After five years in development, the National Railway Museum is set to open Wonderlab tomorrow, 27th July 2023.
Wonderlab: The Bramall Gallery is housed in the museum's old locomotive workshop and is aimed at families with children aged 7 – 14 years old.
Wonderlab features 18 interactive exhibits which aim to inspire children into engineering and the world of railways.
The new exhibit is part of the National Railway Museum's Vision 2025 plan.
The NRM says that the exhibits focus on different elements of railway engineering and courage people to think of design, build and testing different outcomes.
Judith McNicol, Director of the National Railway Museum, said: “Wonderlab: The Bramall Gallery represents the first area of the museum to undergo significant changes as part of our Vision 2025 masterplan and the result is a fantastic new interactive gallery that is a real asset for visitors and the city.
“The gallery was developed in partnership with the rail industry and other experts and we have listened to visitor feedback about the need for more interactive, hands-on experiences. We want to ensure that children have great fun while developing a spark of interest in engineering that will contribute towards tackling the UK's shortage in STEM skills*.”
To find out more about Vision 2025 and to book tickets for Wonderlab: The Bramall Gallery, visit: www.railwaymuseum.org.uk/2025/wonderlab-the-bramall-gallery
Not going to set new kids a skill set and won’t be the same. I can’t believe Sir Nigel Gresley got kicked out for this.
It’s supposed to be a railway museum, not a kiddie’s playground.
Most useless thing I’ve seen in years. The Worksop inspired myself to work within the railways, I now am. This ball pit won’t do anything significant. We want proper engineers in the future, who understand overhauls/maintenance the NRM used to do.
Nothing to do with railways at all, so why is it even in there.