Multifarious Museum Marvels

In 1843, the Thames Tunnel opened to much fanfare, quickly becoming the world’s first underwater shopping arcade. Nathaniel Hawthorne visited in 1855, describing “all along the extent of this corridor, in little alcoves there are stalls of shops, kept principally by women offering for sale…multifarious trumpery”.

Rather than “multifarious trumpery” the Brunel Museum is encouraging its visitors to get their Christmas shopping done early and support the Museum in the process, by taking part in Museum Shop Sunday. The Museum shop sells a range of gifts, including socks printed with Isambard Kingdom Brunel and A tea towel representing the Grand Opening of the Thames Tunnel. If you’re looking for something unusual for the engineer in your life, you can get 10% off in-store and online.

On Sunday 27 November, the Brunel Museum joins over 1600 cultural attractions worldwide to celebrate Museum Shop Sunday. The Museum has a wide range of books and gifts for all ages and interests, everyone from curious future engineers to the Brunel enthusiast in your life. The event is taking place both onsite and online, with 10% off for shoppers.

Inside the Museum, there will be book signings by authors. Award-winning author Brad Borkan will give a short talk about his new book, Audacious Goals, Remarkable Results. Sir Ranulph Fiennes described the book as, “Exhilarating and inspiring”. Borkan’s book compares and contrasts the lives of three remarkable people: Isambard Kingdom Brunel, the explorer Roald Amundsen (first to the South Pole) and the statesman Teddy Roosevelt (builder of the Panama Canal and the US National Parks).

Science teacher, dad, and author Alom Shaha will do a short reading from “Mr Shaha’s Marvellous Machines”, his book about making toys from scrap materials. Come along and see how easy it is to turn some scrap cardboard and a bit of sellotape into wonderful feats of engineering.

It’s never been more important to highlight the vital role of retail in helping arts, cultural and heritage venues to survive and thrive. Museum Shop Sunday is a fantastic opportunity to do just that!

This international campaign highlights the vital role of retail in helping arts, cultural and heritage venues to survive and thrive. Last year over 1,800 shops took part worldwide – putting on special events and promotions all weekend to celebrate the wonderful and unique gifts that can be found in their amazing shops.

The Brunel Museum, Railway Avenue, Rotherhithe, London, SE16 4LF

Winter Opening Hours: 11am – 3.30 pm Saturday – Sunday | Last entry 3pm