Nestled in Brentford, just down the road from Kew Bridge, the London Museum of Water & Steam shares the history of the development of water and sewage works in London. The museum itself occupies the Old Kew Bridge Waterworks, built in 1838 to supply piped water to a number of West London neighborhoods.
As visitors wind through the exhibits, they view a variety of water and sewer artifacts dating back to the Roman era. One part of the museum takes visitors through a model of one of London’s famous brick sewers, as the sound of dripping water fills the tunnel.
The museum also features regular events, one of which involves the operation of the Old Kew Bridge Waterworks. A café sits just inside the museum’s entrance and has committed to employing young people with learning disabilities who have difficulty finding employment. The museum’s garden provides a calming outdoor space where visitors can eat, walk, or just sit and smell the flowers.