Discovery Museum
A free museum on the industrial and technological history of Tyneside, with the world’s first steam turbine ship, Turbinia, as its star exhibit.
The Discovery Museum is housed in a former Co-operative building and tells the story of Newcastle as a city of shipbuilding, coal mining and invention. Swan invented the incandescent light bulb here, and Parsons invented the steam turbine. The Turbinia displayed in the entrance hall was built in 1894 and was the world’s first steam turbine–powered ship, and at the time the fastest vessel afloat. Other galleries cover the history of Tyne shipbuilding, the city’s transformation and an interactive children’s science area. Admission is free. It is about an 8-minute walk from Newcastle Central Station.
Opening hours
Mon-Sat 10:00-16:00; Sun 11:00-16:00
Nearby sights
- Centre for Life
- St James' Park
- Grainger Market
- Grey Street & Grey's Monument
- St Nicholas Cathedral
- Newcastle Castle
- Great North Museum: Hancock
- Laing Art Gallery