We’ve been to several science museums and attractions all over the world. Maybe I’m biased, but in my opinion London’s Science Museum is the best. Some, like Canberra’s Questacon, Malaysia’s Petrosains or Cardiff’s Techniquest have more of a focus on hands-on areas for children but London Science Museum is, for us, a winner. Want to know why?
One of many reasons, but a great big important one.
My children are quite old now, at 10 and 7 they get a lot out of a visit to a museum, particularly one with excellent children’s interactive installations, but they are still kids and their attention spans are relatively short.
To get the most out of any museum we need to go multiple times to fully explore and repeat activities to get the learning to stick. Paying to go multiple times is prohibitive for most families.
London’s museums are vast, you could spend weeks visiting the Natural History and Science Museums alone ( they conveniently stand next door to each other). They are so impressive and absorbing that the kids want to go back time after time, they ask to visit.
London has got it right, free access to these incredible educational resources should be free for all, particularly children. At the moment the museums have a suggested 5 pound donation, but it is just that, a suggestion, nobody puts any pressure on you to pay. We visit time and time again, sometimes for an hour, sometimes for four, we put money in the box when we can.
Museums should be public resources, there for the community to use and dip into when they can.
London is exceptional in that it offers its resources for free to visitors of all nationalities, not just locals. Sure, we, the locals pay extra in our taxes to keep them free, but I’m very happy and proud to do that. Our free museums are a very special part of the London experience.
The fantastic rocket show in the Launchpad area. A great show with audience participation and explosions. Really well thought out to keep kids interested in the science.
The London Science museum is in central London, a short walk from South Kensington tube station, it’s a beautiful area that houses other major London museums, the Natural History Museum is next door, the Victoria and Albert museum is just over the road.
Launchpad is kid heaven, don’t miss it. The staff are fabulous.
Launchpad, on floor 3 is an incredible hands on science resource for school aged kids. Every exhibit carries explanatory notices, but if you’re still stuck there are plenty of lovely and enthusiastic staff just waiting to explain a bit more science to you or the kids. There are live science shows in the theatre, sciency computer games to try and regular demonstrations. We love it so much I’ll be giving it its own post soon.
On the ground floor Pattern Pod kept both of my boys busy ( OK, one is 10, but he still loved it). Multisensory displays and activities were perfect for tiny tots but complex enough to keep the bigger kids interested. We loved that the ages are segregated to an extent, it kept the older school groups away from the little ones, they can be a bit full on and come in large noisy groups, get their early or visit on weekends to avoid them.
On floor B the Garden Area is a hands on science experience designated for visitors up to 6 years old.
3D printing was a mystery to me. It’s not now.
Special exhibits and shows pass through the London Science Museum. We caught the 3D Printing the Future display and over the summer we hope to be back for The Energy Show, that one does have an admission fee.
For a bit of extra fun and excitement there are simulators and an I-max theatre inside the Science Museum building, you have to pay for these exhibits.
Stephens’ original Rocket is at the London Science museum, along with Watson and Crick’s DNA model and various space rockets and vehicles. The collection spans history, right back to the 17oos. It’s amazing to see all this stuff in the flesh.
I could write more about London Science Museum, and I will, when we’ve been back many more times to explore every floor and exhibit, it’s a vast and fascinating national treasure. We think you should go.
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