The MAD Museum in Stratford-upon-Avon is a family-friendly interactive attraction dedicated to mechanical art. If the nuts and bolts of Chitty Chitty Bang Bang captured your imagination during childhood, you should introduce your children to this fascinating museum.
The MAD Museum
Henley Street, Stratford-upon-Avon, CV37 6PT
What’s at The MAD Museum?
The country’s only permanent museum dedicated to mechanical art, The MAD Museum is a whirring, buzzing, clicking, clanking collection of kinetic art and automata. If you love the machines in Chitty Chitty Bang Bang or Wallace and Gromit, you’ll love The MAD Museum.
Up the stairs off Henley Street, an exciting world of handles to turn, buttons to press and machines to set off by clapping your hands entices you through the first-floor hub of mechanical wizardry.
Some of the contraptions are mesmerising in their smooth, intricate workings; some grab your attention for off-the-wall elements; and some draw you in with rhythmic beauty. And that’s just the adults! Kids love the marble run wall – the youngest visitors in our party, girls aged nine and 13, spent at least half an hour perfecting their zig-zagging run. The clapping hands machine was also a hit with children of all ages. I must admit, it was one of my favourites.
Don’t miss at The MAD Museum
The real-time video clock is utterly brilliant. The marble-run machines are also hypnotic. Try not to rush through your visit here (or be rushed by excited youngsters) as each piece of mechanical art holds a unique charm that needs patient exploration.
Location of The MAD Museum
In Henley Street, central Stratford-upon-Avon. See Stratford-upon-Avon: the basics for details of car parking and transport for the town centre.
The MAD Museum opening times
The MAD Museum operates seasonal opening times, plus longer hours at weekends and during school holidays. Check the website for current opening times.
The MAD Museum price
Adult £7.80, children (6-15) £5.20, 5 years and under free, family (2 adults and 2 children) £22.
Value for money?
It’s not somewhere you’ll visit very often so as a one-off for creatively-minded kids it’s a real treat.
The Stratfordblog verdict
For me, this was an ideal rainy-day attraction in central Stratford-upon-Avon. I’ll definitely visit again with my five-year-old son, who will be delighted to set off the machines by pressing buttons or turning handles (and I might finally get a turn on the marble run!).
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Information correct at date of publication