The Trains Take Over
2023-09-24 11:00 - 16:00 (Europe/London) | The Brickworks, Swanwick Lane, Lower Swanwick, SO31 7HB, United Kingdom
Back for 2023 is our ever-popular Trains Day when the trains take over. Ride the rails as autumn sets in at The Brickworks Museum.
Here’s the full events listing from Events Supremo Pam:
Various Model Railway Layouts inside, some large, also Railway Sales. Very large 16mm Layout outside in marquee. Live Music, Army Vehicles, Miniature Train Rides (small extra fee), Traction Engines, Living Wagons. Also inside – Brickworks Museum with working machinery, Children’s Activities and Play Areas and Vintage Slot Machines.

Ticket Type

Cost with Gift Aid
(Cost without Gift Aid)

Adult
£10.50 (£9.50)

Child
£7.50 (£6.50)

Concession*
£9.50 (£8.50)

Family (2 Adults & up to 3 Children)
£32.00 (£29.00)

*Students and adults over 65, students must have a valid ID Card
Those with annual membership and visitors aged 4 and under come in for free.​
Train rides and Children’s Craft Activities carry a small extra charge that goes towards the upkeep of the railway and the Museum.

Grandparents go FREE on October 1st
2023-10-01 11:00 - 16:00
In honour of Grandparents’ Day 2023 you can bring your Granny, Grandad, Nan, Nonno or grandparently-like person to the Museum FOR FREE on October 1st. We have everything from big machines to bricks (obviously); Charming cottage reconstructions and a beautiful wildlife garden. There really is something for everyone.
Small print – to get a grandparent into the museum for free, someone has to accompany them and confirm that they are indeed a grandparents or someone who fulfils that role in their life. Failing that, the grandparent in question has to give us some olde-worlde wisdom #rules.

The Brickworks in WW1
2023-10-11 11:30 - 13:00
On October 11th, meet the women of the works who held the fort at the factory in WW1. They made bricks, but there were also rumours of mysterious deliveries from the War Office and strange smells coming from the clay pits. Join us and find out what the women were working on – plus find out about life in Victorian and Edwardian Britain. Our costumed crew will be in character to tell you their stories and answer your questions.

Pop in between 11.30 and 1pm to find out about the women of the ‘works.
Admission fees apply; there is no extra cost for this event, it is included in your admission fee.

Halloween and Autumn Steam Up
2023-10-22 11:00 - 16:00
Our autumn steam up welcomes the traction engines back from their summer show season to join us in one last celebration of brickmaking before the Museum closes for our winter months. As the nights darken and the season draws in, don’t miss the chance to explore our genuinely haunted museum at Halloween.
Here’s the full listing from Events Supremo Pam:
Autumn Steam Up & Halloween 22nd October 11 until 4.
Traction Engines, Working Demonstrations, Stationary Engines, Fairground Organ and more as arranged by The Steam Group. Train Rides (small extra charge). Inside – Halloween Decorations, Hampshire Bat Group, Miniature Railway Layouts, Craft & Gift Stalls including spinning, pottery, fossils & gemstones, cards, candles and others. Brickworks Museum with working machinery, Vintage Slot Machines and Children’s Play Areas.

Ticket Type

Cost with Gift Aid
(Cost without Gift Aid)

Adult
£10.50 (£9.50)

Child
£7.50 (£6.50)

Concession*
£9.50 (£8.50)

Family (2 Adults & up to 3 Children)
£32.00 (£29.00)

*Students and adults over 65, students must have a valid ID Card
Those with annual membership and visitors aged 4 and under come in for free.
Train rides and Children’s Craft Activities carry a small extra charge that goes towards the upkeep of the railway and the Museum.

Brick or Treat - The BRICK People bring LEGO® to the museum for Halloween
2023-10-25 11:00 - 16:00, 2023-10-26 11:00 - 16:00
The BRICK People have joined forces with The Brickworks Museum again to present an interactive family day all about bricks in October half-term. Find the models and minifigures hidden around the museum, see the display of models made from LEGO®, enjoy the free play areas AND add a LEGO® Dot mosaic tile to the wall.
If that wasn’t enough, the Museum with its two play areas, interactive exhibits and fascinating displays is included in your ticket price!
Our onsite Café will be open for drinks and light bites.
Tickets for both days (25th and 26th October) are on sale now. Annual Members of The Brickworks Museum should book free tickets for their party using the option on the booking site. Get your tickets here.

Christmas Festival
2023-11-26 11:00 - 16:00
The Museum’s Christmas steam event – see the site shining in the glow of Christmas lights and decorations to begin the festive period; shop at the craft market and find out about Christmas’ past in our Victorian cottage display. Father Christmas will also be taking time out of his busy schedule to visit the Museum – book your timed tickets to receive a gift from him here.*
As if that wasn’t enough, the museum will be open and in steam, we have two children’s play areas, interactive exhibits and fascinating displays. There will be craft stalls, train rides for a small extra fee (which goes towards to upkeep of the trains and rails), activities for all ages and our Coffee Shop will be open.

Ticket Type

Cost with Gift Aid
(Cost without Gift Aid)

Adult
£10.50 (£9.50)

Child
Free for this event

Concession**
£9.50 (£8.50)

Gift from father Christmas*
Must be pre-booked online in advance.
Click here to book your timed ticket to meet Father Christmas.

*Father Christmas would like to meet all of his youngest fans but he will only have enough gifts for those who have booked tickets in advance. Please book early to avoid disappointment. Please book one ticket per child wishing to receive a gift. Entrance fees also apply, as outlined in the table above. Refunds will be given if you contact us more than 24 hours prior to the event.
**Students and adults over 65, students must have a valid ID Card
Those with annual membership and visitors aged 4 and under come in for free, but will still need to book a Father Christmas ticket to receive a gift.

Children's Christmas Special
2023-12-10 11:00 - 15:00
Our smallest but sweetest event of the year is dedicated to everyone who truly believes in magic 😉 Tickets to receive a gift from Father Christmas have now sold out but he will still be delighted to meet all of his youngest fans and say hello.
The trains will be running from 11am until 2.30pm – choo choo! Train tickets will be on sale on the day.

Ticket Type

Cost with Gift Aid
(Cost without Gift Aid)

Adult
£8.00 (£7.00)

Child
Free for this event

Concession**
£7.00 (£6.00)

Present from Father Christmas*
SOLD OUT

**Students and adults over 65, students must have a valid ID Card.
Those with annual membership and visitors aged 4 and under come in for free, but will still need to book a Father Christmas ticket to receive a gift.

Spring Market
2024-03-24 11:00 - 16:00
Your first chance to visit the Museum in 2024! Join us for our unique spring market as we wake the site from the long winter closure. Browse uncommon crafts and enjoy shopping in our Victorian factory buildings.
Featuring local sellers and purveyors of unusual items, this is a fantastic opportunity to stock up on enticing gifts for 2024.
Our dog-friendly Museum with its two play areas, working vintage arcade and 125 years of brick history is included in your admission fee.

Ticket Type

Special Spring Market reduced
entrance price

Adult
£5

Child
FREE to this event

Concessions*
£4

Please note
A valid entrance ticket is required
to enter the market

*Students and adults over 65, students must have a valid ID Card
Those with annual membership and visitors aged 4 and under come in for free.
Entrance fees apply to this event and admission fees must be paid to access the market.​

The Brick People bring LEGO® back to the Museum
2024-04-03 10:00 - 16:00, 2024-04-04 10:00 - 16:00
Guess who’s back. Back again. THE BRICK PEOPLE are back. Tell a friend.

We are delighted to welcome The Brick People back to the Museum for a third year of running brilliant brick-based events using LEGO® bricks.
On April 3rd and April 4th, find the models and minifigures hidden around the museum, see the display of models made from LEGO®, enjoy the free play areas AND add a LEGO® Dot mosaic tile to the wall.
If that wasn’t enough, the Museum with its two play areas, interactive exhibits and fascinating displays is included in your ticket price!
Book your entrance time but stay as long as you like. Most visits last 1-2 hours.
Tickets are available on this link now!
The small print – please book a ticket for everyone in your party, with the exception of children aged 4 and under who come in for FREE and do not need a ticket. Museum members and anyone with a complimentary ticket can book a free ticket on the link above. These events are very popular and we cannot guarantee entry to anyone without a booked ticket. Annual members, concessions and anyone with a complimentary ticket will be asked to provide proof of eligibility on arrival.
Please note that the Museum is opening early at 10am just for this event.

Abarth Owners Club - Sussex, Surrey and Hampshire
2024-04-07 11:00 - 16:00
On April 7th we welcome the Abarth Owners Club, Sussex, Surrey and Hampshire to the Museum. They bring cars aplenty to share their passion for the scorpion with our visitors. Enjoy springtime at the Museum with the added bonus of meeting the Owners and Drivers of cars built and inspired by Carlo Abarth. There is no additional charge to see the cars – standard Museum entrance fees apply and included in your visit is The Brickworks Museum with two children’s play areas, interactive exhibits, 4,000 historic bricks and 126 years of brickmaking history, and the Abarth Owners Club’s unique vehicles on display.

Image copyright Abarth Owners Club – Sussex, Surrey and Hampshire

Meccano at the Museum
2024-04-10 11:00 - 16:00, 2024-08-07 11:00 - 16:00, 2025-04-10 11:00 - 16:00
Join The Brickworks Museum for an interactive day of Meccano! Invented in 1898 (just one year after our factory was founded) Meccano is an interactive building tool that can be used in an incredible number of exciting ways.
Come and see what our Meccano Fun-gineers have created, and have a go at creating your own Meccano models on our interactive play table.
This exciting experience does not have to be pre-booked and is included in our standard entrance prices.
Please note – whilst the Museum will remain open until 4pm (last entry 3pm) our Meccano Fun-gineers need to start packing up their incredible creations at 3pm. Please come early to enjoy them fully.

Spring Steam Up
2024-04-28 11:00 - 16:00
As spring sweeps in we wake the Brickworks’ Machinery from its winter slumber for the first of our grand steam events of 2024. We will be joined at this event by our resident traction engines.
Celebrate the start of the traditional brickmaking season with us. – with traction engines, craft stalls and activities for all ages.
As if that wasn’t enough, the museum will be open and in steam, we have two children’s play areas, interactive exhibits and fascinating displays. There will be craft stalls, train rides for a small extra fee (which goes towards to upkeep of the trains and rails) and activities for all ages.

Ticket Type

Cost with Gift Aid
(Cost without Gift Aid)

Adult
£10.50 (£9.50)

Child
£7.50 (£6.50)

Concession*
£9.50 (£8.50)

Family (2 Adults & up to 3 Children)
£32.00 (£29.00)

*Students and adults over 65, students must have a valid ID Card
Those with annual membership and visitors aged 4 and under come in for free.​
Train rides and Children’s Craft Activities carry a small extra charge that goes towards the upkeep of the railway and the Museum.

The Brick People bring LEGO® back to the Museum
2024-08-21 10:00 - 16:00, 2024-08-22 10:00 - 16:00
Guess who’s back. Back again. THE BRICK PEOPLE are back. Tell a friend.

We are delighted to welcome The Brick People back to the Museum for a third year of running brilliant brick-based events using LEGO® bricks.
On August 21st and August 22nd, find the models and minifigures hidden around the museum, see the display of models made from LEGO®, enjoy the free play areas AND add a LEGO® Dot mosaic tile to the wall.
If that wasn’t enough, the Museum with its two play areas, interactive exhibits and fascinating displays is included in your ticket price!
Book your entrance time but stay as long as you like. Most visits last 1-2 hours.
Tickets are available on this link now!
The small print – please book a ticket for everyone in your party, with the exception of children aged 4 and under who come in for FREE and do not need a ticket. Museum members and anyone with a complimentary ticket can book a free ticket on the link above. These events are very popular and we cannot guarantee entry to anyone without a booked ticket. Annual members, concessions and anyone with a complimentary ticket will be asked to provide proof of eligibility on arrival. Please note that the Museum is opening early at 10am just for this event.

The Brick People bring LEGO® back to the Museum
2024-10-31 10:00 - 16:00
Guess who’s back. Back again. THE BRICK PEOPLE are back. Tell a friend.

We are delighted to welcome The Brick People back to the Museum for a third year of running brilliant brick-based events using LEGO® bricks.
On October 30th 3rd and October 31st, find the models and minifigures hidden around the museum, see the display of models made from LEGO®, enjoy the free play areas AND add a LEGO® Dot mosaic tile to the wall.
If that wasn’t enough, the Museum with its two play areas, interactive exhibits and fascinating displays is included in your ticket price!
Book your entrance time but stay as long as you like. Most visits last 1-2 hours.
Tickets are available on this link now!
The small print – please book a ticket for everyone in your party, with the exception of children aged 4 and under who come in for FREE and do not need a ticket. Museum members and anyone with a complimentary ticket can book a free ticket on the link above. These events are very popular and we cannot guarantee entry to anyone without a booked ticket. Annual members, concessions and anyone with a complimentary ticket will be asked to provide proof of eligibility on arrival. Please note that the Museum is opening early at 10am just for this event.

Spring Market and Re-Opening
2025-03-09 11:00 - 16:00
Our first Museum Event of 2025! Join us for our unique spring market as we wake the site from the long winter closure.
We will have a selection of Craft & Gift Stalls, Children’s Activities and Play Areas, Blacksmith, Ukulele Band, Mini Car Club, Two Buses, Miniature Train Rides with a special admission price this event – £5 Adults, £4 Concessions and Children Free.
Our dog-friendly Museum with its two play areas, working vintage arcade and 125 years of brick history is included in your admission fee.
With a special admission price this event – Just £5 for Adults, £4 Concessions and Children are Free.
Train rides will be a small extra fee to cover the cost of maintenance.

Ticket Type

Special Spring Market

Adult
£5

Child
FREE to this event

Concessions*
£4

Please note
A valid entrance ticket is required
to enter the market

*Students and adults over 65, students must have a valid ID Card
Those with annual membership and visitors aged 4 and under come in for free.
Entrance fees apply to this event and admission fees must be paid to access the market.​

Children's Easter Event
2025-04-06 11:00 - 15:00
Our Children’s Easter event will feature a visit from Ems Friendly Farm with lots of animals on-site including some baby goats that the children can feed and pet.
On top of this you will receive an Easter egg at the end of our fabulous egg-hunt along with various craft activities all included within the price!
Face painting will also be available on the day.
(Extra charge for face-painting)
Our dog and child friendly museum also features two childrens play areas, on-site cafe and a working vintage arcade.
You will also get 125 years of brick history, and the chance to wander around our museum and this is ALL included in your Event admission fee.
Please book tickets in advance for this event via the link below:
Easter Event tickets »

Ticket Type

Children’s Easter Event

Adult
£8.00

Children over 4 years
£7.00

Concessions*
£7.00

Family ticket 2 adults and up to 3 children
£29.50

Please note:
Children under 4 and children with memberships will only be charged £1.50 to cover the cost of the Easter egg.

*Students and adults over 65, students must have a valid ID Card
Memberships: Adults with annual membership can come in for free, children with annual memberships will just be charged £1.50.
Entrance fees apply to this event and admission fees must be paid to access the event.​

The Brick People bring LEGO® back to the Museum
2025-04-16 - 2025-04-17
We are delighted to welcome The Brick People back to the Museum for a fourth year of running brilliant brick-based events using LEGO® bricks.
On Weds April 16th and Thursday 17th as well as all the fun of the museum you can find the models and mini-figures hidden around the site and see the display of models made from LEGO®. Enjoy the free Lego play areas AND add a LEGO® Dot mosaic tile to the wall.
10am – 4pm each day
Our dog and child friendly museum also features two childrens play areas, on-site cafe and a working vintage arcade.
You will also get 125 years of brick history, and the chance to wander around our museum and this is ALL included in your Event admission fee.
You do need to book an entrance time but you stay as long as you like. Most visits last 1-2 hours.
Its advised to pre-book your tickets in advance, via the link below:
Lego event tickets »
The small print – please book a ticket for everyone in your party, with the exception of children aged 4 and under who come in for FREE and do not need a ticket. Museum members and anyone with a complimentary ticket can book a free ticket on the link above. These events are very popular and we cannot guarantee entry to anyone without a booked ticket. Annual members, concessions and anyone with a complimentary ticket will be asked to provide proof of eligibility on arrival. Please note that the Museum is opening early at 10am just for this event.

Spring Steam Up
2025-04-27 11:00 - 16:00
As spring sweeps in we wake the Brickworks’ Machinery from its winter slumber for the first of our grand steam events of 2025. We will be joined at this event by our resident traction engines.
Celebrate the start of the traditional brickmaking season with us. – with traction engines, craft stalls and activities for all ages.
As if that wasn’t enough, the museum will be open and in steam, we have two children’s play areas, interactive exhibits and fascinating displays. There will be craft stalls, train rides for a small extra fee (which goes towards to upkeep of the trains and rails) and activities for all ages.

Ticket Type

Cost with Gift Aid
(Cost without Gift Aid)

Adult
£10.50 (£9.50)

Child
£7.50 (£6.50)

Concession*
£9.50 (£8.50)

Family (2 Adults & up to 3 Children)
£32.00 (£29.00)

*Students and adults over 65, students must have a valid ID Card
Those with annual membership and visitors aged 4 and under come in for free.​
Train rides and Children’s Craft Activities carry a small extra charge that goes towards the upkeep of the railway and the Museum.

Back in Time (Victorian & Steampunk)
2025-05-25 11:00 - 16:00
A jump back in time – with a Victorian and steampunk feel for this event at The Brickworks Museum. Our unique Victorian factory opens its doors and steams up the machinery once again, more details for this event will be released nearer the time.
Our dog and child friendly museum also features two childrens play areas, on-site cafe and a working vintage arcade.
You will also get 125 years of brick history, and the chance to wander around our museum and this is ALL included in your Event admission fee.

Ticket Type

Cost with Gift Aid
(Cost without Gift Aid)

Adult
£10.50 (£9.50)

Child
£7.50 (£6.50)

Concession*
£9.50 (£8.50)

Family (2 Adults & up to 3 Children)
£32.00 (£29.00)

*Students and adults over 65, students must have a valid ID Card
Those with annual membership and visitors aged 4 and under come in for free.​
Train rides and Children’s Craft Activities carry a small extra charge that goes towards the upkeep of the railway and the Museum.

World Ocean day
2025-06-08
Celebrate World Ocean Day 2025 with nature themed family activities and stalls here at The Brickworks Museum.
These include a guided nature walk, clay crafts and more.

Meccano at the Museum
2025-08-06 11:00 - 16:00
Join The Brickworks Museum for an interactive day of Meccano! Invented in 1898 (just one year after our factory was founded) Meccano is an interactive building tool that can be used in an incredible number of exciting ways.
Come and see what our Meccano Fun-gineers have created, and have a go at creating your own Meccano models on our interactive play tables. You can also take part in our Tudor trail as part of your visit.
This exciting experience does not have to be pre-booked and is included in our standard entrance prices.
Please note – whilst the Museum will remain open until 4pm (last entry 3pm) our Meccano Fun-gineers need to start packing up their incredible creations at 3pm. Please come early to enjoy them fully.

The Brick People bring LEGO® back to the Museum
2025-08-20 - 2025-08-21
We are delighted to welcome The Brick People back to the Museum for a fifth year of running brilliant brick-based events using LEGO® bricks.
On Weds 20th August and Thursday 21st August as well as all the fun of the museum you can find the models and mini-figures hidden around the site and see the display of models made from LEGO®. Enjoy the free Lego play areas AND add a LEGO® Dot mosaic tile to the wall.
10am – 4pm each day
Our dog and child friendly museum also features two childrens play areas, on-site cafe and a working vintage arcade.
You will also get 125 years of brick history, and the chance to wander around our museum and this is ALL included in your Event admission fee.
You do need to book an entrance time but you stay as long as you like. Most visits last 1-2 hours.
Its advised to pre-book your tickets in advance, a link to purchase you tickets is below…
Lego event tickets »
The small print – please book a ticket for everyone in your party, with the exception of children aged 4 and under who come in for FREE and do not need a ticket. Museum members and anyone with a complimentary ticket can book a free ticket on the link above. These events are very popular and we cannot guarantee entry to anyone without a booked ticket. Annual members, concessions and anyone with a complimentary ticket will be asked to provide proof of eligibility on arrival. Please note that the Museum is opening early at 10am just for this event.

Harvest Festival
2025-09-21 11:00 - 16:00
Join us as for a great family day out, you can even bring the dog! This month’s Museum-in-Steam event is all about Harvest and the changing of the seasons. As usual we will have the miniature train running and tractor & trailer rides, the popular arcade machines and the cafe ready with light refreshments.
Included in your entrance fee will also be the following:
Live music provided by the Melody Makers Choir;
Demonstrations by Hampshire Woodturners, Hedge End Lacemakers and Southampton beekeepers;
Displays of corn dollies and our local history society’s work researching local churches. We also have information relating to local war memorials.
Finally, there will be activities for children with a Harvest feel.

Ticket Type

Cost with Gift Aid
(Cost without Gift Aid)

Adult
£10.50 (£9.50)

Child
£7.50 (£6.50)

Concession*
£9.50 (£8.50)

Family (2 Adults & up to 3 Children)
£32.00 (£29.00)

*Students and adults over 65, students must have a valid ID Card
Those with annual membership, Blue Peter Badge holders, those who are registered carers and visitors aged 4 and under come in for free. All other offers and passes do not apply at this event. ​
Train rides and Children’s Craft Activities carry a small extra charge that goes towards the upkeep of the railway and the Museum.

Halloween and Autumn Steam Up
2025-10-26 11:00 - 16:00
Our Autumn steam up welcomes the Traction engines back from their summer show season to join us in one last celebration of brickmaking before the Museum closes for our winter months. As the nights darken and the season draws in, don’t miss the chance to explore our genuinely haunted museum at Halloween.
Featuring: Traction Engines, Train Rides (small extra charge), Halloween Decorations, Miniature Railway Layouts, Craft & Gift Stalls and much more to be announced at a later date.
Parking: We have parking on site but our steam events can be very busy. For the Halloween Steam Up our resident bus group are going to be running a bus service from the museum to Swanwick Railway Station and back to the museum via Sarisbury Green. You can ride for free!

Our dog and child friendly museum also features two children’s’ play areas, on-site café and a working vintage arcade.
You will also get 125 years of brick history, and the chance to wander around our museum and this is ALL included in your Event admission fee.

Ticket Type

Cost with Gift Aid
(Cost without Gift Aid)

Adult
£10.50 (£9.50)

Child
£7.50 (£6.50)

Concession*
£9.50 (£8.50)

Family (2 Adults & up to 3 Children)
£32.00 (£29.00)

*Students and adults over 65, students must have a valid ID Card
Those with annual membership, Blue Peter Badge holders, those who are registered carers and visitors aged 4 and under come in for free. All other offers and passes do not apply at this event.
Train rides and Children’s Craft Activities carry a small extra charge that goes towards the upkeep of the railway and the Museum.

The Brick People bring LEGO® back to the Museum
2025-10-29 - 2025-10-30
We are delighted to welcome The Brick People back to the Museum for a fifth year of running brilliant brick-based events using LEGO® bricks.
On Weds 29th and Thurs 30th October as well as all the fun of the museum you can find the models and mini-figures hidden around the site and see the display of models made from LEGO®. Enjoy the free Lego play areas AND add a LEGO® Dot mosaic tile to the wall.
10am – 4pm each day
Our dog and child friendly museum also features two children’s play areas, on-site cafe and a working vintage arcade.
You will also get 125 years of brick history, and the chance to wander around our museum and this is ALL included in your Event admission fee.
You do need to book an entrance time but you stay as long as you like. Most visits last 1-2 hours.
Its advised to pre-book your tickets in advance, by clicking here
Buy Tickets

The small print – please book a ticket for everyone in your party, with the exception of children aged 4 and under who come in for FREE and do not need a ticket. Museum members and anyone with a complimentary ticket can book a free ticket on the link above. These events are very popular and we cannot guarantee entry to anyone without a booked ticket. Annual members, concessions and anyone with a complimentary ticket will be asked to provide proof of eligibility on arrival. Please note that the Museum is opening early at 10am just for this event.
