Delve into Birmingham’s fascinating industrial past, take an interactive space journey and discover the effects that chocolate has on the brain – all under one roof.
The Thinktank Birmingham Science Museum was opened in 2001 as a key part of Millennium Point, a multi-purpose education centre to the east of the city centre. Today, there are four floors packed with over 200 interactive displays. Learn all about Birmingham’s industrial past or look into the future in the four different sections The Past, We Made It, The Present and The Future. Due to the scale of the displays, you should set aside at least 2 to 4 hours for your visit. As you enter, you will learn about the city’s trade links with the rest of the country. There are displays celebrating the city’s industrial past, with World War II aircraft, the car which once held the land speed record and the Smethwick Engine, a real steam engine, which was built here in 1779. All illustrate the city’s role as an engineering power house.Younger visitors will get the chance to play at being a mechanic or a dentist, as well as many other roles in the Kids City Gallery located on the second floor. As well as the interesting animals and insects on display, there are further science displays that explore how the brain functions and the effects of stimulants such as chocolate.The third floor is dedicated to the future, with exhibits that explore both medicine and technology. The museum also boasts a planetarium, where you’ll find yourself star-gazing and on the look-out for alien life forms, in one of the daily shows.Outside in the garden, there is even more to see. Admire the giant hamster wheel and marvel at the wagon with square wheels. There is also a huge cinema screen showing films in both 2-D and 3-D.Thinktank is a 20-minute walk from the city centre. Paid parking is available close by. Moor Street station is a 10-minute walk away and several buses stop at the Millennium Point entrance to the complex.Thinktank is open daily except for certain public holidays. For full details including opening hours a schedule of events, check the website.
