Featured Events in Bletchley in May, 2025 (July Updated)

Join Us for a Volunteering Open House Day at TNMOC! Step into the heart of our vibrant volunteer community and see what makes us tick. You’ll have the chance to meet like-minded individuals and discover the many ways you can contribute to the Museum’s growth. Whether you’re passionate about sharing stories with visitors, preserving historic collections, or diving into hands-on restoration, there’s a role for everyone. For Prospective Volunteers Meet our friendly team, tour the Museum, and discover the diverse roles we have available - from guiding visitors through our historic galleries to helping restore groundbreaking machines like Colossus. Every volunteer is treated as an individual with unique skills and passions at TNMOC. No matter your background or experience, your talents and enthusiasm will find a place here. We are charging a nominal entrance fee to provide free tea/coffee and cake! Please complete the Volunteer Application Form and send it to operations@tnmoc.org before the Open House Day to get started. All attendees must be aged 18+. Example Roles Collections Management The National Museum of Computing relies on volunteers to manage our collections. This includes everything from handling acquisitions, cataloguing, and storage. This role would appeal to people interested in museum collections management and/or with a passion for preserving historic computers and computing related artefacts. Sub Collection Leads Do you have a passion for a particular area of computing? Perhaps you really want to work with Data General computers, or you have a passion for electronic calculators? To handle our large collection we assign coordinators to different sub-collections. We need people with your passion and knowledge to help catalogue conserve, maintain, handle, store, and display objects. Restorations The National Museum of Computing is special: we preserve the experience of computing as much as artefacts. Every day we have people working on restoration and maintenance projects. If you're an electronics wiz or just eager to learn, we have projects that need your help. Archivists We have extensive archives, but need your help making them more accessible for the public. Our archivists catalogue, scan, store and handle material including correspondence, manuals, papers and storage media. You can be part of building what will be a world class capability for researchers everywhere. This is a unique chance to handle and care for primary source material about the computing revolution. Room Guides Our visitors come from all over the world and you can help them find their way around our Museum. You can be the one answering their questions, offering directions and making sure they have a great time. All you have to bring is your friendly, helpful self and a willingness to learn about our displays and to be able to commit to certain dates and times. Tour Guides The National Museum of Computing provides regular tours to groups of all kinds. If you want a chance to bring the story of computing to the public, there's no more better way than taking visitor groups of a tour of our Museum. You'll need to be able to tell a ripping yarn and engage with your audience. Full training will be given. If you can make a regular, scheduled commitment, please get in touch! Ticketing & Retail If you enjoy dealing with customers, sales, and handling money then volunteering on our ticketing desk and shop may suit you. This role would be ideal for people looking to get experience in the retail sector. Interested in any of the above? If any of these opportunities sound intriguing to you or would like to talk to us further, please book your ticket to join us! Information Source: The National Museum of Computing | eventbrite

Get ready to spark your imagination! Join us for a thrilling family fun day at The National Museum of Computing, where we'll dive into the electrifying world of energy in the home! Discover the amazing story of the Electrical Association for Women and how they brought power to our lives. In conjunction with the Women’s Engineering Society, as part of a Royal Academy of Engineering project, engineers will lead super-charged, hands-on activities that will have you buzzing with excitement! Attendees will have the chance to connect with female engineers currently working in the industry, who will be on hand to share their experiences and insights. All activites are offered free of charge, thanks to generous sponsorship from the Royal Academy of Engineering. Museum day admission is included with the price of your ticket. What to Expect: Live Performances: Enjoy captivating theatrical performances by Angel Exit. Engaging Demonstrations: Participate in interactive demos, including magnets, generators, and more. Hands-On Activities: Get hands-on with circuit drawing activities and a create-your-own electric home station. Historical Insights: Discover the evolution of household appliances and the contributions of women in electrical engineering. Interactive Exploration: Embark on a questionnaire trail and interact with WES volunteers. Who Should Attend: This event is perfect for families, tech enthusiasts, and anyone curious about the fascinating story of electricity in the home. All Day Drop-In Sessions: Magnet Demo Electric Home Model Demo Electric Art Copper Loop Demo Generator Demo Electric Drawing Session Make Your Own Model of the 'All Lectric Home' Session Storytime Timetabled Sessions: 11:00 - 11:30; Theatre Performance (Meeting Room) 14:00 - 14:30; Theatre Performance (Meeting Room) Event Background: This event is possible thanks to funding from the Royal Academy of Engineering, and is part of an initiative to work with a cohort of women engineers to develop their confidence and public engagement skills through a project called Watts in A Home; Electric Dreams. One hundred years ago, in 1924, an off-shoot of the Women’s Engineering Society, set up the Electrical Association for Women (EAW), whose purpose was to educate women’s understanding the use of electricity as a domestic energy source. They were hugely effective. This year, WES has been celebrating their formation and highlighting the women engineers involved with the EAW, through a festival called Electric Dreams. Information Source: The National Museum of Computing | eventbrite

Golden Curry Banquet Come join us for a mouth-watering Golden Curry banquet! Indulge in a variety of flavorful curry dishes that will tantalize your taste buds. This in-person event will take place at the renowned Golden Curry location. Get ready to enjoy a feast fit for curry enthusiasts! Save the date and bring your appetite for a curry-filled evening of deliciousness. Don't miss out on this opportunity to savor the best curry dishes in town! Information Source: eventbrite

Join us at The National Museum of Computing for the premiere of "The Thing" - a captivating film that uncovers one of history's most astonishing espionage incidents. “The Thing” is a documentary film uncovering the amazing story behind the Great American Seal Bug. This complex story of spying and counter spying, genius, betrayal, political wrangling and espionage is told in detail by John Little. These incredible events span 90 years including the two World Wars, the Cold War and involve three great nations of the United Kingdom, United States of America and Russia (USSR). The film delves into the incredible story of the Great American Seal bug, starting with the birth of the inventor in 1886, his formative years during the Bolshevik Revolution, and his time in the USA. It explores the influence of the Cambridge Spies and the bug's discovery in 1952. In more contemporary times, "The Thing" also investigates the work of Peter Wright and Tony Sale, detailing their efforts to understand and counter this ingenious device. The film vividly portrays the story of one of the first passive covert listening devices against the backdrop of H Block, Bletchley Park, adding a unique dimension to this tale of technological espionage. Tickets also include day admission to view the world's largest collection of functional historic computers, including the Bombe and Colossus - the world's first electronic, digital computer. Event Schedule: Refreshments on arrival Screening of "The Thing" Q&A with John Little, compered by John Carter About the Speaker: John Little's connection to Bletchley Park and counter-surveillance is truly unique. His first visit to Bletchley Park was in 1962 as a Post Office Telephone Engineer. He later joined the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, working in Hut 3, Bletchley Park (Diplomatic Wireless Service). In 1978, he left the FCO to start a company specialising in counter surveillance – de-bugging. His office was moved to H Block approximately 20 years ago, and later to E Block. Image credit: Shearwater TSCM Information Source: The National Museum of Computing | eventbrite

VE Day 80 celebration themed family activities! Fun for the whole family Join us for exciting VE 80-themed activities that the entire family can enjoy, with a STEM twist! Our educational STEM activities are a must-visit event in Milton Keynes, perfect for children (and parents) seeking creative fun during school holidays. This holiday, we're offering a wide range of activities, including Ozobots, an Engima codebreaking challenge, and the opportunity to re-enact your own VE Day victory message. There's something for everyone to enjoy and plenty to captivate kids throughout the holidays. Don't forget: Annual Ticket holders can book onto STEM Bytes FREE using their exclusive promo code! How does it work? Drop-in sessions run from 11am until 4pm each day, with a 30-minute break at 1pm for lunch, leaving you time to explore the museum and enjoy all of the activities! Please note that adult supervision is required at all times. All accompanying adults must also purchase tickets for entry to the Museum. What’s on? Our engaging, self-directed STEM activity stations allow you to explore activities at your own pace, with multiple levels of difficulty to suit beginners and advanced learners alike. Our expert facilitators will be available to provide guidance, answer questions, and offer extra challenges to those looking for more! We'll be running stations centred around: Ozobots – Program smart mini robots to dance to 1940s tunes and take part in a futuristic VE Day party. LEGO Building – Get creative with VE Day-themed builds and free-building fun! Enigma Challenge – Use our codebreaking Enigmatix wheels to solve WW2-themed codebreaking puzzles. 'Keep Calm and Carry On' Posters – Generate your own 'Keep Calm and Carry On' poster. Submit your design to get a chance at winning a physical copy of your poster, professionally printed and delivered to your door. Record Your Own VE Day Broadcast – Get creative and write your own VE Day victory broadcast. Record your broadcast using our props and take the video with you as a VE Day souvenir. Information Source: The National Museum of Computing | eventbrite

Our popular Public Guided Tours have returned for the holiday periods! In this two-hour walking tour, the evolution of computing will unfold before your eyes. Accompanied by one of our fantastic team of friendly and knowledgeable Museum Guides, adventure through the Museum and be captivated by the extraordinary artefacts in our unrivalled collection. Journey from the early electro-mechanical code breaking machines of WWII and the world's first entirely digital semi-programmable computer, discovering how technology evolved from valves and early semiconductors to the modern microprocessors we use today. You will uncover the development of large mainframes, supercomputers and scientific mini-computers, responsible for process control from office-based systems to airspace! The tour will conclude by exploring the rise of personal computing, mobile computing and the advent of the internet and smart devices, bringing you up-to-date by examining how this technology has revolutionised the way we now interact with machines and each other. Please note, to give you the best experience, places on our Public Guided Tours are limited to a maximum of 16 people. Our Public Guided Tours are primarily targeted towards an adult audience. We do not recommend our Public Guided Tour for anyone below the age of 11. On the Day: Please arrive at the Museum 15 minutes before your Public Guided Tour is due to start. On placing your booking, you will be emailed your ticket/s by Eventbrite. Please bring either a printed or digital version (on a phone or tablet) of your ticket/s to present at the Ticket Desk on your arrival. The meeting point for Public Guided Tours is in the Museum Shop. Please ask at the Ticket Desk for directions. Full Museum Admission is included in the ticket price for a Public Guided Tour. The Museum will be open to view between 10:30 and 16:30 , allowing you to further explore and be inspired by our extraordinary collection whilst you are here. For Private Guided Tour enquiries, or for larger group bookings (of over 16 people), please contact the Museum via email at operations@tnmoc.org . You will be asked to complete a Guided Tour Booking Form. If you would like to organise a visit from an educational institution (school, college or university etc), you can find out more about what is on offer through the Museum's Education Programme here: https://www.tnmoc.org/learning . Information Source: tnmoc | eventbrite

Our popular Public Guided Tours have returned for the holiday periods! In this two-hour walking tour, the evolution of computing will unfold before your eyes. Accompanied by one of our fantastic team of friendly and knowledgeable Museum Guides, adventure through the Museum and be captivated by the extraordinary artefacts in our unrivalled collection. Journey from the early electro-mechanical code breaking machines of WWII and the world's first entirely digital semi-programmable computer, discovering how technology evolved from valves and early semiconductors to the modern microprocessors we use today. You will uncover the development of large mainframes, supercomputers and scientific mini-computers, responsible for process control from office-based systems to airspace! The tour will conclude by exploring the rise of personal computing, mobile computing and the advent of the internet and smart devices, bringing you up-to-date by examining how this technology has revolutionised the way we now interact with machines and each other. Please note, to give you the best experience, places on our Public Guided Tours are limited to a maximum of 16 people. Our Public Guided Tours are primarily targeted towards an adult audience. We do not recommend our Public Guided Tour for anyone below the age of 11. On the Day: Please arrive at the Museum 15 minutes before your Public Guided Tour is due to start. On placing your booking, you will be emailed your ticket/s by Eventbrite. Please bring either a printed or digital version (on a phone or tablet) of your ticket/s to present at the Ticket Desk on your arrival. The meeting point for Public Guided Tours is in the Museum Shop. Please ask at the Ticket Desk for directions. Full Museum Admission is included in the ticket price for a Public Guided Tour. The Museum will be open to view between 10:30 and 16:30 , allowing you to further explore and be inspired by our extraordinary collection whilst you are here. For Private Guided Tour enquiries, or for larger group bookings (of over 16 people), please contact the Museum via email at operations@tnmoc.org . You will be asked to complete a Guided Tour Booking Form. If you would like to organise a visit from an educational institution (school, college or university etc), you can find out more about what is on offer through the Museum's Education Programme here: https://www.tnmoc.org/learning . Information Source: tnmoc | eventbrite

Are you bored shitless with traditional business networking in Milton Keynes? There is an alternative which is much more fun because it's designed to be entertaining and informative. You don't need to learn your elevator pitch. There are no rules. You don't have to turn up on time and you can even go early although you will miss some of the fun :-) The Business Growth Club Milton Keynes is deliberately designed to be different. We're a discussion based group. That discussion is led by an industry expert who will come and deliver what we call a 10 Minute Tip at the beginning. Would you like to come and deliver a tip? You'll get a lovely breakfast, cooked to order and served at the table. You'll meet genuinely interesting people who aren't trying to sell to you and you'll learn something really useful. Would that be useful? Here's the list of future Business Growth Club event dates. We meet every two weeks on a Friday morning from 7am until 9:30am. Which Friday morning suits you best? https://businessgrowthclub.co.uk/events If you've never been before you can claim our 241 deal at this link We all look forward to meeting you Regards, Mark Orr 07903 655 169 mark@printingandmailing.co.uk Information Source: The Business Growth Club Milton Keynes | eventbrite