Tours, Talks and Open Days

Join us on 9 April, Isambard Kingdom Brunel’s birthday, for a special lecture by Tim Bryan. More than 20 years after coming second in a poll as the country’s ‘Greatest Briton’ the figure of Isambard Kingdom Brunel remains a potent symbol of Victorian engineering progress and an iconic figure in the public imagination. Why does …

To celebrate the 257th anniversary of the birth of Marc Brunel — the brains behind the Thames Tunnel, the world’s first tunnel under a navigable river — we’re offering free entry to people named Marc or Mark on 25 April 2026 (also St Mark’s Day!). To book your free ticket, prebook below using the code …

Shota Noonan, a student at the Architectural Association School of Architecture, has been conducting a project entitled Notes from a Forgotten Island, which included a residency at the Brunel Museum in which he engaged individuals, asking them to define their perceived boundaries of Rotherhithe and evolving into deeper discussions about identity, memory, and change. The …

Following the success of our Wassail event in January, the Belles of London City return to the Brunel Museum to usher in Spring. Join them on the piazza for show dances, plus a chance to get involved yourself! Dressed in trademark red and white stays, the Belles have delighted audiences around the country with vibrant …

Join us at the Brunel Museum with your family for a special Discover Trees Walk. This guided walk explores the rich variety of trees in Rotherhithe and Southwark Park, from hidden green corners to well loved local landmarks. Starting and ending at the Brunel Museum, the walk will uncover stories behind the area’s trees, including the …

An allegorical map that plots the background, life and influence of the celebrated engineer, inventor and entrepreneur Marc Brunel. Designer of “The Eighth Wonder of the World” aka The Thames Tunnel. In 1787, Marc volunteered for the French navy and was stationed in Martinique. Very little is known about this seminal and formative period of …

Open House Festival at the Brunel Museum Saturday 19 & Sunday 20 September 2026 Free admission Visit the Brunel Museum for Open House Festival 2026, with free guided tours throughout the weekend and a special exhibition exploring a lesser-known chapter in Marc Brunel’s story. Visitors will be able to explore the Museum, including the historic …

Our guides in Victorian costume will lead you on a lantern lit stroll around historic Rotherhithe, exploring its dark and grisly past. This walk is not for the faint-hearted; expect gruesome tales, a graveyard, a mortuary and a gibbet, all in close proximity to the dark and dangerous River Thames. Our spooky Halloween walk will …