Award-winning science museum for fun-packed family days out.
MiniBrum is Thinktank’s very own mini city, where children are in charge!
This exciting child-sized world, aimed at under 8s, features several different play zones including a transport area, shops, park and construction site with slide. There are also specifically designed sensory areas for babies.
Located on Level 3.
Our Science & Industry Collection is made up of over 40,000 items covering transport, engineering, machine tools and production machines, scientific and medical instruments, music boxes, player pianos and organs, horology, computing and mechanical devices spanning over 250 years of technological development.
Our Natural Science collection consists of about 250,000 specimens, covering zoology, botany, entomology, geology, mineralogy and palaeontology, the largest natural science collection in the West Midlands. It is an important regional resource.
Step inside Thinktank’s Planetarium and explore the outer reaches of space, get up close to constellations, journey through the night-sky and adventure through the solar system!
Tickets are available on a first come first served basis and can be purchased at the ticket desk on arrival. Please note, as a result tickets to the planetarium cannot be guaranteed for every visitor at this time.
Located on Level 3.
Investigate the science behind manufacturing with the lively interactive exhibits in We Made it: nuts, bolts, gadgets and gizmos. Learn how and why Birmingham became the ‘Workshop of the World’.
Located on Level 1.
The gallery tells the story of the Spitfire, from its innovative design and cutting-edge technology that played a key role in the Second World War, to its lasting legacy on the city of Birmingham.
Located on Level 1.
Discover the Thinktank Ichthyosaur, a giant sea monster from the time of the dinosaurs that is being displayed in full for the first time. Explore the other animals from the past and present that have adapted to life in the sea, including walrus, penguins and prehistoric marine crocodiles.
Located on Level 2.
The oldest working steam engine in the world, dating from 1779, it was the first engine to use both the force of steam and a vacuum at the same time - a design which was more powerful and required less coal to run. The engine was used to pump water to the top of a series of canal locks in Smethwick near Birmingham.
Located on Level 0.
Our Changing Planet is a fascinating, brand new gallery at Thinktank that’s perfect for older children and adults to learn how human invention and behaviour has impacted the world around us.
At a time when climate change is one of the greatest challenges facing humanity, this new gallery, featuring over 150 fascinating items, explores how humans have changed the world and how these changes are affecting the wildlife around us.
The gallery is located on Level 2.
Our real skull of a Triceratops was discovered in the USA in 1908. Triceratops was a plant eating dinosaur and its name means 'three-horned face'. The skull is a fossil, which means that the bones have now been replaced by rock - a process which takes millions of years.
In the Wildlife gallery visitors can see a variety of fossils and other fantastic creatures including a Giant Deer skeleton (one of the largest deer ever to live on earth), as well as a Jurassic Crocodile!
Kids’ Park is a vibrant and intriguing outdoor play area specifically designed to encourage children under 7 and their families to explore science whilst having fun playing outdoors. The play area features science interactive exhibits and is adjacent to the Science Garden directly outside Thinktank.
The Science Garden is closed for essential maintenance in January 2022.
The Science Garden is an outdoor discovery space packed with surprises and fun activities for the whole family. It offers an adventurous and entertaining day out, bringing themes of engineering, mechanics and transportation to life through over 30 hands-on exhibits.
The Science Garden is free every day from 3pm, with varying closing times in autumn/winter due to light levels. The earliest the garden will close during the winter period is 4pm.
Located on Level 0.
What an absolutely delightful place! Fascinating for the kids as they play and interact while learning a bit of science too!
Reviewer, Trip Advisor