors on a daily basis during term-time, and most Sunday’s during summer*, all of whom share their experiences with visitors and answer questions from young and old alike. They have made the National Holocaust Centre and Museum what it is today by their strength and commitment.

With two permanent museum exhibitions, a memorial garden and films and resources to support learning it is recommended you allow at least 4 hours for your visit.

*details of the Survivor speaking can be found on the Holocaust Centre's website.