London Museum of Water & Steam

Our Story

Since 1974, the Museum has been the guardian of the history of the Kew Bridge Waterworks and our amazing collection of engines. We were built on the determination and ingenuity of a group of volunteers and many of those volunteers then went on to form the nucleus of our Member’s program that exists today. 

It's been a difficult few years and our finances are now stretched almost to breaking point. Covid 19 changed the face of cultural heritage visiting and visitor numbers have still not recovered to pre-pandemic levels. To compound this high inflation has increased many of our core costs, in particular utilities, insurances and cleaning. We have no support from government or local authorities, we are an independent charity. 

We are making an Urgent Appeal

We’ve got a strong forward plan and an exciting new vision which brings back steam and life to our engines. We are excited about the future but we recognize that we need to develop a much more sustainable operating mode that gets the balance right between generating visitor income and being a community resource. But it will take time to get there. Time we don’t have without extra funds to survive. So we’re asking for your help. You are crucial to realizing the future of the London Museum of Water and Steam – to our ongoing survival. 

What next?

Our 50th anniversary is just around the corner, celebrating the achievements of those first volunteers and all who have come after! Help us make it a reality. Steam forward into history, and become a part of London’s water & steam story!

Please donate whatever amount you feel able to. If you are a UK taxpayer, you can increase your donation by 25%, at no extra cost to you, by choosing to ‘Gift Aid’.

The museum is central to our communities.

Speak Out in Hounslow: If [the Museum] was to close, our members with learning disabilities and/or autism and their parents/carers would be absolutely devastated. For them the museum is a safe place where they feel welcomed and included and for several members, the only time they leave their homes is when they attend our activities there. This is due to the accessibility and the facilities that meet their needs. They are proud to be part of the museum community and physically change when they realise that it is a place that they can come to without judgement.  

Local resident Eamonn, who meets at the museum as part of an independent community mental health support group called it a life line and said: ‘[The London Museum of Water & Steam] is a space we have come to love and rely on. It is an important source of support…’ 

Our vital community partner Our Barn who provide our food and beverage offer said: [closure of the museum] would disrupt the critical work that we do in empowering young adults with learning difficulties and autism, supporting families, and fostering community bonds. The loss of this invaluable space would be felt deeply by those who depend on it for growth, inclusion, and a sense of belonging’