Visit us
Kirkaldy’s Testing Works is a unique place to visit and learn: one of the few places in the world where you can get up close and hands on with working, historic machines — and break something!
Whether you are bringing the class, booking a bespoke event or private tour or joining us for a regular Open Day, Taster tour, or new Premium tour (which includes a live test run on the Universal Testing Machine) we love helping visitors of all ages experience this original and atmospheric 19th-century workshop, within sight of some of London’s newest skyscrapers.
Kirkaldy’s Testing Works is a registered charity. We rely on the support of our visitors and partners to stay open. Find out how you can help.
Visiting Kirkaldy's Testing Works
We offer pre-booked visits both for our schools workshops and our visitor tours. We also offer bespoke experiences and events for groups and individual tours. Please follow us on social media for updates such as new, specialist tours.
What to expect
We now offer two Premium tours a month when you can see the Universal Testing Machine live in action, or ask about booking a bespoke visit (see below or get in touch), and visitors on all our tours see our excellent video showing the ‘big machine’ in operation — and you may also have the chance to see some of our smaller machines in action.
Schools & Colleges — make a Material Difference
Kirkaldy’s Testing Works is an inspiring learning space to get hands on with science, engineering, and design, as well as experiencing stories about the history of industrial Victorian London.
Our working, historic machines are especially valued by schools for helping bring materials testing to life, including tensile, impact and hardness testing. Here at Kirkaldy’s Testing Works, Year 12 students can see, operate and understand how machines like Kirkaldy’s have helped to advance knowledge in science and engineering, illuminating Young’s Modulus and Hooke’s Law in a real and physical way. Find out about Material Difference, our education programme supporting the A Level Physics syllabus, developed in partnership with the Physics department at Dulwich College.
After our successful pilot for Primary schools with Emergency Exit Arts we also want to develop other, engaging activities for all year groups. If you are a teacher or education provider and would enjoy helping our volunteer team develop stimulating on-site and digital resources for all stages of education please get in touch
Contact us for prices and to arrange your school or college tour
Private Tours and Kirkaldy Experiences
As well as our regular Open day and taster tours, we can offer bespoke, private tours for pre-booked group visits. Get in touch to discuss what you would like to do — here are some suggestions.
Group visits can start at 11am or 2pm. Prices will increase from 1 January 2025
Group Workshop Visit
Discover the history of the Testing Works guided by one of our knowledgeable volunteers, just for your group.
The Workshop Visit reveals how and why David Kirkaldy opened his Testing Works here in 1874, with explanations of the machines, as well as a video on the history of the works showing a filmed test run on the ‘big', Universal Testing Machine. It can also include a demonstration of one of our smaller working historic machines — please discuss this when booking.
Talk and private group tour: up to 2 hours up to 25 people: £250 (until 31 December); £300 from 1 January 2025
We are a charity — and we don’t want other charities and community groups to miss out because of cost. If that’s your group please get in touch and we will try and arrange something that works.
Live Test Run
Experience the mighty Grade II* Universal Testing Machine, live in action!
In addition to a general guided tour led by our volunteers, including the context of the Testing Works and explanations of the machines, plus our video, this visit will also include a live demonstration of David Kirkaldy’s massive Universal Testing Machine itself.
We can also offer your group a hands on demonstration of one of the smaller testing machines — please discuss this when booking.
Talk and private group tour including live run on the Universal Testing Machine: up to 2 hours up to 25 people: £350 (until 31 December); £400 from 1 January 2025
Private group visits can start at 11am or 2pm.
Corporate Events
Are you, like David Kirkaldy, all about ‘Facts not Opinions’, innovation and individuality? Kirkaldy’s Testing Works is the quirkiest, yet well-located, venue you can find for your off-site team get-together, celebration or launch. See Hire for more information.
As well as offering the most fascinating, informal London venue we can also, if you would like, include a bespoke short introduction to the Testing Works, and let you break something on one of our machines, or you can just enjoy music, a drink and a catch up alongside the mighty Universal Testing Machine!
Bespoke events for up to 25 people from £1000
“These days engineering students rarely get to see huge machines break things. Here they can get hands on with the fundamental challenges they’ll face in their future work.”
University lecturer, London
Creative and cultural events – pitch us an idea
Kirkaldy’s Testing Works and the Universal Testing Machine provide a unique creative venue for new experimentation and collaboration – inspiring future generations of scientists and artists alike to continue enquiring into the properties of the materials on which we build our lives.
We have hosted residencies by artists including James Capper, Bompas & Parr, Oscillatorial Binnage. In partnership with Illuminate Productions we are also experienced at developing cultural and educational productions that animate and interpret Kirkaldy’s Testing Works, bringing them to new audiences.
For more information please email us, or get in touch on social media.
Find us
Kirkaldy’s Testing Works
99 Southwark Street
London
SE1 0JF
Tube
Southwark | London Bridge | Borough | Waterloo
all within ten minutes walk