The MAD Museum image

The MAD Museum

Tourist attraction Museum Art museum Science museum

One of the Best Places To Visits in Stratford-on-Avon


Address

4-5, Henley St, Stratford-upon-Avon CV37 6PT, United Kingdom

Website

www.themadmuseum.co.uk

Contact

+44 1789 269356

Rating on Google Maps

4.70 (2.2K reviews)

Open on Google Maps

Working Hours

  • Saturday: 10 AM to 5:30 PM
  • Sunday: 10 AM to 5:30 PM
  • Monday: 10:30 AM to 4:30 PM
  • Tuesday: 10:30 AM to 4:30 PM
  • Wednesday: 10:30 AM to 4:30 PM
  • Thursday: 10:30 AM to 4:30 PM
  • Friday: 10:30 AM to 4:30 PM

Featured Reviews


Frequently mentioned in reviews: kids (25) marble (15) museum (15) visit (15) time (13) small (13) hour (13) good (10) shop (9) enjoyed (9)
Reviews are sorted by relevance, prioritizing the most helpful and insightful feedback at the top for easier reference.
  • 5/5 Kuldip S. 1 year ago on Google
    Brilliant place to bring kids. Mechanical machines of various sizes, insane marble runs all activated by pressing buttons. We all had a good time and the kids absolutely loved it. Very good value.
    6 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Etheria H. 3 months ago on Google • 114 reviews New
    It’s a small but amazingly playful museum. It’s dedicated to display mechanical wooden or metal crafts. Most of them is interactive, you can push the button and watch how it functions. Some of them are just funny contemporary art. You can tell from the details, that the artists had incredible creativity and put effort of time in it. They also have a room for you build your own tracks and put a ball there to let it run. Although most of the wood trucks are wore, so there will always be gaps in between two tracks no matter what you do, the whole thing just doesn’t work very well. It’s worthy to take your kids here. They can spend a whole day here and probably without feeling bored at all. The gift shop sells some of the simpler stuff they display but I didn’t get any. Overall it’s a surprisingly good and petit museum hidden in this little town.
    3 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 4/5 Simon H. 2 months ago on Google • 239 reviews New
    Great little place to visit. Lots of small automated models. The 7 and 13 year old really liked it and we spent about an hour there. Well worth a visit if you are passing and part of another day visit. Really fun and different. And not an ipad in sight 😁
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Iza P. 1 year ago on Google
    Fantastic place to visit on your own, friends, family. Great display of mechanical things mostly made of wood or metal. Lots of funny things but also at least one gory (military bunnies, one of them exploding) so bare it in mind if your child is sensitive to that content. Loved it, will be back :)
    4 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 4/5 Tina H. 2 months ago on Google • 214 reviews New
    Approx £22 for family of 4 using military discount/blue light discount. It wasted an hour or so. The pieces inside are indeed pretty amazing. The best part is the part where the kids can use their hands. Check it out!
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 ILONA N. 2 years ago on Google
    Small but delightful museum in the middle of Stratford, just a few minutes walk from Shakespeare's house. We spent a good two hours there (our kids were 10 and 9 at the time of visit). It was fascinating watching all the mechanical sculptures (some of them are basically fancy, complicated and very clever marble runs) and then spending some time building our own marble runs on the wall and then on the table. The ones on the table are quite mind-blowing, make sure you spend enough time to figure them out! :) To be honest, watching other parents and knowing myself, I wasn't sure who had more fun: the kids or the grownups? :)
    3 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Peter B. 7 months ago on Google • 91 reviews
    Fascinating place, Genuinely a shame it isn't bigger! That being said they have packed so much into the space, so many different pieces ranging from the simple to huge, complex machines! My daughter wasn't sure what to expect before we went in but she absolutely loved it and was Fascinated! The shop has some great things in there with many different models you can make yourself, highly educational and will definitely return!
    2 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Jess B. 1 year ago on Google
    This place was fantastic! I took my 8 year old son who is autistic. He likes to roam around and typically isn't engaged for long in museums/galleries, but this place was fantastic for him. It was wonderfully interactive, small enough for him to safely roam around whilst I kept an eye on him and not too busy. There were many highlights, but we really enjoyed the complex, massive marble runs and enjoyed watching these work for a long time. There was a side room where people could build a working cog model and run marbles down tracks on the wall. There's a small giftshop, a small cinema room, toilet facilities, helpful staff, disabled acces via a lift as the museum is on the first floor. We spent about an hour and a half in there and could have spent more time if we weren't hungry for lunch! Great place to spend some time!
    2 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 4/5 C. M. 1 year ago on Google
    Good place to bring the kids and spend maybe one hour to entertain them with the wonders of mechanics. The museum is quite interesting, but small. I gave them 4 stars because I asked the receptionist how big is the museum and he told me that is the whole floor, rven behind of some area that I couldn't see from reception... the reality is that there is no other large space, that's pretty much that you can see there. Is beautiful, is interesting, great for kids. Ideal to buy family tickets as would be a bit cheaper. Overall ok and I recommend them, there are different and interactive from the normal average museum.
    2 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Wybrand G. 10 months ago on Google
    Fantastic experience for kids and adults. When you go here try to think art first, then mechanical and be prepared to just have fun. The displays are less interactive than anticipated with a scanner being activated to make every display move. The woodwork and metalwork on the artworks are really unique and special. You almost wish the artist was there to give more details on how they created the work. Each display is a mini sculpture and some of them a whole lot of fun. If more sculptures in the world were designed this way the world might be a happier place. There is a play area for the kids where they get to build a track against the wall. This was probably the greatest hit for the kids.
    2 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Mister E. 9 months ago on Google
    Excellent museum for young kids, there's lots of clockwork artwork, marble machines, rube-Goldberg machines. It's not too expensive, kids will be able to spend a good hour or two here. There's a free play area where you can use the metal wall to construct marble tracks, gears, etc. There's also a small cinema, and a gift shop. Highly recommended.
    2 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 4/5 Charlie R. 2 years ago on Google
    This is a lovely place to visit if you're in the centre of Stratford and fancy seeing some unusual stuff. I imagine it is much nicer if you can get there during school hours, when it is presumably quieter and you might stand a chance of having a go with the marble run. The website says it can take 1 to 2 hours to see everything. If you are the kind of person who reads every exhibit's panel and gives the art a solid five minutes to fully absorb it, then 2 hours sounds about right. For most people with over-excited kids then around 40 minutes will do it, unless you can get access to the marble run, in which case you may never leave.
    2 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Peter M. 4 years ago on Google • 115 reviews
    If you like mobile installations, automatons, and marble runs, it's worth visiting. When you visit Stratford-on-Avon, maybe a different subject than Shakespeare could be interesting. You can learn even the solution of chicken or egg problem, the truth, or a very special tapestry. Nice, easy, and funny cultural references for adults, buttons for kids.

  • 5/5 Alin M. 1 month ago on Google • 107 reviews New
    Nice, a good, entertaining hour for the little ones. I would say a bit overpriced but entertaining for the kids. Besides the sensor activated ones, the kids have a few hands-on displays. They can build a few marble runs.

  • 5/5 Paul E. 3 weeks ago on Google • 103 reviews New
    Equally enthralling to adults and children the museum is full of kinetic art and automata. There is plenty to wonder at, gift shop and toilets.

  • 4/5 Cheyenne T. 9 months ago on Google
    It was good, a little smaller than anticipated, but if you take your time and interact with all the displays you can, then can easily spend over an hour. Kids enjoyed it and loved seeing all the different ways that the exhibits worked
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Helen K. 1 year ago on Google
    My 6 year old could have spent all day there... one of the best bits is before you even get inside, halfway up the stairs (huge makeshift marble run). On the interactive scale, this is one of the best places we've been. I just wish it was bigger!
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Victoria R. 7 months ago on Google
    Took 3 kids here, it's fantastic. So interesting and fascinating to watch and wonder how the exhibits are made. The kids loved it and enjoyed the area where they could have a go with marbles themselves. Highly recommended 😀
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 4/5 Paul S. 6 months ago on Google
    Great fun place to visit in Stratford, when you've had your fill of The Bard. Lots of weird and wacky inventions and artworks, which, best of all, you can activate and watch by pressing the buttons! So definitely suitable for the child in all ages!
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 4/5 Razvan D. 1 year ago on Google
    The MAD Museum is exactly interesting. Kids, especially toddlers are enjoying this place. Lots of things to see, I can say is quite overfilled with stuff, but I like it. They have a nice play area - for under 8 that is brilliant. If you are passionate about engineering this place is for you. The toilets are decent. The shop is a bit spicy but the products are great.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 AC 8. 1 year ago on Google
    Well worth a visit for all ages, good selection of unusual mechanical sculptures and automata on display, plus activities to do - even for adults, we managed (after a good 20 minutes of refining our design) to get a marble to cover an entire wall decent which was good fun. Some of the hands-on features were a bit in a need of repair but nothing too bad, not worthy of complaint for sure. Very unique place and can’t see anyone not enjoying it. Great stuff.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Debbie N. 11 months ago on Google
    Fun and interesting place to visit. Loads of models that you pop into action by waving your hand over the sensor. Some cool (and mad) inventions. Price for entry is decent, £8.80 for Adult (April 2023) cannot prebook this attraction, just walk up and pay. No wait for entry and not a huge place but if you visit, do spend time to look at all models.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Michaela C. 10 months ago on Google
    We went as a big group of 26 for my 40th birthday. Most of us said it was the best museum we had ever been to and so much fun. This museum is also, I think one of the smallest museums I have ever seen but that doesn't really change anything, it's still brilliant and kids love it as they don't have to walk far. There is so much to see and nearly everything is interactive so it's great fun for all ages. So glad I came here and totally worth the money. Definitely 1 hour long. It is all on the first floor as there is stairs to climb. The reception is very lovely and gave me all the information I needed. The shop is great and prices range from just 50p so everyone can afford something to take away to remember the place. It's really easy to find as it's on their high street. I would definitely come again if we are in Stratford upon Avon.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 4/5 Tiffany A. 8 months ago on Google
    It is fascinating I stood and watched some of the exhibits, mesmerised y their simple intricacies. I was very lucky, a group of 5-6 year old school kids were leaving as I arrived so had the exhibits more or less to myself. Great fun.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 4/5 ludovico b. 1 year ago on Google
    Definitely a lovely museum, suitable for adult and kids. The art work is unique and fun. A perfect detour during a day out. I would have liked more educational material, information about the artwork including the decisions making of the art peace. However, the experience was fun and involving, staff is very friendly and toilets are clean. Whish the had more space to show more art work.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Lisa M. 1 year ago on Google
    A freind recommended a visit. At first missed it as the entrance blended in with other shops. On first appearance on entry, it seemed small. But it was amazing and fun with interactive displays and an interesting cinema on other quirky designs. Overall spent just under 2hrs there. If had children, probably would have been there 3 hrs. Great for little ones too, with a big interactive play wall to create their own marble run. £7.80 adult fee to enter. We visited in a weekday which was quiet
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 4/5 Toxteth O' G. 1 year ago on Google
    Called in to break up a longer journey heading elsewhere. This is a relatively small museum on one floor mainly dealing with automata. Some big pieces, some small, some definitely mad. Check out the video of the Berlin construction workers telling the time ;) Wouldn’t say a visit is essential but if you are in the area & not really into Shakespeare there are a lot worse ways to spend an hour or so.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 4/5 Diane H. 1 year ago on Google
    Entertainment for kids of all ages! Even big kids like dad's and grandads can become completely absorbed. Small and a little repetitive in its exhibitions. But nonetheless a stimulating use of time for our three grandsons aged 10-15. Small shop on site. No need to book. Lift or stairs for accessibility.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Ann S. 1 year ago on Google
    Brilliant fun for all ages! Air con was very welcome. Toilets. Lift if you can't manage the stairs. Gift shop (small) Worth the entrance price.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Samantha G. 2 years ago on Google
    We came here with our daughter, we really enjoyed seeing how the different sculptures moved together. Like most places in Stratford, you gain access to the museum via a staircase, there is disability access in the form of a lift on the ground floor. Once entered it is just one floor of sculptures, there are lots to see however. Our daughter enjoyed engineering a marble run, this is the hi-light of the museum. Everything is motion sensored so no need to worry about covid germs! Upon our exit there is a "present shop" as our daughter likes to call it, most things of very reasonable price, we did purchase a few items. I don't think it's somewhere you could come to over and over again, but we really enjoyed our time here. We spent roughly about and hour and a half.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Jonathan S. 2 years ago on Google
    Awesome place.. quite small, but brilliant fun.. staff really friendly and helpful.. only takes about an hour to go round.. would recommend
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 3/5 June C. 4 months ago on Google
    The grandkids liked it, but personally, although I enjoyed the wonderful machines, I found it a bit claustrophobic and the lights gave me a headache

  • 5/5 Eli G. 3 months ago on Google New
    Great place to visit for an hour or two. Lots of mechanical art with sensor activations. There is also a small but enjoyable hands on section at the back. The kids (aged 9 and 5) really enjoyed this. Price is reasonable and under 6s goes free. Highly recommend to others

  • 5/5 ian s. 1 month ago on Google • 20 reviews New
    What a great place. We decided to visit with the grandchildren ages 3 to 8 after seeing and advert pip up on Facebook. There was plenty in there to keep them amused for over an hour. They especially liked building their own marble runs.


Call +44 1789 269356 Open on Google Maps

Amenities


  • Accessibility
    • ✓️ Wheelchair accessible entrance
    • ✓️ Wheelchair accessible restroom
    • ✗ Wheelchair accessible parking lot

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