Crofton Beam Engines, Marlborough

Interesting museum slightly out of the way. Fairly quiet when visited, but suspect when the boilers are working and the world's oldest working steam engine is running it will have a steady stream of visitors. Built to service the canals which traverse the landscape but need replenishing with water the beam engine pumps water up to the highest point on the canal to be stored in a large pond for use later in the locks. Each lock uses about enough water to fill a few baths ... about 2000 or so! Very scenic area overlooking the canal and main line railway from London to Penzance. Worth parking in their (pay & display) car park having a good look around the museum and then going for a walk down along the canal and pond (yes I know its technically called a pound not a pond).

Fairly interesting to walk around and nice views and atmosphere for a picnic. We lucked out as it was free on the day we came (though we had to pay for parking); not sure I’d be happy to pay too much for our family to walk through the engine rooms, etc. They had a few sheets for the kids to do which was nice (though some of it a bit above our 4 & 6 year olds).