Get your walking shoes on and explore Handsworth, the place where James Watt came to make his mark on the world!

Combine a visit to Galton Valley Pumping Station with a walk along the canal to the site of James Watt's Smethwick Engine, now preserved at Thinktank.

In 1785 Chester Flour Mill installed a Watt engine and became the first steam driven flour mill. Hear about the mill and the 2002 archaeological excavations which exposed the engine house.

Get your walking shoes on and explore Handsworth, the place where James Watt came to make his mark on the world!

Get your walking shoes on and explore Handsworth, the place where James Watt came to make his mark on the world!

Get your walking shoes on and explore Handsworth, the place where James Watt came to make his mark on the world!

Hear how James Watt’s pioneering work on improving steam engines led to a highly successful partnership with the industrialist and entrepreneur Matthew Boulton.

Hundreds of people worked for James Watt and Matthew Boulton. Hear about everyday workers’ experiences and relationships with their employers.

Be inspired by James Watt and his friends in the Lunar Society. Come and create your very own pastel drawing of the moon.

Come behind the scenes at Birmingham Museums Trust on a conservation studio tour. See objects being prepared for display in the James Watt Exhibition (July/ Oct; Library of Birmingham).

Soho Steam Day celebrates the great inventor and steam pioneer James Watt with model steam engines and miniature model railway.

James Watt was the proud owner of a Brewster kaleidoscope. Be inspired by the Divine Beauty of the windows in Birmingham Cathedral and create your own colourful kaleidoscopic artwork.

The Smethwick engine is the oldest steam engine in the world.
See it in action.

Geology was one of James Watt’s many interests and letters about the Lickey Hills are in the Watt archive. This walk will explore the geology of these much loved hills.

James Watt Junior lived at Aston Hall for nearly 30 years and made it a comfortable home. This talk is an introduction to James Watt Jnr followed by a guided tour of the Hall.

Enjoy a James Watt themed guided tour of Soho house. The tours are repeated every Wednesday and Thursday in June.

Visit the remains of Ecton Copper Mine in Staffordshire. A Boulton and Watt steam engine was installed here in 1788 and the engine house survives.

On Thursdays in June, discover hidden Handsworth with a walking tour that explores this diverse area and investigates Watt’s decision to relocate here.

Combine a visit to Galton Valley Pumping Station with a walk along the canal to the site of James Watt's Smethwick Engine, now preserved at Thinktank.

Find out how Matthew Boulton and James Watt used contemporary newspapers and other print to promote their steam engine business.

St Paul’s church will be celebrating in floral arrangements the life and achievements of James Watt. The church will be open on Fri 14, Sat 15 and Sun 16 June. Opening times vary.

Hear about the development of Victorian cemeteries and the memorials erected for James Watt in Birmingham and beyond.

A special evening concert of music and readings from the life and times of James Watt, followed by a drinks reception.

Make your way to the Science Museum, London, for a guided tour of Watt’s Workshop filled with over 8000 original objects dating back to Watt’s time.

This talk will examine the Lunar Society in the context of the wider European Enlightenment movement

Research into the Watt family papers has shed some light on James Watt’s private life. This talk will look at relationships with his wives Peggy and Ann, his son Gregory and daughter Margaret.

Visit the remains of Ecton Copper Mine in Staffordshire. A Boulton & Watt steam engine was installed here in 1788, the engine house survives. Also 17 July.

FULLY BOOKED. Join blue badge guide Diana Perowne for a walking tour around Birmingham city centre taking in historic sites associated with the Lunar Society.

Come along every weekend in July for a James Watt themed family Lego session at Thinktank. Sessions are 45 minutes and start at 12.30 1.30 or 3.30.

Combine a visit to Galton Valley Pumping Station with a walk along the canal to the site of James Watt's Smethwick Engine, now preserved at Thinktank.

Hear about the life of James Watt Jnr; his work for the Boulton and Watt firm, how he protected his father’s legacy and the task of furnishing Aston Hall.

Harper’s Hill was James Watt’s first family home in Birmingham. This illustrated talk reveals its history using maps and archive material from the James Watt and Family Papers.

Be ingenious, imaginative and inspired and create the next ‘must have’ invention.

The Smethwick engine is the oldest steam engine in the world.
See it in action.

Come along to Soho House and take part in some hands on Crazy Science inspired by James Watt’s experiments. Bring a picnic and relax in the garden afterwards.

Visit the remains of Ecton Copper Mine in Staffordshire. A Boulton & Watt steam engine was installed here in 1788, the engine house survives. Also 14 August.

Come along to Soho House and be inspired by James Watt. Imagine, think and build big structures in the garden with mega blocks of Imagination Playground

Combine a visit to Galton Valley Pumping Station with a walk along the canal to the site of James Watt's Smethwick Engine, now preserved at Thinktank.

This talk will provide an insight into the problems encountered with some of Watt’s early commercial steam engines. Hear about troubles at Ecton Copper Mine (Staffordshire) and Chester flour mill.

This talk will look at James Watt not just as an engineer but as a friend, an inventor, a father, a husband, and a sometimes anxious genius.

Come and design incredible inventions inspired by the life of James Watt, his Lunar Society friends and the Summer Reading Challenge which celebrates the moon landings 50 years ago.

A rare opportunity to join archivist Fiona Tait behind the scenes at Birmingham Archives and view original documents from the James Watt Archive Collection.

Visit the remains of Ecton Copper Mine in Staffordshire. A Boulton & Watt steam engine was installed here in 1788, the engine house survives. Also 21 September.

Combine a visit to Galton Valley Pumping Station with a walk along the canal to the site of James Watt's Smethwick Engine, now preserved at Thinktank.

Join Ben Russell, curator of Mechanical Engineering, as he explores the contents of James Watt’s workshop preserved at the Science Museum London

Come to Soho House and create lunar pastels. Find out more about Watt’s friendships with other Lunar Society members.

Meet model maker David Hulse and hear how he built the scale model steam engine on display in the exhibition.

Join the friends of St Mary’s church and discover the stories behind its many memorials, including a large statue of James Watt.

Sonic artist Bobby Bird aka Higher Intelligence Agency will give an immersive live surround sound performance of his composition Watt’s Orbit in St Paul’s Church

Designed by Samuel Wyatt, Heathfiled House was completed in 1790. Join Rita McLean to hear about the influential Wyatt dynasty and their many connections with Boulton and Watt enterprises.

Combine a visit to Galton Valley Pumping Station with a walk along the canal to the site of James Watt's Smethwick Engine, now preserved at Thinktank.

Be amazed by this spectacle of light and images projected onto Soho House against the night sky.

Join the friends of St Mary’s church and discover the stories behind its many memorials, including a large statue of James Watt.

Geology was one of James Watt’s many interests and letters about the Lickey Hills are in the Watt archive. This walk will explore the geology of these much loved hills.

An interactive drop-in session with live demos of 3D scanning and 3D printing. Get yourself 3D scanned and maybe even get a mini-3D selfie made!

An exciting make and take activity for creative geniuses inspired by James Watt’s copying inventions.

The Smethwick engine is the oldest steam engine in the world.
See it in action.

Join in and help the Birmingham Trees for Life Team as they plant trees in Handsworth Park.