The Workhouse, Southwell

Front exterior of The Workhouse and garden — Explore The Workhouse building and garden

Important notice -

The Workhouse will re-open from Wednesday 19th May 2021. You will need to book your visit in advance. You will be turned away if you arrive without a booking.

Atmospheric Victorian workhouse

Please book ahead before visiting Check availability

Overview
Opening times
Prices
How to get here
Facilities and access
Contact us

Visitors walking through a garden in spring

Visiting this spring

Our gardens, parks, cafés, shops and countryside locations are open to visit. Many houses in England and Wales have reopened, with houses in Northern Ireland expected to reopen from 24 May. Advance booking for visits helps us keep everyone safe and socially distanced. At quieter times such as weekdays, booking shouldn't be necessary, but to guarantee entry we recommend booking in advance, especially at weekends and bank holidays.

The Workhouse, Southwell

What's on

Please book a ticket before your visit

The Workhouse will reopen from 19 May and you’ll need to book tickets before you visit. Members can book for free, while non-members will need to pay when booking. We'll be releasing tickets every Friday. Please note we’ll be turning people away who arrive and haven't booked. We're looking forward to welcoming you back.

Timed entry to The Workhouse, Southwell (19 May - 23 May)

Wed 19 May 2021

+ 4 other dates

10:30-14:30

Book your timed entry to visit The Workhouse, Southwell

Florence Nightingale — Florence in 1855 (Smallhythe Place, Kent)

The Workhouse, Southwell Nottinghamshire

Florence Nightingale Comes Home

Explore new exhibition boards that are displayed in the Firbeck Infirmary about Florence Nightingale. They outline Nightingale's life and the major events that lead her into becoming a pioneer of many aspects of public health, nurses training and much more. The project is a joint venture of the University of Nottingham and the Arts and Humanities Research Council.

Discover more about 'The Lady with the Lamp'

The Workhouse, Southwell

Eating

Food and drink

Our café is open daily, 10.30 am-2.30pm, serving hot drinks, snacks, cakes and ice cream on a take away basis. We’ve introduced new safety measures including screens at our till and collection points, and waymarked routes. In line with government guidance visitors are required to wear a face covering. Please bring one with you. We look forward to welcoming you back and know that you’ll support us to make this a safe experience for everyone.

The Workhouse, Southwell

History

Exterior side angle of the central section of The Workhouse building

The Workhouse concept

Learn about The Workhouse's role and how it evolved through time, with the site providing shelter for those in need until the 1980s.

Costumed volunteer dressed as a female pauper making The Workhouse beds

A snapshot of inmate life

Get an idea of what living inside the workhouse would have been like for its pauper residents.

The history of Firbeck Infirmary

Discover the history of Firbeck – why was it built within The Workhouse compound? What role did it have in the wider community? Have you got a workhouse story to share?

The Workhouse, Southwell

Our work

The 1970s bedsit recreated from oral history testimonies

Recording the past in our memory archive

How the oral history from people who once lived and worked here has helped us to accurately recreate this special place.

Wallpaper depicting pink and white painted roses

Conserving history at The Workhouse - If Walls Could Talk

The ‘Hands On or Hands Off?’ project at The Workhouse involved the collaboration with local community groups as we carry out vital conservation work.

Close-up of conservation dusting with a brush

Keeping The Workhouse clean

In times gone by there were plenty of pauper workers to make sure The Workhouse was clean and tidy, but now we have a small team working to preserve the building. Take a look at what they get up to.

The Workhouse, Southwell

Art and collections

Our collections

Explore the objects and works of art we care for at The Workhouse, Southwell on the National Trust Collections website

Search the collections

General

Please go to What’s on to book your visit.

Places open are the gardens, toilets and the Workhouse and Firbeck buildings.

The café is open for hot drinks, snacks, cakes and ice cream on a take away basis

In line with government guidance, you're required to wear a face covering in most enclosed spaces. Please bring one with you.

A socially distant, one way route applies in The Workhouse building and Firbeck

Secondhand bookshop

Free parking, 200 yards from Workhouse in visitor car park.

Food and drink is not permitted in the house

Picnics are allowed anywhere in the gardens and grounds

Dogs are allowed in the car park and front field but are not permitted in the house or garden. Assistance dogs only in the house and garden

Smoking is only permitted on the graveled area of the main visitor car park - we ask that you don't smoke or vape in the house, garden or grounds

Shoes with a heel with a surface area smaller than a postage stamp are not permitted in the house as they cause damage to the historic floors

Access

Full access statement is below, but please note that some parts of this property may be closed on your visit.

Due to the historic nature of the house and grounds, some areas might not be fully accessible to all visitors

Separate mobility parking spaces in car park

Adapted toilet in car park facilities building, The Workhouse and Firbeck House

Subtitles on introductory video

Braille and large print guide available

Virtual tour available for cellars and upper floors

Building - ramped entrance

Grounds - partly accessible, loose gravel paths. Accessible route

There are steps and stairs in the house, modern chairs are available in most rooms as a rest point

Ground floor accessible via ramps. Stairs to other floors. Manual wheelchairs available on other floors

Gift Aid

Standard

Adult

N/A

£8.00

Child

N/A

£4.00

Family

N/A

£20.00

1 Adult and up to three children

N/A

£12.00

Gift Aid

Standard

Amount paid by visitor

£11.00

£10.00

Tax refund from Government*

£2.75

£0.00

Total received by the National Trust

£13.75

£10.00

Monday 17 May

Tuesday 18 May

Wednesday 19 May

Thursday 20 May

Friday 21 May

Saturday 22 May

Sunday 23 May

The Workhouse, Southwell

Important notice -

More about this place

Visiting this spring