National Emergency Services Museum
Photo: Own work — Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Discover the stories, vehicles, and artifacts of Britain’s emergency services at this interactive museum in Sheffield’s historic West Bar station.
Planning your visit
The National Emergency Services Museum occupies the old West Bar police and fire station in Sheffield, a Victorian building that housed both services with cells, stables and appliance bays — which means the building demonstrates how the services actually operated rather than only displaying their equipment.
The collection covers firefighting, policing and ambulance work across two centuries: appliances from horse-drawn to modern, police vehicles, uniforms, breathing apparatus and communications equipment. Visitors can sit in vehicles, try on kit and slide down the fire pole.
The Victorian cells are preserved, and the social history running through the museum — how these services were organised, funded and staffed, and the class relations involved — is more substantial than the hardware alone.
Sheffield's wartime experience, including the Blitz of December 1940, features.
It works well with children. Allow two hours. The main booking is an entry ticket. Current availability is listed below.
Before you book
Where is National Emergency Services Museum?
National Emergency Services Museum is in Sheffield, United Kingdom. The map on this page marks its exact location.
How long should I allow for National Emergency Services Museum?
Allow two hours. That is the time the collection itself takes at an unhurried pace, before any queue.
What are the opening hours of National Emergency Services Museum?
Wednesday - Sunday 10:00 - 16:00. Hours change on public holidays, so check the official site before travelling.
Do I need to book National Emergency Services Museum in advance?
Tickets can be bought on the door at quiet times, but booking ahead fixes the date and avoids the queue at busy ones. Live availability is shown on this page.