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EventSTEAM - Museum of the Great Western Railway

Bridge Building Challenge at STEAM, Swindon (28 October 2026)

A family activity at STEAM in Swindon where visitors use Polydron kits to design, build and test their own bridge, and compare themselves with the Great Western Railway's engineers. It is included with museum admission.

By the Born to Engineer editorial team Checked

At a glance

Run by
STEAM - Museum of the Great Western Railway[1]
Who it’s for
Families and budding engineers; the page does not state an age range. A parent or carer can bring children.[2]
Entry
Students apply themselves
Worth
Hands-on civil engineering design: build and test a bridge with Polydron kits.
Cost
Free with Museum admission.[3]
Where
England (Swindon, Wiltshire)
Format
In person
Dates

Sources

4 sources

  1. STEAM - Museum of the Great Western Railway

    Bridge Building Challenge

    Use our special Polydron kits to design, build and test your own unique bridge.

    Checked 24 October 2026

  2. STEAM - Museum of the Great Western Railway

    Bridge Building Challenge

    Calling all budding engineers!

    Checked 24 October 2026

  3. STEAM - Museum of the Great Western Railway

    Bridge Building Challenge

    Free with Museum admission.

    Checked 24 October 2026

  4. STEAM - Museum of the Great Western Railway

    Bridge Building Challenge

    Wednesday 28 October: Bridge Building Challenge

    Checked 24 October 2026

Details checked by the Born to Engineer editorial team. Always confirm dates on the provider’s site before applying.

Not open yet

Wednesday 28 October 2026[4]

Visit steam-museum.org.uk (opens in a new tab)

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EventDiscovery Museum (North East Museums)

A free exhibition and event programme at Discovery Museum in Newcastle exploring the story of energy in the North East, from the industrial revolution to green technologies today. It has hands-on displays on wind and solar power, historical science and engineering objects, and a cutaway electric NISSAN Leaf car. A family event programme runs alongside it.

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Who
Families and visitors of all ages; a parent or carer can bring children. The page does not give an age range, and notes that it features both family and adult events.
Entry
Students or a school can enter
When
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Visit northeastmuseums.org.uk (opens in a new tab)Details: Steam to Green: A North East Energy Revolution (Discovery Museum, Newcastle)

W5 LIFE Saturday Sessions (Belfast): robotics, coding and engineering challenges

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EventW5 Belfast

Family drop-in STEM sessions every Saturday at W5 LIFE inside The O2 Belfast, including robot coding, a wind-powered car engineering challenge and an egg drop challenge. Most sessions are free drop-in with children supervised by an adult.

Worth
Hands-on engineering and coding activities, such as building and racing a wind-powered car and designing a device to protect a dropped egg.
Who
Families with children of all ages (all children must be accompanied by an adult). Individual sessions state their own ages, for example 6+ for Code With Colours and 8+ for the paid Christmas Build Off.
Entry
Students apply themselves
When
Saturdays from 24 October to 28 November 2026 (engineering sessions 21 and 28 November); paid Minecraft sessions 12 and 19 December 2026

Visit w5online.co.uk (opens in a new tab)Details: W5 LIFE Saturday Sessions (Belfast): robotics, coding and engineering challenges