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Top 5 things to see at the Science Museum if you love codebreaking

Follow this codebreaking and communications trail and go on a journey of exploration and discovery around the Science Museum.

Stop 1: Mathematics: The Winton Gallery

The first stop on our codebreaking and communications tour is the stunning Mathematics: The Winton Gallery on level 2 of the museum. In this gallery, you will find an unassuming book that is called ‘Polygraphic Papers’ that was a coder/decoder used in the late 18th century.

Stop 2: Mathematics: The Winton Gallery

If you continue to explore Mathematics you will come across an Enigma machine dating back to 1923.

Stop 3: Information Age gallery

Head along to our Information Age gallery and explore the six themed zones – Cable, Broadcast, Exchange, Constellation, Web and Cell that celebrate more than 200 years of innovation in communication technologies.

Watch our curator’s guide to the gallery to discover the must-see objects and keep your eyes peeled for the hands-on ‘cell phone game’ that challenges you to create the perfect telephone network.

Stop 4: Making the Modern World gallery

Head down to the ground floor and explore our Making the Modern World gallery. Here you will not only find a Supercomputer dating back to 1976 but a whole case full of technology that we still use in everyday life such as telephones and computers. Can you spot a certain popular gaming device that dates back to the nineties?

Stop 5: Transmission app 

Continue the fun with our Transmission app, a puzzle game that challenges you to create increasingly complex networks and weave connections to communicate ever greater amounts of information. Download now for free from iTunes and Google Play.

Where to eat 

Cupcakes at Energy Cafe

Finally stop off at the Energy Cafe for some well deserved lunch – or to treat yourself to one of our homemade cakes and an award-winning coffee.


The Science Museum is open 10.00-18.00, seven days a week (last entry 17.15)Head to our website to pre-book your free tickets.

Free WiFi is available throughout the museum.