Really terrific museum not badly priced and really good evocation or the old works. Highly education with some stunning historic locomotives. Only quibble is the name STEAM strikes me as bit trite, why don’t they stick with the GWR Historical Museum which is exactly what it is.

Wonderful value - 2 adults and 2 grandchildren £58 for an annual ticket. The staff are friendly and helpful. The museum is huge with many full size steam trains, plenty of space and wonderful for children and adult enthusiasts alike. In the room with the wall of names there are windows that look out onto the main railway line which is another bonus. The only downside was the cafe which is quite small and not particularly welcoming when we went.

Visited today with my 4 year old grandson after checking reviews and activity suitability. We had a great visit at the museum and the staff were really helpful with interactive activities for him. It’s a great interactive display and was really informative for me and also for him! We both particularly enjoyed the Caerphilly Castle display. There were a few things that made it difficult with a young one - the toilets didn’t have a sink low enough or any steps so that he could wash his hands and we got half way around the exhibition and he needed the loo and there was no signage to find our way to a toilet without going all the way back to the beginning. But the main disappointment was the cafe which was really not a good experience. We arrived hungry after a long trip on a cold day and as it was lunchtime were hoping for some hot food. The only thing on offer was a sausage roll (no use for a veggie) so I had an egg sandwich which was a bit dry. The cafe was overpriced and when I queried the total as it seemed high, the waitress (who said I couldn’t have a receipt) showed me what she had entered into the till and I noticed she had charged me for 2 sausage rolls but we only had one. She tried to refund me and just took the money out of my card again which I realised when I checked my bank online. She had to give me a cash refund. Seriously I’d suggest eating in one of the food outlets nearby before going to the museum. It really put a dampener on the day sadly.

The museum is fantastic and all museum staff friendly and knowledgeable. However the cafe is awfull. No longer serves proper cooked food and prepackaged sandwiches if a poor quality. Hot drinks not much better. If you require food go else where.

Amazing day out for anyone interested in steam trains. The kids loved it as it was really interactive a d interesting. We spent a good 2/3 hours inside the museum. There’s plenty to see and do, there’s lots of interesting facts and plenty to learn as you make your way through the museum.

A great way to spend a rainy morning. This museum tells the story of the Swindon Loco works, the GWR and the operation of the railway in a way which keeps the subject alive and interesting. Whilst the Steam locomotives themselves are always impressive, we particularly liked the way the subject was brought alive by the use of realistic wax models in real life settings and by video snippets of peoples real lives either from historic recordings of workers for example or from videos of actors playing their roles. Really well thought out and presented.

Really good museum BUT it took ages to find from the West car park with no signage through the endless designer village maze of consumerism gone mad. Yet the museum is adjacent to the North car park so why don't they simply tell you to park there? (Though even here there's just one tiny sign on a lamppost.) Reception staff totally uninterested in taking this further with whoever is in charge of the website and signage. As others say, cafe is awful - or is it an ironic reinvention of British Rail catering?

The staff at reception were really friendly and helpful. We attended STEAM with our 2 grandchildren, aged 7. The museum was not too busy and so the children had great fun on the hands-on exhibits. They loved the interaction with the railway signals, in particular. The steam train Caerphilly Castle was marvellous, especially the inspection pit underneath. If you are a history buff, this is the place to go, lots about the social history of Swindon. I liked an area where there was a bench, which gave you a view of the main Swindon to Paddington line. We spent 2 hours at STEAM and had a lovely time. I would like to go back and take more time to look around the videos and information exhibits.

What a find. I was on a coach tour which was mainly to the next door shopping centre. The shopping centre was very good but I am not an enthusiastic shopper. I spotted the museum and was interested as my Grandparents both worked on the railways. The staff were VERY welcoming and knowledgeable. Despite my Grandma working on the railways I didn't know about the first women engineers - very interesting. I absolutely loved 'driving the engine' - great fun. I was also very interested in 'Trip' when all the workers went to the seaside. I have already recommended the museum to friends - something for all the family. Nice little gift shop with good quality stock. I just had a drink in the cafe so can't comment on the food. The staff were very nice and polite. All in all an excellent and educational museum.

If trains are your thing, then this is your place! It is located in part of the old Swindon works so you are surrounded by rail history. You are able to get up close to the exhibits, and you can even walk under a steam engine. The history of the GWR and the 'works' is also fascinating.