Engineering-type attractions in London

[MinnieMountain]

I’m taking 9yo DS to London for a weekend in April.
He asked if you can see the mechanics in the Thames barrier. I see you can’t.
I’ve found the Transport museum, the Postal museum (for the train) and Tower Bridge.
Is there anything else where he can see mechanical things working that I’ve missed?

My DS used to love it here when he was younger - thebrunelmuseum.com/

museum of steam & water

waterandsteam.org.uk/

The Science Museum has a massive piston (?) type thing I was always fascinated by as a kid. And the interactive Wonder Lab
www.sciencemuseum.org.uk/see-and-do/wonderlab-equinor-gallery

You could take him to Crossness Pumping Station, although it's not central.

Oh god the postal museum is utter shite. We got in the little mail train and then we all got shouted at by the driver because it's so squashed in there you can't help touching the sides and if you touch the sides the train stops. She really yelled at us all!

There is this which is an amazing piece of engineering but be aware it is sometimes being repaired/our of operation etc.
www.atlasobscura.com/places/rolling-bridge

Recent article here about other exciting bridges www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2023/feb/19/cody-dock-rolling-bridge-thomas-randall-paige-price-and-myers-leaway-route-london-dukes-meadow-footbridge-barnes-bridge-moxon-architects

He might enjoy the tour of HMS Belfast, my DD (who is now an engineer) did.

The Canal Museum at Kings Cross.
Not quite what you asked, but mine used to enjoy HMS Belfast.

RAF Museum Hendon, not central but massive for a day out if he likes planes.
www.rafmuseum.org.uk/london/

Royal Observatory at Greenwich and the Planetarium

Docklands Light Railway

The London Eye

Science Museum - the bit about earthquakes is good, you walk into a section that shakes like a real earthquake

Tower Bridge, especially if/when it opens/raises
Canal locks - maybe Camden or museum at Kings Cross
Cable car at Royal Docks
London Eye
The Design Museum - has workshops for age 8-11 yr olds
Helter skelter/slide in the Olympic Park (might be closed at the moment though?)
A trip on the DLR out through Canary Wharf etc - sit in the front seat if you can for the full 'driverless' experience

You can time your Tower Bridge visit with the bridge lifting - sorry, on crap phone and can't do a link, but you can google for lifting times.

Is it @Pyjamageddon ? Thanks for the warning.

The museum of steam looks right up his street.

I’d forgotten how much he liked HM Belfast, so thank you @ErrolTheDragon . We could visit that the same day as Tower Bridge.

I’m keeping an eye on the Tower Bridge lifting times. I’d love to see it too!

You used to be able to visit the Institute of Civil Engineers HQ in Westminster. They had a virtual reality area, Lego and building dress up stuff. This was pre covid so do check whether it's still there

The Shard is a wonder of civil engineering although very expensive to visit. You can do that before or after Tower Bridge as they're really close by. At Tower Bridge remember to go to the pumping rooms at the end (follow the blue line on the pavement) as that has a good display on how it all works.

If not the Shard then London Eye is also an amazing piece of engineering.

There's a London Transport museum in Covent Garden and you can combine with the markets and/or theatre if you've seen enough machines and buildings by then!

I'd say the science museum is a good bet, it has everything from space, to maths, to various machines, to medicine. Lots of machines. A ticket to the Wonderlab would also be good as he can do some experiments in there.

Ooo, interested in this too

www.crossness.org.uk/visit.html
Crossness pumping station

kemptonsteam.org
Kempton steam museum

The Joseph Bazalgette memorial on the Embankment

Hammersmith Bridge

If travelling in by mainline train, take a few minutes to marvel at the stations.

Book free tickets for the Sky Garden for amazing views of the city skyline

The RAF museum (in a suburb but easy to get to on the Northern line).

He might enjoy one of those Hidden London tours of old disused tube stations? My DS adores them. TfL organise them I think.

Crossness pumping Station
HMS Belfast
Any of the bridges

Crossness pumping Station
HMS Belfast
Any of the bridges

Brunel Museum, Rotherhithe. We had the very good luck to visit some years ago at the same time as a party who'd arranged to be taken down below ground for a guided tour, and we were invited to tag along. Fascinating. No idea if this is something they lay on for the general public at other times but the museum itself is interesting.

Very interested in this too. DS has said he wants to be an engineer and we live in London.

Will have a look at some of these for future days out.

We’re definitely doing the Horrible Histories boat trip and Tower Bridge on the Saturday. Should be able to fit in HMS Belfast too.

Sunday is where I’m giving him the choice of the RAF museum (predictably he loves planes) or something else. There’s lots to think about here.

DS has gone off the Science Museum since he was disappointed with the sleepover there.