This museum is part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site in Derby, and celebrates the area’s rich history of innovation.

Nestled along the River Derwent and tucked within the walls of the city’s oldest surviving factory sits the Museum of Making.

It’s the perfect rest stop after an autumn stroll along the water to grab a steaming cup of cocoa in the The River Kitchen cafe and explore all that the city, proud of its legacy as pioneers, has to offer.

As you step inside the museum, suspended in the large atrium, is a seven-tonne Rolls-Royce Trent 1000 engine (you really can’t miss it!). Built right here in Derby, the engine was designed specifically for the Boeing 787. If you look closely around the atrium, you may even spot the ghostly outline on the brick wall where the old Silk Mill’s waterwheel once turned.

As you step inside, suspended in the large atrium, is a seven-tonne Rolls-Royce Trent 1000 engine (you really can’t miss it!). Built right here in Derby, the engine was designed specifically for the Boeing 787. | National World

placeholder image — As you step inside, suspended in the large atrium, is a seven-tonne Rolls-Royce Trent 1000 engine (you really can’t miss it!). Built right here in Derby, the engine was designed specifically for the Boeing 787. | National World

While the suspended engine is enough to take your breath, that’s not all the museum offers to history buffs, big thinkers and people who just love to create.

Spread across three floors, the museum takes you through:

The Gateway – their main display space, diving into the story of the old silk mill and Derwent Valley Mills, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The Old Shop – home to artist and photographer Red Saunders’ collection of images capturing decisive moments in Derby that shaped Britain’s struggle for equality, democracy and social justice. Have a good look, you might just spot a familiar face!
The Assemblage – an interactive space packed with fascinating objects grouped by the materials they’re made from, such as wood, metal, glass, and more. Give your legs a bit of a rest at their work tables and try your hand at making your own trial piece.

Making a pitstop at the museum till 2026 is Earthbound. The thought-provoking exhibition invites you to take a breath and think about how all life on earth (especially the creepy crawlies) is tied together for joint survival.

Expect breath-taking macro images of insects, beautiful cyanotypes and a lifelike recreation of Derbyshire’s Hoe Grange hyenas guaranteed to send a chill down your neck.

All that exploring works up an appetite, but luckily, their River Kitchen has got you covered. Soak in all that you’ve seen with tasty treats and a to-go cup of cocoa.

While the museum celebrates the makers of the past, it’s also a space that invites innovators and the makers of today to contribute. In fact, much of the furniture that you see at the museum was made right here at their workshop and maker’s courtyard.

If you’re up for a hands-on activity, check their website for any upcoming workshops where you can try your hand at making something of your own.

Entry is free to get in.