Nottingham Industrial Museum
Nottingham Industrial Museum
Nottingham Industrial Museum
5
About
Discover the people, companies and industries that made Nottingham famous around the world. Nottingham Industrial Museum has five galleries each relating to a key Nottinghamshire industry: textiles, transport, communication, mining and power. We have many wonderful artefacts and exhibits including a working Basford Beam engine and an original Thomas Humber Bicycle. And we are working to get more artefacts into working condition, so you can admire the local ingenuity and skills that went into Nottingham Lace and other exports. Through our collection, we encourage our visitors to investigate Nottinghamshire’s rich industrial heritage. We are entirely run by volunteers who are on hand to show you around and answer your questions. Adults £3 - Concessions and Students £2 - Kids go free - see website for discounted entry offers
Suggested duration
2-3 hours
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- CBH2 contributionsInterestingLovely place with a very welcoming atmosphere. The exhibition and the insight offered by volunteers allows curious visitors of all ages to take away a better understanding of industrial history. As a mechanical engineer, I particularly enjoyed that this isn't just "a shed full of random old stuff" but rather some extremely interesting pieces, well maintained and most of them functional, that don't just show the ingenuity of the inventors but are also relevant to the development of the area and the mechanized world as a whole. All volunteers were engaging with information around the exhibition that brings the machinery on display to life and allows contextualize it. Roger offered a "history of steam" tour wich I thoroughly enjoyed. I wish I had more time on the day to learn more. Thank youVisited January 2023Written 23 January 2023
- Matic T1 contributionAn educationonal experience and would love to come again and I just mightWe were incredibly fortunate to get Roger as our tour guide and he guided us through the different areas of the museum, he was very knowledgeable, very interesting and it was quite clear that his research was at a very high level. Would recommend to anyone who is interested in technology and industry. One of those museums that you have to visit more than once.Visited February 2023Travelled as a coupleWritten 2 March 2023
- Curiosity7571721 contributionWell worth a visit!Brilliant museum with a huge amount of Nottingham history on display - far more than you might guess looking from the outside! Huge thanks to Roger and the whole team of guides for taking the time to talk us through all the exhibits. A thoroughly enjoyable visit!Visited March 2023Travelled as a coupleWritten 5 March 2023
- 51plusNorthampton, United Kingdom136 contributionsWell worth a visitFascinating place to spend a few hours - added bonus when the steam engines are working. Transport exhibition with motorcycles, bicycles and a stagecoach. Carpentry workshop, and lace making machinery. But the best bit of all was the Victorian kitchen with Mrs Bird explaining how the mangle was a status symbol ! She also told us how young girls were used practically as slave labour making nails in the 1800’s, and how the whole family were exploited by the nail masters.Visited March 2023Travelled as a coupleWritten 26 March 2023
- Caroline S3 contributionsAn unexpected pleasureOn a rather wet day, out for a walk we stumbled upon the museum. It was unexpectedly brilliant. The volunteers manning the museum were really welcoming and so knowledgeable. One of the volunteers offered to give us a tour, there is so much to see and his knowledge was encyclopaedic. The steam engines were a treat, just a shame it was not a weekend when they were running. The lace machines were fascinating as were the collection of motorcycles and bicycles. It is a real credit to the volunteers that a visit here is such a pleasure. The kitchen should not be missed, with a myriad of fascinating equipment.Visited April 2023Travelled with friendsWritten 29 April 2023
- Joshua R1 contributionFriendly, Informative and Interesting, a Wonderful VisitI had a great time, there was so much to see and so many parts of Nottingham history that I was unaware of. Learning about the history of lace and how that has shaped Nottingham was so interesting. The consistency of information, particularly about the people was really good and a lot of it was laid out in a family friendly way. The interactive parts were great and the volunteers were all very knowledgeable and willing to share their knowledge. Learning about all of the industries that made Nottingham great was so interesting, from communications to clocks and transport. My personal favourite part was the steam hall. I had the opportunity to talk to people who were really passionate about the steam engines and even got a tour. I learned so much. It was a real joy to visit!Visited May 2023Travelled soloWritten 20 May 2023
- Jurica P1 contributionWelcoming and immersive experienceInteresting and well documented exhibits, marvelous volunteers which are a joy to talk and listen to. Would recommend to anyone even remotely interested in the history and advancement of industry-related technology. Lots of quirky gems to be found here.Visited June 2023Travelled as a coupleWritten 8 June 2023
- Elaine W1 contributionExcellentI thoroughly enjoyed the museum. I'd not been in many years and was pleasantly surprised at how much it has improved. I would recommend to anyone visiting to leave plenty of time. There's much more there than you 1st realise. What impressed me more than anything else, and what made the trip so excellent for us ( I went with a group of 3) was the knowledge , enthusiasm, and friendliness of the 3 different volunteers that we spoke to. I'm returning again soon , to see the beam engines on a 'steaming ' day!! I can't wait!Visited June 2023Written 14 June 2023
- Mark R1 contributionFascinating insight into Nottingham’s industrial heritageOne of the most interesting places I’ve been to in a long time. The volunteers were so helpful and willing to share their knowledge. They all seemed very proud of the museum and rightly so. Particular thanks to the gentleman who demonstrated the lace making machines and spent a lot of time explaining how they worked and showing us samples of the lace produced. Also big thanks to Roger who gave us the brief history of steam. He was incredibly knowledgable and erudite. Volunteers like Roger are worth their weight in gold and hopefully the museum managers realise their value to the museum and recognise their hard work and efforts they put in to make the visitors experience all the more worthwhile. Thank you to all. Would highly recommend a visit.Visited June 2023Travelled with familyWritten 24 June 2023
- DaveNottingham, United Kingdom48 contributionsA hidden gem. We’ll worth visiting.Excellent hidden gem of a museum! We went to the park and found an industrial museum. Nowhere was this advertised. It’s run by volunteers and the entrance price is less than the car park. We were shown round by knowledgeable people and were given an insight into Nottinghamshire’s industrial past so much more than just lace. The Victorian kitchen with Mrs Bird was especially interesting. The engine hall also. What a shame Nottinghamshire Council does not do more to promote and support this venue. We’ll be back for a steaming day, the last Sunday of every month.Visited May 2023Travelled soloWritten 26 June 2023
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5.0
279 reviews
Excellent
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David P
Cambridge, UK26 contributions
Nov 2023
Arrived at 2:30pm on a Saturday afternoon. The entrance fee of £4 per adult, I felt was reasonable. It was interesting to see the various knitting machined used in the local lace industry, and especially interesting to see them in operation. The many information boards added crucial context to the exhibits, enriching the experience.
We had a tour of the room containing the clocks and various communicative items. The speaker was highly knowledgeable, although the tour only covered a handful of the exhibits.
Next we went to the steam hall and toured around the various engines. Again, we were on a tour with a volunteer. We were taken round the exhibits in an order consistent with the evolution of the steam engine. The only real issue was the timekeeping of the tour; it went on for so long that we reached the museum's closing time and were asked to leave before we had a chance to see everything.
However we will likely return within the foreseeable future to see the remainder of the exhibits we missed on this occasion. Hopefully on a steaming day!
We had a tour of the room containing the clocks and various communicative items. The speaker was highly knowledgeable, although the tour only covered a handful of the exhibits.
Next we went to the steam hall and toured around the various engines. Again, we were on a tour with a volunteer. We were taken round the exhibits in an order consistent with the evolution of the steam engine. The only real issue was the timekeeping of the tour; it went on for so long that we reached the museum's closing time and were asked to leave before we had a chance to see everything.
However we will likely return within the foreseeable future to see the remainder of the exhibits we missed on this occasion. Hopefully on a steaming day!
Written 19 November 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Conor N
1 contribution
Nov 2023 • Family
Excellent Museum situated in a fantastic park, exhibits were really interesting- made more so by our tour guide Roger, highly recommend seeking him out if you're lucky enough to visit while he's there.
Written 5 November 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
m12
3 contributions
Nov 2023 • Family
This is a really great museum. I highly recommend a half day here. We actually spent about two and a half hours with one of the volunteer tour guides Roger. Gosh he was fantastic. We really enjoyed the tour. We covered the evolution of steam engines, clocks, lace making, computers and a lot more. It was incredible really. Thanks very much Roger.
Written 5 November 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Robert L
5 contributions
Oct 2023 • Couples
Visited here on one of their steaming days (always the last Sunday of the month with a few extra dates - see their website) and I thoroughly enjoyed myself. The volunteers were very friendly and knowledgeable, happy to talk about the machines in their care. The beam engine was very graceful and barely made a sound - I must have stood watching it for at least 20 minutes.
Also very interesting was "Mrs Best's Victorian Kitchen" with a fascinating lady who delights in cooking recipes from years gone by. On the day of our visit she was offering Tea Loaf (which was very moist and tasty) together with the story of how tea came to be added to bread (it's to do with dodgy yeast).
As well as the steam engines there is quite a big display of the lace making process that mad Nottingham famous together with stories of some of the people who worked in the lace trade.
Honestly, if you like old machines and a bit of social history, this is well worth a visit.
Also very interesting was "Mrs Best's Victorian Kitchen" with a fascinating lady who delights in cooking recipes from years gone by. On the day of our visit she was offering Tea Loaf (which was very moist and tasty) together with the story of how tea came to be added to bread (it's to do with dodgy yeast).
As well as the steam engines there is quite a big display of the lace making process that mad Nottingham famous together with stories of some of the people who worked in the lace trade.
Honestly, if you like old machines and a bit of social history, this is well worth a visit.
Written 30 October 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
JIHHT
5 contributions
Oct 2023 • Family
A little gem for a wet half term visit. We visited as 2 adults and a teen to fill some time. A fabulous little place packed with local industrial heritage and set in the wonderful grounds of Wollaton Park. Cafe and toilets and deer viewing too. Really worth a visit
Written 26 October 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Greuce C
1 contribution
Sep 2023 • Couples
The museum was really interesting! Roger was really knowledgeable and gave a great story to how using steam progressed through the years. Highly recommend this museum and Wollaton hall.
Written 19 October 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Lisa S
2 contributions
Oct 2023 • Family
A wonderful museum, a real hidden gem. I went with my 3 year old daughter during a quieter time, near closing, and all the staff were delightful- very knowledgeable about the exhibits and shared a lot of fascinating stories. They were also great with my daughter, explaining things to her and pointing out the parts that she would enjoy the most- especially Indie the cat!
A brilliant place, I can't wait to go on a day when they have the engines up and running!
A brilliant place, I can't wait to go on a day when they have the engines up and running!
Written 5 October 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
İpek K
Nottingham, UK1 contribution
Sep 2023 • Friends
It was the best £4 I’ve ever spent! Beautiful museum that contains a lot of history. I’d like to thank Roger who volunteered to show the customers around and was enthusiastic to share everything that he knows. I am an engineer and enjoyed it very much listening to the working principles of all the machines throughout the museum. I am grateful Roger, you made my day!
Written 30 September 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Jet586079
2 contributions
Sep 2023 • Couples
Great collection of local industrial past, deserves to be better known . Staffed by very knowledgeable volunteers with hands on experience of gge exhibits. We could have stayed longer if we had planned more time. Ridiculously small entrance fee so we left a donation on top. Nottingham Council, make this place a priority!
Written 24 September 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Polly Nichola
Stoke-on-Trent, UK7 contributions
Aug 2023 • Couples
This is a really fascinating place. The volunteers here are absolutely wonderful and make the effort to engage. I would like to give a particular mention to Rodger who is extremely knowledgable and passionate about what he does. I hope management acknowledges the amount of time and effort he puts into his role and he can see these fantastic reviews. His tour which includes stories and talks about each item are brilliant and helped us to understand even more.
Written 24 September 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Quest27390643102
Kingston-upon-Hull, UK
Hi are dogs allowed in and around the museum site ?
Peter B
Nottingham, United Kingdom10 contributions
dogs are welcome in the Park and outside the museum but only service dogs are allowed inside the museum itself.
Michelle S
Derby, UK578 contributions
I see you are closed at the moment, when will you be re-opening?
NottIndMm
Nottingham, UK5 contributions
Hello Michelle, thanks for your question.
We are in the final few days of our 'Winter Refresh' and hope to re-open in the next couple of weeks. Please keep checking our website and Facebook page for more details on our all events and our plans for re-opening.
We hope to see you at the Museum soon!
Best wishes
Helen
Marketing, Events and Communications Director
4091234
Richmond, UK5 contributions
How far is it from City centre?
NottIndMm
Nottingham, UK5 contributions
Hello, sorry to be slow to respond and thank you to William R and Dawn D.
We are about 2 miles from Nottingham City Centre, but please note we are currently closed for a refurbishment. We will reopen at the end of January 2018, please visit our website to find out about our re-opening event.
Best wishes
NIM
Brian S
Nottingham, UK4 contributions
T Humbers bicycle,on your old website,read,star exhibit T Humbers bicycle wheeled behind his funeral cortage in 1910.is this still fact.
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Claim your listingNOTTINGHAM INDUSTRIAL MUSEUM: All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (with Photos)
Frequently Asked Questions about Nottingham Industrial Museum
- Hotels near Nottingham Industrial Museum:
- (0.59 mi) Travelodge Nottingham Wollaton Park Hotel
- (0.71 mi) The Orchard Hotel & Restaurant
- (2.42 mi) Restaurant Sat Bains with Rooms
- (2.44 mi) Roomzzz Aparthotel Nottingham City
- (2.72 mi) Mama's Inn Boutique Guest House
- Restaurants near Nottingham Industrial Museum:
- (0.09 mi) Wollaton 508 cafe
- (0.62 mi) Miller & Carter
- (0.48 mi) The Wheelhouse, Hungry Horse
- (0.36 mi) Mr Man's Restaurant
- (1.17 mi) Rose & Crown