The Museum of Making
The Museum of Making in Derby is one of the UK’s most innovative heritage spaces, celebrating 300 years of creativity on the site of the world’s first modern factory: Derby Silk Mill. Reopened in 2021 after a major transformation, it blends industrial history with hands‑on exploration, showing how Derby’s makers—from clockmakers to railway engineers—shaped global technology. Inside, visitors encounter more than 30,000 objects, many displayed in open storage so you can see tools, machines, prototypes, and everyday inventions up close. One of the most striking exhibits is the Midland Railway locomotive, suspended dramatically from the ceiling as a symbol of Derby’s engineering legacy. Nearby, the Workshop invites visitors to try making themselves, from simple crafts to digital fabrication. The museum’s galleries trace the evolution of local industries: silk spinning, porcelain, railways, and Rolls‑Royce aerospace engineering. Interactive stations explain how materials behave, how gears work, and how early factories changed society. The Assemblage display showcases objects chosen by local residents, highlighting the personal stories behind making.
Derby United Kingdom
The Museum of Making is an extraordinary modern heritage attraction located on the historic site of the Derby Silk Mill in the heart of Derby, Derbyshire, England. Its official address is 1 Silk Mill Lane, Derby DE1 3AF. Widely considered the site of the world's first modern factory, it sits within the Derwent Valley Mills UNESCO World Heritage Site and celebrates 300 years of regional innovation, engineering, and manufacturing through thousands of interactive displays. Set right on the banks of the River Derwent, the museum is ideally positioned within easy walking distance of the city center's top cultural and historical landmarks. Just a short stroll through the Cathedral Quarter brings you to the Derby Museum & Art Gallery, home to the famous collection of Joseph Wright paintings, as well as Pickford's House, an elegant 18th-century Georgian town house museum showing historical domestic life. Right nearby, you can also visit the grand Derby Cathedral, famous for its majestic 16th-century tower and historic interior. Just down the street sits the historic Derby Market Hall, surrounded by traditional pubs, cafes, and local shops. For outdoor leisure, peaceful walking paths lead right from the museum entrance along the river into Silk Mill Park and neighboring Queen's Leisure Park.
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