Brunel Museum in Southwark

Nice enough, but just a tad underwhelming, to be honest.

Small but well worth the visit.

A nice little museum less than 2 mins walk from Rotherhithe tube station, near to the commemorative statue the departure of the Pilgrim Fathers in 1620 and to the Mayflower pub. The museum is quite small but interesting, and is dedicated to the work of Marc Brunel (Isambard Kingdom Brunel's father) who architected and built the first tunnel under a navigable river (the Thames). It's definitely worth going on the 2nd weekend of the month when free tours are given by the staff, as you can ask more questions and get a better idea of the project and the features of the remaining structures. The tunnel itself is still used today by the Tube, but is no longer a pedestrian walkway as it once was, so you can only see and descend into the first half of the entrance shaft, but it's still very interesting to see what Victorian workers could do without modern machinery.

The Mayflower pub extend door is excelent

What an odd place. I was in the area and saw the signs for Brunel Museum so popped by today. I followed the big sign for the shaft, which had its door wide open so I went inside and down the steps (holds your interest for around 2 mins max). Then I followed the sign for the main entrance and the door was wide open so I went inside. There is honestly nothing of interest to view (and I’m a big Brunel fan and know his history). It was really weird. I then saw a staff member who instead of welcoming me seemed confused I was there and told me they were closed. I mean the signs are all out and the doors wide open! She didn’t explain what was going on or tell me when to return (not that I would - there was literally nothing to look at there…). Anyway, am shocked to read reviews here saying if it was open I’d have been expected to pay £6 😳

Incredible museum. One of the world’s most important historic sites, wonderfully interpreted. If it weren’t for the Institution of Civil Engineers, Transport for London would have obliterated it. This museum should be receiving government funding 100%, but they’re doing an amazing job keeping it going however they can.

We came here as a three-generation family. The staff were particularly good with the children, and gave an activity sheet which was successfully completed and resulted in a small surprise gift. The museum tells the story of the building of the first Rotherhithe Tunnel, which was also the first tunnel in the world to go under a river. There is a steep staircase down to a duct used when the tunnel was dug, and where there is now a video running, telling the story of Marc and Isambard Brunel and their role in building what some called the Eighth Wonder of the World. It is a small museum and you don't need more than an hour to cover everything. They have some curious items on display, like the boot buckles of Isambard, and some of the souvenirs that were on sale when the tunnel originally opened. There is no café, but they have toilets and a small shop.

Loved this museum with very informative volunteers. It should definitely be on your visit list. Also, it's in a very historical area of London and on the Thames Path for a fantastic walk afterwards.

Very interesting & under-rated museum which tells the fascinating story of the Brunels - father & son, their engineering feats & perseverance against the odds building this tunnel. I was so entranced, I bought the catalogue/book about it all, which I've now read.

Located in Rotherhithe, this museum celebrates Isambard Kingdom Brunel’s engineering feats, particularly the world’s first underwater tunnel. It highlights early 19th-century tunneling challenges, steam-powered excavation, and the industrial revolution’s impact on transport.

a very nice small museum telling the interesting story of the first underground tunnel under the river, they have beautiful souvenirs!

Museum is small and staff do not tell visitors to follow direction of flow as indicated by signs. Guide of tour should conduct talk entirely in tunnel auditorium where it was spacious and had seats. Guide was knowledgeable. Not recommended for those with mobility issues.

Really good museum. Extremely interesting, tour guide (Jean) very knowledgeable. Really glad we visited. Well worth a visit.

Very small museum with 3 areas to see the history of 1st underwater tunnel in the world. I was a bit disappointed as quite ex

Such an interesting museum,really felt that we were taken back in time, very atmospheric experience. Our volunteer guide,Jean, gave an excellent tour. It was very informative adding to the interesting experience. Would recommend a visit whether you like history or not.

Lovely little museum. The guided tour is insightful about the tunnel and how at its time - was a tourist attraction- the 8th wonder in the world. The tunnel itself isn’t accessible- it’s still in use by the trains today on the Windrush line. You can see the openings of the tunnel on the other side of the river in Wapping station. The Victorian Peep shows in the museum are delightful! See my pictures.

Very interesting museum. Learned a good deal about the tunneling method. I would recommend the museum if you are in the area. One note, the ‘tour’ is simply a talk hosted in the entrance shaft on the south bank. There is not a ‘tour’ per se. That said, the talk was informative.

Amazing staff and a fabulous and informative museum. My daughter wants to be an engineer which means lots of trips to places like the Brunel Museum. Laetitia was so enthusiastic when she heard this and it really added to the trip. Mile was a fabulous tour guides and I definitely recommend visiting when the tours are on as we learnt so much. The architecture in the local area is super beautiful too. Highly recommend.

Really interesting little museum, tour by volunteer Mike was fantastic, his knowledge and passion for Brunel was amazing. Well worth a visit and the area that surrounds was lovely, including the cafe and pub nearby.

Nice experience. Very close to Rotherhithe station and a nice location to start a walk back into central London. We had an informative volunteer guide on duty who gave us some great insights into the tunnels construction and history of the area.

Of course, I went there thinking it was open during the week, but I wasted it, so I made up my mind and went back on Sunday, but it was closed. Even though it was clearly marked as open on Google Maps. There wasn't even a single notice. I had no choice but to turn away, feeling as if I had been scammed.

An exceptional, quirky local museum, filled with unusual stories that make the history of the 1st tunnel built under a river (ever in the world) come alive. They have varied events in the tunneling shaft, 50 feet underground, such as this Wassailing event I attended recently. Highly recommend.

The museum itself is quite small, but offers a lot of information about how the tunnel was built and for what reason. We had opted for a tour of the construction shaft/entrance of the original tunnel. You enter the central caisson, where you go down to a depth of about 15 meters. You arrive at a concrete platform, under which the trains rush by and that is clearly audible (not visible). During the presentation you will be told about the construction and you will find some traces of, among other things, the old stairs, the later built roof and what the space is now used for. With a little imagination you can imagine what it originally looked like, but a lot of it is no longer recognizable and that's a shame. It may be possible to make a reconstruction in the long run, because it is a place where history was written, and it could use a little more atmosphere.

Excellent tour and extremely interesting stippet of our history. A stark reminder of the doubt we owe to the pioneering Victorian engineers and the brave workforce who built their ideas. Only negative point to report is that I would not recommend this for young children. There were a few on our tour who were clearly bored resulting in some disruption. Oh and book in advance!

A small museum, but the tour was extremely informative and very interesting. A little gem of a museum in a neighbourhood filled with incredible history. Well worth a visit.

We organised a book launch here and it was a great evening! The venue is really interesting and great for events, especially the tunnel shaft. The staff were very helpful as well. Couldn't recommend it enough!

Not much content for a museum, could have displayed the entire content on a single board outside.

Closed when it says online it’s open today waste of time don’t bother coming since they can’t even be bothered keeping to alternative weekend openings

Super interesting, guide was extremely knowledgeable, worth a visit for something interesting and different to see in London!

Fantastic. The volunteer tour guide was very good. Personable and knowledgable. Very engaging and informative without being dry. Felt v interested in the subject. Naturally a wonderful story on its own, told well by the Museum.

Not the Brunel you'd expect. Spoilers: his dad! Clifton bridge nowhere in sight. Good tunnels and a decent array of themed key rings. Three stars

Debut Secret Concert holds beautiful concerts here!

Loved learning all about the Wapping Rotherhithe tunnel. Lovely guides, lots of information, photos and items from the era. Well worth it, esp. if you love anything Brunel Snr and Jane.

A small and interesting museum to visit. Having an event there downstairs offers a truly great experience for those looking for a unique atmosphere!

A very small museum in a place few will come as a tourist. Historical review of the first tunnel under the River Thames. The main character was Marc Brunel see Wikipedia Thames Tunnel. Limited opening hours and number of tickets.

Fantastic visit to this historic museum. Our tour guide Andrea was incredibly knowledgeable and told us the story of Brunel in an exciting and engaging way.

Went to a wonderful choir concert in the tunnel under the museum (amazing acoustics!), but the actual real gem is the gorgeous 'secret' garden outdoor bar.... Fab on a mild evening, and there's a firepit if not!

Little but interesting museum about Thames Tunnel and Brunel, an engineer of Thames Tunnel. This underwater tunnel was the first in the world (in 19 century) and firstly opened for pedestrians. It was also a venue for parties and balls. The museum is for ~30 min, has documents and interactive materials related to building of the tunnel. I would recommend to people who are interested in London’s history and have already visited top famous museums. Also it can be interesting for those who are in civil engineering or close to it. The museum is open not every day and has limited hours, be careful and check before visiting

Let's face it, the garden is interesting and so on but the museum itself could be better. They repeat the same concepts about the shield, the tunnel the fairs like 5 times. They could talk more about the Brunel family on general or just call it the Thames tunnel museum and that's if

A great memorial to both Brunels. The volunteer guides are really excellent and knowledgeable, definitely go on the tour. Thank you.

A cardboard model, a short video in an acoustically poor space with a couple of explanatory posters. Really would have expected more for such an achievement. The staff, however, were fantastic

Lovely little museum and a fantastic story. Such a feat of engineering with knowledgeable and friendly volunteers!

There are some really great events taking place here. Like the kids play day and a special guest appearance from a children's author. In the garden during summer it's nice to go for campfire cocktails followed by a tour of the tunnel.

Absolutely fantastic. We were given an impromptu guided tour and tour. So interesting. Love a bit of history

Will happily change my review when I manage to enter, but the last time I went all the way there it was closed for a private event, and the website did not state this (perhaps a typo on the dates, but even so, pretty disappointing)

Good idea to have the guided tour. Very knowledgeable and enthusiastic guides. Fascinating story of the Brunells.

We had our 10 year anniversary at the Brunel Museum and it was a once in a lifetime party! The venue is so amazing, the staff were superb and the drinks from the Midnight Apothecary were beautiful and tasty! Love the place as a museum and a party venue!

Excellent tour of this fascinating museum. Tours are run on alternate weekends and are highly recommended, as is the audiovisual guide at the pump room.

Really love the history behind it and the small path to follow. It’s not big but well organised and the staff is truly knowledgeable and welcoming. Recommended

Helpful guided tour and interesting exhibits.

Museum where the shaft was made to build the first tunnel that crossed the Thames

Very interesting exhibition (in- and outside). Especially the "smell boxes" were something new for us. We enjoyed it very much 😀!

with deaf groups very interesting history.

The starting shaft of the thames foot tunnel - unfortunately not yet open from the public (yet?)

Real history, it’s a small museum

Lovely small museum with a community feel. Great social history along side the clear and well explained technical information about engineering achievements Well worth a stop and a walk through the Rotherhithe neighbourhood. Very friendly staff and a good range in the little gift shop too.

Small but really interesting museum, really forthcoming and knowledgable staff.

A good little visit if you like history.

Very informative about Brunels tunnel and the new super sewer but not the sort of place that you need more than an hour for. If the tide is right you can go mud larking on the river close by

Small. Not a lot to see but tunnel shaft is great to see

Small and sweet. Very informative.

Lovely little museum that tells a fascinating story.

A real gem of a museum. I never knew the importance of Brunel seniors work until now. Well worth the visit.

Disappointing. Not much to see so highly reliant on the quality of the guide who wasn't great. They should use an actual engineer for the guided tour to improve the quality of the experience. I did a tour of a suspension bridge where they used former maintenance engineers who shared fantastic stories and experiences in addition to their technical knowledge.

Amazing experience....so much talent in one evening...loved it and look forward to a return visit

We were disappointed in this Museum, the Brunel who had done so much there was very little on show here of their work.

Very interesting little museum in Bermondsey about the first tunnel to be built under a navigable river in the world - you go down the shaft where the digging began. Incredible technology and very friendly staff.

A bit off the beaten track but worth the effort!

Lovely little find, small but most importantly dog friendly. There is a Thames landing at low tide you can mudlark in too close by. The museum itself was very interesting. Very close to the Thames path so easy reach by foot from London Bridge

Fantastic little gem of a cool and environmentally friendly bar in Bermondsey...lovely staff also!

Just walked past - must visit soon!

Niche museum but carefully curated and very informative if you are into this civil engineering family's achievements.

Absolutely fascinating place which tells the story of Marc Brunel's tunnel under the Thames. A must for all Brunel fans and history fans in general.

It was a nice visit to the Brunel Museum, a small museum that goes through the history of the Thames Tunnel and how the building the Museum currently in played a huge role in the construction and function of the tunnel. Plus, we got a 37.5% discount thanks to the Hidden London Thames Tunnel Tour, which was a great bonus to the visit.

A have-to-see for Brunelophiles. The museum allows a visit almost to the beginning of the beginning for the venerable IKB. You can gaze up at the window, but for which we might not have had any of his magnificent engineering achievements. A portal from a watery world with a grave marked with the drowning of a young unknown engineer, to the world we know of mechanical magnificence. Combine a visit to the Brunel museum with a stroll onto the northbound platform at Rotherhithe Station and a journey to Wapping and you have the soup to nuts of an eighth wonder of the world. Truly a forerunner to Crossrail, the nearby tunnel set the benchmark for pretty much every tunnel dug since. And you can ride (we walked) through it for next to nothing. Raise a glass in the nearby Mayflower to IKB, and indeed to his father Marc who was at the kick off meeting, but sadly wasn't around for the ribbon cutting.

Excellent, small but perfectly formed museum detailing Brunel's achievement in building the first tunnel under a navigable waterway in the world. The museum comprises two parts: the pumphouse in which you'll find the ticket office, shop, displays and gallery and the other building is the top of the shaft that led to the tunnels under the Thames. We were greeted enthusiastically by the person selling tickets. She explained what was included in the museum and advised us to visit the top of the tunnel shaft first before coming back to see the displays and gallery. The top of the shaft is just a few steps away and you enter through a doorway that has been cut through the brickwork that forms the shaft. The wall of the shaft is very thick and the brickwork is reinforced with chains that circle the shaft and are set into the brickwork and held in place and bonded to the structure with mortar. The shaft has been 'capped' a few meters below ground level and you reach this space via a modern, well lit staircase. The top of the tunnel was covered during WW2 to prevent light from below escaping and also protect the shaft and tunnels from possible bomb damage. There was a guide giving an explanation of what you see around you, how it was constructed and used throughout its life. This was followed by a short video (projected on the wall of the shaft) that provided a little more information about the site. The brick construction, location of the original steps (that were used to access the tunnels when they were open to pedestrians) and the soot from steam trains are all clearly visible. The displays in the ticket office building provide information about the construction and challenges that were encountered and overcome by Brunel. The tunnel's use has changed greatly over time and the displays show how the tunnel was used and experienced by visitors, business and railways alike. The ticket office area sells some really nice items all of which relate to Brunel and the tunnel, from books, posters and greeting cards to London Brick vases, scarves and activity books for children plus a lot more. The museum is probably good for a 30 to 45 minute visit if you really make the most of it. For young visitors it will be interesting for a much shorter time. Make the museum the turn around point when walking the Riverside path along the Southbank. There are a couple of pubs (The Mayflower and also The Angel) just a short distance away along the Riverside path (towards town) and they both serve food. Combining a walk to the Brunel museum with lunch or dinner in the area would make an enjoyable outing that offers some perfect views of the river looking back towards the city. Given the small size of the museum, we won't be returning very soon, but as part of a day long walk of the south bank next summer, we'll definitely visit again.

Disappointed! No artifacts, just a few wallboards, the top section of the tunnel shaft & a 5 min video. Far more info on Google for free.

A must for anyone who loves isambard kingdom Brunel, museum is quite small but it’s on 3 levels. There’s also a guided tour of the shaft which is very interesting 🤔 plus 1/2 hours tour and insight into the history of the building and the Thames tunnel

My daughter and I happened upon this gem while on a walk in Rotherhithe on a lovely warm July day. The museum was closed but an exceptionally lovely volunteer offered to show us into the tunnel shaft. He told us all about the history of how it was built and used, including some of the planning mishaps - like not being able to get a horse and cart in! It was fascinating to learn about, and a cool and serene environment when you go down inside. We greatly appreciated the time given to us. I would highly recommend a visit here.

Small be very interesting museum. Well maintained. Staff snd volunteers were very friendly.

Have you ever wondered, how the British built the underground tunnels in the 1800’s like me. Then head down to the Brunel Museum which explains the engineering and construction techniques behind the world’s first underground tunnel. This is a small museum where an enthusiast can spend a couple of hours. Open only 4 days a week. I would recommend to visit their website before actually going there. They got guided tours in the museum and walking toaurs around Rotherite village. The staff and the volunteers were very friendly and helpful. Note this museum is not wheelchair accessible.

Very interesting place. Informative posts which did not go into too much detail.

A very interesting look into the world's first under river tunnel.

Lovely small museum, well worth a visit!

Great hidden gem. And a brilliant tour by Mike, the guide.

Der erste Tunnel der unter einem befahrbaren Fluss gebaut wurde.... Leider ist nicht mehr viel zu sehen. Der Tunnel wird heute von der U-Bahn genutzt! Aber es ist ein ganz netter Ort. Und die Damen vom Shop waren sehr freundlich, und haben und geratten die Whaping Station zu besuchen. Da sieht man noch den Eingang des Tunnels.

A gem of a museum run by dedicated volunteers. And worth doing the tour (hourly when we went!). It was suggested to catch the train to wapping to see the only visible part of the tunnel now used by the railway. And we got home before the thunderstorm.

A very enjoyable visit, led by a very enthusiastic and knowledgeable guide.

We were there to attend a wedding reception. All very good except it could do with more lighting on the stairs going down to the toilet

Small but very informative and a reasonable price

I went to Brunel university so I have a soft spot for all things isambard kingdom Brunel.

Small but very informative museum about the Thames Tunnel and the Brunels generally. Good gift shop. Very enthusiastic and helpful staff.

Lovely museum. Staff really helpful and fully involved. Guided tour a must. It's right on the Thames Path so easy to get further down the Thames or into Tower Bridge area. Very peaceful near the museum. Nice coffee shop 2 minutes away and a couple of old pubs.

It is at its best if you can get a tour while you're there otherwise there's not so much to see. It's a very interesting piece of history either way though. The volunteers are very friendly and knowledgeable. The area is nice for a stroll too.

I went to Brunel university so I have a soft spot for all things isambard kingdom Brunel. I didn't go into the museum because it was closed but I did spend time walking around the museum. Outside the museum there are a few Brunel facts which will amaze and astound the masses. Brunel was a fascinating engineer who pushed the boundaries of what was possible at that time. I can't wait to actually go into the museum and learn more about this tiny intellectual.

Very interesting but you can't actually enter the tunnel itself only the shaft. If you want to go through the tunnel get the train from Roherite station to Wapping which goes under the Thames and through the tunnel. But visit the Brunel museum first so you can fully appreciate the journey.

I really enjoy these small museums that talk about local history that has a big impact. It's a small exhibit but plenty of information to consume. Like many of these pioneers, Brunel did not make a profit or realize his full vision. Yet his innovations laid the groundwork for future tunnels through soft soils. Even my 9 year old daughter enjoyed the exhibit!

One of London's hidden gems! Set around the corner from Rotherhide station is this quirky little venue. While we didn't visit the actual museum we attended DEBUT, a really impressive music venue set in one of the vertical tunnels that link the Tunnel under the Thames. Before you head in though, explore the bar garden. Serving unique cocktails, good beers and lovely wine and fizz (Disclaimer: non alcoholic drinks are available!). We ordered a deliveroo and sat in the wild garden eating and drinking and mingling with guests befor reading down to the tunnel. Here we saw a gorgeous, intimate venue where we heard some beautiful music by local performers. A really treat!

Only criticism is the poor signage to get to the Museum fine if you know the area well but not if you don't. Well signed when you are virtually on top of it which really defeats the object. Interesting tour a lovely garden

A small yet lovely museum. Mike, one of the volunteers, was amazing. He told many stories related to Brunels' personal lives and the construction of the tunnel. My top tip, make the most of volunteers and the guides. This will definitely make visiting the Brunel museum a 5 star experience.