Science and Innovation Park

About the museum

The Science and Innovation Park lies on the site of the former RAF Wroughton airfield near Swindon. The Science Museum took over the 545-acre site in 1979 as a store for its largest objects, such as aircraft and road vehicles, and over the years it became the main home of the Science Museum Group's reserve collection. The Science Museum Library and Archives also moved there in 2007.

The Hawking Building, a purpose-built collections facility at the heart of the park, was built between 2018 and 2021 after the group had to leave its former store at Blythe House in London. It is named after Stephen Hawking, who had a long link with the Science Museum, and it holds more than 300,000 objects on over 30,000 metres of shelving. It opened to the public in October 2024.

Visitors see the building on guided tours led by expert guides, along a route of about half a mile with views from a balcony and a look at the staff who care for the collection. Objects seen on the tour range from space hardware and polar vehicles to a racing boat, a tramcar and a balloon gondola. Large aircraft are not part of the tour. Tickets must be booked in advance.

Highlights

• Guided tours of the Hawking Building with more than 300,000 objects
• X-ray telescope flown on the Space Shuttle Challenger
• Sno-Cat used on the first motorised crossing of Antarctica
• Record-setting balloon gondola and a racing boat
• Objects from Stephen Hawking's office
• Balcony view over the working collection store

Permanent exhibition

• Guided tour of the Hawking Building – An expert-led walk through the collection store holding more than 300,000 objects of the Science Museum Group, with a view over the shelving from a balcony.

Operated by

Science Museum Group

Admission & discounts

Price per guided tour ticket. No other concessions are listed. Tickets can be returned and numbers reduced up to 28 days before the visit; after that they are non-refundable.

Accessibility

• Wheelchair accessible
• Elevator
• Accessible restroom
• Accessible parking
• Service dogs welcome
• Tactile models & exhibits: no information
• Sign language tours: no information
• Easy-to-read materials: no information
• Audio description: no information

Step-free access to the publicly accessible buildings, and the lifts take wheelchairs and have tactile labels (some with audio announcements). Collapsible stools can be requested at the start of the tour. Accessible and all-gender toilets are at the Hawking Building entrance. Two Blue Badge spaces in front of the building are available on a first-come basis. Mobility scooters are welcome; electric scooters may not be charged at museum power points without staff permission. The park is large and a vehicle is needed between the main entrance and the Hawking Building, about 10 minutes by road. Working guide and assistance animals are allowed.

Kids & families

Only partly suitable for kidsRecommended for ages 7+

• Hands-on stations: not available

Children under 7 are not admitted to public tours; under 18s must be accompanied by an adult. Objects on the tour must not be touched.

Getting there & parking

Red Barn Lane is the park's only entrance (what3words: trader.edit.bake). It is about a 10-minute drive from the main entrance to the Hawking Building.

Amenities & dining

• Café: not available
• Restaurant: not available
• Lockers

No food or drink is sold on site. Food and drink are not allowed inside the Hawking Building; lockers are provided.

Events & venue rental

• Spaces for rent

The site is offered for long- and short-term commercial hire.

Plan your visit