From pack-horses to aeroplanes, the Transport Gallery shows some of the key developments in travel and transport throughout Leicestershire and beyond. Along the way, find out how a reconstructed 1920s fish and chip shop can tell us so much about transport in the Midlands!

Leicestershire has a long history of producing high-quality machines to make and do things. The Engineering gallery shows the work of some of the most important engineering firms in the county, from a steam-powered pumping engine to a prototype jet engine designed by Sir Frank Whittle. You can also try to lift half a ton with just one hand!

Leicestershire is rich in useful mineral deposits and has a long history of coal mining and quarrying. The Extractives Gallery tells the fascinating stories of such everyday materials as slate, granite, gypsum and coal, how they have been taken from the ground and their use in daily life today.
A star exhibit is the reconstruction of a medieval mineshaft rescued from the Lounge opencast site. Its timbers and the tools found inside it were being used to extract coal when the Battle of Bosworth was fought in 1485!

See our three beam engines in working order in the Transport, Engineering and Extractive Gallery, running times and dates below.

Please see our Events page for full date listing

All times are approximate.

Dates may alter at any time, please Contact Us before arriving at Snibston to ensure the engines are running on these dates