Explore the Faraday Museum
Lower ground floor
From the first electrical transformer to the tube that told us why the sky is blue, view the actual objects scientists of the Royal Institution built in some of the world's most famous experiments.
Discover the key role that the Ri has played in the development of the modern world – from the thermos flask to the device that saved the lives of countless miners.
Visit Faraday's magnetic laboratory displayed as it was in the 1850s, opposite a current state-of-the-art nanotechnology lab.
Plus, try your hand at our chemical elements game: Test your reaction times and spot the 10 elements discovered at the Ri as they appear in our fast-and-furious elements song.
Ground floor
Meet the many characters in the story of the Ri.
There's our Museum's namesake, Michael Faraday, the bookbinder's apprentice who got a job here through a lucky break and went on to become a scientific hero. But there's also his boss, the arrogant yet charismatic Humphry Davy, and Ada Lovelace, mathematician and daughter of Lord Byron.
You can also find out about the 14 Nobel Prize winners who have worked at the Ri.
This floor includes a stunning display of some of the people that have made the Ri what it is.
First floor
From the beginning of our history, the Ri has been famous as a place to discover and discuss the world around us. Many of the greatest scientists from the last 200 years have appeared in our famous theatre.
We celebrate just a handful of them here on the first floor – in paintings, unusual props and film clips. Find out what a boomerang, a stuffed kangaroo and a saw have in common, and discover the unfortunate side effects of too much laughing gas.
Can’t find what you’re looking for?
If you have a research query regarding aspects of the collection which are not on permanent display please contact the archives team.
The collections
The collections of the Royal Institution include the apparatus and experimental equipment of many of the scientists, who have researched, lectured and lived in the building, alongside an impressive array of art and sculpture.
Museum Accreditation
The Michael Faraday Museum at the Royal Institution was assessed by the Museums, Libraries and Archives Council (MLA) in July 2009 and was officially accredited on 20 September 2009.
MLA's Accreditation Scheme sets nationally agreed standards for UK museums. To meet the requirements of the scheme, museums must demonstrate that they achieve clearly defined standards relating to governance and management, services for users, visitors facilities and collections management.
As an accredited museum the Michael Faraday Museum is committed to continuous improvement; we are currently working to improve access to and interpretation of our collections both front of house and behind the scenes.
