Festival activities in the Brunel Centre

Join us this half-term for free, family-friendly arts and craft workshops in the Carriage Works, near the Mechanics Institute in the Railway Village, close to the pedestrian tunnel to the Outlet.

Free, and no need to book.

The Festival of Tomorrow - Festival activities in the Brunel Centre

Monday 16th February, 10am - 4pm

Bridge Building Challenge
Come test your engineering skills with a bridge building challenge! In this challenge, you will need to build a prototype of a railway bridge for a train to cross. This activity is inspired by Charles Beyer, a locomotive engineer and one of the historical figures being highlighted for LGBT+ History Month 2026.

Living on the Moon – Invent the Future
In 2026, NASA astronauts are returning to the Moon with the aim of building a Moon Base. This needs new technology, what would you invent for the Moon?

Tuesday 17th February, 10am - 4pm

Living on the Moon – Invent the Future
In 2026, NASA astronauts are returning to the Moon with the aim of building a Moon Base. This needs new technology, what would you invent for the Moon?

Wednesday 18th February, 10am - 4pm

Electronic music DJ-ing drop-in workshop
Djing isn’t just playing track after track, it’s the manipulation of sound! Join Morgan Thomas with her collection of Loopers, Samplers and Decks, and find out just how much you can create with a few mp3’s and a lot of noise!

Noisy Toys Science busking
Make some Noise! Look out for the Noise Technicians who will show you how to rock a bass riff on a distorted rubber band, or strum a beautiful melody on an egg slicer. Can you create beautiful music on upcycled e-waste? Or just a horrendous cacophony? Just listen out for funny noises and come and have a go.

Thursday 19th February

Amazing insects collage workshop
Meet collage artist Marian Hill and find out about her insect illustration project Buzz & Scuttle.
Discover how awesome UK insects are and then collage your own insect illustration.

Be a Superhero for Our Seas
Discover how we are using sealife like oyster reefs and seagrass to help fight climate change and restore our marine environment. Draw/Write how you want the future of our oceans to be a superhero for sealife!

Friday 20th February, 10am - 4pm

Slime Sensation Station!
Drop by our Slime Sensation Station and unleash your inner scientist! Kids can mix up a pot of their very own slime. Choose their favourite colour and discover the science behind the stretch. Our team will guide you through bubble-making, super-stretch challenges and slime tricks that make this workshop an ooey-gooey hit. Come and get messy, creative and hands-on with chemistry - it’s slime time!

Highlight of school holiday week!

I visited with my children and they loved it, it was the highlight of their school holiday week. We will definitely come again next year!

- Parent

So many young female scientists!

It was amazing to see so many young female scientists .Every person we spoke to had lots of time for my children (6, 5 and 2), spoke to them and they left inspired and wanting to be scientists.

- Parent of young children

100% success!

The main reason we came was to show our children how interesting and entertaining science can be. The event succeeded 100% in doing this.

- Parent

Can't remember being at anything like this in Swindon!

We had such a great day! We can't ever remember being at anything like this in Swindon. Our children were so excited to try all the new things and have been talking about it every day since. There was such a friendly, positive atmosphere and the fact that it was free made an incredible difference.

- Parent

Great stuff for the kids!

Great afternoon out, great stuff for the kids!

- Parent

My whole family were entertained. Planned to stay an hour – it’s been 4 and we’re starving!

Amazing day! So blown away by all the staff: the knowledge and resources. My whole family were entertained. Planned to stay an hour – it’s been 4 and we’re starving! Thank you for a great day. See you next time”

- Parent