Reviews of The Long Shop Museum. (Museum) in Ipswich (Suffolk).

The Long Shop Museum

252 Reviews

171 Comments

Museum

Museum

15 Main St, Leiston IP16 4ES, United Kingdom

Description

Information of The Long Shop Museum, Museum in Ipswich (Suffolk)

On this page you’ll find the address, open hours, more popular times, the contact, photos and real reviews of this business.

This business has received very good reviews from their customers, so probably it’s a place you should try if you are looking for this kind of services.

Map

Open hours of The Long Shop Museum

Popular times

Monday

Tuesday

Wednesday

Thursday

Friday

Saturday

Reviews of The Long Shop Museum

M. T.

This remarkable museum traces the development of engineering manufacture in Leiston. Following the history of the Garrett family over more than two centuries, it is a tribute to their adaptability and inventiveness. You will see steam engines, fire engines, tractors, and much more, and crucially how and where they were designed and made, There is much to learn about invention and social history here. Well worth a visit if you are in the area.

B. &. L. H.

Very well laid out museum. Interesting for children too. History of local women in work too. Nice clean cafe. A good experience.

C. P.

Leiston seems to have been a company town, run by the Garrett family. The Steam Museum contains a wide variety of their products down the decades, from scythes to toys and washing machines to steam engines and fire engines. The steam engines are especially spectacular.

B. B.

What a gem this place is. Run by very friendly and informative volunteers. This museum is a must for anyone who is interested in British engineering history. The story of the family who owned the business in itself is interesting, but on top of this, it is fascinating to see how ingenious engineers are and how they adapt to changing times. There is also lots of wonderful history to be learnt on the changing role of women at work especially during wartime. Beautifully laid out and excellent exhibits.

P. R.

Fantastic museum. Real eye-opener of the history of a great engineering company and in the context if 2 centuries of social history. Brilliant volunteers have created a superb and absorbing museum, for adults and children alike. Well recommended.

l.

An amazing history of the Garrett family and the engineering works they founded. It shows the diversity of products through the ages that were produced and there are things to do to amuse younger visitors. Well worth a visit.

M. N.

Industrial museum with local history exhibits and connections to steam heritage. The Long Shop itself - an unmodernised early 19thC galleried industrial workshop - is the heart of the museum. The wood and iron framed shed, housing a static steam engine and multiple displays, bears the mark of two hundred years of craftsmanship. It's a fantastic sight. Restoration projects are always going on. Currently, a trolleybus originally made on site and rescued from somewhere, is being re-built. There are also some historic working steam traction engines, including a roller and a rare Suffolk Punch road locomotive. An annual Steampunk event in the summer is always a good day, and there is a programme of live steam days and events throughout the year.

R. A.

What a little gem, visited with a 9 and a 7 year old. There was so much to see, vehicles and machinery built by the company through the ages, with video screens showing how they work, a comprehensive exhibition on how they were designed and the tools and the people who built them. A display about the Garrett family, especially the women who helped shape the world we live in. The kids were given sheets with things to do, things to discover learning about science and engineering without realising, will definitely return.

D. P.

Good interesting museum with friendly helpfull staff

m.

What a lovely little museum, packed with items and info. Not huge and will take you only a couple of hours to get around but combine it with shopping or a trip to the beach at leiston and you have a great day.

D. H.

Lots of info of past history . Children some times get dressed up . They also do art and crafts one day . Have look its good .

C. B.

Didn't really know what to expect when we arrived but a fascinating place. Be prepared to spend a fair amount of time here if you want to see and read it all. Very cheap admission price and well worth every penny. Ample parking and although we attended on a day they didn't have engines in steam it wasn't disappointing.

P. C.

Took my 92 year old Dad around this afternoon for the end of season steam up - he greatly enjoyed it. He's fairly spry but for anybody with an elder just beware there are steps around, some uneven ground in the yards and the ladder to the gallery of the iconic Long Shop is really quite steep but worth the effort and there are chairs to sit on when you get to the top! Long Shop Museum replied: their comment suggested my father had struggled and that I was perhaps critical of their facilities. What I tried to convey was that the surroundings are typical of what you would expect of a Victorian factory (and is genuinely so) and the review was intended to be informative for folks - not to be off-putting - please go and you will have a very warm welcome and a great time learning about a key player in the Victorian industrialisation of Great Britain.

N. P.

Great building and interesting exhibits. Well worth a visit if you're in the area.

g. f.

An interesting place with a lot of different exhibits. Staff were so enthusiastic especially the chap in the shop restoring an old trolly bus. To sum up well worth a visit !

L. C.

Very well organised and interesting museum. Seems like a labour of love by those who run it. A fascinating insight into the Garrett family and their impact both local and global.

M. T.

This a great find for all the family! Steam engines to see and ride on, lots of engineering history with videos to explain for all, and even links to the first British woman pioneer of medicine! Totally worth it!

a. s.

We went for the Steampunk Spectacular and weren't dissapointed. Staff excellent as were the steampunk entertainers. Really enjoyed the traction enginges and steam train.

M. B.

Very interesting. Lots of history in there and an important part of Leistons history.

D. B.

More than a museum about the manufacturing factory, it is also a museum about some extraordinary women who were part of the family.

B. A.

Our first steam punk day, quite enjoyed it. Nice cake and tea to est and a lovely day.

R. V.

Lovely museum of Leiston engineering history. Friendly and helpful volunteer staff.

A. T.

Small but very interesting museum. Well worth a look if you are in the area and are interested in engineering and local history.

H. R.

It was a very interesting museum with very knowledgeable volunteers.

C. C.

Excellent few hours spent here. Excellent value for money. Staff very friendly and knowledgeable.

L. S.

So very interesting. Lots of stuff didn't know about. Well worth a trip

B. B.

Visited for the first time though it is not so far from us in October half term for their Steam final fling. Very interesting museum and amazed at the heavy engineering that went on here in the East. With the gift aid entry fee you actually get a years entry so I guess we'll be back next year sometime.

D. F.

Excellent working museum, many interesting glimpses into our engineering past, well worth a visit 😃

A. H.

We have been meaning to visit for ages. Well worth it.

J. p.

Fasinating place with extremely knowledgeable and friendly staff, lots of exhibits including Garret's original board room table, if only it could talk. worth a visit if in the area.

G. C.

Some very interesting exhibits but really not worth the ticket price. Perhaps the lockdown was still causing problems but I did feel a bit ripped off. We visited on a day when there was supposed to be a model railway exhibition. This proved to be half a dozen or so very small layouts which again was not worth the entry fee. Too expensive for a family visit and not worth it. Sorry.

S. C.

Very well laid out and good information boards

C.

Brilliant place the staff are very friendly and full of information. The kids really enjoyed finding out bits of information to fill in there passports and find the objects plus the drawing at the end.

L. R.

A really nice museum with several working engines, well worth visiting on an event day when everything is working.

I. T.

Various old surviving buildings of the former Richard Garrett empire. Many steam driven vehicles but also lots of interesting information about the local town, scale model of the nearby power station, the airfield during the war etc etc. Loads to read!

P. F.

Visited here with my grandson. The various rooms and displays required a fair bit of explanation to a 4-year old. But he really liked the WW2 display and the steam vehicles etc.

R. W.

Brilliant, lovely, rewarding place to visit. Not big, not interactive but it's a proper informative museum. Any one interested in engineering must go here. It's somewhere where Fred Dibnah would love to go.

M. B.

Lots of history ,really made welcome by the team

C. B.

It's Ok but could be so much more. Sounds and smells could be incorporated with narration via handsets. Needs to get into the 21st century in museum experience.

D. H.

Over 100 years of steam and mechanical engineering history in one place, well worth a visit, staff are very knowageable and helpful. A great place to spend a few hours especially when they have a steam weekend.

D. E.

Great piece of history run by volunteers.

D. L.

Overall the visit was enjoyable however access to the gallery is limited to able bodied or those without pushchair. It does feel a little date in areas and could do with some updating. However the children did enjoy the dressing up outfits. Another good thing is free return visits for a year.

M. W.

This is a must stop for all ages.Areas set out for children,dressing up clothes of the era and sand boxes to show how components were made,brass rubbings of Steam engines for all ages to participate in. Ample parking and you are able to return as many times as you like within a year if you retain your ticket. Such an interesting museum and extremely informative staff...shame no coffee shop but we will be visiting again

E. S.

Spent a couple of hours here - it is pretty small. Lots of nice touches to keep kids interested. They go around with magnifying glass, tape measure etc in a little tool belt. Lots of hands on stuff: puzzles, brass rubbing, cogs to play with. Interesting local history too.

M. R.

Informative, historical social and agricultural museam . covid aware, helpful volunteers, visit was spoilt by the amount of people who brought along dogs to a museam. Not everyone likes dogs

N. N.

History of Garrett manufacturing 18th to 20th century machines like thresher , lorries steam and diesel lots of history. Worth a visit if your nesr Leiston suffolk.

P. M.

A most intersecting collection, well worth a visit

J. L.

Had a fantastic time at the steampunk event!

M. D.

A great typical British local museum full of historical artefacts that tell the story of age gone by. Plenty of stuff for kids to play with and some good interactive features.

H. S.

Worth £6.50..Great collection and architecture. Probably spend a hour there. Lovely volunteers.

F. H.

Nicely curated museum, with live steam engines, that preserves a hugely important piece of our agricultural and industrial heritage. Dedicated and delightful volunteers make this a great visit.

I. T.

Great place live steam

S. T.

Great museum , fascinating story about the local engineering family and the pioneering women in it.

a. s.

A really good collection of this engineering companies artifacts and history. So many things recognised from the past, they made everything from steam engines and planes to industrial washing machines. Shame it closed down.

O. L.

Fantastic museum with helpful and knowledgeable volunteers.

A. P.

Fascinating museum marking this locations significant place in Britain's industrial history with some amazing exhibits both large and small. Well worth a visit if you are in the area.

G. C.

Interesting educational day Of by gone years based on"World War 2" Many dressed in the clothes and uniforms of the day Afternoon tea service available all home made (one mustn't forget one's tummy ). reasonable priced Displayes of miltary weapons Steam engines and much more I will go again to observe The Long shop with all it's History of era not to.before gotten .

O. C.

A nice museum, lots of displays. Good disability access to all areas except the gallery. The down side is no cafe, so no food or drinks.

H. M.

This is an absolute gem of a museum of engineering, design and manufacturing heritage. Not to be missed if you're in the area

M. N.

Really interesting if you are interested in the history of the Garrett family and everything they achieved

M. E.

Well worth a visit, what a diverse history this little museum displays.. a.An excellent way to pass a morning or an afternoon

I. F.

There is no doubt my life is richer for having visited. Very interesting. At £6.50 on a non event day, just a little overpriced in my humble opinion.

S. C.

Fascinating museum and friendly staff. They also allow dogs. Well worth a visit if you're interested in engineering and industrial heritage.

T. “. f. P.

A great visit if you are interested in historical engineering, both educational and informative. Great to see the traction engines running, friendly staff, and a nice location too.

A. M.

A museum that tells the history of Garrets engineering. Lots of exhibits not necessarily displayed to their best, this is something they are working on. Many many activities for younger kids.

D. W.

What a great museum, great staff and well worth spending a couple of hours in.

N. S.

Great place to visit... excellent selection of exhibits from steam era plus other engineering work... for various special events see website

P. P.

Plenty of interesting engineering, & farming history plus famous family women who pushed frontiers in medicine & emancipation

J. W.

So interesting to find out where it all started. Steam engines, traction engines threshing machines etc. If you have any interest you cannot go wrong with this place

J. T.

Steampunk weekend was great. Garret exhibition well worth a visit.

C. M.

Fascinating insight into the history of both the local area and steam engines. Great exhibits and friendly staff.

L. W.

Wonderfully curated, such kind volunteers. A must-go even for a non-type like me

T. S.

Great place to step back in time to understand our past heritage.

J. A.

Very interesting local history but a little ad-hoc and would benefit from better structure and organisation. Well worth a visit though.

J. F.

Good visit - Thanks to the staff @ the Museum - I dropped off a photo to them of the Erection Shop Employees around 60 of them with their names - photo around Circa1900

N. O. (.

The best working history museum in the area, friendly staff and such a gem in such a lovely little town. A must see for anyone.

D. W.

Good small museum good for people who are interested in local history

T. S.

The birthplace of the production line. Wonderful social history and big boys toys in the shape of traction engines and memorabilia. Strong school links.

P. G.

Fantastic museum with a very helpful & knowledgeable team of volunteers! Well worth a visit.

A. b.

Badly laid out no continunity a guided tour would improve things

K. N.

Interesting place to visit, clear displays and discovered a lot about Garrett we didn't know Plenty of activities to interest children Friendly staff

S. l. l.

Very interesting history about the first female British doctor Elizabeth Garrett Anderson and her sister Millicent Fawcett Garrett who was a Suffragist.

K. P.

Interesting museum, not too large and fascinating to learn it had the world's first assembly line factory!

J. P.

Fasinating building steeped with what made Britain great. Excellent value, I would imagine a couple of hours tops would allow you to take it all in

S. O.

If you're into local history then this is the place to visit. Knowledgeable staff and sometimes they have working steam engines too.

H. B.

Nice and small museum. It also has a kids search tour. Very good

M. S.

Small but well worth a visit. More than just local history.

E. G.

Fabulous, wonderful, educational. Loads of hands on activities for the kids. We cannot recommend The Long Shop enough.

T. m. L.

Lovely, lots of history to discover. Nice things to look at. Friendly people running it.

A. W.

Learned a lot about a firm I had never heard of previously, and it is well presented, with friendly staff.

D. P.

We had a lovely morning with the family... Not too expensive admission and very friendly staff.

m. h.

Lovely place to visit

n. h.

Very interesting place to visit and for little ones too for learning of how things are made and interactive things to make.

E. C.

Nice day out. Interactive stuff for kids , however many of the machines were not working on top floor.

M. S.

Wow it's a great little museum and the staff are really helpful

S. G.

Fantastic 1940's day out! Friendly and welcoming staff and volunteers would definitely go again!

D. F.

Absolutely brilliant museum and lots to see too.

J. E.

Hands on for the children. So much to see & read. Loved the jigsaw puzzles.

j. c.

lovely atmosphere and fascinating history - and some great motorcycles that day.

S. M.

Excellent museum of Victorian engineering. Visited for "steampunk" event which was good.

M. F.

Great place for a relaxed visit. Surprised at how much there was to see

D. B.

Very informative . If you like steam engines a great place to visit

p. c.

Really interesting.

D. M.

Interesting, very well presented with labelling and information. Unreal how people worked many years ago

T. H.

Very interesting for both children and adults. Plenty to see and do.

D. M.

Great place to bring children when they have the steam engines running

J. S.

Very interesting and several activity areas for young children

P. W.

Pop in and have a good look, staff are lovely.

T. B.

small but still worth a visit

j. s.

Fascinating place! So much local history which made a difference worldwide.

L. M.

Suffolk museums are full of interesting and fascinating history of the area.

d. b.

This is a very interesting place to visit if you are in the area!x

T. G.

Interesting little museum. Machines all taken care of with obvious love.

T. B.

Super local museum. It seems Richard Garrett beat Henry Ford to the production line.

G. B.

Very good needed more time to view exhibits

S. C.

Very child friendly and interesting museum

t. b.

Very informative . Small museum. Loads of exhibitions!

A. S.

Very good, staff were fantastic, very interesting place,

A. H.

Amazing to see, until quite recently, what a powerhouse of engineering Leiston was

P. R.

Generally very good, but on a steam day it is outstanding.

A. S.

Really interesting and the kids enjoyed it.

L. M.

Special steampunk event. Informative volunteers Will go again

S. A.

Yery interesting exhibits and exhibitions.

G. P.

Very good. Very enjoyable.

D. L.

Interesting history of the area & how the industrial revolution came about

s. s.

Great museum and lots of working steam

c. n.

Some great stuff. Good for children

R. H.

Excellent exhibits, friendly staff.

L. W.

Fascinating, enthusiastic staff.

S. P.

I keep going there but it has strange opening times can anyone help

C. M.

Very interesting would go again if in the area

I. K.

Great old history with atmosphere.

B. H.

Brilliant visit thoughly enjoyed it.

R. p.

Really interesting. V helpfull staff

d. s.

Great place to visit and lots to see.

J. M.

Reasonable price entry for whats there.

S. L.

Amazing place, so much to see

R. P.

Great.

C. S.

Lots to see and do. Very friendly staff

P. M.

Lovely community museum.

G. H.

Very interesting museum.

M.

Very good, a must visit in Leiston

E. T.

Lots of old tractors and other machines.

R. P.

Wonderful Suffolk museum.

M. W.

Really good place loads of info...

D. N.

Great day at the motorcycle event

P. E.

Excellent, will take others

C.

Very good

b.

A wonderful piece of history.

P. W.

Fascinating exhibits

J. B.

Well worth a visit.

S. G.

Interesting place .

S. M.

Good local museum

C. D.

A steam engine buffs nostalgia trip

D. J. 9.

The best

S. S.

Very interesting place

P. B.

Great place

M. S.

Excellent resource.

A. E.

Excellent museum

N. H.

Charmingly quaint!

G. B.

Perfect

K. T.

Very interesting

M. “. B.

Was interesting

D. C.

Fantastic. Nostalgic.

C. N.

Goid for children

R. Y.

Inexpensive

G. W.

Fascinating

C. C.

T. B.

G. B.

B. W.

Contact

Photos