The new family friendly exhibition coming to the Discovery Museum in March is all about the spirit of invention.

Fittingly, it’s called ‘Spirit of Invention’. This top hat – pictured – is a real bobby-dazzler, isn’t it? And if you look closely you’ll see that it has, embedded into the base of the main bit of the hat, a series of little windmill type things that were put there to offer the wearer a nice bit of head ventilation. It’s a Victorian invention (naturally) and its creative design was registered with the Board of Trade back in the day. This exhibition features this rather glorious hat along with other eye-catching inventions from years gone by (such as a typewriter for visually impaired people), along with newer technology. With hands-on interactive activities galore, visitors are sure to find plenty to keep them occupied here.

Spirit of Invention, 16 March-23 June, Discovery Museum, Newcastle, discoverymuseum.org.uk