The MAD (Mechanical Art & Design) Museum Warwickshire

The MAD Museum (Mechanical Art and Design) is the UK’s only permanent venue for mechanical art. It offers interactive learning in a fun environment. Press buttons to operate each machine and try to figure out how it works!

Build giant, magnetic marble runs in our new “MAD Zone” – a perfect challenge for restless fingers! Use our dedicated key stage 1-3 activity packs to help.

Group discounts, free entry for teachers/ supervising adults, joint discounts with othertop educational venues in the area, KS1-3 activity packs, support materials for teachersand photography and sketching sessions.

We offer curriculum-relevant cam and linkages automata kits, as well as marble machine kits for learners to make back in the classroom.

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The MAD Museum offers an exciting hands-on experience that supports the national curriculum for art, physics, engineering, DT and maths.

Interact with around 70 weird and wonderful machines and get inspired by the clever design and outside-the-box thinking. We encourage learners to pass their hands over the sensors, press buttons, build marble runs and interact with amazing mechanical sculptures.

Group trips can be tailored to your specific requirements but the following steps are the standard procedure for groups at The MAD Museum;

1. Look around the museum (1hr)
2. Learners work on KS1-3 activity packs (approx. 30-minutes)
3. Upon departing the museum, the group leader is given a box of automata kits or marble run kits for the learners to make back in the classroom.

Groups typically spend about 1 hour and 30 minutes in The MAD Museum.

Up to 35 learners at a time in the museum.

We cater for larger groups of up to 90 pupils by pre-arranging a staggered entry plan into the museum with the visit co-ordinator.

Yes, teachers receive a comprehensive educator’s information pack which contain group discounts, the museum’s risk assessment form and everything else you need to know for a group visit.

Key stage 1-3 activity packs can also be provided on request and they provide support resources for teachers to use before, during and after school visits. Teachers also have the option to purchase takeaway automata kits, these come with support materials.

Everyone is welcome to take photos, video and audio in the museum.

The museum provides all teachers with a risk assessment form. Recce visits for teachers can also be arranged (free of charge).

Name: Kulwant

Tel: 01926 865839

Email: bookings@themadmuseum.co.uk

Primary & Secondary 

Pupils (aged 5 – 16yrs): £5.50 per head.

Supervising adults/ Teacher: 1 free for every 10 pupils.

Higher Education

Students (aged 17yrs+ – adult): £6.50 per head.

Supervising adults/ Teacher: 1 free for every 10 pupils.

No. We also have storage for coats and bags on site.

There is always a qualified first aider on site.

• Gift shop
• Wheelchair access throughout
• Cloak racks
• Storage for bags available
• Toilets (inc disabled) and baby changing facilities
• Lift
• Staircase
• No dining area or canteen on site

There is wheelchair access throughout the museum and there are specially adapted toilets suitable for wheelchair users at the back of the museum next to the other toilet facilities.

There are no steps to the main entrance. The main entrance is well lit.  The museum is located on the first floor, above Lakeland and between Toni & Guy and Cornish Bakery on Henley Street. As well as a staircase, there is a lift at the museum’s entrance which is available for wheelchairs and pushchairs.

The museum is situated on one floor, no ramps or steps are featured in the museum. There is a good contrast between the floor (light grey) and walls (navy blue). Clear surfaces such as glass and plastic casing have contrasting markings on them.  Visitor information is available in large print on request at the museum’s reception desk. There are several seats dotted around the museum at appropriate intervals, the museum’s cinema room also has seating. Clear signage (colour contrasted, large lettering and pictograms) is used throughout the attraction.

Disabled visitors are entitled to a concessionary ticket for entry into the museum. They are alsopermitted to be accompanied by 1 helper, whom is entitled to a concessionary ticket too.  We have wheelchair access throughout the museum.

The museum’s members of staff are experienced in caring across a broad spectrum of abilities. The museum is also guide dog friendly.

Educational groups are welcome to come throughout the year, Monday – Friday during term time;

Link to The MAD Museum’s Trip Advisor page – https://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Attraction_Review-g186399-d2634311-Reviews-The_MAD_Museum-Stratford_upon_Avon_Warwickshire_England.html

Link to their Facebook reviews – https://www.facebook.com/pg/themadmuseum/reviews/?ref=page_internal

Testimonials for teachers who have previously brought groups to The MAD Museum:

“In the words from the teacher who went with the children: “Brilliant”. I also went with the children both in the morning and afternoon and all the children had a fabulous time. They were engaged all the way through the visit and really did get a lot out it. Your colleagues at the museum were fantastic with the children, helping them with any questions and helping them with the activity packs. Please pass on our thanks to them all. We will be back!”

Julie Durham, Teaching Assistant at Park Hill Junior School

“Thank you for a wonderful visit. The children really enjoyed the museum and are asking when they can go back again! The look of wonder on their faces is testament to their enjoyment! It was a very well-run trip and we really appreciate the support that Simon and the team gave. The children were really engaged in the displays and the KS2 resource packs worked really well. We are now looking forward to making the automata kits in our after-school club this week. I hope that we can bring another group from our school in the future.”

Clare Barlow at Matchborough First School Academy

“We had a great time! The exhibits were amazing and the children loved the fact there was so much interaction. We really appreciate the fact that you opened slightly earlier than normal. I think the staff had just as much fun as the students. We will definitely be recommending it to colleagues! Thanks again,”

Dave Turner at Ratcliffe College

Joint Discounts with 2 other Top Educational Venues in Stratford upon Avon – Shakespeare’s Schoolroom & Guildhall and Stratford Butterfly Farm. 

Offered to groups of 10+ learners, visit The MAD Museum and one other top local attraction at discounted rates. Prices start from £10.45 per learner. Get in touch with The MAD Museum to find out more about their joint offers.

Teacher’s Resources (KS1, KS2 and KS3)

Engaging lesson ideas, visit tips, interesting facts, helpful links and resources can be found in these packs. The Teacher’s resources work alongside the activity packs (see below for details). Teachers are provided with a (1) before your visit pack (6 sides of A4) and (2) during and after your visit pack (2 sides of A4).

Key Stage 1-3 activity packs:

MAD’s packs are in relation with the National Curriculum and comprise of questions about the exhibits, design activities and word games. The MAD Museum can either print and supply these packs on the day of your visit (50pence per pack) or The MAD Museum can email you the electronic version for you to print and bring on the day, this is a free service. Clipboards and pencils will be provided.

Sketching Sessions:

The MAD Museum is packed full of creativeness and design ingenuity. From a design perspective the exhibits themselves consist of different textures, colours, materials and complex designs. This museum displays an array of contrasting subject matters, from hard-nosed industrial machines to beautiful, hand-crafted moving figurines. This is a great place to try out different drawing approaches and build up your portfolio. Cost: free

Photography Sessions:

As the only mechanical museum in the United Kingdom you’ll be sure to get some truly unique shots. Experiment with unusual compositions, lighting effects, contrasting colours and motion. You are very welcome to bring additional accessories such as supplementary lighting, tripods and models. Cost: free

Automata Construction Kits:

Cam automata kits and linkages automata kits.

Each kit is £4.00 and contains the wooden parts and instructions for learners to build their own moving piece of automata. Learn about cams, cogs, wheels, gears and motion with these fun construction kits.

These kits can either be posted directly to your school or be collected at the end of a school trip to The MAD Museum.

Marble Machine Construction Kits

The MAD Museum make and sell marble run construction kits from their gift shop. As part of a group booking, The MAD Museum can offer groups a discount on these kits. There are 4 different topes of marble kits to choose from, all of which have simple to understand instructions. Kits can be posted or collected from The MAD Museum. Prices range from £6.00 to £30.00 per kit.