Days Out: Exploring the Amazing Science Museum
Enjoy a fun day out exploring science, maths, and technology at the amazing Science Museum. It’s a space explorer’s and budding scientist’s dream.
Half-term is in full swing and the sun is out! Time for some summer fun. We have been meaning to visit the Science Museum for some time. When a good friend organised a museum outing for our toddler girls, I was very happy to oblige. Off to the Science Museum for some educational fun and exploration about science, space, and chemistry!
With over five levels, the Science Museum is a budding scientist’s dream. With young kids in tow, you won’t be able to explore everything at the Science Museum in one day. Here is my recommended route if you are visiting with young kids to the Science Museum. In terms of amenities at the Science Museum, every floor has a cafe and rest areas as well as baby changing facilities. There are also lifts, as many of us with young children will opt to bring a buggy. Entry is free however timed-entry tickets are required, and additional tickets are required for the interactive galleries. Note that the South Kensington tube station is not step-free.
Wonderful WonderLab
The first order of business is to explore the WonderLab: The Equinor Gallery located on the third floor. It is on the same floor as the Flight Gallery in case you have an aspiring pilot who want to learn about aviation history. Our girls weren’t interested so we made a beeline to the WonderLab.
The WonderLab is an amazing interactive gallery for kids to explore and learn about science and maths that shape our world. The WonderLab is divided into seven different interactive zones: Matter, Force, Light, Electricity, Maths, Sound, and Space. It is truly a wonderful place to explore the beauty of science. Lady Yeya loved the Friction Slides, which has three slides with varying degrees of friction to demonstrate different resistance levels. Of course, she was bold and picked to go down the fastest slide. Meanwhile, the Orbit demonstrates how the Moon orbits the Earth in a prograde direction, which the girls absolutely loved. They marvelled at the moon, stars, and earth before running riot at various interactive stations.
The WonderLab is staffed by Science Explainers who give mini-lectures and demonstrations about various topics throughout the day. Over at the Chemistry Lab, students from the nearby French Lycée were enjoying a lesson on the periodic table. There’s also an amphitheatre where kids can enjoy a 20-minute live demonstration about matter and sound.
There is an admission fee to enter the Wonderlab. I recommend going to the WonderLab as your first stop in the morning for a few hours of exploration fun before stopping for lunch at the 3rd floor cafe. You’ll need a break to re-energise and re-fuel as there is so much to explore at the Science Museum.
Space Exploration and the Modern World
If you have a space-mad child, you’re in luck as there are several “space men” on display. From Sputnik to Helen Sharman to Yuri Gagarin, the Exploring Space Gallery on the ground floor provides a historical narrative of human space exploration. Flanking the amazing earth are space suits, space crafts, rockets, satellites, and more! For all the Apollo 11 fans, the Eagle has landed at the Science Museum! There’s a full-sized replica of the famous spacecraft who landed on the moon in 1969 with commander Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin.
Additionally, kids will love the Making the Modern World Gallery which celebrates the technological achievements and industrialisation over the past 250 years. From the evolution of the automobile to the first Apple computer to Apollo 10 to locomotives to aircrafts, kids will enjoy exploring these fascinating objects that shape our modern world. Similarly the Model Walkway is a fascinating collection of various types of scale miniatures which the kids absolutely loved. If you’re short on time with young kids in tow and can only visit one floor, make it the ground floor.
Interactive Galleries: The Pattern Pod and the Garden Gallery
Before leaving the ground floor, be sure to visit the Pattern Pod located next to the IMAX theatre. The Pattern Pod is a fun multi-sensory interactive exhibition perfect for children under 8. As the name implies, it’s all about patterns and shapes in an array of psychedelic colours. Jump for joy in “water” to stimulate the ripple effects.
For young children under 6, the Garden located at the basement level is a lovely space for children to explore elements of water, light, and sound through play and exploration. A little “creek” runs through the Garden with floating and sinking objects. You may wish to bring a waterproof smock so your toddler can enjoy some water fun without getting wet.
Both The Pattern Pod and The Garden are very popular, therefore, it is advisable to book in advance to avoid disappointment.
Next Time at the Science Museum
Unfortunately with little legs and growling tummies, we didn’t make it to the rest of the Science Museum. Next time at the Science Museum, we’ll be sure to visit the first floor, which is home to the Wellcome Galleries focusing on modern medicine. The second floor houses a host of galleries including the Clockmaker’s Museum, Science City, Mathematics, and Information Age. So much exploring to do at the Science Museum, so little time. Until next time, see you again. Thanks Science Museum for a wonderful day out.
