National Paralympic Heritage Centre

About the museum

Stoke Mandeville is widely regarded as the birthplace of the Paralympic movement. In the 1940s Dr Ludwig Guttmann, working with patients at Stoke Mandeville Hospital, introduced sport as part of their recovery, and the first Stoke Mandeville Games were held in 1948. From these small beginnings grew the Paralympic Games of today.

The National Paralympic Heritage Centre opened in 2019 inside Stoke Mandeville Stadium and is run by the National Paralympic Heritage Trust, a charity. The small museum tells the life and work of Professor Sir Ludwig Guttmann, follows the key milestones from the 1948 Games to the present Paralympic Games, and explores the development of wheelchair sports and Paralympic ceremonies.

The centre was designed to be accessible to everyone, with audio description, British Sign Language films, braille captions, touch objects and a sensory trail. The trust also runs a Global Virtual Museum online, regional and temporary exhibitions, and learning programmes for schools, families and community groups.

Highlights

• The life and work of Professor Sir Ludwig Guttmann
• From the 1948 Stoke Mandeville Games to the modern Paralympic Games
• Development of wheelchair sports and sports equipment
• Touch objects, audio description, BSL films and a sensory trail

Permanent exhibition

• Paralympic Heritage Centre – The displays cover the life of Sir Ludwig Guttmann, the road from the 1948 Stoke Mandeville Games to the Paralympics, wheelchair sports and Paralympic ceremonies.

Founded

2019

Operated by

National Paralympic Heritage Trust

Director

Vicky Hope Walker

Admission & discounts

Admission is free.

Entry is free and no booking is required for individuals and families.

Accessibility

• Wheelchair accessible
• Elevator: no information
• Accessible restroom
• Accessible parking
• Service dogs welcome
• Tactile models & exhibits
• Sign language tours: no information
• Easy-to-read materials: no information
• Audio description

There is step-free access from the car park to the stadium and the centre, level access throughout and plenty of Blue Badge bays. The reception has an induction loop, as does the Dr Guttmann exhibit. Hand-held large-print guides and braille captions are available, a few objects can be touched, and audio guides include audio description. Films with speech have BSL interpretation and subtitles. A sensory trail, a sensory map and a visual story help visitors prepare, and the stadium music can be switched off on request. Assistance dogs are welcome and the cafe can provide water bowls.

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

• Family tours & workshops
• Activity booklet, scavenger hunt or kids’ audio guide
• Hands-on stations

The museum offers family activity sheets, a symbol-based (Widgit) tour of the centre, a sensory trail and family events with Paralympians. School programmes for key stages 1 and 2 include role play and a sensory story.

Getting there & parking

Look for the brown road signs for Stoke Mandeville Stadium; satnav postcode HP21 9PP.

Amenities & dining

• Café

There is a cafe with seating beside the centre inside the stadium.

Events & venue rental

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Plan your visit