Rotherhithe museum will close in September 2024 for a major refit.
The Brunel Museum celebrates the Thames Tunnel, the first tunnel under a major river anywhere in the world, which was built by the father-and-son team of Marc and Isambard Kingdom Brunel from the 1820s. A major refit has long been on the cards, and we now know more about the plans.
Two years ago, the museum received £1.85 million in Lottery funding to help with the endeavour. The money will be used for a number of upgrades, including:
- Restoring the existing Engine House building back to its former glory
- Building a new 'Welcome Pavilion' with a café, shop and accessible facilities
- Creating a programme of free community events
- Displaying a collection of 30 watercolours known as the Thames Tunnel Archive for the first time
The museum will close in September 2024 so a year's worth of work can go ahead.
This 'Brunel Museum Reinvented' project will hopefully be completed by summer 2025, in time for the 200th anniversary of construction commencing on the Thames Tunnel.
Before closure, the museum will celebrate with a range of activities over the summer. Watch our listings for more details.
