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July 4 2008
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Thinktank: Birmingham's science museum
  Millennium Point
Curzon Street
Birmingham
B4 7XG
West Midlands
England
Child getting to grips with one of the exhibits at Thinktank
Collection details
Archives, Aviation, Coins and Medals, Inland Waterways, Industry, Land Transport, Medicine, Natural Sciences, Science and Technology, Social History, Weapons and War
Facilities
Parking: yes Shop: yes Guided tours: yes Baby changing facilities: yes Wheelchair access: yes Visual disability facilities: yes Hearing disability facilities: yes
[ icon key ]
Contact details
Box Office (Tel) : 0121 202 2222
Groups Hotline (Tel) : 0121 202 2244
General (Fax) : 0121 202 2280
E-mail : findout@thinktank.ac
Website : www.thinktank.ac
Open
Thinktank is open seven days a week from 10.00am to 5.00pm with last admissions at 4.00pm.
Closed
Thinktank is closed Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and Boxing Day.
Admission charges
Adults: £9.25
Children: £7.25
Concessions: £7.25
Family ticket (2 adults and 2 children): £28.00
Planetarium: £2.00/ £2.40 per person

Adult Annual Ticket: £37.00
Child Annual Ticket: £26.00
Family Annual Ticket (2 adult and up to 3 children): £65.00
Annual Concession: £32.00
Discounts
Museums Association
 
Description
Where can you explore deepest space, find out how doctors perform life-saving surgery and travel back in time to Birmingham’s amazing industrial past, all under one roof? Thinktank, Birmingham’s award-winning science museum offers an extraordinary, fun-packed day out for families and school groups. From steam engines to intestines, Thinktank has over 200 hands-on exhibits on science and discovery from the past, present and future. This includes the state-of-the-art Planetarium, where you can tour the night sky and fly through the galaxy without stepping a foot outside! Thinktank also offers a huge programme of educational activities for children and families including workshops, classes, laboratory sessions and interactive science shows.
Collections description
Move It: Historical planes, trains and automobiles.
Power Up: Some of the most magnificent working steam engines.
Making Things: Explore the birth of the Industrial Revolution as man and machine meet in the workplace.
City Stories: A journey through Birmingham’s industrial past
The Street: Discover the science we all take for granted.
Kids' City: A place where families with young children can play and learn together.
Things About Me: Get to grips with your guts, learn about the senses and voyage through veins and ventricles in an amazing exploration of the body.
Medicine Matters: See how doctors perform life saving surgery and find out about some medical advances in which Birmingham has played a key role.
Wild Life: Find out how scientists study the wild world and how clever animals adapt to change.
Futures Gallery: See how the future is being shaped by cutting edge technology.
Planetarium: Be spellbound as we fly you through the galaxy in our new 70 seat Planetarium powered by Digistar 3, the world's most advanced digital Planetarium projection system.

Key artists and exhibits
The Smethwick Beam Engine (oldest active steam engine in the world) ; Railton Mobil Special ; The City of Birmingham Locomotive ; eMo - The Emotional Robot


Articles
Thintank Launches Portable Planetarium For Schools
Get Into The Christmas Spirit At Festive Museum Events
Science Centres Should Receive Government Support Says Report
MGM 2007 - Big Bank Holiday Museum Events Round-Up
Spitfire Voted Top Exhibit In BBC Two People's Museum
£3m MLA Funding Boosts Regional Museums
Birmingham Stories Website Puts Science And Industry Collections Online

Trails
Hidden Treasure Trail 5 - The People's Museum In The Midlands
Get Out Of The Office At Lunchtime And Visit A Birmingham Museum
Birmingham's Canal Network - In Brindley's Footsteps

Available resources
Bissell Street Blast- KS2-4 Workshop  ; Visit; Workshop (Resource)
Colour Me a Rainbow- KS1 Show  ; Visit; Workshop (Resource)
Colour in the Natural World- KS1 Workshop  ; Visit; Workshop (Resource)
Colourful Chemical Change Show- KS1-4  ; Visit; Workshop (Resource)
Crime Detectives- KS2-4 Workshop  ; Visit; Workshop (Resource)
Dynamic Earth- KS2-4 Workshop  ; Visit; Workshop (Resource)
Electrifying Science- KS1-4 Show  ; Visit; Workshop (Resource)
Green to Grime- KS2-4 Workshop  ; Visit; Workshop (Resource)
How to Energise Your Teacher- KS3/4 Show  Visit; Workshop (Resource)
LEGO Control Technology- KS2-4 Workshop  ; Visit; Workshop (Resource)
LEGO Forces & Friction- KS2 Workshop  Visit; Workshop (Resource)
LEGO Levers and Gears- KS1 Workshop  Visit; Workshop (Resource)
Mini-beast Meals- KS2 Workshop  ; Visit; Workshop (Resource)
On Your Wavelength  Visit; Workshop (Resource)
Science of Sport- KS3/4 Show  Visit; Workshop (Resource)
Sound Explorers- Early Years & KS1 Workshop  ; Visit; Workshop (Resource)
Space Mission- KS2 Workshop  Visit; Workshop (Resource)
The Five Senses- KS1 Workshop  Visit; Workshop (Resource)
The Luminous Light Show- KS2  ; Visit; Workshop (Resource)
The Very Healthy Eating Caterpillar-KS1 Workshop  Visit; Workshop (Resource)
Thinktank Education Science Shows- KS3/4  ; Workshop (Resource)
Thinktank Education Workshops- KS3/4  ; Workshop (Resource)
Toys and Games- Early Years & KS1 Workshop  Handling collection; Visit; Workshop (Resource)
Wild Things- KS2-4 Workshop  ; Visit; Workshop (Resource)
Wireless to Web- KS2-4 Workshop  ; Visit; Workshop (Resource)
 

General Information
Brochure or leaflet available with directions to museum
Pre-booking service for groups
Information point provided
Parking for coaches
Guided tours
Collections
General guide to collections available
Disability Access
Events/teaching/resources for people with disabilities
Induction loops in lecture theatres
Large print information and/or interpretation
Parking for disabled available
Sign language interpretation available
Toilets for disabled
Touch exhibits and/or handling sessions
Wheelchair access to all public areas
Wheelchairs available for loan
Children and Families
Activities for pre-school children
Baby changing facilities
Events and resources for children and families
Picnic area
General Education
Adult lectures and courses held
Education facilities available
Loan service
Member of staff available with responsibility for education
Reception and lunch facilities for educational groups
Teaching/resources available for HE/FE students
Schools Education
Direct teaching services for schools
Primary school education service available
Printed/audio-visual information available for schools
Secondary school education service available
Facilities
Auditorium
Facilities for private functions and events
Meeting room available
Picnic area
Refreshments
Shop
 
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