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The Workhouse and Infirmary
Nottinghamshire & LincolnshireAtmospheric Georgian Workhouse and Victorian Infirmary
Upton Road, Southwell, Nottinghamshire, NG25 0PT
Important notice
The property is open 5 days a week from Wednesday to Sunday. We don't have a booking system in place, simply turn up and check-in at the visitor reception building.
M T W T F S S Open
Closed
Opening times for 17 September 2026
Asset Opening time Workhouse & Infirmary 10:30 - 16:00 Café 10:30 - 15:00 Last admission into the property is 1 hour before the advertised closing time. No booking required.
Whole property
Ticket type With Gift Aid Without Gift Aid Adult (18+) £16.50 £15.00 Child (5-17) under 5s free £8.30 £7.50 Family (2 Adults and up to 3 children) £41.30 £37.50 1 adult, up to 3 children £24.80 £22.50 Group (Adult 18+) £14.25 Become a member and discover more than 500 places
- Assistance dogs only
- Bookshop
Second-hand bookshop
- Café
Café located in the Infirmary. Indoor and outdoor seating available. The café is open for hot and cold drinks, pasties, snacks, cakes and ice cream. Food and drink is not permitted inside the historical buildings.
- Car park
Free parking, 200 metres away from the property. what3words ///holly.disposing.acclaim
- Cycle parking
- Dogs allowed
Dogs are allowed outside anywhere on site. Assistance dogs only in the historic buildings.
- Family friendly
- Guided tour
Guided tour available on a first-come first-served basis at various times throughout the day.
- Picnic area
- Shop
Guidebooks and small souvenirs can be purchased from the visitor reception building.
- Toilet
Toilets are available in the visitor reception building, Infirmary cafe and in the hub.
Blue Badge parking. Accessible toilets. Ramped entrances. Upper floors are stairs only. Fully accessible outdoors route.
- Accessible route and/or map
- Accessible toilet
Accessible toilets can be found in the visitor reception building, the hub and the Infirmary cafe.
- Braille (guide or menu)
- Designated parking
Accessible parking available in the main visitor car park, 200 metres from the property.
- Induction loop
- Large print (guide or menu)
- Level access to food outlet
- Level access/terrain
- Lift
There is a lift in the Infirmary.
- Narrow corridors
There is some narrow access in The Workhouse building.
- Photograph album
- Powered mobility vehicle available
We have two mobility scooters available to hire. Please speak to a member of the team on arrival.
- Ramped access/slopes
- Seating available
- Steps/uneven terrain
There are steps to the upper floors of The Workhouse.
- Virtual tour
A virtual visit can be enjoyed by clicking on the link below.
Virtual tour - more information- Wheelchairs available
- By road
- 13 miles from Nottingham on A612 and 8 miles from Newark via A617 and A612.Parking: FreeSat Nav: Please note, some services such as Google Maps will not send you to our front entrance. To help, please look for The Workhouse on 'Upton Road, NG25 0QB'. Ideally, use what3words ///holly.disposing.acclaim
- On foot
- Robin Hood Way
- By train
- Newark Castle 7 miles; Newark North Gate 7½ miles; Nottingham 13 miles
- By bus
- Regular services from Newark, Nottingham and Mansfield bus stations. The NCT Lilac 26 route connects Nottingham to Southwell, stopping a short walk from The Workhouse and Infirmary.
- Cycling
- National Byway (Heritage Cycle Route)
Planning your visit
Article
Visiting The Workhouse and Infirmary
Find out more about visiting The Workhouse and Infirmary, where guided tours, exhibitions and activities help bring to life the stories of the people who had to work to receive food, shelter and medical care here.
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Accessibility at The Workhouse & Infirmary
Find out all you need to know about accessibility at The Workhouse & Infirmary so you can make the most of your visit.
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Educational visits to The Workhouse and Infirmary
Bring your education or school group to The Workhouse and Infirmary in Nottinghamshire. Step back in time to the 1840s and find out what life was like inside this gruelling institution. All visits are self led, giving you the opportunity to design your day around your group's learning needs.
Events
See the details of all upcoming events taking place at The Workhouse and Infirmary.
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Highlights
The Workhouse
Workhouse built in 1824, a last-resort refuge for the poor and destitute, now one of the best-preserved examples in the country.
The Infirmary
The Infirmary, which supported ill Workhouse inmates, eventually adapted its role and response to care until decommission in the 1980s.
Kitchen Garden
Various vegetable plots, orchards and rich pasture that once supplied food for Workhouse inmates, now nurtured by volunteers for purchasable produce.
Infirmary Café
Comfortable and reflective café offering a range of hot and cold drinks, pasties, croque monsieurs, bakes and sweet treats. Seating indoors and outdoors, including a dog-friendly area.
Spotlight events
Floral Pumpkin Decorating: Saturday 17 October
Join us for a relaxed, seasonal drop-in activity and create your own beautiful floral pumpkin display - perfect for autumn decorating, Halloween displays or as a unique gift.
Bramley Apple Day: Saturday 24 October
Running alongside Southwell’s famous Bramley Apple Festival, enjoy a free day of celebration at The Workhouse & Infirmary, including a special performance by the Pauper Choir.
Things to see and do
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Family-friendly things to do at The Workhouse and Infirmary
There are lots of ways to keep the family engaged at The Workhouse and Infirmary. With children's trails, seasonal activities and dress up.
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The kitchen garden at The Workhouse
From plot to pauper plate, explore the recreated Victorian vegetable garden and admire the range of heritage varieties grown.
Eating and shopping
Eating & shopping at The Workhouse
Located on the ground floor of the Infirmary, the café serves a range of hot and cold drinks, pasties, croque monsieurs, bakes and sweet treats. Whether you’re popping by for a takeaway coffee, staying for lunch or collecting supplies for a picnic, you’ll find something that hits the spot. Guidebooks and small souvenirs can be purchased from the visitor reception building. Take a look inside the second-hand bookshop and get lost in a world of your own. With fiction, hobbies, classics and children's books, there’s something for everyone to enjoy including our new children's corner.
Upcoming events
Event
Cheer Up Chuckaboo Trail
A fun trail for all ages discovering the long lost words of Victorian slang.
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Heritage Open Days
Enjoy free admission to The Workhouse and Infirmary as we celebrate Heritage Open Days in September.
Event
Kitchen Garden Tour
The kitchen garden at The Workhouse & Infirmary was both a place of labour and a source of food. Discover more of it's history on this free tour with a member of our skilled gardens team.
Event
Wellness Walks
Come and enjoy a social walk around Southwell and discover more of the local area surrounding The Workhouse.
Event
Quiet Hour at The Workhouse & Infirmary
Join us for quiet hour as we turn down the sounds for those who would enjoy a more peaceful and relaxed visit
Event
Floral Pumpkin Decorating Drop-In Sessions
Step into autumn and join us for a relaxed, seasonal drop-in activity. Create your own beautiful floral pumpkin display
Event
Bramley Apple Day at The Workhouse & Infirmary
Running alongside Southwell's famous Bramley Apple Festival, join us for the return of the longest Apple Peel Challenge and the pauper choir!
Event
Becher Walk
Step back in time and join Reverend John T. Becher, founder of The Workhouse, on a tour of Southwell.
About The Workhouse and Infirmary
Built in 1824 as a last resort for many people, this rural workhouse is one of the best preserved and most complete in England. It was designed to house around 160 inmates, who lived and worked in a strictly segregated environment with virtually no contact between the old and infirm, able-bodied men and women, and children.
As the site developed, the Infirmary was built in 1871 to care for those deemed too ill to be housed in the workhouse. Here you can glimpse the beginnings of an emerging healthcare system, as social care evolved.
Interactive media, personal objects and the stories of those who lived and worked here help to bring the history to life.
'An empty workhouse is a successful one' - Rev. J T Becher (founder of Southwell Workhouse)
History
Discover tales of inmates and patients at The Workhouse and Infirmary with Findmypast
In collaboration with family history website Findmypast, we've been exploring the 1921 Census of England and Wales. It's helped us get closer to the lives of people at The Workhouse and Infirmary, where we've revealed dozens more stories of inmates and patients from the last decade of The Workhouse era. Discover more about these stories while visiting the property, as well as research from nine other places in our care. By clicking on this page, you’ll access a third-party website. Please see their privacy policy for how they handle your personal data.
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A history of The Workhouse and Infirmary
Learn about the concept and the history of The Workhouse and Infirmary and the role that they played.
The Bi-centenary Banner
The Bi-centenary Banner produced by local artist Vanessa Stone has taken pride of place at the Workhouse and Infirmary. The colourful and collaborative piece is now hung up on permanent display in the exhibition area. Created in July, the banner was based on an original black and white drawing that Vanessa scaled up and had printed onto 100% cotton. Visitors of all ages came along and coloured it in with all sorts of animals, patterns, colours and people.
Art and collections
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Collections at The Workhouse and Infirmary
Take a sneak peek into the treasure trove that is the collection of The Workhouse and Infirmary and learn what these objects tell us about the history of this special place.
Our work
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Our work at The Workhouse and Infirmary
Discover how we care for The Workhouse and the items in its collection, including original Victorian wallpaper from the Infirmary.
Support us
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Volunteer opportunities at The Workhouse and Infirmary
One way to support the National Trust, while also spending time in amazing places and making new friends, is to volunteer. Find out more about joining the dedicated team of volunteers working to make The Workhouse and Infirmary a fascinating place to visit.
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The Workhouse & Infirmary Commemorative Giving Brochure 2026/7
Commemorative Giving is an important way for people to connect with The Workhouse & Infirmary by donating to celebrate and remember. This pack contains details of the opportunities available to help you choose your gift to the property.
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