Visiting the National Paralympic Heritage Centre

We are delighted to offer a range of accessible tours for visitors to learn and engage with the history of the Paralympic Games. Starting on the humble grounds of Stoke Mandeville hospital through to the present day. We look forward to welcoming you to the birthplace of the Paralympics! 

Groups

 

Community

We welcome local and international groups and businesses offering tailored tours to suit all needs. 

Our physical and virtual tours can include:

• The Heritage Centre and stadium.
• Lecture on the impact of the Paralympic Games on host nations. 
• Handling collection.
• Specialist sensory needs, BSL and described tours.
• Free self led tours and 3D virtual museum.
• App trail tour.

To book onto one of our guided tours and talks at the Paralympic Heritage Centre please fill in the relevant form below or for more information and pricing contact us at [email protected]. 

Onsite booking form to visit us in person.

Live stream booking form to visit us virtually.

Higher and Further Education

We can offer students a unique learning opportunity by finding out about the history and ethos of the Paralympic Movement through:

• Physical or virtual tours
• Tailored lectures
• Handling our collections of national importance
• Meet the Paralympian events.

Cost from only £10 per student. Find out more by downloading a copy of our University information leaflet here or to arrange a visit please fill in our booking form

The tour provided context to the students work and inspired them in the wider role of sport in breaking down barriers to disability. Queen’s University, Canada 

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Schools

Contents

• What's on offer?
• A typical visit
• Booking a visit
• Risk Assessment
• Visiting the National Spinal Injuries Centre

You can also download or print a copy of our schools information leaflet here.

    

What’s On Offer?

We are fully inclusive and can cater for students of all ages and abilities, there are a number of ways in which you can explore Paralympic heritage with us:

• Heritage Centre and Stadium tours
• Exhibition Activity Trail
• Sensory workshop and circuit
• Learning Activity Boxes: choose 3 out of 5
  • Father of the Paralympics – History and English
  • STEM – materials
  • STEM – speed and distance
  • STEM – wheelchair design and
  • Incredible Me – Art and Design or PSHE and citizenship
• Coming soon National Spinal Injuries Heritage displays with trail and activity boxes
• Virtual sessions are also available
• Pre and post-visit learning resources - find out more on our school resources page.

What does a typical visit for one class look like?

Your class will be divided into two groups. One group will have a tour of the exhibition with some hands-on activities and the other will have a tour of the stadium.  You will then swap over. You have the option to extend your visit if you wish.  

Visit time: minimum of 2 hours for one class

On arrival you will be greeted and split into two groups:

Group 1 – Exhibition: 1 hour

10 minutes introduction to the exhibition and brief tour.

Divide your group into 3 smaller groups and each will spend 15 minutes exploring the objects and completing each task. Rotate so all groups try each box.

The Learning Activity Boxes include:

• Dr Guttmann and Medicine box – History and Science.
• STEM box – Explore materials, kinetic energy with a blade, complete para-maths challenges or KNEX build challenge.
• Incredible Me box: Bob Matthews- PSHE, Art, Citizenship.

Additional exhibition resources: 

If you do not have time to use the boxes or have a longer session, we also have a 'Track trail' which is a quiz sheet to find answers in the exhibition. This takes approximately 15 minutes to complete.

Heritage Centre track trail and Heritage Centre trail activity

   

Group 2 – Tour of the Birthplace of the Paralympics

In this interactive tour, the children get to see some of the cauldrons and mascots from the Paralympics and find out what Dr Guttmann’s original hospital may have looked like. The tour finishes with the children re-enacting the opening ceremony of the 1984 Paralympic Games in Stoke Mandeville Stadium.  

Stoke Mandeville Stadium tour sheet

Booking a visit

If you would like to arrange a visit please fill in our booking form or you can contact us at [email protected] Costs are from £5 per pupil. Please let us know when you book if you would like to stay for lunch. Your own designated lunch area can be hired at an additional cost.

Further Learning activity boxes and Exhibition trails are available, plus a new guided walking trail will be coming soon!

Risk assessment

Download a copy of our risk assessment

Please note, this risk assessment is not designed to replace the organisation’s own risk assessment that will also need to include your travel to the site and the specific needs of your individual children during your visit.

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Visiting our exhibition at the National Spinal Injuries Centre 

We hope to be offering school tours of our exhibition at the National Spinal Injuries Centre very soon but you can visit virtually here National Spinal Injuries Centre and have a go at our NSIC exhibition trail. Click here to go to our School learning resources