The National Museum of Computing

The National Museum of Computing, located at Bletchley Park, is an independent charity. It houses the world's largest collection of functional historic computers and World War II machines, including Enigma, Lorenz, the working Turing-Welchman Bombe, the rebuilt Colossus (the world’s first electronic computer), and the WITCH (the world's oldest working digital computer). The Museum enables visitors to follow the development of computing from the ultra-secret pioneering efforts of the 1940s through the large systems and mainframes of the 1950s, 60s and 70s, and the rise of personal computing in the 1980s and beyond.

The Museum runs a highly successful Learning Programme for schools and colleges and promotes introductions to computer coding amongst young people, especially females, to inspire the next generation of computer scientists and engineers.

Mission Statement

To bring to life the history and ongoing development of computing for inspiration, research, learning and enjoyment for the benefit of general and specialist publics of all ages.

  • In support of this we acquire, conserve, restore and reconstruct historic computing machinery for preservation, display, demonstration and research.

  • Emphasis is on British computing heritage and on ongoing British contribution to innovation and development.

  • Our distinctive approach involves engaging visitors through interactive displays and demonstrations of working historic systems, allowing them to experience the evolution of computing firsthand.

We provide context through active education programmes, festivals, lectures, visitor activities, and interpreted exhibition and interactivity to raise awareness and inspire future generations of computer scientists, engineers and inventors.

Our relationship with the Bletchley Park Trust

The National Museum of Computing is an independent registered charity responsible for its own fundraising, sponsorship and management. The National Museum of Computing is located in Block H on the Bletchley Park estate, which is managed by the Bletchley Park Trust, an entirely separate charity.

Our legal identity

The National Museum of Computing was incorporated as a company limited by guarantee in 2005, company number 05407952. The company was granted charitable status in England and Wales in 2005, charity number 1109874.

Registered Office

The National Museum of Computing
Block H
Bletchley Park
MILTON KEYNES
MK3 6EB