National Paralympic Heritage Centre

About the National Paralympic Heritage Centre

Stoke Mandeville is widely acknowledged as the birthplace of the Paralympic movement and the National Paralympic Heritage Centre at Stoke Mandeville Stadium celebrates and explore this unique history. The displays showcase the determination, sportsmanship and vision that gave the world the Paralympic Games including:

• The life and work of Professor Sir Ludwig Guttmann.
• Key milestones in the journey from the 1948 Stoke Mandeville Games to the present day Paralympic Games.
• The development of wheelchair sports.
• Paralympic ceremonies.

Vicky Hope-Walker's interview with BBC Three Counties radio can be listened to here: 

Coming up in 2020

Highlights from 2019

Chiltern Heritage Festival

As part of the Chiltern Heritage Festival, on Friday 4th October visitors had the opportunity to meet Paralympic swimmer, Stephanie Millward MBE and listen to her story. The groups enjoyed a site tour and a tour of the Paralympic Heritage Centre with a talk about the Paralympic Movement. 

We received some wonderful feedback from the day.

Very much enjoyed the visit to the paralympic heritage centre. Thanks to Steve and Vicky for hosting. Would definitely recommend that people learn more about this great contribution to Buckinghamshire history.

Meet the Paralympian Day

On Wednesday 14th August, we had a great day with Naomi Riches MBE, Paralympic adaptive rower, sharing her story and experience of competing at an elite level. The day started with a Business breakfast, followed by a Q&A and 'have a go at rowing' sessions, and a tour of the Paralympic Heritage Centre. Read more information about Naomi here

Visitors from a diverse range of groups

We have been delighted to welcome such a diverse range of groups to the Heritage Centre this first year. With Tokyo 2020 on the horizon we have had many Japanese visits from official government groups, to design and communication teams. It has offered us a great opportunity to share our artefacts from the second ever Paralympic Games which took place in Tokyo in 1964. Student groups from universities have visited, representing a wide range of courses, from sport to medicine, teaching to SEND, bringing their energy and questioning. Many other groups; businesses, network partners, event sponsors, young farmers and a wonderful elderly group from Birmingham, some with a connection to disability others out for a group travel tour to somewhere different. With every visit we learn and extend our own knowledge and are reminded of the power of the Paralympic heritage to change negative perceptions towards disability through a unique and inspiring international sporting movement.

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