The National Museum of Computing

About this activity

The National Museum of Computingis the perfect place for a fun and educational family or friends day out! The National Museum of Computing (TNMOC) is home to the world's largest collection of working historic computers. Follow the development of computing: from the Turing-Welchman Bombe and Colossus of the 1940s through the large systems and mainframes of the 1950s, 60s and 70s, to the rise of personal computing and the rise of mobile computing and the internet.

You can see: a rebuild of Colossus, the world's first modern computer in action (used during World War II to crack Nazi codes); the WITCH, the world's oldest working digital computer (it's the size of a wall and flashes and clatters as it calculates), "big iron" computers that look like washing machines, and much more!
You can try out stuff too! Have a go on the first home and school computers from the 1980s, the famous 1986 school's BBC Domesday project on the original laserdisc technology, and the 2011 Domesday update on today's Touchtable, that is like a huge iPad! You can even try your hand at coding on BBC computers from the 1980s. Trying out these computers means as well as having fun, kids learn something new!

The museum runs a highly successful Learning Programme for schools and colleges and promotes introductions to computer coding amongst young people, especially females, to inspire the next generation of computer scientists and engineers. They also host special event days like numeracy day, relaxed opening days or families within the neurodiverse community, and Econet Lan parties!