• Museum Collection Centre open day is on Saturday 13 September.

• Programme of activities includes guided talks and meet the expert sessions.

• The centre houses over 80% of the city’s collection all under one roof.

One of the city’s best kept secrets is opening its doors for a family-friendly open day on Saturday 13 September as part of Birmingham Heritage Week.

The Museum Collection Centre is the main store for Birmingham Museums Trust, housing over 80% of the city’s collection all under one roof.

A huge number of the objects are held on open storage at the 1.5-hectare site which contains everything from aircraft engines to zoological specimens.

During the day there will be a full programme of activities from 10.00 am to 4.00 pm, including guided talks, meet the expert sessions, unboxing of hidden objects and family trails.

Visitors are also welcome to explore the artefact-packed warehouse and its contrasting mix of objects from steam engines and sculptures to giant spider crabs and even a kitchen sink.

Alex Chalkley, collections access officer at the Museum Collection Centre, said:

“The Museum Collection Centre is unlike anywhere else in Birmingham – it’s where we care for and store the vast majority of the city’s museum collections.

“Open days like this are a fantastic chance for visitors to see behind-the-scenes, discover objects that are rarely on display and meet the passionate people who care for them. It’s a day full of discovery, and we’re really excited to welcome everyone.”