STEAM - Museum of the Great Western Railway

STEAM - Museum of the Great Western Railway

STEAM - Museum of the Great Western Railway
4.5
Speciality MuseumsHistoric SitesHistory Museums
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Monday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Tuesday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Wednesday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Thursday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Friday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Saturday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Sunday
11:00 AM - 4:00 PM
About
Get up close to magnificent locomotives, try out the interactive GWR Signal Box and drive the steam train simulator as you travel through our story-telling displays! STEAM tells the story of the men and women who built, operated and travelled on the Great Western Railway - a railway network that, through the pioneering vision and genius of Isambard Kingdom Brunel, was regarded as the most advanced in the world. Our museum is housed in a beautifully restored Grade II railway building in the heart of the former Swindon railway works.
Duration: 1-2 hours
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  • ChanC
    15 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Brilliant Steam train museum
    Visited this museum whilst staying in Swindon overnight. This was a spontaneous visit. We enjoyed our visit very much. We were greeted by a friendly man at reception desk on arrival ( 28th April in the afternoon). The museum was brilliantly displayed with interactive, concise information boards, artefacts and huge trains. I think it would suit all ages including children ( as child friendly interactive games). The museum was a good size and we enjoyed a couple of hours there. My only criticism would be the coffees we had in the cafe. The coffees were extremely weak, like drinking a hot milk with a dash of coffee. They were awful and a waste £6:50. Wished we had gone into the outlet centre for drinks.
    Visited April 2023
    Travelled as a couple
    Written 28 April 2023
  • WorldTravellerUK99
    169 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Great well laid out museum
    Great museum. Well laid out charting the history of the GWR and the Swindon works. Lots of great exhibits where you can get up close. The signal box was great to try. Ample parkng at the outlet centre which is next door. You don't have to pay parking if you visit the museum.
    Visited May 2023
    Travelled as a couple
    Written 31 May 2023
  • Fairycakes
    69 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Great rainy day activity
    What a fantastic thing to do on a rainy day. We visited with three young kids, 9,7 and 2. We spent about 2.5hrs here. There are little activities for the kids in lots of rooms. The info boards were really intresting and gave a great human perspective to the works. We really enjoyed our visit and all the kids were entertained.
    Visited August 2023
    Travelled with family
    Written 5 August 2023
  • Andrea M
    2 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    On the whole a great experience.
    Museum excellent. Accessible with scooter hire and helpful staff. Loads to see and do. Reasonably priced. Good parking. Café let it down badly. Ran out of everything except cake and sweets by 1.15pm! Dirty broken china, etc. Definitely plan to eat elsewhere! But over all a great day out and disabled parents really enjoyed it.
    Visited August 2023
    Travelled with family
    Written 6 August 2023
  • Conrad D
    4 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Complements York
    At the outset, a bit doubtful that it could match York. Delighted to find it was different and equally absorbing. It has some magnificently preserved rolling stock. I particularly liked the pit under the Caerphilly Castle where one could see important parts underneath the locomotive not otherwise visible.. But it concentrates particularly on the manufacture, bringing the noise, the dirt and the sweat of the engineering shops and the pride and the enthusiasm of the workers to life. Some excellent exhibits of the part that women played, particularly during the war years, and the downstream effects that this had. Complements York, and demonstrates the excellence of the GWR
    Visited August 2023
    Written 18 August 2023
  • Wymroyal
    5 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Excellent museum misleadingly named
    This is a spacious and well-designed museum of the Great Western Railway on the site of the previous Works. It is in good order with lots of information presented in small chunks (most films are about 2mins) so that they are easily 'digested'. It is great to be able to go onto the footplates and even under one locomotive. The slant towards information of women employed on the railways is to be commended. Many aspects of railway life are included, not only the rolling stock side. All was great - except this museum is wrongly named: there isn't any steam!!
    Visited September 2023
    Travelled as a couple
    Written 3 September 2023
  • Steve F
    Winchester, United Kingdom2 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    Good museum, not easy to find, poor cafe, parking distant.
    On a rainy day it was a long walk to the museum, having first gone into the shopping centre to have to ask directions. Sign posting on the way into Swindon and then walking from the car park could be better. On arrival we first grabbed a bite to eat to warm up and dry off. Prices ok, but the 'hot' food from the cabinet was barely warm and the service a bit lack lustre. On arrival at the ticket desk there was an apology that the interactive screens were not working that day. The museum itself was good though and enough space to appreciate the size of the locomotives. Sadly the route 'underneath' the main loco was roped off for some reason. Overall the museum exhibits were great, but sort the cafe, and improve the signage (better still get your own car park ) and the place could be excellent.
    Visited September 2023
    Travelled as a couple
    Written 20 September 2023
  • John H
    36 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Wonderful museum stupid name.
    Really terrific museum not badly priced and really good evocation or the old works. Highly education with some stunning historic locomotives. Only quibble is the name STEAM strikes me as bit trite, why don’t they stick with the GWR Historical Museum which is exactly what it is.
    Visited December 2023
    Travelled with friends
    Written 1 December 2023
  • MAXINEOxford
    208 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Wonderful for adults and children alike.
    Wonderful value - 2 adults and 2 grandchildren £58 for an annual ticket. The staff are friendly and helpful. The museum is huge with many full size steam trains, plenty of space and wonderful for children and adult enthusiasts alike. In the room with the wall of names there are windows that look out onto the main railway line which is another bonus. The only downside was the cafe which is quite small and not particularly welcoming when we went.
    Visited November 2023
    Travelled with family
    Written 5 December 2023
  • Catherine L
    Newbury, United Kingdom47 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    Great interactive museum - don’t bother with the cafe!
    Visited today with my 4 year old grandson after checking reviews and activity suitability. We had a great visit at the museum and the staff were really helpful with interactive activities for him. It’s a great interactive display and was really informative for me and also for him! We both particularly enjoyed the Caerphilly Castle display. There were a few things that made it difficult with a young one - the toilets didn’t have a sink low enough or any steps so that he could wash his hands and we got half way around the exhibition and he needed the loo and there was no signage to find our way to a toilet without going all the way back to the beginning. But the main disappointment was the cafe which was really not a good experience. We arrived hungry after a long trip on a cold day and as it was lunchtime were hoping for some hot food. The only thing on offer was a sausage roll (no use for a veggie) so I had an egg sandwich which was a bit dry. The cafe was overpriced and when I queried the total as it seemed high, the waitress (who said I couldn’t have a receipt) showed me what she had entered into the till and I noticed she had charged me for 2 sausage rolls but we only had one. She tried to refund me and just took the money out of my card again which I realised when I checked my bank online. She had to give me a cash refund. Seriously I’d suggest eating in one of the food outlets nearby before going to the museum. It really put a dampener on the day sadly.
    Visited January 2024
    Travelled with family
    Written 5 January 2024
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4.5
4.5 of 5 bubbles1,610 reviews
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439
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Poor
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John T
Coventry, UK110 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Mar 2024 • Couples
A great way to spend a rainy morning. This museum tells the story of the Swindon Loco works, the GWR and the operation of the railway in a way which keeps the subject alive and interesting. Whilst the Steam locomotives themselves are always impressive, we particularly liked the way the subject was brought alive by the use of realistic wax models in real life settings and by video snippets of peoples real lives either from historic recordings of workers for example or from videos of actors playing their roles.
Really well thought out and presented.
Written 18 March 2024
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.

Daniel
Caerphilly, UK154 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Mar 2024 • Family
Amazing day out for anyone interested in steam trains. The kids loved it as it was really interactive a d interesting. We spent a good 2/3 hours inside the museum. There’s plenty to see and do, there’s lots of interesting facts and plenty to learn as you make your way through the museum.
Written 17 March 2024
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.

Aberystwyth
6 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Mar 2024 • Solo
The museum is fantastic and all museum staff friendly and knowledgeable. However the cafe is awfull. No longer serves proper cooked food and prepackaged sandwiches if a poor quality. Hot drinks not much better. If you require food go else where.
Written 3 March 2024
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.

laura
Sheffield, UK63 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Jan 2024 • Family
We parked in the designer outlet which was £2 for 5 hours. Finding the place wasn't too difficult although we did Google maps it because it wasn't sign posted from the car park.
On entering the museum I got charged 2 adults and 1 child singularly which once I pointed out it should be a family ticket, he then discounted the price. So I'd just make sure your aware of how much you should be paying rather than paying more than you need to!

We visited with a 3 year old on a Saturday, it was busy but not overwhelming and you didn't have to queue for things which was nice!

Excellent engagement for small children with puzzles, games and things at their level. My son was loving all the trains.

The volunteers where all super friendly and willing to help if needed.

The cafe was a little let down. Not much food available and it just seemed to let the museum down.

The toilets could have done with a step stood for a smaller child to wash hands and possibly a toddler seat for the loo but that's all I could moan about.

We really enjoyed our day.
Written 6 January 2024
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.

Catherine L
Newbury, UK47 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Jan 2024 • Family
Visited today with my 4 year old grandson after checking reviews and activity suitability. We had a great visit at the museum and the staff were really helpful with interactive activities for him.
It’s a great interactive display and was really informative for me and also for him! We both particularly enjoyed the Caerphilly Castle display.

There were a few things that made it difficult with a young one - the toilets didn’t have a sink low enough or any steps so that he could wash his hands and we got half way around the exhibition and he needed the loo and there was no signage to find our way to a toilet without going all the way back to the beginning.
But the main disappointment was the cafe which was really not a good experience. We arrived hungry after a long trip on a cold day and as it was lunchtime were hoping for some hot food. The only thing on offer was a sausage roll (no use for a veggie) so I had an egg sandwich which was a bit dry. The cafe was overpriced and when I queried the total as it seemed high, the waitress (who said I couldn’t have a receipt) showed me what she had entered into the till and I noticed she had charged me for 2 sausage rolls but we only had one. She tried to refund me and just took the money out of my card again which I realised when I checked my bank online. She had to give me a cash refund. Seriously I’d suggest eating in one of the food outlets nearby before going to the museum. It really put a dampener on the day sadly.
Written 5 January 2024
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.

Nicola W
Abergavenny, UK7 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Apr 2023 • Family
Brilliant, excellent place to visit for a steam enthusiast through to a toddler. So much to see, interactive, touch and friendly staff/volunteers
Written 28 December 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.

MAXINEOxford
Oxford208 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Nov 2023 • Family
Wonderful value - 2 adults and 2 grandchildren £58 for an annual ticket.
The staff are friendly and helpful. The museum is huge with many full size steam trains, plenty of space and wonderful for children and adult enthusiasts alike.
In the room with the wall of names there are windows that look out onto the main railway line which is another bonus.
The only downside was the cafe which is quite small and not particularly welcoming when we went.
Written 5 December 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.

Marilyn S
2 contributions
1.0 of 5 bubbles
Dec 2023 • Family
We love the steam museum my father in law before his death volunteered weekends as a ex- train driver guide.
We bought tickets for the Christmas market £3adult £1 children we support the museum when we can ,whilst walking around some lovely stalls we came across a stall selling glass,the stall owner exhibited glass work at the front of the stall with c++t printed clearing on glasses etc,,the shock !! I couldn't believe this was allowed!! My grandchildren aged 9,10. With two aged 12,.My grandson getting to the stand first tried to keep the others away ,it wasn't until a adult got there ,the owner of the stall said it was a adult area and to keep the children back so they couldn't read it ,it was unavoidable ,there was nothing there stating this and nothing stating adult only themes ,I know times are tuff butt allowing this whilst selling family tickets is inappropriate and down wright wrong .
Written 4 December 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.

John H
36 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Dec 2023 • Friends
Really terrific museum not badly priced and really good evocation or the old works. Highly education with some stunning historic locomotives. Only quibble is the name STEAM strikes me as bit trite, why don’t they stick with the GWR Historical Museum which is exactly what it is.
Written 1 December 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.

James Lea
Shropshire, UK7 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Aug 2023 • Family
I've visited here twice now and always enjoyed it. This place is very educational it has great exhibitions here. The locomotives are well looked after despite them being in a museum. Will definitely come again.
Written 23 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.

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STEAM - MUSEUM OF THE GREAT WESTERN RAILWAY: All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (with Photos)

Frequently Asked Questions about STEAM - Museum of the Great Western Railway

STEAM - Museum of the Great Western Railway is open:
  • Sun - Sun 11:00 - 16:00
  • Mon - Sat 10:00 - 17:00


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