Swindon’s centrepiece for the millennium is STEAM - Museum of the Great Western Railway. This pound;11-million project, in a restored railway building, offers a hands-on approach to the history of rail travel. Exhibits are not limited to locomotives although these will feature in the shape of the massive King George V and Caerphilly Castle, two of GWR’s most famous engines. There will be platorm paraphernalia and displays on how railways opened up tourism to seaside resorts. Interactive attractions, educational programmes, audio-visual shows, computer graphics and multi-media presentations also feature. Admission: adults - pound;4.80; under-16s pound;3; under-5s free; family tickets pound;13.

For details of educational programmes tel: 01793 466 646. www.swindonweb.comsteam