Abbey Pumping Station Family Workshops

Abbey Pumping Station is a working industrial museum housed in an 1880s pumping station that still operates as a sewage treatment facility. Two massive restored beam engines demonstrate Victorian-era hydraulic engineering, with volunteer engineers firing them up on weekend mornings. Family workshops (run Saturdays and some school holidays) teach water pressure, filtration, and mechanics through hands-on experiments with buckets, pipes, and model pumps. Best for families interested in Victorian engineering and science. This is a easy activity lasting 2 hours. Group size: 2-20. You meet at Abbey Pumping Station entrance, Corporation Road. Key highlights: Two working Victorian beam engines (6 metres tall), running Saturdays and school holidays, Hands-on water pressure and siphon experiments, Volunteer engineers explaining 140-year-old technology.

Price: £5 adults, children free

Duration: 2 hours

Difficulty: easy

Group size: 2-20

Minimum age: 5+

Best for: families interested in Victorian engineering and science

Best time: Saturdays 11am-1pm for guaranteed engine demonstrations. Weekday mornings 10am-12pm during school holidays (fewer crowds). Avoid school drop-off times (8-9am) and weather affecting parking accessibility (muddy car park during heavy rain).

Meeting point: Abbey Pumping Station entrance, Corporation Road

Languages: English

Here is how the experience unfolds:

Arrival and welcome Staff greet group and provide safety briefing about steam engines and hot surfaces - Parents and children stay behind safety barriers when engines are running; no touching moving parts.

First 30 min Engine room tour and live beam engine demonstration - Volunteer engineer explains how steam pressure moves the beam arms, demonstrates gauges, and answers questions; children watch mechanical motion at human scale (6 metres tall).

30-75 min Hands-on workshop activity - Groups rotate through 2-3 stations: pressure experiments using pumps and water tanks, building small siphons from cardboard tubes, or assembling miniature water wheels.

75-120 min Free exploration and museum trails - Children complete activity worksheets about Victorian sanitation; families explore engine room upper gallery with machinery models and historical photographs.

The whole experience takes 2 hours. Difficulty: easy. You meet at Abbey Pumping Station entrance, Corporation Road.

• Two working Victorian beam engines (6 metres tall), running Saturdays and school holidays
• Hands-on water pressure and siphon experiments
• Volunteer engineers explaining 140-year-old technology
• Museum trails and activity worksheets for self-guided learning
• Industrial heritage site with original 1880s machinery still in use
• Accessibility: Ground floor engine room accessible via ramp; no lift to upper gallery (stairs required, 12 steps); accessible toilet on-site; limited wheelchair turning space in engine room due to machinery proximity; steam and noise may be overwhelming for sensitive children.

What is included: Entry to engine room and exhibition areas, Live engine demonstration (weekends and school holidays), Hands-on workshop activity with materials provided, Activity worksheets for children, Staff guidance during visit.

Not included: Food and drinks (café not on-site; vending machines available), Parking fee (free car park on-site, 20 spaces), Photography (personal use only; no commercial photography). You will need to arrange these yourself.

What to bring: Notebook or clipboard for activity worksheets, Water bottle (refill available from staff if requested), Hearing protection (optional; engines are loud at approximately 85 decibels). Having these with you makes the experience smoother.

Best time to go: Saturdays 11am-1pm for guaranteed engine demonstrations. Weekday mornings 10am-12pm during school holidays (fewer crowds). Avoid school drop-off times (8-9am) and weather affecting parking accessibility (muddy car park during heavy rain)..

Tip: Steam engine demonstrations weekends only

Tip: Free parking available

Accessibility: Ground floor engine room accessible via ramp; no lift to upper gallery (stairs required, 12 steps); accessible toilet on-site; limited wheelchair turning space in engine room due to machinery proximity; steam and noise may be overwhelming for sensitive children..

Operator: Leicester Museums | Book directly (opens in new tab) | Phone: 0116 225 4971

After this activity, these are within easy reach:

• Jewry Wall Museum (15 min walk)
• Leicester Cathedral (20 min walk)

This activity is run by Leicester Museums.

Book directly at their website (opens in new tab).

Cancellation policy: Free cancellation up to 7 days before workshop date. No refunds for late arrivals (sessions are fixed duration)..

Accessibility: Ground floor engine room accessible via ramp; no lift to upper gallery (stairs required, 12 steps); accessible toilet on-site; limited wheelchair turning space in engine room due to machinery proximity; steam and noise may be overwhelming for sensitive children..

Best time to go: Saturdays 11am-1pm for guaranteed engine demonstrations. Weekday mornings 10am-12pm during school holidays (fewer crowds). Avoid school drop-off times (8-9am) and weather affecting parking accessibility (muddy car park during heavy rain)..

When do the steam engines actually run, and are they guaranteed to be on during our visit?

Beam engines run Saturdays 11am-4pm (weather permitting) and weekday afternoons during school holidays (Easter, summer, October half-term). They are volunteer-operated, so occasional cancellations happen. Check the website before visiting or call ahead to confirm. The museum operates regardless of engine status.

Is it too loud for young children, and is hearing protection necessary?

Engines produce approximately 85 decibels - loud but not dangerous. Most children 5+ find the noise exciting rather than frightening. Hearing protection (foam earplugs) is optional; staff can provide them if your child is sensitive to noise. Infants might find it overwhelming.

What's the workshop activity like, and how hands-on is it?

Workshops are genuinely hands-on. Children operate water pumps, build small siphons from tubes, or watch water pressure experiments. Facilitators guide but children do the assembly and testing. Expect wet hands and possibly wet sleeves. Activities last 30-45 minutes and suit ages 6-12 well.