Derby Computer Museum

21/10/2026

🕹 EXHIBIT OF THE WEEK - Dragon 32 from 1983🕹

Have you ever used a Dragon computer?

Named so due to its 32 kilobytes of RAM (with the same naming convention used for the later Dragon 64), the Dragon 32 was an 8-bit home computer. While they were initially well received, the computer had limitations in graphics and hardware-supported text modes, which caused it to struggle in the gaming and educational markets.

It came with a Microsoft BASIC interpreter in ROM and was capable of running multiple disk operating systems, and some popular games were ported to the system.

If you want to see and use computers and consoles like this, you can at the museum!

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

20/10/2026

20/10/2026

Celebrating 30 years of Tomb Raider, a free event is happening at Derby Market Hall on the 24th October (this Saturday!), and we have set up some machines with the classic games for you to play.

More information can be found here: https://www.derby.gov.uk/news/2026/october/derby-market-hall-to-host-free-lara-croft-day/

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

Derby Market Hall will host a day of free family-friendly activities as part of a city-wide celebration marking 30 years of gaming icon Lara Croft.

17/10/2026

😍 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 Rob White 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

16/10/2026

🕹 GAME OF THE WEEK - Horace Goes Skiing on ZX Spectrum from 1983 🕹

Have you played a Horace game? Which was your favourite?

Horace Goes Skiing is a classic game and my favourite of the Horace games, Hungry Horace and Horace and the Spiders being the other two in the series created by William Tang. Horace to the Rescue was announced but never finished, due to Tang's ill health, and the forth Horace game (Horace In The Mystic Woods) was created by Michael Ware and originally only developed for the Psion Series 3.

Do you want to see how you would do at Horace Goes Skiing? Come and give it a try in the 70/80s room on the 2nd floor of the museum!

Cover art courtesy of Sinclair/Beam Software

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

14/10/2026

🕹 EXHIBIT OF THE WEEK - Atari 2600 from 1977🕹

Originally launched as the Atari Video Computer System (VCS), the 2600 came with two joystick controllers, a conjoined pair of paddle controllers, and a game cartridge of Combat.

Space Invaders, Breakout and Pitfall! were some of the many massively popular games on this console, but the game that introduced me to this console was actually the worst: E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial.
E.T. and the console port of Pac-Man were massive losses and are considered the start of the decline for the Atari 2600, along with being a contributing factor in the video game crash of 1983.

If you want to try it out yourself, you can find one in the 70s/80s room on the 2nd floor of the museum! 🕹️

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

13/10/2026

🕹️ Did you ever have an Atari 800? 🕹️

The Atari 800XL is back, with 25 pre-loaded games, including classics like Centipede, Millipede, and Missile Command, plus a cartridge slot for titles originally released on the system.

You can read more about it here:
https://www.engadget.com/2281551/the-atari-800xl-hybrid-gaming-console-is-back-after-decades-in-obscurity/

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

This updated version connects via HDMI and comes with 25 built-in games.

11/10/2026

Want to play video games, chill out with your mates, and enjoy a drink and some food at the same time? Then maybe a dance on our "dance floor" with some dance music classics?

Well come along to our next BYOB on Sat 17th October - 6pm to 10.30pm

🍻 Bring your own booze or soft drink!
🕹 Play approx 60 hands on machines from the 70s, 80s and 90s to your hearts content!!
🎶 Live DJ(s) playing house/dance

Book online:-
https://www.derbycomputermuseum.co.uk/byob-retro-gaming-nights

11/10/2026

BYOB this coming Sat 17th Oct, 6pm to 10.30pm

** Get your tickets before they sell out!! **

- Play approx 60 hands on machines from the 70s, 80s and 90s to your hearts content!!

- Live DJ(s) playing house/dance

- Bring your own booze or soft drinks, or food to enjoy whilst you play (note Sat 4th April date is a sober / no booze only event)

Book on our website (link in bio or see link in comments)

Just £7 if booked in advance online

10/10/2026

🌧️🎮As the weather is getting cold and rainy again, it's a perfect time to come and visit us at Derby Computer Museum! 🎮🌧️

With 60 hands-on machines on 2.5 floors, there is plenty to have a go with and keep out of the bad weather. Let us know what your favourite game to play is!

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