The National Videogame Museum Sheffield

Videogames Are For Everyone. Forever.

At the National Videogame Museum, you can explore how they are made, who makes them, and even why they are made. Visit our fully playable gallery and attend award winning workshops to learn how they are made; helping students from primary, secondary and further education develop a wide range of STEAM skills.

Self-Led Visits

A self-guided visit to the National Videogame Museum is a great way to support classroom and home learning for all ages! Take your time to show students around our galleries and use it to support your own teaching.

Workshops

We also offer additional workshops tailored for specific ages groups from KS2-KS4 and further/higher education students. Each workshop lasts for 1 hr and will be delivered by our team of Learning Facilitators at the museum. Your workshop booking also includes 1.5 hrs to explore our galleries and play games!

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Located in Sheffield city centre, The National Videogame Museum features over 100 playable exhibits, from retro arcade machines to modern games consoles alongside unique exhibitions. The Museum is ideal for school trips, allowing students and teachers alike to explore the history and culture of videogames spanning 50 years through expertly curated displays featured in both permanent and seasonal exhibitions.

Self-led visits allow students to explore our fully playable gallery and are a great way to support classroom learning for all ages. Explore the wide range of star objects in cabinet displays or utilise team building multiplayer games to help facilitate your own teaching. We also provide teacher packs to help with discussion points before, during or after your trip.

A variety of workshops developed by our award winning Learning Team are available as an additional option. Students will learn how videogames are made through these stimulating workshops tailored to their age range (from Primary to Further Education). Workshops include the opportunity to build a controller or use pixel art to design and animate a character, both specifically designed to allow students to develop a wide range of STEAM skills.

Self-led visits allow students to explore our fully playable gallery and are a great way to support classroom learning for all ages. Explore the wide range of star objects in cabinet displays or utilise team building multiplayer games to help facilitate your own teaching. We also provide teacher packs to help with discussion points before, during or after your trip.

Workshops developed by our award winning Learning Team are available as an additional option.

Available workshops (tailored to your age group):

• Build a Controller and Defeat the Aliens – Work together in groups to construct a DIY videogame controller to defeat the aliens in Space Invaders. Learn about the design of videogame controllers and how they work, and how adaptive controllers are used to make gaming more accessible to everyone.
• Pixel Art and Designing Videogame Characters – Explore the history of videogame character design and the ways that technology has influenced the design of classic videogame characters. In this workshop students will receive a design challenge to recreate a familiar character in a pixel art style, and learn how to use the software ‘Piskel’. Then they will bring them to life with simple frame by frame animations!

Up to 150 students.

There is a minimum requirement of 30 paying students or the equivalent cost (£300) to book a session. Alternatively, smaller groups can visit during our general opening times on Thursday and Friday afternoon.

Workshop materials are included in the cost.

Groups are authorised to take their own photos anywhere within the museum.

It is expected that all visiting educational groups prepare their own Risk Assessment for their visit. You can view the NVM’s Site Risk Assessment here to assist with this. The NVM also has Public Liability Insurance.

All our staff have undergone a standard police check. Staff working directly with students have undergone a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check. Staff in the hands-on galleries or delivering educational events have relevant experience and training. For information about our safeguarding and recruitment policy please see our Letter of Assurance.

Head of Learning: Stacey Jubb

Learning Officer: Leah Dungay

Email: learning@thenvm.org​  or Call: 0114 321 0299

Workshops: £10 per student

Workshops are £10/student and your group can benefit from 1 accompanying adult free per 8 students aged under 10, or 10 students under 16 years old. These are also our supervision ratios. Additional adults are charged at £12/head.

Workshops can accommodate up to 30 students. Workshop groups larger than 30 will be split and numbers larger than 60 will require multiple sessions. We can run two workshops per 2.5 hour visit.

Self Led Visits: £9 per student

Your group can benefit from 1 accompanying adult free per 8 students. These are also our supervision ratios. Additional adults are charged at £12/head.

Our venue crew are first-aid trained.

The Museum features a gift shop with a range of items available from pocket money souvenirs to videogame memorabilia.

Whilst food and drink isn’t permitted on the gallery floor, soft drinks are available for purchase at the front desk. A picnic area is available if booked in advance.

The Museum has toilet facilities as well as an accessible toilet that includes a baby changing area.

The NVM has step-free access and is all on one floor making it accessible for all wheelchair users, while ear defenders are also available on request for visitors with audio sensitivities.

 The majority of our games are played seated at table height, we use light cubes for seats which can easily be moved to make any game wheelchair accessible.

We stock SEN sensory backpacks that are available on request.

We provide free ear defenders at reception, which when worn will reduce the noise to enjoy the museum.

Educational visits are available Monday – Sunday, anytime between 10am and 5pm.

Thursday to Sunday we are also open to the public (1pm – 4pm on weekdays and 10am – 1pm / 2pm – 5pm at weekends).