Donate Shop

Our museum reopens on Wednesday 19 May. Find out more on the visit page

About us

At the National Science and Media Museum, in the heart of Bradford, we explore the science and culture of image and sound technologies and their impact on our lives.

We aim to inspire the scientists and engineers of the future to see more, hear more, think more and do more.

Our galleries and exhibition spaces help us illuminate world-famous collections in photography, film and television. Our team of Explainers create learning activities that fuel the imagination and get under the skin of our collections and exhibitions. And our three cinema screens—including an IMAX theatre—allow us to showcase the magic of moving images from around the world in Bradford, the first UNESCO City of Film.

Our history in pictures

A black and white photograph of the exterior of the museum in 1983

1983: The museum opens as the National Museum of Photography, Film and Television, with a remit to explore the art and science of the image

A black and white photograph of an audience looking at an IMAX cinema screen

1983: The first IMAX in Britain opens at the museum. It becomes the country's biggest cinema screen

A black and white photography of David Hockney lying on the floor looking at images

1985: Bradford-born artist David Hockney collaborates with the museum, creating a photographic montage based on the museum building

A woman lies on a bed on a sound stage with a man dressed as Dracula leaning over her

1986: To mark the 50th anniversary of the first public television service, two new TV-themed galleries are opened, including an interactive studio set

A black and white photograph of three men holding old cameras

1989: On the 150th anniversary of the invention of photography, the Kodak Gallery opens, telling the story of popular photography from its early development to the present day

A photograph of people sitting in front of mixing desk

1989: The launch of the first ever live broadcasting studio in a museum

A photograph of a red carpet leading up to a white building

1992: The Library Theatre, originally situated next to the museum, is converted into a 306-seat cinema, becoming the beautiful Pictureville Cinema

A photograph of a cinerama screen

1993: A Cinerama screen and projection system is installed at Pictureville. This makes it the only public cinema where this format can be screened in the UK

A birds-eye photograph of a silver car and the 007 logo

2002: A landmark exhibition celebrates 40 years of James Bond. The exhibition went on to tour to London, the United States and Canada

A photograph of two men in a recording studio

2003: The museum opens a functioning BBC tri-media studio, enabling visitors to watch journalists gather and produce material for local and national TV and radio

A photograph of two women looking at a mixing desk exhibit in the Museum

2006: Experience TV, a £3m gallery dedicated to the past, present and future of television, opens

The original National Museum of Photography, Film and Television exterior sign in 2006

2007: The museum relaunches as the National Media Museum, expanding its remit to encompass the web and digital technology

A group of people standing behind large letters spelling Bradford, in front of the Museum

2009: Bradford becomes the world's first UNESCO City of Film

A photograph of bright coloured seating in the museum foyer

2010: A major revamp of the museum's foyer sees the introduction of the Games Lounge, as well as a new shop and box office

Two visitors look at an interactive screen in the Life Online gallery

2011: Life Online, the world's first gallery dedicated to exploring the impact of the internet, opens on the ground floor

IMAX Cinema Screen

2015: The IMAX cinema undergoes a major refurbishment, allowing the introduction of digital projection and improved seating

Wonderlab gallery at the National Science and Media Museum

2017: The museum relaunches as the National Science and Media Museum, and Wonderlab, a spectacular £1.8m interactive gallery devoted to the science of light and sound, opens

Who we are

At the museum

Explore further

Part of the Science Museum Group

Science Museum National Science and Media Museum Science and Industry Museum National Railway Museum Locomotion