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Our doors may be closed (for now), but our amazing collection is always open for all. Here are some of the ways you can explore the museum from the comfort of your home.

Online exhibitions and activities

  • Bradford Science Festival
    This year’s Bradford Science Festival includes lots of fun things you can do at home, all of which are still online for you to enjoy: there are videos to watch, activity sheets to download, games to play and more. Try out experiments in Brad Lab, find out more about the world around you in the Environment Zone, and learn about science, technology, engineering and maths careers in STEM City.
  • Engineering a Response to Covid-19
    See Jude Palmer’s fascinating and evocative photographs of the engineers who dropped everything to fight the Covid-19 pandemic.
  • Pathology: Diagnosing Disease
    Explore this online exhibition to learn about how new digital innovations are helping pathologists diagnose disease more effectively.
  • 50 Years of the MacRobert Award for Engineering Innovation
    See amazing images by conceptual photographer Ted Humble-Smith, commissioned by the Royal Academy of Engineering to mark the 50th anniversary of the MacRobert Award.
  • Sonic Futures
    A series of digital experiments that will help you discover our collection of sound technologies—and have a go at playing with sound yourself.
  • Café Scientifique
    Once a month, we host an online discussion event on Zoom. Tickets are free and everyone’s welcome to help us explore the latest ideas in science and technology.

Kodak Gallery, Level –1

Kodak Gallery

The Kodak Gallery tells the story of photography, from the very first photographs to modern digital snaps.


Life Online, Level 0

Life Online gallery

Life Online is dedicated to the social, technological and cultural impact of the internet. It explores how our lives changed when the web was born, and how it has transformed our lives and society.

  • A brief history of the internet
    Trace the history of the internet, from its 1950s origins to the world wide web’s explosion in popularity in the late 1990s (and beyond).

The Forgotten Showman, Level 2

Robert Paul

Our recent exhibition revealed the story of engineer and inventor Robert Paul, who was one of the earliest pioneers of cinema and is known as ‘the father of the British film industry’.


Wonderlab, Level 3

Wonderlab

Our newest gallery, Wonderlab is all about the incredible science of light and sound. Sadly, we can’t recreate Wonderlab’s brilliant Mirror Maze or Echo Tube in your living room, but we do have some online resources to get you thinking like a scientist.

  • At-home learning resources
    Check out our selection of learning resources for educational things you can do at home (perfect for using while school’s out). They include activity sheets, fun videos and online games.
  • Wonderlab: explore the exhibits
    If you’ve already visited Wonderlab, take a look at these PDF guides which explain the science behind everything in the gallery.

Experience TV, Level 3

Experience TV uncovers the development, significance and cultural impact of one of the most influential inventions of the 20th century: television.


Games Lounge, Level 5

Games Lounge

In the Games Lounge, you can follow the development of videogaming through the decades—and, of course, play some of the games that made history.

  • Science Museum Group games and apps
    Did you know that the Science Museum Group has a range of online games and apps? They’re all free and perfect for learning at home.
  • Internet Arcade
    Part of Archive.org, the Internet Arcade is an archive of over 1,000 retro videogames from the 1970s, 80s and 90s, all free to play online.
  • A short history of videogames
    This timeline takes a whistle-stop tour through 60 years of videogames (1951–2011), from Nim to the Nintendo 3DS.
  • The top 10 songs about videogames
    In need of a gaming soundtrack? Enjoy our playlist of videogame-themed tracks.

Animation Gallery, Level 5

Animation Gallery

The Animation Gallery displays original models and artwork from over 100 animations, including classic characters like Wallace and Gromit and Morph. The gallery reveals the science behind the methods animators use to bring still images to life.


BFI Mediatheque, Level 6

BFI Mediatheque

The BFI Mediatheque screens over 2,500 highlights from the BFI National Archive, the world’s greatest and most diverse collection of film and television.

  • Free films on BFI Player
    While the full BFI Mediatheque catalogue isn’t available online, you can find free archive films on BFI Player. If you’re not sure where to start, take a look at the collections.
  • A very short history of cinema
    Learn about the history and development of cinema, from the Kinetoscope in 1891 to today’s 3D revival.

Keep in touch

Our Twitter, Facebook and Instagram are still being updated! Follow us (and keep an eye on this blog, of course) for collection highlights, curator recommendations and more.

You can also sign up to our newsletter to keep up to date with the latest museum news.

The National Science and Media Museum is part of the Science Museum Group. There’s lots more to explore across our sister museums’ websites, including videos, games and 3D models. This Science Museum Group blog post is a great place to start.

7 comments on “Explore the National Science and Media Museum at home

  1. When I try to access Robert Pauls films on BFI Player, it gives me a message saying, “Domain not authorised. You are not authorised to watch this film”

    Do you know why?

  2. My fondest memories of living in Leeds revolves around going to Bradford to the former National Media Museum and watching classic films at the Pictureville room. And it was always an opportunity to check in to watch some old sitcom at TV Heaven – which now must’ve been replaced by YouTube. All very lovely

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