I recently attended an evening tour of the Science and Innovation Park at Wroughton, and it is definitely a visit I would recommend to members.

Visitors are taken on a guided tour of the Hawking Building in small groups of around 16 people, led by knowledgeable volunteers. The building itself is not a conventional museum but a vast storage facility that houses around 350,000 objects belonging to the Science Museum Group. These items form part of the national collections that support museums across England.

The tour lasts about 90 minutes, and because the site is primarily a working storage facility rather than a traditional exhibition space, the experience feels quite different from visiting a museum. Instead of fixed displays, the volunteers select a number of objects to show the group and talk about their history, design and scientific significance. This means that each tour can be slightly different, depending on the interests and choices of the guides. For that reason alone, it would certainly be worth returning for another visit.

The collections themselves are fascinating and remarkably varied, ranging from large technological artefacts to smaller scientific instruments, all stored within the vast shelving systems of the Hawking Building.

Tickets currently cost £27.50 per adult and this can be done on an individual basis, you do not have to organise your own group. Tours take place at various times depending on the day, but places appear to fill quickly. Earlier in the year the system operated more like a ballot, and we had to wait around three months before securing a slot. However, it now seems that booking has become more straightforward, with dates available most days up to the end of July.

Members who may be interested in arranging a visit can find further details here:
https://www.scienceinnovationpark.org.uk/visit-us

For anyone with an interest in science, engineering or the history of technology, it is a fascinating opportunity to see behind the scenes of one of the UK’s most important scientific collections.

Stephanie North