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The Science Museum, London

The Science Museum in London has a collection spread over seven floors portraying scientific, technological and medical change since the eighteenth century. The museum has an unrivalled collection relating to the Industrial Revolution. Many exhibits are interactive. There are drama shows, IMAX cinema presentations and talks.

The Science Museum reflects on the fact that a museum isn't just a place to look at dusty things from the past. The advent of museums is closely linked with advances in science. Although there is a long history of prized objects being collected and stored, before the Industrial Revolution these objects were hidden away. This is particularly true of religious relics, which of course could not retain their aura of sanctity if they were studied too closely. A collector of geological and zoological specimens, Elias Ashmole, founded Britain's first university museum, the Ashmolean in Oxford in 1683. The idea now was to look carefully at objects collected, museums becoming centres for research as well as education for the general public. In 1851 the Great Exhibition was held in Hyde Park, to demonstrate British technical expertise. A year later the Museum of Manufacturers was founded by civil servant, designer and writer Henry Cole. This new museum's aim was to promote art and design, and to contribute to improvement of British products. Displays were directed towards educating students, artisans and manufacturers, as well as general visitors. The Museum of Manufacturers, called the Victoria and Albert Museum from 1899, represented a crucial stage in the development of modern industrial society. In 1895 the Victoria and Albert's scientific collection was divided, natural history exhibits going to the Natural History Museum, industrial and scientific items going to the Science Museum. The Science Museum is not only dedicated to preserving the past of science, it is part of science's history, and a demonstration of a new way of looking at things.

Last time I visited the Science Museum I worked my way up through all the displays, to a "Future" display on the top floor. This space was empty, except for some circular interactive units posing various hypothetical questions about the future; questions such as "should men have babies?" In a sense this is how things used to be done before science. People would just sit around and think, which is all very well. But science is mostly about looking, very carefully. In this way a scientist discovers if what he or she thinks is actually true. It was interesting how at the very top of the Science Museum there seemed a vague rediscovery of the way we used to think about things.

 

 

Address: The Science Museum, Exhibition Road, South Kensington, London SW7 2DD

Opening Times: The Science Museum is open every day from 10am until 6pm, except for the period 24th - 26th December.

Directions: The museum is located in Exhibition Road, London. Car parking is limited to metered parking spaces along Exhibition Road. There are some car parks in the area but space is limited and prices are high. Coming in by public transport is recommended. The nearest Underground station is South Kensington. Check the web site for up to date bus numbers. Click here for an interactive map centred on the Science Museum.

Access: There are twelve orange badge car parking spaces in Exhibition Road. If no parking spaces are available on arrival ask the staff at the entrance to the Museum for assistance. Wheelchair access to the building is good, with ramps, lifts and adapted toilet facilities. There is a Personal Guide scheme which offers disabled people a personal two hour tour of the galleries. This service is available on weekdays only, and it is best to book ahead. The service cannot be guaranteed for people arriving on the day.

Contact:

minicom line: 020 7942 4445

disabled persons help line: 020 7942 4446

group visits: 020 7942 4777

enquiries: 0870 870 4868

web site: www.sciencemuseum.org.uk

e-mail: feedback@nmsi.ac.uk

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