The Museum is an educational charity run by volunteers and tells the story of one of the world’s great engineering dynasties. Brunel organised the world’s first underground concert party here in 1827, and the Museum celebrates and interprets music and theatre as well as engineering.

Brunel’s First Project

Scheduled Ancient Monument, International Landmark, Oldest Tunnel in the Oldest Underground in the World

The Brunel Museum is open 10:00 to 17:00 seven days a week, with late openings for special events. We are closed 24th, 25th, 26th December, and from 27th briefly open every day 1pm – 2pm for Guided Tours of the Shaft.  We re-open 10am on 2nd January. A small museum, but a big story drawing visitors locally and from all over the world. Below the trains still run through the Tunnel. The Museum gardens are always open…

Brunel’s Last Project

Biggest Ship in the World, First Modern Ocean Liner, the Ship that Changed Everything

In the lower gallery an exhibition about Brunel’s greatest ship. A few hundred yards down the river on the Isle of Dogs, the launch ways of SS Great Eastern are accessible by Thames Clipper via Masthouse Terrace Pier or London Walk three times a week. The launch ways are always open…

Brunel’s Grand Entrance Hall

Underground Chamber half the size of Shakespeare’s Globe

After 150 years the chamber is open every day for heritage talks and lectures. Also advertised evenings for concerts, opera, and theatre. Details of these events, guided walks, heritage boat trips, shows and garden events can be found on the Events pages. Also available for society visits and private events.

The Grand Entrance Hall, where young Brunel nearly drowned, was the world’s first underground theatre. Before the trains came, the chamber echoed with applause for acrobats, tightrope walkers and serenaders. Under the National Heritage Landmarks Partnership Scheme, and with support from the Association of Independent Museums and Biffa, the Museum is fitting out a spectacular new gallery and underground theatre. Today the chamber is open every lunchtime, but from March 2016 the building works will be completed and the chamber will be open through the day.

Check out Future Plans for details of this exciting scheme and how you can support us.