Christmas at STEAM 2024

Christmas at STEAM

Saturday 7th – Sunday 8th December 2024,

10am – 5pm

We are delighted to announce that our Christmas extravaganza will be returning this winter!

Enjoy plenty of sparkles as you step into a wonderland of over 50 Christmas market stalls

set amidst STEAM’s award-winning museum displays and iconic GWR locomotives.

Find that unique gift at one of our specially selected market stalls…

From hand crafted silver jewellery, photographic prints, glass artworks and home furnishings…

…to Christmas tree decorations, wooden toys, traditional games, Christmas tree decorations, chutneys and luxury confectionery.

Santa’s Storytime

To complete the Christmas magic, Santa will be here on both days with his Storytime sessions.

Santa’s Storytime sessions cost £10.00 per child, in addition to Christmas at STEAM admission.

Children will enjoy a festive story, plus a wrapped gift in the Museum’s specially staged, Hawksworth Hall.

Santa’s Storytime lasts approximately 20 minutes.

Children must be accompanied by an responsible adult at all times (to help us to manage numbers in the space, we respectfully request a maximum of two adults per child).

To book a place, please visit our Christmas at STEAM online ticketing page and select your admission tickets. You will be prompted to select Santa’s Storytime on the next page.

Live Entertainment Programme

Back for 2024! Enjoy our festive live entertainment programme in STEAM’s characteristic Great Western Hall.

Included with your Christmas at STEAM admission ticket.

Saturday            

10.30: Emily’s Dance Academy

11.30: Kentwood Choir

12.45: Gilmore n’ Jaz

14.15: Lawn Manor School

15.15: Commonweal School

16.15: JHS Dance

Sunday

10.15: Esprit Arts

11.30: To be confirmed

14.00: Stage Starz

15.00: PSG Choir

Admission prices

Adult: £3.50
Child (3 – 15yrs): £1

Children under 16 must be accompanied and closely supervised by an adult at all times. Under 3s go FREE!

Opening Times

Saturday 7 December: 10:00 – 17:00 (last admission 16:00)

Sunday 8 December: 10:00 – 17:00 (last admission 16:00)

How to Find Us

Please be aware that there is no free parking for the event. Where possible, visitors are encouraged to use alternative methods of transport where possible.

Find out more about sustainable transport options on the Swindon Travel Choices website: www.swindontravelchoices.co.uk

Regular bus services provided by Swindon’s Bus Company www.swindonbus.co.uk and Stagecoach West www.stagecoachbus.com

Car parking for STEAM special events is in the Swindon Designer Outlet North and West car parks. Please note there is no free parking for STEAM special events. There is strictly no car parking outside of the Museum except for Blue Badge holders.

To find the North car park using a Sat Nav, please enter Kemble Drive. For the West car park, it’s Penzance Drive. Please be aware, the Swindon Designer West Car Park (accessible via Penzance Drive) is likely to be a little less busy than the North Car Park on Kemble Drive.

Please note the bus lane next to the West Car Park should NOT be used. Cameras are in use and fines will be issued by Swindon Borough Council to any car drivers using the bus lane.

To enter the West Car Park avoiding the bus lane, please use the postcode SN5 7JL.

Please be aware that road traffic around Kemble Drive and the Swindon Designer Outlet car parks can get very busy at weekends, especially when there is a special event happening. We advise you allow plenty of time for parking as there may be traffic queues for these car parks.

The charges for the North or West Car Parks are £2 for up to 5 hours and £12 thereafter.

Alternative parking is available at the nearby Bristol Street car park (postcode: SN1 5EQ), which is approximately a 7 minute walk away from STEAM.  The charges at Bristol Street Car Park are: up to 5 hours – £1.10, 5 to 12 hours – £13.20, 12+ hours for £27.50.

To reach STEAM from Bristol Street Car Park on foot, please leave via the same access you used to drive into this car park; there is a blue pedestrian sign to guide you. Turn left once outside the car park and continue until you come to a pedestrian plinth sign directing you through the GWR tunnel connects to the Churchward site. Your route will pass the Historic England offices and residential apartments, soon leading to STEAM.

Nearby car parks also include the Brunel North and Brunel West multi-storey car parks, located 10-15 minutes walk from STEAM.