National Science and Media Museum
At the National Science and Media Museum, we explore the science and culture of light and sound technologies and their impact on our lives. We aim to inspire the scientists and engineers of the future to see more, hear more, think more and do more.
Our galleries and exhibition spaces help us illuminate world-famous collections in photography, film and television. Our team of Explainers create learning activities that fuel the imagination and get under the skin of our collections and exhibitions.
We're also home to Pictureville Cinema, which includes the UK's first IMAX—the biggest screen in West Yorkshire. Our three cinema screens allow us to showcase the magic of moving images from around the world in Bradford, the first UNESCO City of Film.
We’re part of the Science Museum Group, along with the Science Museum in London, the Science and Industry Museum in Manchester, the National Railway Museum in York, and Locomotion in Shildon.
Venue Type:
Museum
The National Science and Media Museum is home to more than 3 million items of historical and cultural significance.
Our collection is devoted to the science and culture of image and sound. It includes three pivotal firsts: the world’s earliest known surviving negative, the earliest television footage, and the camera that made the earliest moving pictures in Britain.
Collection details
Archives, Film and Media, Photography, Science and Technology
Key artists and exhibits
- The world's first negative
- The earliest television footage
- The camera that made the earliest moving pictures in Britain
- Louis Le Prince's 1888 films Roundhay Garden Scene and Traffic Crossing Leeds Bridge
- BBC Collection
- Kodak Collection
- Daily Herald Archive
- Tony Ray-Jones Archive
- Hammer Films collection
BFI Mediatheque
- 1 November 2014 — 1 January 2022 *on now
Grab a booth in the BFI Mediatheque and discover the best, rarest and most extraordinary films and TV programmes from the BFI National Archive.
Simply log on at a viewing station and choose from over 2,500 highlights from the BFI National Archive, the world’s greatest and most diverse collection of film and television, free of charge.
From home movies to feature films, documentaries to kids’ TV, many titles have rarely been seen since their original release or broadcast.
Suitable for
- Family friendly
- Any age
Website
https://www.scienceandmediamuseum.org.uk/whats-on/bfi-mediatheque
Animation Gallery
- 1 January 2014 — 1 January 2022 *on now
Love Wallace and Gromit? Remember Morph? Discover original models and artwork from over 100 animations. See science in action as still images come to life!
Explore the history of animation and animated images—including animation produced right here in the UK. See some favourite characters, look back at animation through the ages, and discover how animators work their magic.
Suitable for
- Family friendly
- Any age
Website
https://www.scienceandmediamuseum.org.uk/whats-on/animation-gallery
Games Lounge
- 1 January 2014 — 1 January 2022 *on now
Play your way through classic games, from Pac-Man to Super Mario Kart. Learn about the history of videogaming. Discover the story behind a global phenomenon.
Suitable for
- Any age
Admission
£2
Website
https://www.scienceandmediamuseum.org.uk/whats-on/games-lounge
Experience TV
- 1 November 2014 — 1 January 2022 *on now
Explore the development, significance and cultural impact of one of the most influential inventions of the 20th century: television.
Why do we have adverts on TV, and how much are we influenced by what we see? Explore the exciting world of television in our TV gallery.
Suitable for
- Family friendly
- Any age
Admission
Free; museum admission ticket required
Website
https://www.scienceandmediamuseum.org.uk/whats-on/experience-tv
Kodak Gallery
- 1 November 2014 — 1 January 2022 *on now
Take a journey through the history of photography. Step into a 19th century portrait studio, see hundreds of incredible objects from our collection, and watch the world’s first moving colour film.
From the very first photographs to digital snaps, discover the history of photography in the Kodak Gallery.
Suitable for
- Family friendly
- Any age
Admission
Free; museum admission ticket required
Website
https://www.scienceandmediamuseum.org.uk/whats-on/kodak-gallery
Life Online
- 1 November 2014 — 1 January 2022 *on now
How did our lives change when the internet was born? Find out in the world’s first gallery dedicated to the social, technological and cultural impact of the web.
Follow the history of the internet around Life Online. From the very first online communities to the latest ideas, uncover how it has transformed our lives and society.
Suitable for
- Family friendly
- Any age
Website
https://www.scienceandmediamuseum.org.uk/whats-on/life-online
Wonderlab
- 23 March 2017 — 1 January 2023 *on now
Think like a scientist in Wonderlab, our newest and most interactive gallery exploring light and sound through mind-bending exhibits and spectacular live shows.
Touch, try and photograph your experience as you navigate your way through more than 20 exhibits. Hear your voice echo through a 15m-long tube, get lost in mirrors, make art using light, and travel through a laser tunnel.
Live experiments and extraordinary experiences will take you on a journey, changing how you see the world around you.
Suitable for
- Any age
- Especially for children
- Family friendly
Admission
Free ticket required
Website
https://www.scienceandmediamuseum.org.uk/whats-on/wonderlab
The Forgotten Showman
- 19 August 2020 — 21 February 2021 *on now
Discover how Robert Paul, the forgotten pioneer of cinematography, invented British cinema.
The year is 1894—a time of competition and innovation. Young engineer Robert Paul is sitting in his workshop when two businessmen arrive with the proposition of a lifetime.
Discover the beginnings of a new industry, enter the magic of the music hall and witness the race for the next big thing in entertainment: cinema. In the heart of Bradford, the world’s first UNESCO City of Film, we are proud to reveal this forgotten hero of cinema, 150 years after his birth.
Suitable for
- Any age
Admission
Free entry
Website
https://www.scienceandmediamuseum.org.uk/whats-on/forgotten-showman
Wonderlab Live
- 19 August 2020 — 24 January 2021 *on now
Come and think like a scientist at Wonderlab Live! See live demos and discover new adventures in the science of light and sound.
Inspired by our ever-popular Wonderlab gallery, Wonderlab Live will reveal the beauty of the science behind household objects that shape our everyday lives.
This unmissable experience will ignite your curiosity, fuel your imagination and inspire you to see the world around you in new and exciting ways. Enjoy live demonstrations—at a safe distance!—and step into another world of wonder.
Suitable for
- Any age
- Family friendly
Admission
Free; museum admission ticket required
Website
https://www.scienceandmediamuseum.org.uk/whats-on/wonderlab-live
October Half Term
- 24 October — 1 November 2020 *on now
Get the most out of the school holidays with interactive activities and mind-blowing IMAX cinema in Bradford.
Join us this October half term for a journey of exploration and discovery. Enjoy the all-new family experience Wonderlab Live, see live science shows as part of Bradford Science Festival, and watch amazing 3D documentaries on our IMAX screen.
Suitable for
- Any age
Admission
Free admission ticket required to enter the museum. Some activities may require pre-booking and there is a charge for film screenings.
Website
https://www.scienceandmediamuseum.org.uk/whats-on/october-half-term
Bradford Science Festival 2020
- 24 October — 1 November 2020 *on now
Bradford Science Festival is a week of surprising science and fascinating fun at the museum and online.
As well as shows and activities at the museum, we’ll also be offering online resources, radio shows, and fun things you can try wherever you are.
Highlights include a screening of Black Panther with Q&A and panel discussion hosted by the Royal Academy of Engineering, live science shows at the museum, and Zoom workshops you can join in from home!
Suitable for
- Any age
- Family friendly
Admission
Free admission ticket required to enter the museum. Some activities may require pre-booking and there is a charge for film screenings.
Website
https://www.scienceandmediamuseum.org.uk/whats-on/bradford-science-festival
The Virtually Live Science Showdown
- 30 — 31 October 2020 11am-3pm *on now
Take control of this live science game show as different contenders battle it out to be crowned your winner.
Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, it’s time to do up your lab coats and flex those brain muscles... It’s another Science Showdown! Join Phil Bell-Young and friends as they go head-to-head in a demo challenge. From ‘Wizz Pop Bang’ to ‘Do It Yourself’, nothing is off the table—but there can only be one champion. Who will win? You decide.
This is a family science show made up of exciting science demos, some of which are very much ‘try this at home’ after the show.
Suitable for families with children aged 7+.
TICKETS
To book a ticket for this show, you first need to book free museum admission for one of the dates it’s taking place (30 or 31 October). Once you have selected your museum admission tickets, you will be directed to a page where you can add show tickets to your basket.
Suitable for
- Any age
Admission
Free but booking is required.
Website
https://www.scienceandmediamuseum.org.uk/whats-on/bradford-science-festival/showdown
A very short history of cinema
https://www.scienceandmediamuseum.org.uk/objects-and-stories/very-short-history-of-cinema
Learn about the history and development of cinema, from the Kinetoscope in 1891 to today’s 3D revival.
Creator
- National Science and Media Museum
Publisher
- National Science and Media Museum
From the Moon to your living room: the Apollo 11 broadcast
https://www.scienceandmediamuseum.org.uk/objects-and-stories/moon-to-living-room-apollo-11-broadcast
The Moon landing was one of the biggest television events in history, reaching an estimated 650 million viewers. Discover the story of the planning and technological development that led to this incredible milestone in broadcasting.
Creator
- National Science and Media Museum
Publisher
- National Science and Media Museum
Robert Paul and the race to invent cinema
https://www.scienceandmediamuseum.org.uk/objects-and-stories/robert-paul-race-to-invent-cinema
Robert Paul was one of the most important and prolific figures in Victorian cinema. This forgotten pioneer of cinematography created equipment, business practices and filmmaking techniques that helped to shape the film industry as we know it today.
Creator
- National Science and Media Museum
Publisher
- National Science and Media Museum
Science Museum Group learning resources
https://learning-resources.sciencemuseum.org.uk/
This website brings together resources from our museums, including activities, games and videos. Discover activities to support a range of curriculum topics for use in the classroom, in museum galleries and beyond.
Publisher
- Science Museum Group
The history of photography in pictures
https://www.scienceandmediamuseum.org.uk/objects-and-stories/history-photography
From 1835 to the early 21st century, our curators have picked some of the most important and memorable images in our care, providing a fascinating glimpse into the history of photography.
Creator
- National Science and Media Museum
Publisher
- National Science and Media Museum
National Science and Media Museum
Pictureville
Bradford
West Yorkshire
BD1 1NQ
England
Website
https://www.scienceandmediamuseum.org.uk/
General Enquiries
talk.nsmm@scienceandmediamuseum.org.uk
Telephone
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