Derby Computer Museum

30/05/2026

😍 Don't forget we're open today 10am to 4pm! 😍

Either book online or get your tickets in reception. Details on how to find us on our website.

You'll have an amazing time, but don't just take our word for it. Hear from John Whitney and all the other wonderful reviews we have on Trip Advisor, Google, TrustPilot and Facebook.

Visiting us
🤖 We're open Saturdays 10am to 4pm (pre booking recommended but not essential)
🎂 Birthday parties available
🎓 School, college, cub, scout, guides, etc group bookings available
🍻 BYOB (bring your own booze) 18+ nights 6x times a year

29/05/2026

🕹 GAME OF THE WEEK - Super Monaco GP on Sega Master System from 1989 🕹

Developed and published in 1989, Super Monaco GP brought the excitement of Formula One racing to Sega’s 8-bit Master System, adapting the hugely popular arcade hit for home players. Whilst scaled back compared to the arcade cabinet, the game still captured an impressive sense of speed with its cockpit view, fast road scaling and intense checkpoint gameplay.

Unlike modern racing games filled with assists and forgiving controls, Super Monaco GP was tough. Players had to qualify for races, maintain their position against aggressive AI drivers and reach checkpoints before the timer expired. One mistake at high speed could send you spinning into the barriers and ruin an otherwise perfect run.

For many Sega Master System owners, this was one of the console’s standout racing titles. It demonstrated just how well Sega could push its 8-bit hardware, delivering an experience that felt fast, competitive and genuinely exciting.

A reminder of the era when arcade style racing games demanded quick reflexes, patience and determination.

Visiting us
🤖 We're open Saturdays 10am to 4pm (pre booking recommended but not essential)
🎂 Birthday parties available
🎓 School, college, cub, scout, guides, etc group bookings available
🍻 BYOB (bring your own booze) 18+ nights 6x times a year

Image courtesy of Wikipedia / Sega

27/05/2026

🕹 EXHIBIT OF THE WEEK - Sinclair Spectrum+ 128K from 1985 🕹

This was the final ZX Spectrum developed by Sinclair Research before the company’s computer division was sold to Amstrad. Building on the success of the hugely popular 48K Spectrum, the 128K model doubled the available memory and introduced a dedicated AY-3-8912 sound chip, giving games richer music and audio than ever before on a Spectrum.

Despite its improved hardware, the machine remained compatible with earlier software, allowing owners to continue using the enormous library of Spectrum games already available. Programs were still loaded from cassette tape, often accompanied by the unforgettable screeching tones and flashing borders that became part of the authentic 1980s gaming experience.

Its large side heatsink earned it the nickname “The Toastrack” and today it remains one of the most iconic British home computers ever produced.

This machine can be found on the second floor of the museum in our 70s/80s room. Come down this Saturday and check it out for yourself!

Visiting us
🤖 We're open Saturdays 10am to 4pm (pre booking recommended but not essential)
🎂 Birthday parties available
🎓 School, college, cub, scout, guides, etc group bookings available
🍻 BYOB (bring your own booze) 18+ nights 6x times a year

26/05/2026

A brilliant look back at what a serious home computer setup looked like in 1993. Check out this article by Paul Lefebvre!

https://www.goto10retro.com/p/my-1993-mega-ste-retro-battlestation

Visiting us
🤖 We're open Saturdays 10am to 4pm (pre booking recommended but not essential)
🎂 Birthday parties available
🎓 School, college, cub, scout, guides, etc group bookings available
🍻 BYOB (bring your own booze) 18+ nights 6x times a year

I recently came across a photo of my original Atari Mega STE setup from 1993.

23/05/2026

Keys left behind today

If they are yours please email [email protected]

23/05/2026

😍 Don't forget we're open today 10am to 4pm! 😍

Either book online or get your tickets in reception. Details on how to find us on our website.

You'll have an amazing time, but don't just take our word for it. Hear from Clare B and all the other wonderful reviews we have on Trip Advisor, Google, TrustPilot and Facebook.

Visiting us
🤖 We're open Saturdays 10am to 4pm (pre booking recommended but not essential)
🎂 Birthday parties available
🎓 School, college, cub, scout, guides, etc group bookings available
🍻 BYOB (bring your own booze) 18+ nights 6x times a year

22/05/2026

🕹 GAME OF THE WEEK - The Emperor's New Groove on Gameboy from 2000 🕹

Developed by Sandbox Studios and published by Ubisoft and Sony near the end of the Gameboy Colour’s lifespan, this handheld adaptation of Disney’s animated comedy transformed the adventures of Kuzco and Pacha into a colorful side scrolling platform game.

Players explored jungles, villages and ancient temples while solving puzzles and avoiding traps inspired by the film. Like many licensed games of the era, it reflects a time when major movie releases almost always received their own video game adaptations across multiple platforms.

What was your favourite video game adaption of a movie from this era?

Image courtesy of Wikipedia / Sony

20/05/2026

🕹 EXHIBIT OF THE WEEK - ACT Apricot PC Xi10 from 1984 🕹

This is a British computer which shares the same basic architecture as the IBM PC, but is not compatible with it. It runs MS DOS 2.11, and can even be made to run Windows 1.0 (although it does so very slowly!)

It has a semi-portable design in that it has a carrying handle and the keyboard can be clipped onto the main unit. The keyboard also has a built in LCD display which shows the time and date, and can be used as a calculator.

This machine can be found on the second floor of the museum in our 70s/80s microcomputers room. Come down this Saturday and check it out for yourself!

Visiting us
🤖 We're open Saturdays 10am to 4pm (pre booking recommended but not essential)
🎂 Birthday parties available
🎓 School, college, cub, scout, guides, etc group bookings available
🍻 BYOB (bring your own booze) 18+ nights 6x times a year

19/05/2026

Before downloads and app stores, games arrived through a cassette tape screeching into your Apple II.

Check out this article by Old School Gamer Magazine talking about Steve Wozniak’s tiny 37 line version of Breakout and how magical early home computing really was!

https://www.oldschoolgamermagazine.com/apple-ii-steve-wozniak-breakout-game-on-a-cassette/

Visiting us
🤖 We're open Saturdays 10am to 4pm (pre booking recommended but not essential)
🎂 Birthday parties available
🎓 School, college, cub, scout, guides, etc group bookings available
🍻 BYOB (bring your own booze) 18+ nights 6x times a year

A look back at Steve Wozniak’s Breakout game on cassette and discovering color arcade-style gaming at home in the 1970s and 1980s.

16/05/2026

😍 Don't forget we're open today 10am to 4pm! 😍

Either book online or get your tickets in reception. Details on how to find us on our website.

You'll have an amazing time, but don't just take our word for it. Hear from Ian McLean and all the other wonderful reviews we have on Trip Advisor, Google, TrustPilot and Facebook.

Visiting us
🤖 We're open Saturdays 10am to 4pm (pre booking recommended but not essential)
🎂 Birthday parties available
🎓 School, college, cub, scout, guides, etc group bookings available
🍻 BYOB (bring your own booze) 18+ nights 6x times a year