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Pen Museum

The Pen Museum & Learning Centre young girl and father using historic pens you,g boy and mother looking at pen museum display

Making steel pen nibs in Birmingham during the Victorian era was a major industry with 129 companies employing circa 8,000 workers (mainly women). By visiting the Pen Museum, you will discover a wide range of fascinating objects and details that help tell the story of Birmingham’s pen trade and its important legacy including the link between a prominent pen manufacturer (Josiah Mason) and the establishment of the University of Birmingham.

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 plus an exciting opportunity to make your own nib using the same machinery once operated by women workers in the 19th century.

 

The Pen Museum has launched it’s brand new events programme for 2025! Featuring Murder Mystery’s, Calligraphy workshops from all over the world and so much more. Join us as in Victorian Brum as we celebrate our own Steel Pen Industry Click here to find our Full Events List

Detailed Information

Contacts:

Address:
The Pen Museum,
Unit 3, The Argent Centre,
60, Frederick Street,
Jewellery Quarter,
Birmingham
B1 3HS.
Tel: 0121 236 9834.
Contact Person: Huw Jones


Museum Website


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Admission (from 1st April 2025)

  • Adult £8.50
    Concession (Adults 65+) £7.50
    Student £6.50
    Child £4.25
    Child (under 5) £0.00
    Essential Carer £0.00

    Family Tickets

    1 Adult 3 Children £19.00
    2 Adults 2 Children £23.50

    Tickets can be pre-booked via the Museum website.

     




Opening Hours

  • Thursday 11am to 4pm
    Friday 11am to 4pm
    Saturday 11am to 4pm
    Sunday 12pm to 4pm

  • Please note that pre-booking is recommended, this can be done from our website

Facilities

  • Shop.
  • Meeting room for hire
  • Toilets.

Services

  • Calligraphy classes and workshops
    Family events
    Group visits by arrangement a circular display  of hundreds of pen nibs

Disabled Visitors

  • Partly wheelchair accessible
    Accessible toilets

How to get there:

  • Train: From Birmingham Snow Hill to Jewellery Quarter Station, 1500 yards from station.
    Tram: From Birmingham City Centre to Jewellery Quarter Station, 1500 yards from station.
    Bus: 101 from City Centre stops outside the Pen Museum.

Parking

  • Cars: Pay-and-Display street parking
  • Coaches: Set down/pick-up at door.

Average Length of Visit

  • 1 hour.