There has always been something about the mysteries of space that captures the imagination of both young and old. The National Space Centre in Leicester was opened in 2001 and has been a roaring success ever since. The idea for this educational resource and museum came originally from the University of Leicester, who have retained strong involvement ever since. It is a good place for a visit if you have even a small interest in astronomy and space. The children will love it! Our (big) kids DID love it when we were recently invited to visit.
Arrival
The Space Centre is situated in the Belgrave area of the city, on Exploration Drive. It is easily accessible from the M1. There is a large car park with plenty of space, even for busy days. The car park costs £4 for the whole day and is a Pay and Display. You can pay by card or cash at the machines that are dotted around. The carpark is open from 9am to 5pm. The National Space Centre is open from 10am to 5pm each day. However this can vary, so it’s best to check on their website before visiting.
The entry ticket costs £19.95 for adults (16+) and £17.95 for children 5-16. If you book online you can get a small discount of £1 off each ticket price. The ticket includes entry to all of the attractions including the Sir Patrick Moore Planetarium (where they host shows throughout the day), Tetrastar Spaceport, Rocket Tower, Galleries Exhibitions and Collections.
Welcome Hall
We visited in the school holidays with four teenagers and two adults. Inside the National Space Centre you will encounter the Welcome Hall with Boosters Café and the museum shop. Both are well worth a visit. The ground floor of the centre is separated into different zones but is open plan. This is ideal for getting around with children as there is a lot of space. It allows them to experience all the displays, many of which are interactive.
There were lots of displays about astronomy, global warming, APOLLO moon rock samples, meteorite samples, posters about aliens and a display of different space suits – to name just a few. You can even drive a mini Mars Rover vehicle, and check out that night’s sky constellations.
From the Welcome Hall you can gain access to the Rocket Tower, and the SOYUZ and GEMINI vehicles are suspended above you – a very impressive start to any visit.
The Planetarium
The Sir Patrick Moore Planetarium is the largest of its kind in the UK. It provides magnificent displays of astronomical phenomenon. We watched the show ‘Journey Through the Solar System’, which took us on a tour of the planets. The show was very interactive, with the lecturer asking us to vote when she asked questions. In honesty, I got most questions wrong! A show lasts around 20-25 minutes and is fascinating and informative. The graphics were incredible!
Your entrance ticket includes a show, which you book when you arrive. If you wish to watch more than one show, you can pay an additional £3 to book on another (subject to availability).
Rocket Tower
There is a massive amount to do and see on a visit to the National Space Centre. The Rocket Tower has a huge range of displays, over four floors, explaining the history of rockets, how NASA was first formed and also an account of the Space Race.
From each floor you can view the Blue Streak and Thor Able rockets. You can take the stairs between floors or take the lift.
Tetrastar Spaceport
A new interactive attraction/ride is the Tetrastar Spaceport, which is a low Earth orbit cruise. It is included in your day ticket. You take a seat on the Tharsis spacecraft and join the artificial intelligence called ADA, to head off on a journey to the stars to rescue a stricken Mars mission before a solar flare destroys everything. It’s a lot of fun and gets the children involved in the process.
Boosters Café
The food available in the café was very reasonably priced and included a selection of freshly made hot and cold snacks and meals. You can either eat in the Welcome Hall in the Soyuz Lounge or take a seat under giant rockets in Boosters Café.
They serve locally roasted coffee, homemade soup and lovely cakes. For lunch, £5 will get you a main meal like loaded nachos, a jacket potato, hot dog, or a selection of sandwiches.
There are healthy, vegetarian and vegan options throughout the menu, and special dietary requirements can be made to order (gluten free etc). If you bring your own refillable water bottle, Boosters Café is always happy to fill it with fresh drinking water.
Additional Information
The visit to the National Space Centre was fabulous with something for everyone, of every age. Plan to spend at least 3 hours at the centre to do it justice. This leaves time for lunch and a coffee too. If you live in the area you can also upgrade to a yearly season ticket to take advantage of the changing exhibitions during the year.
Throughout the year, scientists from Leicester University and associated institutions visit to give talks and lectures on interesting topics. The National Space Centre isn’t just a museum of artifacts but is also a valuable educational resource. Schools and groups of over 15 get special rates for visits.
Don’t forget to visit the shop before you leave. As well as space-themed gifts you could treat yourself to some freeze-dried space food!
Disclaimer
We were gifted tickets to visit The National Space Centre. This post is our honest review of our day spent there, and has not been influenced in any way.
The National Space Centre in Leicester offers an immersive experience for space enthusiasts of all ages. A must-visit!
WOW, this looks like a lot of fun. My oldest kids took a trip to the space center in Florida a few years ago and still talk about the experience. I love your images and you really captured some Priceless memories!