Thinktank Birmingham marks 25 years with £5 weekend
Families can celebrate Thinktank’s 25th anniversary at Millennium Point in Birmingham on Saturday 26 and Sunday 27 September. Entry will cost £5, with activities aimed at families spread across the anniversary weekend.
The programme announced by Birmingham Museums Trust includes a science magician, birthday-themed junk modelling with Tat Vision, party hat-making and a trail through the museum. Younger visitors will also be able to build birthday cakes using LEGO DUPLO.
Thinktank opened to the public at Millennium Point on 29 September 2001, succeeding the former Birmingham Museum of Science and Industry on Newhall Street. The anniversary weekend marks a quarter-century of introducing visitors to science, technology, natural history and Birmingham’s industrial story.
A birthday programme built around hands-on science
Saturday’s programme will extend into the Science Garden, where Birmingham Astronomical Society is due to lead solar observing. The activity will give visitors an opportunity to examine the Sun and learn more about its movement, including the fact that it takes roughly 25 Earth days to rotate at its equator.
Inside, the birthday activities will range from creative modelling to a party hat trail. Visitors who arrive dressed for the 25th anniversary celebration will receive a birthday goody bag from Thinktank’s reception team.
A special timeline covering 2001 to the present day will invite people to add their own Thinktank memories. It gives returning visitors a role in documenting the museum’s first 25 years rather than simply viewing an anniversary display.
Four floors remain part of the £5 visit
The anniversary ticket also provides access to Thinktank’s established museum displays. The building contains four floors and more than 200 hands-on exhibits, alongside historical collections and natural science specimens.
Among the subjects explored are Birmingham’s Spitfire, prehistoric sea creatures and space. MiniBrum, a child-sized city divided into play zones, is designed to encourage younger visitors to test ideas, solve problems and use their creativity.
Zak Mensah, co-chief executive of Birmingham Museums Trust, said Thinktank’s galleries connect Birmingham’s contribution to science, technology and industry with discoveries and challenges shaping the present. He highlighted local physician John Hall-Edwards and his pioneering use of X-rays, which helped establish modern medical radiography.
Entry, discounts and details to check
The £5 admission price applies on both Saturday 26 and Sunday 27 September. Visitors will also receive 25% off purchases in Thinktank’s gift shop and café during the weekend.
The celebration takes place at Thinktank, Birmingham Science Museum, Millennium Point, Birmingham. Birmingham Museums Trust’s announcement does not specify start or finish times, a separate advance-booking process, transport guidance or accessibility arrangements for the anniversary activities.
Source: Birmingham Museums Trust Stories
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Event dates, admission price, venue and activities were checked against information published by Birmingham Museums Trust.
- Confirmed the celebration dates as 26 and 27 September 2026.
- Confirmed £5 entry and the 25% gift shop and café discount.
- Checked the announced activities and identified which programme item is limited to Saturda...
- Noted that event times and several visitor-planning details were not provided.
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- Birmingham Museums Trust Stories
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- Birmingham
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- 2026-09-09 12:34
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