Everyone can become an inventor for the day at Spirit of Invention, a free exhibition and interactive experience at The National Archives in London which opens on Saturday May 27.

The gallery at The National Archives will be transformed into a creative workshop where visitors of all ages can experiment, explore and enjoy hands-on activities with a range of materials.

The exhibition is inspired by some of the many original design ideas preserved at The National Archives and includes an aerial flying machine and an early telephone – which will be available for test calls!

Spirit of Invention also showcases new and cutting-edge innovations such as a necklace that changes colour when air quality is poor and clothing that expands with children as they grow.

The National Archives is home to a huge number of designs, including many registered during the Victorian era when rapid social change sparked a flurry of inventive ideas from people across all walks of life.

Emmajane Avery, Director of Public Engagement at The National Archives said: “We are excited to be able to share this fascinating series of records and to showcase how people are responding to the challenges of today through their creations and innovations.

“We are looking forward to a summer of creativity and fun as we see how our visitors of all ages are inspired by the Spirit of Invention.”

The exhibition examines the story of invention itself, asking why humans are driven to innovate, what makes an inventor, and how failure, hard work and tenacity in the invention process help us push forward to success.

It was co-curated by The National Archives with children from a local primary school and British entrepreneur Ruth Amos, and will be accompanied by an exciting programme of events and activities throughout the summer.

Modern inventions featured in the exhibition include:

Clothes that grow with children by Petit Pli.

London-based wearable technology company, Petit Pli, founded by Ryan Mario Yasin, engineers clothes that grow with children by embedding a patented structure which expands bi-directionally to fit children aged between nine months and four years.

Clean Air Necklace by Allie Katz
The necklace contains 185 individually addressable LEDs and a particulate matter sensor. The sensor reads the air quality and the necklace responds in real time, displaying different colours and animations based on the amount of particulates in the air.

The Deluxe Detangler by Younma Mouhamad

Inventor Younma says: “[This comb] replicates my mother’s trick. Its patented mechanism evenly coats hair with conditioner, which enhances slip. It enables easy detangling, even distribution and fast application, saving up to 30 minutes.”

Spirit of Invention is free to visit and open from May 27 until October 29, 2023. Opening times vary, please check our website (www.nationalarchives.gov.uk) for details. There is a café and shop at The National Archives.

As part of the exhibition, the Spirit of Invention Festival Day will take place at The National Archives on Sunday June 4th from 11am until 4pm, featuring workshops, demonstrations and guest inventors. Tickets for the festival day cost £5 per person (£2.50 for under-fives) and can be booked in advance at Eventbrite.