Getting to Thinktank Birmingham by train
Thinktank is within the Millennium Point complex in Digbeth, Birmingham.
The most convenient way to access Thinktank is by train. The closest station, Birmingham Moor Street, is a mere 10-minute stroll away. On exiting Moor Street Station, turn right just before the Clayton Hotel. Then, veer right to enter City Park, proceed through the park, past the Science Garden, and enter Millennium Point through the main entrance.
For those arriving at Birmingham New Street station, it's a 15-minute walk. Follow the signs to Moor Street Station (approximately a 5-minute walk), and then continue following the directions mentioned above.
Purchase your train tickets to Thinktank, or for more information on trains to Thinktank Birmingham see our live departure and arrival times and scheduled timetables.
Stations
Birmingham New Street (BHM)
Address:Station Street
Birmingham
West Midlands
B2 4QA
Birmingham Moor Street (BMO)
Address:Queensway
Birmingham
West Midlands
B4 7UL
Birmingham Snow Hill (BSW)
Address:Colmore Row
Birmingham
West Midlands
B3 2BJ
Birmingham New Street station information
| Staffing level | Full time |
|---|---|
| CCTV | Yes |
| Information systems |
|
| Station operator | Network Rail |
| Ticket office opening times | On the main concourse next to WH Smiths
|
|---|---|
| Pre-purchase collection | Yes |
| Ticket machine | Yes |
| Smartcards issued here | No |
| Validate Smartcards here | No |
| Penalty fares | WM |
| Customer service information | Luggage received from terminated trains at Birmingham New Street only |
|---|---|
| Left luggage | Available: Yes Telephone: 0121 314 0901 |
| Lost property | Telephone: 0330 024 0215
|
| First class lounge opening times | Located On the paid concourse between Platforms 3 & 4 Tickets Accepted Avanti West Coast (Business, First Open or Advance First) tickets only. You can only enter the lounge on the travel date shown on your ticket. Facilities Dedicated business areas are fully equipped with telephone points, desks, fax photocopier and modem facilities, screens with updated train information. Refreshments Tea, coffee, soft drinks. Wi-Fi Wi-Fi is available Showers No showers are available
|
|---|---|
| Seated area | No
|
| Waiting room | Yes
There are two large seating areas beyond the ticket barrier between the escalators to platforms 5b and 8b. All platforms have waiting areas with seating |
| Station buffet | Food & drink available throughout the station. Rehydration and water refill points are available throughout the station. Yes
|
| Toilets | Yes
Male, Female, Accessible and Baby Change facilities are available in all parts of the station. These are located between:
|
| Baby changing facilities | Yes
Female toilets,Male toilets |
| Wifi |
Yes
|
| Post box | No
No post box within the station. On exiting the station at the Corner of Stephenson St / Navigation St (for Victoria Square) head towards Pinfold Street for the nearest post office 0.2miles Post Office 1 Pinfold Street Birmingham West Midlands B2 4AA |
| ATM machine | Yes
ATM machines are located on the paid concourse |
| Shops |
Yes
|
| Helpline | We want everyone to travel with confidence. That is why, if you are planning on travelling on national rail services, you can request an assistance booking in advance - now up to 2 hours before your journey is due to start, any time of the day. For more information about Passenger Assist and how to request an assistance booking via Passenger Assist, please click here . Note: If you wish to book assistance but are not sure which train operator you are travelling with, you can call 0800 022 3720. On calling, you will be referred to the appropriate train operator. |
|---|---|
| Staff help | Journey Care assistance is available prior to travel via the relevant Train Operator:
We can provide assistance at the station during the hours we're open to the public. Passengers can book additional assistance on the day at the Network Rail reception or call 0121 654 4243. However please be made aware that if arrangements haven't been made via Journey Care prior to travel, there will be a wait but our policy is to make it happen.
|
| Induction loop available | Yes |
| Ticket machine | Staff available to assist where required. No
|
| Accessible booking office counter available | Floorwalkers are available to assist all customers Yes
|
| Ramp for train access available | Yes
|
| Accessible taxis information | Taxis drop off within the 'drop & go' off the Hill Street entrance. The taxi rank is on Navigation Street (Stephenson Street / Victoria Square exit). All taxis are accessible with manual wheelchairs, most are accessible with electric wheelchairs. For more information visit Traintaxi |
| Accessible public phones | Located opposite Network Rail Reception on the main concourse |
| National Key toilets available | Yes
Close to Platforms 1A and 12A and Platforms 10 and 11B |
| Step free access | The footpath to the new entrance from Hill St is now step free, and there is level access from the drop off point. All platforms have lifts and escalators |
| Ticket gates | Wide gates are available for wheelchair users, buggy's and passengers with luggage. Yes
|
| Impaired mobility set down available | Assistance is available to and from platforms, though we can help more effectively if you call us in advance on 0121 654 2528 (Mon-Fri 10:00-18:00) or outside these times 0121 654 4243. Alternatively, please contact Passenger Assist of the relevant train operator:
Yes
|
| Wheelchairs | Yes
|
| Car park 1 | Short Stay Car Park |
|---|---|
| Car park 1 operator | APCOA Parking (UK) Limited |
| Car park 1 spaces | 38 |
| Car park 1 opening times |
|
| Car park 1 contact details | Telephone: 0345 077 4224 |
| Onward travel | There are nearby bus stops on Smallbrook Queensway and Hill Street Most buses are wheelchair accessible. For information go to the local travel information office by the Stephenson Street entrance. Alternatively, visit Transport for West Midlands , or call 0121 214 7214. |
|---|
| Cycle storage available | Yes |
|---|---|
| Cycle storage spaces | 58 |
| Cycle storage sheltered | Yes |
| Cycle storage CCTV | Yes |
| Cycle storage information | If you want to take your bicycle on the train, please check with the relevant train operator beforehand www.nationalrail.co.uk/cyclists |
| Cycle storage types |
|
| Taxi rank | |
|---|---|
| Metro services | For details of the Midland Metro (tram network) visit: https://westmidlandsmetro.com/ |
| Airport | Regular train service to Birmingham International. 10 - 15 minute journey |
Departures and arrivals from Birmingham New Street
About Thinktank
Dive into science and history at Thinktank Birmingham Science Museum where you can voyage through space in the planetarium, explore Birmingham in miniature and have a go at interactive outdoor science exhibits suitable for all ages.
What are the highlights of Thinktank?
Thinktank Birmingham Science Museum isn't just a museum; it's an interactive playground on four floors where kids become astronauts, inventors and explorers.
For pint-sized pioneers, MiniBrum on Level3 is a miniature city brimming with Birmingham’s canals, shops and the Old Joe Clock Tower. Kids under 8 can unleash their inner architects, build a den in the construction zone, role-play at the post office or set sail on the miniature canals – the learning and fun never stop in this STEM-focused environment.
Ready to touch the stars? The Thinktank Planetarium 's immersive 4K dome transports you to celestial wonders. Journey through swirling galaxies, witness the dance of shooting stars and shrink to the size of an atom in mind-bending shows. Planetarium tickets are available online or at the desk.
Back on Earth, the outdoor Science Garden blooms with interactive experiments. Here, budding Einsteins can splash with water jets, challenge robotic arms in a game of reflexes and even create musical symphonies in the Sonic Playground. Quirky displays like the towering "Terminus" machine and a giant, human-powered hamster wheel add a touch of playful wonder.
History buffs can also take a journey through Birmingham's industrial past. Explore a world of steam engines, vintage cars and classic planes, including the legendary spitfire . See a full-sized plane on Level 1, then learn about its groundbreaking design, its impact in World War II and its local legacy at The Castle Bromwich factory, where thousands of these fighter planes were made.
What restaurants and shops are available at Thinktank?
Hungry explorers will find various food and drink outlets serving coffees, snacks and refreshments, while a ground floor picnic area means you can bring your own lunch.
The Thinktank Birmingham Science Museum Shop is a paradise for science enthusiasts, featuring everything from telescopes and chemistry sets, to plushy microbes and brain-shaped stress balls, as well as LEGO. Everything’s also available online .
When is the best time to visit Thinktank?
Thinktank is open from Wednesday to Sunday, from 10 am to 5 pm. Buy tickets online or on arrival. Allow around four hours for a complete visit.
Weekdays, particularly during school hours, generally have fewer crowds. For families with young ones, planning your visit during off-peak hours, such as mornings or late afternoons, can help avoid the bustling lunchtime crowd.
Thinktank has a busy calendar of events , ranging from planetarium shows and science demonstrations to family workshops and themed activities. Check the website to see what’s on during your visit or book parties for special celebrations.
Handy tip: When you travel with West Midlands Railway, get an exclusive 2FOR1 entry to some of the UK’s top attractions, including Thinktank.
What other attractions and activities are near Thinktank?
Following your Thinktank visit, spend time nearby discovering some of the unique things to do.
Imagine being an early explorer discovering faraway lands as you wander the streets of the Chinese Quarter and sample the food on offer. Capture the moment with a selfie next to the striking granite pagoda at Holloway Circus.
Step back in time at the Birmingham Back to Backs museum, where 19th-century houses tell the tale of working-class life with the city's last surviving back-to-back houses.
Step into the sprawling world of The Bullring and Grand Central ., a bustling hub of fashion and fun across 1.2 million square feet.
Just a hop away, dive into the treasure trove of St Martin's Square and Edgbaston Street markets. Rummage through racks of vintage threads at St Martin's Rag Market . And don't miss the Bull Ring markets: Indoor, a fishy paradise overflowing with glistening scales, and the Open Market, a feast for the senses with juicy berries and artisanal cheeses.
You can purchase your ticket via the West Midlands Trains app. Also, be sure to check out our £2.80 Evening Return Tickets (for any two stations in West Midlands rail zones 1-5).