Irena Sendler

The Irena Sendler gallery near Newark tells the story of a Polish nurse and social worker who saved over 2,500 Jewish children during the Holocaust. It's a sobering, necessary place - not a cheerful afternoon out, but absolutely worth your time if you're staying in the area.

The exhibition focuses on Sendler's extraordinary courage: how she smuggled children out of the Warsaw Ghetto, found them safe houses, and kept detailed records so they could be reunited with families after the war. You'll see documents, photographs, and personal accounts that bring her work into sharp focus. It's compact enough to get through in an hour or so, but the impact lingers far longer than that.

This isn't for small children - the subject matter is heavy and the experience demands real attention. Teenagers and adults with an interest in World War Two history will find it genuinely moving. It's the sort of gallery that changes how you think about individual acts of resistance.

If you're based at one of the nearby glamping spots - Witham Grange or BrackenXcapes are closest - it makes a meaningful addition to a Nottinghamshire break. Pair it with Newark's medieval castle and town centre to fill a day properly. Check ahead for opening hours before you visit, as information online is limited. Admission is likely modest or free, but confirm when you call.