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 are pleased to offer pre-booked visits both for schools and our premium, regular and taster tours. We also offer bespoke Kirkaldy’s Experiences for groups and bespoke individual tours. Please follow us on social media for updates such as new, specialist tours.
We offer three options for pre-booked guided tours when our volunteer guides bring the history of Kirkaldy’s to life and explain how the historical machines work - all bookable here:
45-minute ‘Taster tour’ (Wednesday evenings) costs £8, plus booking fee
1 hour 30 min ‘regular tour’ (first Sundays) includes a video and demos of some of our smaller machines, cost £15, plus booking fee
2 hour 30 min ‘premium’ tour (third Saturdays), includes a full guided tour and live machine run on the ‘big machine’, costs £23, plus booking fee
Please note there are no concessions available.
What to expect
We offer online booking for small group guided visits. Please feel free to wear a face covering when you visit Kirkaldy’s Testing Works if you would like to.
To experience the Universal Testing Machine live in action ask about booking a bespoke visit (see below or get in touch) however all visitors on our tours will see our excellent video showing it 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 Workshop Visit
A fascinating tour of the historic Testing Works workshop just for your group, guided by one of our knowledgeable volunteers.
The Workshop Visit includes a talk on the context of the Testing Works and 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 the smaller machines, please discuss this when booking.
Talk and Tour - from 2 to 25 people, £250 (up to 2 hours).
Live Test Run
Experience the Universal Testing Machine live in action!
In addition to a general guided tour with 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 ‘big’ Universal Testing Machine itself. We can also offer your group a hands on demonstration of one of the smaller testing machines, please discuss when booking.
Talk and Tour Up to 25 people, £350 (2 hours). Group visits can start at 11am or 2pm.
Corporate Events
Are you all about ‘Facts not Opinions’, innovation and individuality? Kirkaldy’s Testing Works is the quirkiest, yet well-located, venue you can find for your team get-together, celebration or launch. See Hire for more information.
We can include a 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