Information Age gallery tour

Explore 200 years of information and communication technology with our knowledgeable volunteer guides. From the earliest telegraph communications to 21st-century innovations, join our guides on a tour of the must-see Information Age gallery. Learn about important technological innovations and their impact they made on our world, such as: The first BBC radio broadcast from London, marking the birth of British public radio and the start of a new era for at-home listening. How the rapid expansion of the telephone network in the late 19th and early 20th centuries led to employment opportunities for thousands of women as telephone exchange operators. The groundbreaking performance of American activist and singer Paul Robeson despite restrictions on his freedom of movement, made possible by the new Atlantic telephone cable. How smaller and smaller computer microprocessors have revolutionised smartphones, transforming how we connect to the world and each other. Our volunteer guides also deliver short 10-minute Spotlight talks on their favourite objects and stories in our galleries. Check with the Information and Ticketing desk (Level 0) for more details