Celebrating more than 200 years of innovation in information and communication technologies. Re-live remarkable moments in history, told through the eyes of those who invented, operated or were affected by the new wave of technology, from the first BBC radio broadcast in 1922 to the dawn of digital TV. Discover how wireless technology saved many lives on the Titanic and spread news of the disaster to the world within hours. You can also hear the personal stories of the operators who worked on the Enfield Telephone Exchange, the last manual telephone switchboard. Planning a school visit? Find out more information about the gallery for educational groups.

Pattern Pod is an amazing multi-sensory area for children under nine years old—and their parents and carers—where they can learn through play to develop their science skills. Like scientists, children explore the world by trying to make predictions about events happening around them. It’s often easier to make these predictions if these events repeat themselves or if there is a pattern to them. In Pattern Pod, children can explore water ripples without getting their feet wet, create symmetrical images on touch screens, follow robot trails and much more. Fun, interactive exhibits encourage them to recognise and copy patterns—or create entirely new ones of their own. Visit Pattern Pod on the ground floor of the museum for non-stop fun! Planning a school visit? Find out more information about the gallery for educational groups.

Trace the remarkable story of steam and how it shaped the world we live in today. Steam has been the driving force behind British industry for 300 years. Without it, the Industrial Revolution could never have happened. Even now, steam provides 75% of the electricity we use every day. Discover an unparalleled collection of historic full-size engines and models. Displays include:The oldest surviving and unaltered atmospheric engineRotative engines built by James WattHigh-pressure engines of the type pioneered by Richard TrevithickA steam turbine designed and built by Charles Parsons Planning a school visit? Find out more information about the gallery for educational groups.

After almost 40 years of showcasing real rockets and spacecraft, don't miss your last chance to see this out-of-this-world gallery! From rockets to satellites, probes to landers, this unforgettable gallery has invited millions of visitors to experience the astounding scientific and technological innovations that have made space exploration possible. You can see a full-sized replica of Eagle—the lander that took astronauts Armstrong and Aldrin to the Moon in 1969—and get a unique insight into the history of rockets, then discover how we are able to live in space, from breathing to eating to going to the toilet. Discover these and many more captivating objects charting humankind's endeavours to explore the stars. Book your free museum admission tickets today Exploring Space partially closed on 16 May 2025. The north side of the gallery with lots of exciting space exhibits and objects will still be available to see, before the gallery fully closes on 2 June 2025 as part of preparations for a new Space gallery which will open in autumn 2025. Don't miss out! Embark on the exciting free Exploring Space trail inspired by Disney & Pixar’s new film Elio ! 16 May-2 June Free Visitors can ignite their curiosity about the cosmos with our new free Exploring Space trail , in collaboration with Disney and Pixar’s new film ‘Elio’, to celebrate its release in cinemas 20 June. Visitors can channel their inner space explorer for a trail that’s truly out of this world. Inspired by the film, this free trail can be collected from the entrance to Exploring Space and will take visitors on a journey to find game-changing space objects. By submitting the completed trail, visitors will be in with a chance to be the lucky winner of a glamping adventure under the stars in a geodome, and a goody bag of Science Museum gifts. Find out more on the trail webpage Space Toilet Tales Saturday 24 May – Sunday 1 June Free See a replica space toilet and discover how astronauts go to the toilet in space and how that might change in the future in these fun sessions with a Science Museum Explainer. Taking place daily during May Half Term, this is your chance to ask the all-important questions about going to the loo in space.

What makes you smarter than a chimp? What makes you smile? What makes you, you? Who Am I? invites you to explore the science of who you are through intriguing objects, provocative artworks and hands-on exhibits. Investigate some of the characteristics that make humans such a successful species, such as personality, intelligence and language. Reflect on the big questions that new techniques in science are raising, and explore how your genetics and brain combine to create your unique identity. Planning a school visit? Find more information about Who Am I? for educational groups.

Hold history in your hands with objects from the Science Museum’s collection. Discover captivating stories and get hands on with our Medicine, Information Age, and Clockmakers handling collections with the help of expert volunteers. From morse code to the world wide web, from saints to stethoscopes, from clock components to historic timekeeping, find out how these intriguing objects have transformed our world. Please speak to our volunteer team at the handling desk if you require audio description of any of our objects.

Discover how London grew from a lively capital city to a global hub for trade, commerce, and scientific enquiry between 1550 and 1800. In 1550, London was a hustling, bustling, rapidly expanding commercial city, with a relatively modest position on the world stage. By 1800, it was a global city and a world-leading centre of science. Science City: The Linbury Gallery tells the story of how science was integral to that transformation. From the observation of previously unidentified planets to the identification of underlying physical principles of the universe, science itself changed, as it began to acquire characteristics that we associate with modern science today—from the carrying out of experiments to the preoccupation with precision measurement. Drawing on three iconic scientific collections: the Science Museum Group Collection ; the King George III collection owned by King’s College London ; and the collection of the Royal Society , this gallery reveals how science was London’s lifeblood, but more than this, it emphasises that science was at the heart of our culture. Covering over 650 square metres, the gallery design by Gitta Gschwendtner creates an abstract cityscape that will immerse you in a contemporary interpretation of historic London. Planning a school visit? Find out more information about the gallery for educational groups.

Featuring three thousand objects and covering an area equivalent to 1,500 hospital beds, Medicine: The Wellcome Galleries is the magnificent new home for the most significant medical collections in the world. Showcasing extraordinary medical artefacts from the collections of Henry Wellcome and the Science Museum Group, including the world’s first MRI scanner, Fleming’s penicillin mould, a professional pianist’s prosthetic arm and even robotic surgery equipment, the galleries explore our relationship with medicine and health through more than 500 years of history. Throughout the galleries you’ll find specially commissioned artworks, including 'Self-Conscious Gene', by Marc Quinn, a bronze sculpture by Eleanor Crook, a series of portraits by award-winning photographer Siân Davey and an installation by Studio Roso, as well as interactive displays, films and audio recordings. A ceramic artwork by celebrated artist Grayson Perry, ‘Alan Measles – God in the time of Covid-19’, is now part of the COVID-19 display in the gallery. This artwork along with the COVID-19 testing kits and signage from the Government’s daily briefings present a reminder of our huge national effort to save lives and protect the NHS.

Step into an interactive world of careers and take a peek behind the scenes in our brand new gallery. Try hands on exhibits that bring to life a wide variety of workplaces, from a blockbuster film set to a pharmaceutical lab, allowing you to experience the hidden yet vital careers of technicians.

Discover how the world can generate and use energy more sustainably to limit climate change in our new, free gallery. Looking at the past, present and future of energy systems, Energy Revolution: The Adani Green Energy Gallery features recognisable and surprising objects plus interactive exhibits to highlight how we can journey to a more sustainable world—and our role in achieving that low carbon future. See a pioneering electric taxi that’s 100 years old, challenge yourself to balance electricity supply and demand in one of our interactive games, and marvel at a vast seven metre tidal turbine blade, which helped generate enough electricity to power a thousand homes. This free gallery contains three sections, each exploring this century’s defining challenge in a different way:Future Planet explores the climate change we are already experiencing and how scientists use complex computer models to glimpse the climate futures we could face, depending on the decisions we make today.Future Energy focuses on the technologies—and the people behind them—that are reimagining how energy is supplied and used today, as well as showcasing artefacts that have led the way in the energy transition away from fossil fuels.Our Future looks forward to an inspiring new world that is being imagined, with children’s creative ideas of how the world will meet its future energy needs showcased through a hands-on, interactive table. Find out more about the Science Museum Group's approach to sustainability .

Discover the world’s oldest clock and watch collection in its new home at the Science Museum. The collection includes more than 600 watches, 90 clocks, 30 marine chronometers and a number of fine sundials and examples of hand engraving, mapping the history of innovation in watch and clock making in London from 1600 to the present day. Assembled by the Worshipful Company of Clockmakers and once located in the Guildhall, this remarkable array of timepieces traces the story of the capital’s clockmakers—from their first marine chronometers and mechanical clocks through the evolution of the wristwatch. John Harrison was the inventor of the marine chronometer. Among the collection’s highlights is the fifth chronometer he made, which he completed in 1770, and a four-month duration longcase clock by the father of English watchmaking, Thomas Tompion. An intricate British-made watch, the Space Traveller II, is now on display. Watchmaker George Daniels made almost every part of this watch by hand in the early 1980s.

Explore our fascinating gallery that celebrates engineers and how they shape the world we live in. Human stories are at the heart of the Engineers gallery, where visitors can take a closer look at iconic objects such as the first digital camera, the cutting-edge CMR ‘Versius’ surgical robot arm and a miniature atomic clock that the entire GPS system depended upon, as well as learn more about the remarkable people who invented them. These stories sit within four distinct sections:Bodies looks at how controlled drug delivery and surgical robots place people and their bodies at the heart of precision engineering practice. In Lives​, LED lighting and digital imaging sensors​ illustrate how engineers’ powers of visualisation shape technology to new and successful outcomes. In Connections​, GPS, internet and web technologies show engineering as a connected practice, with diverse teams enabling the connections humanity depends upon.Creating​ looks at how engineers are are imaginative people. Their creativity is central to developing amazing innovations which can change the world. Visitors can also see the Virtual Heart display, a large-scale virtual simulation created by bioengineer Dr Jazmín Aguado Sierra using scans of her own heart. The virtual heart, located in the Bodies section, functions just like her real heart and shows the intricate interactions between electrical impulses, muscle contraction and blood flow. The gallery celebrates our engineering heritage and showcase innovations through the global lens of the Queen Elizabeth Prize for Engineering—the world’s leading award for engineers— with current and past prize winners featured throughout.

From mankind's earliest dreams of flight to the wide-body aeroplanes of today, discover the absorbing story of flight. Overhead walkways allow you to get up close to aeroplanes suspended in the air. Examine exhibits from the pioneer days of aviation, including the world's most authentic Antoinette monoplane (1909), Amy Johnson's Gipsy Moth and the Vickers Vimy, which first crossed the Atlantic in 1919. Other extraordinary exhibits include: Supermarine S6B racing seaplane Hawker P1127, which led to the Harrier jump-jet fighter A complete slice of a genuine Boeing 747 jumbo jet Visit the Flight gallery to trace remarkable achievements in the history of aviation. Planning a school visit? Find out more information about the gallery for educational groups.

Chart 250 years of science and technology and discover some of the most iconic items that have shaped our society. The Making the Modern World gallery presents some of the Museum’s most remarkable objects. Come face-to-face with the Apollo 10 command module, Babbage’s Difference Engine No. 1, Crick and Watson’s DNA model and the first Apple computer. You’ll also find thought-provoking objects such as penicillin from Fleming’s laboratory, a porcelain bowl salvaged from Hiroshima and a clock that will tell the time for the next 10,000 years. Visit this exceptional gallery to follow the cultural history of industrialisation from 1750 to the present day. Planning a school visit? Find out more information about the gallery for educational groups.

How has mathematics shaped our world? Our bold and thought-provoking gallery, designed by Zaha Hadid Architects, examines the fundamental role mathematicians, their tools and ideas have played in building the world we live in. From war and peace to life, death, money, trade and beauty, the objects in Mathematics: The Winton Gallery reveal how mathematics connects to every aspect of our lives. Planning a school visit? Find out more information about the gallery for educational groups.

Punk group from California, primarily consisting of twin brothers Wyatt and Fletcher Shears.

160 consoles. Five decades. Game on! Immerse yourself in our hands-on gaming experience, featuring the very best video games and consoles from the past 50 years. From Pong to Pacman and Minecraft to Mario, there’s something for everyone, whether you’re a retro games fan, a serious gamer or just want to beat your family at Mario Kart. Play against friends in multiplayer showdowns, rediscover your childhood favourites and test out some of the latest next-gen virtual reality experiences in this ultimate interactive gaming experience.  Don’t forget to secure an annual pass for Power Up to have unlimited access for an entire year and satisfy all your gaming needs! We have games with age ratings up to 12 and one multi-player game that carries a 16.Please be aware that this is the booking page for Power Up at the Science Museum in London. For Power Up at the Science and Industry Museum in Manchester, please find out more here.

Join Benedict Cumberbatch as he explores the mysterious and wild continent of Antarctica. With never-before-seen footage and the latest underwater filming techniques, this epic documentary transports you to the farthest reaches of this majestic land and reveals that what happens there affects every single one of us. BBC Earth, the filmmakers of Planet Earth II, capture the weird and wonderful creatures that thrive in abundance in the coldest and windiest place on the planet. Exclusively watch this fully immersive IMAX experience on one of the biggest screens in the UK. Be the first to hear when new films go on sale by signing up to our email newsletters today.

A breath-taking portrait of the planet captured from the International Space Station.

Explore the most significant medical collection in the world with one of our knowledgeable volunteer tour guides. Hear about some fascinating stories and objects such as: Dorothy Hodgkin, chemist who won the Nobel Prize in 1964 for her work on X-ray crystallography. The Batman Radiotherapy mask, designed to help young people feel more comfortable when undergoing treatment. How former BMX racing champion Tom Lynch conceived the idea of the London Ambulance Cycle Response Unit, which helps attending 17,000 calls a year today. Our volunteer guides are also delivering short 10–15 minutes Spotlight talks on their favourite objects and stories displayed on gallery.

Embark on an extraordinary journey through Earth’s vast ocean highways with a baby humpback whale to uncover the secrets of ocean currents. Featuring American marine biologist and oceanographer Sylvia Earle, this captivating documentary unveils the mesmerising world of ocean currents and how they have played a vital role in maintaining the planet's temperature at an ideal level for life for millions of years. Following the flow of the ocean current, the baby whale travels from the warm water of the tropics to the icy Antarctic and encounters different creatures that play a key role in the ocean’s story—from a clownfish to fur seals and tiny organisms that can’t be seen with the naked eye. But our oceans also hide a dark side. While approaching her Antarctic home, the baby whale witnesses catastrophic changes in marine ecosystems due to global warming that could have long-term consequences on ocean currents—this could change our future generations forever.

Come and think like a scientist at Wonderlab. This unmissable interactive experience will ignite your curiosity, fuel your imagination, and inspire you to see the world around you in new and exciting ways. Enjoy live science shows and demonstrations, meet our wonderful science Explainers, and reveal the beauty of the science and maths that shape our everyday lives. If you’re booking a school or organised group visit, please see our groups page .

Discover how the Palace of Versailles used science as a tool of power in this illuminating new exhibition. From iconic royal residence of the past, to Olympic and Paralympic venue today, the Palace of Versailles is famous around the world for its opulent architecture and rich history. In the 17 th and 18 th centuries, it also became a major site of scientific thinking. Now open until April 2025, Versailles: Science and Splendour explores the vitally important role science played at the Palace.

Join one of our volunteer-led tours to discover incredible stories of women scientists. From well-known scientists to previously unrecognised female figures, discover how extraordinary women have defied the odds and changed the face of scientific exploration and innovation. Hear the pioneering stories of scientists including:Caroline Herschel: the first professional woman astronomer and discoverer of several cometsAmy Johnson: the first woman to fly solo from England to Australia, an 11,000-mile journeyDorothy Hodgkin: x-ray crystallographer and one of the outstanding scientists of the 20th centuryRosalind Franklin: who discovered the double helix structure of DNAValentina Tereshkova: Russian cosmonaut, engineer and the first woman to fly in space

Grab your controllers this April and play your way through 160 consoles, hundreds of video games and five decades of gaming history. Strictly ages 18 and over, after-hours entry Our exclusive Power Up evening session will give friends and competitive colleagues the perfect opportunity to grab a drink and battle it out in the ultimate gaming wonderland. Play your way through five decades of gaming greatness in this fully interactive extravaganza. From Pong to Pac-Man and Minecraft to Mario, there’s something for everyone, whether you’re a retro games fan, a serious gamer or just want to remind your friends who the Mario Kart champion is. Power Up will also feature extra games for mature audiences at this special after-hours event. Rediscover your childhood favourites, claim the bragging rights in a showdown at our 16-player Halo ring and test out some of the latest virtual reality experiences. Ready player one?

Join one of our volunteer guides for an insightful tour of the Science City gallery. From new understandings of the universe to microscopic discoveries, explore the extraordinary scientific and cultural innovation happening in London through these pivotal centuries. Discover key moments in the history of science in our city such as:King George III’s remarkable collection of scientific instruments and passion for ‘natural philosophy’, the term then used to describe what we know today as scienceThe foundations of the Royal Society, a permanent learned society dedicated to science which to this day remains instrumental to science policy, international diplomacy and public engagementHow the discovery of Uranus in 1781—the first planet to be discovered using a telescope—expanded the known limits of our solar system Our volunteer guides also deliver short 10-minute Spotlight talks on their favourite objects and stories in our galleries. Check with the Information and Ticketing desk (Level 0) for more details.

Join one of our volunteer guides to explore the Science Museum Group Collection through the lens of gender and sexual identity. Discover stories of LGBTQ+ people and how they have impacted society and scientific innovation. Hear stories of pioneering scientists such as:Angela Clayton: the renowned physicist and vice-president of the group “Press for Change”, which led to full legal recognition of trans rights for people living in the UK.Nergis Marvalvala: an astrophysicist part of the team that developed the LIGO detector and award recipient of the LGBTQ+ Scientist of the Year in 2014.Alan Turing: the British mathematician who designed the Pilot ACE computer and helped crack the German “Enigma” machine during WWII.

A big-screen experience with never-before-seen 70mm footage and newly discovered audio recordings showcasing the moments of the moon landing. A shortened cut of [Apollo 11](https://film.datathistle.com/event/1270975-apollo-11/) intended for IMAX screenings.

Discover the planet’s fiercest, most famous dinosaur in dazzling 3D. For over a hundred years, dinosaurs have sparked our curiosity and wonder. This epic new big-screen adventure brings together top tyrannosaur scientists, a coalition of natural history institutions, and pioneering paleo and visual effects artists to delve into the world of this iconic dinosaur and its carnivorous Cretaceous cousins. From rexling to teen rex to hulking adult, the interplay between speculation and evidence will be explored revealing how much science contributed to the understanding of these legendary dinosaurs. Get ready to witness the wonder years of this ultimate predator and have a roaring-good time along the way.

Early Birds is a sensory friendly event for families with members who need a quieter environment to enjoy the museum. Next Early Birds: Saturday 26 July 2025 Early Birds visitors will also have an opportunity to book tickets to lower capacity sessions in Wonderlab at a reduced rate.Future dates Sign up to our Accessible newsletter to be the first to hear when new dates are announced and tickets are available. More about Early Birds This event is suitable for those who benefit from visiting the museum free from the hustle and bustle of the general public (for example, individuals with autism spectrum conditions or sensory processing differences). Taking place on selected Saturdays and Sundays across the year, we open the museum exclusively before or after hours, and wherever possible will have adjusted operations and/or lowered volume levels on exhibits. As well as exploring some of the galleries, you can enjoy a selection of fun workshops in a gallery space. There will also be quiet areas for those needing to take a break. More details on exactly what to expect on the day will be sent out in advance of each Early Birds event. The Early Birds accessible events are completely free and suitable for families with children aged 4–15. Siblings are welcome to attend, but all children and adults attending the event will need to book.

Night Owls is a sensory friendly event for visitors aged 16+ who need a quieter environment to enjoy the museum. NEXT NIGHT OWLS: Saturday 24 May 2025 This event is suitable for those who benefit from visiting the museum free from the hustle and bustle of the general public (for example, individuals with autism spectrum conditions or sensory processing differences). Taking place on selected dates across the year, we open the museum exclusively after hours, and wherever possible will have adjusted operations and/or lowered volume levels on exhibits. As well as exploring some of the galleries, you can enjoy a selection of fun activities across the museum. There will also be quiet areas for those needing to take a break. More details on exactly what to expect on the day will be sent out in advance of each Night Owls event. General admission to Night Owls accessible events is free and suitable for visitors aged 16+. Family and friends are free to attend as well, but everyone will need to book a free ticket in advance of the event

SENsory Astronights is an overnight event for families with members who benefit from a more relaxed museum atmosphere. Visitors can experience all the excitement of our Astronights in a more calm and free-flowing environment. SENsory Astronights is designed for children with special educational needs or disabilities. Campers can enter the museum after it has closed to the general public to explore the galleries and take part in a selection of fun activities, including workshops and shows. Campers can enter the museum after it has closed to the general public to explore the galleries and take part in a selection of fun activities, including workshops and shows. At around 23.00 it’s lights out for a night like no other—sleeping in one of the museum galleries! The next morning visitors will be provided you with breakfast and the opportunity to experience some more amazing activities.

A new, free exhibition about how food must change to protect the planet. Be the first to see it this summer—opens 24 July 2025 How does our food today go from field to plate? How did food use to be produced in the past? And how will major advances in ecology and biotechnology change food in the future? Discover the answers to these and many more vital questions in an exciting new exhibition exploring how science is creating more sustainable ways of growing, making, cooking and eating food. From food production way back in ancient history to our industrialised systems of today, thought-provoking objects, hands-on interactive exhibits and compelling digital experiences will show us how we got here—and where we’re going. See fascinating food items, from a 3,500-year-old loaf of bread to the first beef steak grown outside a cow, then take part in a large multiplayer game where you can create your own future for food. Discover stories of scientific and community efforts to conserve the genetic diversity of foods including Norway’s ice-cold seed vaults and seed-swapping ceremonies in the Amazon. Delve into how community food projects, from organic food subsidy schemes in Cardiff to community kitchens in Peru, are making positive strides in reducing the environmental impacts of the food we buy, cook and eat. This interactive, multi-sensory exhibition experience will engage curious minds of all ages. Opens 24 July—don’t miss your chance to get a glimpse at the future of food. Lead image: Cricket burger packaging, 2025. Donated by Wriggle, makers of sustainable and nutritious cricket products and members of UKEIA (the UK Edible Insect Association).

See iconic spacecraft and out-of-this-world objects in our exciting new free gallery. Opening in the museum's West Hall later this year, Space will bring together remarkable exhibits that celebrate both the first space age and the future of space exploration. Visitors will discover inspiring stories of human achievement in space travel, and discover significant space objects from a new perspective including:In a world first, two human flown spacecraft (Apollo 10 and Soyuz) displayed alongside one another, allowing visitors to compare the differences between a spacecraft that orbited the moon in 1969 and travelled to the International Space Station in 2015.An RL10 rocket engine, which has helped launch spacecraft to every planet in the solar system.The radio headset used by Apollo 11 astronaut Neil Armstrong to communicate with Mission Control.The Sokol spacesuit worn by Helen Sharman, the first Briton in space.A three-billion-year-old piece of the moon, brought back to Earth by the Apollo 15. Want all the updates on Space plus other exciting changes to the Science Museum as soon as they're announced? Make sure you're signed up to our newsletter to get all the latest news. Select Behind The Scenes in your email preferences for exclusive looks at the incredible conservation work going into preparing the objects for their home in the new gallery.Support us: be part of the discovery Find out how you can support the transformation of our museum spaces and inspire curiosity for generations to come. Discover how you can make a difference today: Support Us