The museum exhibits are interesting, but the accompanying signs are historical artefacts in their own right, talking about events that might happen in 1999. Joined in a tour of the steam pumps run by knowledgeable and enthusiastic volunteers. Because pump #4 was running it was hard to hear what the guides were saying as it’s next to the wall and echoes drown them out. The group was too large which didn’t help. Personally I’d pay more to be in a smaller group and get more out of the tour. Despite these reservations it was well worth it for £6 each.
Visited on
Weekend
Wait time
No wait
Reservation recommended
Yes

This is the next place you must see while you are visiting Leicester. Near National Space Centre. While you approach Pioneer Statue behind, you can see a massive digger from the past century by the main gate. This is the place...Industrial collection of machines and items used it everyday life 100 years ago and more. You can see one of the first electric cars inside the building , how works toilet, how tram works , etc. Great interaction between visitors and exhibits. Excellent place for family day. No admission fee . Recommended
Visited on
Weekday
Wait time
No wait
Reservation recommended
No

An oasis of calm. This is a lovely small museum of Leicester's industrial heritage. Yes there are huge beam engines but there are also fun exhibits about how toilets and cinema work that will engage children. But it also has a wonderful park and playground with plenty of sand for smaller children. We now combine our visits to the National Space Centre with here. The Space Centre is great and exciting, but peaceful it is not, so we restore our calm by visiting the Abbey Pumping Station.
Visited on
Weekend
Wait time
No wait
Reservation recommended
No

Really great place to see Victorian engineering at its best, entrance is free but you can donate some money if you wish, exhibits showing Leicester through the ages, takes you back to how we lived in days gone by, the beam engines are really impressive which are working on certain days of the year but you will have to book & pay on these days, there is also a children's play area with benches etc...its right next to the Space Centre & is well worth a visit...
Visited on
Weekday
Wait time
No wait
Reservation recommended
No

Really helpful volunteers at the pump house. Visited here several times. Very good on steam days, usually have a chippy van selling chips cooked in beef dripping as in days gone by. Very tasty. Lots for kids to do including flushing a clear plastic loo and following where the plastic whoopsy goes. Not all about sewage , includes cinema through the ages, old house hold products in kitchens , bathrooms etc. Shame the cafeteria has closed, So take a picnic. Parking is in the space centre, but you may find a space in the streets nearby....

What a wonderful museum. So interesting the facility. The pump house is still in opperation with volunteers starting her up on certain days through the year and days for steam engines to run. My boys loved exploring the building for the bugs game and I will admit the wife and I got a bit competitive for the last couple. I was fascinated from the engineering aspect and the change through time. It was free to enter and they have a lovely little shop to support as well as donations. The staff were lovely, friendly and helpful.

Popped into the Abbey pumping station as we had visited the near by National space centre ,so we thought we'd have a look around this museum. It's free to enter,however they accept donations to help keep the place going, we donated. There are lots of interesting exhibits and large steam engines to look at. Its shows out Victorian industrial heritage. Its well worth popping in ideal place to show children around.
Visited on
Weekend
Wait time
No wait
Reservation recommended
No

A really nice small museum which is right next to the national space centre and is free to enter. The Victorian pump is in amazing condition and is worth the visit alone. Only marked down a star because some of the exhibits and the interpretation is very dated and in need of a refresh although still interesting.
Visited on
Weekend
Wait time
No wait
Reservation recommended
No

Popped in to see this place when we went to the national space centre. And this was definitely an added bonus. Not only is it free, but it was so interactive and informative that all 3 generations of my family loved it, it makes you realise. How the victorion's made the simple things grand and elegant.
Visited on
Weekday
Wait time
No wait
Reservation recommended
No

An interesting museum and free to enter. The steam pumping engines were impressive and the rest of the museum suitably interesting. Easy to get round with a pram and there was a lift to the pump room. Free entry as well. Visited after going to the Space Museum next door. Excellent play area as well.
Visited on
Weekday
Wait time
No wait
Reservation recommended
No

Cracking little museum, free entry too!! The pumping station building alone is stunning.. take a walk around outside! Some great displays inside.. even a tiny working cinema with very old seats. The main beam engines in this pumping station are a real gem, a truly epic piece of engineering put together with stunning victorian architectural design Awesome

Abbey Pumping Station Museum is next to the national space Center where you park your car in the same local area of the space centre. It is free entry to get in. It is about how pumping and other historical stuff works. It is suitable for kids. Also outside of it, it has a playground.
Visited on
Weekend
Wait time
No wait
Reservation recommended
No

I visited only the garden but the place is looking interesting. Even so you can see some impressive museum pieces. In the front garden you can find a small play area for your little one. Next time I pass Leicester I will visit thi place and will give you more details.
Visited on
Public holiday
Wait time
No wait
Reservation recommended
Not sure

Great place to step back in time and remember the things on show, obviously you have to be of a certain age to appreciate the museum. This was our second visit, with some friends this time. Entry is free but donations help. Thanks to all the people who help, much appreciated.
Visited on
Weekday
Wait time
No wait
Reservation recommended
No

Cool small Musium has some great Steam engines and trains. But sadly on the day of our visit none of it was working. I think if you are to make the trip hear go on one of the advertised event days. So you can see live steam. Still go to check out as it's free entry.
Visited on
Weekday
Wait time
No wait
Reservation recommended
No

Visited after the space centre. Expected it to be a little dull but our children loved it, especially the flushing toilet. Lots of interactive opportunities for young children, buying adults enough time to actually read the info. Lovely staff and outdoor play area
Visited on
Weekday
Wait time
No wait
Reservation recommended
No

Delightful small museum, free with suggested donation of £3. Victorian pumping station, engineering, but with the beautiful styling of the Victorian era. Exhibits from the local area too and guided tours and events on specific dates. Playground for children.
Visited on
Weekend
Wait time
No wait
Reservation recommended
No

Free museum that we stumbled across whilst visiting the Space museum next door. The staff were very friendly on arrival. Inside there is a nice collection of well presented exhibits looking at local history as well as the main pump room which has the machinery inside. Overall a nicely presented museum - worth a visit if you are in the area.

Guided tour of the pumping station was very interesting. There is access to all levels, including underneath the beam engines. A great shame that only one beam engine was running and that the steam was produced by a small gas boiler.
Visited on
Weekend
Wait time
No wait
Reservation recommended
Yes

A great free place where you can check out huge steam engines and displays of various aspects of people's lives a long time ago, including toilets, baths, washing machines and cinemas. It's right next to the Space centre entrance so you can't miss it. It has a nice outdoors playground for kids as well.

Great museum which is free to enter, located next to the National Space Centre. There are some really impressive exhibits, but the star of the show is the Main Pump Room. It's a homage to Victorian ingenuity and engineering. Well worth a visit.
Visited on
Weekday
Wait time
No wait

If you are nostalgic, Abbey Pumping Station museum is definitely the place. Both adults and children are captivated by what they see... and the steam train ride, although short, is really a foray into time.
Visited on
Weekend
Wait time
No wait
Reservation recommended
No

Definitely worth a visit. I was on the canal and found a mooring quite close. Easy to walk from the Space Centre to the Pumping station. Some huge victorian steam pumps and a well laid out museum.
Visited on
Weekday
Wait time
No wait
Reservation recommended
No

One of the best museums we visited. Free street parking. Free entry. Toilets on site. Space Park is around the corner which is paid entry. No food in the area but many sports 10 min drive away.
Visited on
Weekday
Wait time
No wait
Reservation recommended
No

A lovely gem of information. Well worth a visit. Pumping station itself is facinating, as is the local history. FREE entry (donations welcome). Will return soon. Toilets. Small shop.
Visited on
Weekday
Wait time
No wait
Reservation recommended
No

A great museum, free admission. On selected days, you can see the pumps running and ride on the trains. Has a nice gift shop and parking near space center for a small charge.
Visited on
Weekend
Wait time
No wait
Reservation recommended
No

Great day out, saw the engine working. Very friendly volunteers all happy to share information about the pumping station and museum exhibits. It made my grandsons day.
Visited on
Weekday
Wait time
No wait
Reservation recommended
Not sure

A great surprise find. We visited the National Space Centre and then saw Abbey Pumping Station next door. The park is great and the kids loved it. We had a walk around the museum and we all enjoyed the flushing toilet and interactive displays. More

Had a look round the museum with my grand daughter. There were lots of people there for the train rides. The museum itself is a little out dated but there was a good treasure hunt and colouring activities for the children. Staff helpful. More

Abbey Pumping Station - A Historical Place To Visit - For All Age's - Young And Old - Has A Fun Adventure Play Ground - Working Steam Train For Member's Of Public To Ride - Cafeteria Available For Snacks - And Working Deliverable Guard

Took my mum who has dementia and she had a great time looking at the wash day displays and telling me what it was like when she was younger before automatic washing machines also found a placque which had an ancestors name on it.

Free museum with lots of interesting engineering and Leicester history pieces. Really great sandpit, slide and swings for kids. Try and go on a day they are running the massive beam engine and train. £4 parking. More

I was pleasantly surprised with this place. There's no entrance fee, just donation. Nice industrial/history museum of Leicester
Visited on
Weekday
Wait time
No wait
Reservation recommended
No

I've not been since the pandemic. I was showing our schools mealbarrow in the annual competition. The train was giving rides and it was just a beautiful peaceful historical place to visit More

Great museum, and they had kids' activities on. Great little train to ride with a 50p charge. The outdoor play area is brilliant and we took a picnic with us. They do have a cafe, too. More

A very interesting museum, steam engines, household improvements over the years. Entrance is free and a play area for the kids, £3 parking at the space centre next-door. More

Never been and i always walk past on our canal walks. Finally went in and was so interesting! Great to see things created in Leicester !

We visited in the winter and on a day when the pumps were not in steam. The four pumps are magnificent feats of engineering.

Absolutely fantastic place, with a wealth of knowledge from the volunteers, we need more places like this.... More

Fabulous little museum. Very well worth a visit. Be aware there is no food or drink available there though