Brunel Museum

About the museum

The Brunel Museum stands at the Rotherhithe end of the Thames Tunnel, which Marc Brunel and his son Isambard Kingdom Brunel built between 1825 and 1843 as the first tunnel under a navigable river. The museum occupies the former engine house of the tunnel works and the adjoining shaft, which was sunk into the ground in 1825 and later served as the grand entrance hall for visitors on foot.

When the tunnel opened in 1843 it quickly became one of London's most visited attractions, with underground fairs and banquets held inside it. In 1869 the tunnel was sold to a railway company and the shaft became a ventilation shaft for steam trains. Trains still run through the tunnel today as part of the London Overground, and visitors can sometimes feel them rumble beneath the shaft.

The building has been used as a museum since 1961. The shaft received a concrete floor in 2011 and a free-standing staircase in 2016, which allows visitors to walk down into the Grade II* listed structure. The museum is run by an independent educational charity. Its collection includes Thames Tunnel souvenirs, Victorian peepshows, models of the tunnelling shield and a set of designs for the tunnel acquired in 2017.

Highlights

• Grade II* listed Tunnel Shaft, the original grand entrance hall of the Thames Tunnel
• Engine House exhibition on how the world's first underwater tunnel was built
• Victorian peepshows and Thames Tunnel souvenirs
• Large-scale model of the tunnelling shield and machinery
• Guided tours on Saturdays and Sundays

Permanent exhibitions

• Engine House exhibition – The main display tells the story of the Thames Tunnel and the people who built it, with original memorabilia, Victorian peepshows and large models of the tunnelling shield and machinery.
• Tunnel Shaft – The Grade II* listed shaft was the grand entrance hall of the Thames Tunnel and still shows soot from steam trains on its brick walls.

Founded

1961

Operated by

The Brunel Museum (registered charity)

Admission & discounts

All published prices include a voluntary Gift Aid donation. One ticket covers both the Tunnel Shaft and the Engine House. Members and Art Pass holders enter free. Booking in advance is not required but secures a preferred time slot; tickets are released about two months ahead.

Accessibility

• Partially wheelchair accessible
• Elevator: no information
• Accessible restroom
• Accessible parking
• Service dogs welcome
• Tactile models & exhibits: not available
• Sign language tours: no information
• Easy-to-read materials: no information
• Audio description: no information

The site is not yet fully accessible. The Engine House has step-free access to the entrance, shop, lower gallery and an accessible toilet, but the main exhibition on the upper gallery is reached by a half-flight of stairs. Wheelchair users and visitors with limited mobility can view the Tunnel Shaft from a viewing platform at the top; the floor of the shaft is reached by three flights of stairs. A level path around the building links the shaft and the Engine House. The garden is reached by a narrow half-flight of stairs. There is no Changing Places toilet. Videos are subtitled and large print guides are available. A downloadable visual story is provided for neurodivergent visitors. One parking space can be reserved for Blue Badge holders by email.

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

• Family tours & workshops
• Activity booklet, scavenger hunt or kids’ audio guide
• Baby changing facilities

Families can follow a children's trail with a mole character, use activity sheets and craft kits for building a miniature tunnel, and join a changing programme of holiday activities. Baby changing facilities are in the accessible toilet on the ground floor of the Engine House. Visitors with buggies can view the shaft from the platform at the top, and pushchairs can be left in a space in the museum. Visitors can bring their own lunch to the outdoor piazza.

Getting there & parking

Canada Water station is about a 7-minute walk from the museum. Cycle parking is available on Rotherhithe Street, and the nearest Santander Cycles docking station is at Rotherhithe Roundabout.

Amenities & dining

• Café: not available
• Restaurant: not available
• Museum shop
• Coat check: not available
• Lockers: not available

No cafe; the museum recommends nearby cafes and pubs, and visitors may eat their own lunch in the outdoor piazza. There is no cloakroom or luggage storage.

Events & venue rental

• Spaces for rent
• Private parties
• Corporate events
• Weddings / ceremonies

The Tunnel Shaft can be hired for weddings and civil ceremonies (the museum is licensed by Southwark Council), private parties, corporate events, performances and filming. Wedding packages run on Saturdays only.

Plan your visit