Learn about Birmingham’s industrial past, discover ancient fossils and take an interactive journey into space at this science and education center.

Visit Thinktank Birmingham Science Museum to learn about the city’s industrial history, discover dinosaur skeletons and look into the future. This science center opened in 2001 as part of Millennium Point, a multipurpose educational complex east of the city center. Today, Thinktank has more than 200 interactive exhibits spread over four floors and split into four categories: The Past, We Made It, The Present and The Future.

Allow two to four hours for your visit. Start on the ground floor where you’ll learn about the important trade routes connecting Birmingham to the rest of Britain. Look for aircraft used in World War II and the Railton Mobil Special, a car that once held the land speed record. Don’t miss the Smethwick Engine, a steam engine unveiled in 1779, and hands-on displays about Birmingham’s manufacturing achievements.

Younger visitors will enjoy playing dentist, mechanic and other roles in the Kids’ City Gallery. It’s part of The Present exhibition on the second floor. Check out the animal and insect displays, and learn why senses in the brain are triggered by such things as chocolate and LSD.

The third floor celebrates The Future. Find information on technology and medicine. Step inside the Planetarium and look up at stars, galaxies and aliens during the informative shows that run for 25 to 60 minutes several times a day.

Find more interactive exhibits in the Science Garden, outside the museum. Among these is a giant hamster wheel and a square-wheeled wagon. While here, watch 2-D and 3-D movies on a 72-foot (22-meter) wide cinema screen.

Thinktank is situated in Birmingham’s Eastside district and is a 20-minute walk from the city center. User-pay parking is available nearby. Buses from the city center stop near the Millennium Point entrance of the museum. The nearest train station is 10-minutes’ walk away.

The museum is open daily, except selected public holidays. Find full details of opening hours and show schedules on the museum’s official website.