This access information is intended to make your visit run as smoothly as possible.  If you need any further details to help you prepare for your visit, or you would like a little extra support when visiting, please call 01636 655765 or email museums@nsdc.info to discuss your needs.

There is an accessible parking bay in front of the museum for blue badge holders. There is currently no time restriction to this bay. This bay can be viewed on Google Maps Street View.

There are a further two accessible spaces in the private car park to the rear of the museum, which can be reserved in advance by emailing museums@nsdc.info or phoning 01636 655765. 

There are also a number of public pay and display car parks in Newark.  The closest being Appletongate car park, located approximately 200m away from the National Civil War Centre. There are two accessible spaces available here with a 3 hour parking restriction on these bays.

There is step-free access to the building from the front and rear. Once inside, you can choose from steps and stairs or lifts to gain access to any part of the building. 

The main galleries are on floors 1, 3 and 5. 

The lifts are big enough for most wheelchairs and smaller mobility scooters.  We are able to lend you a wheelchair on request (two available). To access floor 1 in the museum, you will have to turn your wheelchair at a 90 degree angle; the dimensions of the lift are 1500mm by 1400mm, the door width is 900mm.

If you are visiting the museum in a larger wheelchair and won’t manage the 90 degree turn in the lift, we have an access route which will take you through the back of our shop, around the back of the museum via a ramp, through our lovely courtyard and straight into floor 1. Please ask at the front desk and one of our friendly assistants will be available to guide you.

There is a platform lift to access Café Nineteen20. The dimensions of this lift are 1500mm by 1400mm, the door width is 900mm.

To look at the National Civil War Centre entrance, visit Google Maps.

The video below shows the experience of visiting the museum which may be helpful for those in your family who have concerns or are wary about new environments. It also helpfully highlights the accessibility around the museum.

In the museum, there is an accessible toilet on floor -1, with lift access from the museum. Another is available in Café Nineteen20, this is located toward the Palace Theatre auditorium and our café staff will be available to show you where to go.

We do not have a Changing Places toilet on site. However, the nearest one is St Mark’s Toilets which is around 300m away from the centre; our welcome staff at the front desk can mark this on a map for you.

An audio tour of the museum is now available to help you find your way around the museum and enjoy the exhibitions. You can download it before your visit here:  National Civil War Centre and Newark Museum Audio Tour (MP3 File, 28,179kb)

In the new The World Turned Upside Down exhibition on Floor 3, 3D models of some objects are on display: a posy ring, the Rolleston chalice and the life mask of Oliver Cromwell. Please feel free to touch these so that you can experience some of the details.

A large print guide is now available to the museum and exhibitions and a Braille guide is coming soon.

Our hearing induction loop is currently undergoing some maintenance. Please get in touch with the team at museums@nsdc.info if you have any questions regarding this for your visit.

A transcript is available for the Market Town video in our Newark galleries. Please ask at Front Desk if you would like to use this on your visit. We are also working on transcripts for all of the films in our cinema and will update this page when they are available.

The welcome staff and managers have all attended Autism Awareness training. They are understanding and happy to help with any additional requirements our visitors have.

Our sensory backpack for children includes a pair of ear defenders, a sensory ball, a sensory floor plan, a soft toy, a squishy toy, a stretchy noodle, a sensory egg timer, a notebook and pencil.

If you feel a sensory backpack for adults would be useful, please contact civilwarlearning@nsdc.info with your ideas and suggestions.

Within the museum we have our Magnus Room; this room is used as a break out space, where any of our visitors can go if they feel overwhelmed. The room is equipped with large beanbags to sit on and some lovely sensory toys to play with.

We also hold regular Quiet Hour sessions as part of our Family Saturdays. These are on the first Saturday of the month between 3pm and 5pm and aim to help children and young people with autism or additional requirements to enjoy the museum. Sound effects are turned off, lights are turned up a little, a quiet space is available and there are things to touch and do. If this time does not work for you, please get in touch on museums@nsdc.info and we'll organise something to suit your needs.

Download a visual guide to the museum, to prepare for your visit: National Civil War Centre Story Board (PDF File, 1,827kb) (PDF File, 1,827kb).

If you would like to discuss your visit with someone before you come to us, please call us on 01636 655765. 

Many of the staff in our museum and café have received Dementia Friends training.  They are happy to help you find your way around and enjoy your time with us.

Our Memory Boxes are available on loan to community groups, memory cafes, day centres and care homes. Email civilwarlearning@nsdc.info or phone 01636 655949 for details.