Visit Us
The Pen Museum is located on Frederick Street in the heart of Birmingham’s world-famous Jewellery Quarter, in a former Victorian Pen factory built in 1863, a fabulous Lombardic Italianate red brick building then know as the Albert Works and now known as the Argent Centre and a Grade II* listed building.
Welcome
Find out here everything you need to know for your visit to the Pen Museum.
Pen Museum Welcome Guide Download
We strive to ensure your visit is safe, enjoyable, and inspirational.
Audio Guide
Throughout the Museum there are a range of activities for people of all ages to enjoy including:
Writing with a quill and ink.
Using typewriters.
Try your hand at calligraphy.
Use graphology to analyse your handwriting.
Hear first-hand experiences of pen workers.
Trails
3D Interactive Screen
QR code trail with soundbites and additional written information.
Plus, an opportunity to make your own nib using the same machinery once operated by workers in the 19th century. *
Gifts galore for everyone in our onsite shop.
*Please note that while we will always endeavour to offer activities as advertised on our website and leaflet, this is subject to change at short notice due to volunteer availability. On the day of visiting, this may mean that we offer you an amended visit. We appreciate your understanding and our commitment to delivering excellent customer service means that you will always receive the best visitor experience possible.
The Pen Museum is a Card only payment establishment.
Please ensure you bring a card or form of contactless payment with you when you visit our museum. This makes things much simpler and quicker for our front of house team allowing us to spend more time with visitors, and we find that our customers prefer it as it means we can serve them more quickly and enhances our security as well.
Opening Times
Thursday, Friday, Saturday: 11am to 4pm (Last Entry 3pm)
Sunday: 12pm to 4pm (Last Entry 3pm)
Christmas and New Year Holidays 2024/2025:
Museum Closed: Sunday December 26 to Thursday January 02
Tickets can be booked in advance via Art_Fund or simply ‘Walk Up’ to us on the day.
Booking online does help to ensure your visit and helps our planning.
Time Slots:
Half Hourly from 11am to 3pm Thursday, Friday, Saturday
Half Hourly from 12pm to 3pm Sunday
Maximum eight tickets per time slot.
Booking tickets to visit
You will be redirected to Art Tickets, our ticketing platform partner.
Click here to book your tickets or click on the ticket icon.
Art Tickets support services are on hand to speak to visitors needing help using the site:
Call +44 (0) 203 757 9772 or email arttickets@artfund.org
Prices
INDIVIDUAL
Adult: £7.95
Concession [Adults 65+]: £6.95
Students: £5.95
Child [5-15]: £3.95
Child (under 5): FREE
Family Ticket – 1 Adult 3 Children £17.80
Family Ticket – 2 Adults 2 Children £21.80
Essential Carer: FREE
Disabled adult visitors pay concession admission.
Please contact us in advance to discuss any exclusive access needs.
Group Visits of ten visitors or more please contact the Museum in advance to arrange a visit.
“Group were so full of congratulations regarding the visit. Didnt stop talking about it and were extremely impressed both with the Jewellery Quarter and Birmingham. Great visits thank you.” Arts Society, Dover, Deal and Sandwich, Kent.
Gift Aid donation. If you would like to donate and are a UK Taxpayer, choose the option to Gift Aid your standard ticket purchase from the Art Fund Tickets payment screen when booking online.
When visiting the Museum as a UK Taxpayer ask for a Gift Aid admission at the front desk, and confirm you are happy for the Pen Museum to receive additional esstential funds from the Government. For us to claim Gift Aid from admission’s, we must ask for a donation of at least 10% added to ticket price, we will receive an additional 25p for every pound you give to us at no extra cost to you. Thank You.
Access Requirements
Tickets booked online please show your ticket to our front of house volunteers, we do not require the ticket to be printed.
The Museum is broadly physically accessible, we have one step for entry, with flat access through a side gate. There is ramped access between rooms, all rooms are on the ground floor, we have an accessible toilet, and disabled street parking opposite the museum. Being on the ground floor most areas of the Pen Museum are wheelchair accessible.
We hope you enjoy your visit!
How to find our museum:
The Museum is a 10–15-minute walk from Birmingham’s central shopping area, as well as being well served by public transport.
Walking:
Follow Newhall Street into Graham Street and then turn right into Frederick Street. Entrance to the museum is just after Legge Lane.
Car:
Jewellery Quarter parking zone charges and hours of operation September 2024.
Charging hours are Monday to Saturday, 8am to 6pm, except Christmas Day and bank holidays.
If you display your Blue Badge, parking is free at pay and display on-street parking bays (with no time limits).
There is a mix of 2 hours and 4 hours maximum parking time bays – you cannot return to the same parking place within 2 hours of leaving. Visitors can also check charges that apply before they leave their parking site using the Freephone Number on the side of the machine.
Our museum is located within Birmingham’s Clean Air Zone (CAZ). If travelling to Birmingham check in advance if your journey is affected:
Public Transport Travel Information
Special Offer for Visitors
Enjoy 10% off Food and Drinks for Pen Museum ticket holders, before 5pm on day of admission. 1000 Trades is a neighbourhood bar and kitchen based in an historic grade II listed former jewellery workshop and badge factory.
Present your ticket to claim the discount.
Telephone:
+44 (0)121 236 9834
Email:
enquiries@penmuseum.org.uk