Looking for an educational day out with the kids or grandkids? Studying doesn’t have to be done at a desk. Get up and go to these attention-grabbing science attractions and mix big learning with big fun.
1. Our Dynamic Earth, Edinburgh
Dig deep into the incredible goings-on of earth science that have shaped our planet and landscape over millions of years. Learn more about the story of Earth through a series of interactive exhibits. Feel the glowing heat of a bubbling volcano and the chill of polar ice – just like a penguin. There’s also a 360 degree film theatre that screens fascinating science films for curious minds.
2. Royal Observatory, London
Visit the home of Greenwich Mean Time and stand with one foot in each hemisphere at Greenwich’s Royal Observatory. There’s plenty to do here, with a camera obscura, planetarium and astronomy gallery. Gape at the wonders of the night sky, learn how accurate timekeeping developed, and watch a system of mirrors and lenses project a real-time image of Greenwich. Find a comfortable place to rest after your stargazing day at our Greenwich Travelodge.
3. The Eden Project, Cornwall
Boasting the world’s largest rainforest in ‘captivity’, beautiful gardens and world-class art and sculpture, the Eden Project is a must-visit for children. The organisation is a social enterprise as well as a tourist attraction. So they spend a lot of time researching plants and conservation, and running environmental projects. The 50-metre tall rainforest biome is just one of the highlights, and it’s here that you take a walk along the treetops in the canopy walkway – an experience that’s hard to bear. Get the kids to spot bunches of bananas and cashew plants or watch the gardeners as they tend to the plants from the Rainforest Balloon.
4. Amazon World Zoo Park, Isle of Wight
With around 200 species of live animals, the zoo park offers daily meet-the-animal sessions and even has a giant adventure park so the little ones can let off some steam. Come face to face with black howler monkeys, marmosets and lemurs before visiting the creepy crawlies in the insect house. Book rooms at our Travelodge in Newport so that everyone can sleep off the excitement.
5. Natural History Museum, London
Brush up on your knowledge of dinosaurs, geology and the animal world at this huge museum that’s home to more than 80 million specimens. There are also plenty of interactive exhibits, including the Darwin Centre Cocoon where you can guide yourself through a tour of insects and plants with touch-screen explanations. Entrance to the main museum and Darwin Centre Cocoon is free. The Science Museum is just around the corner too, so if you’ve got any energy left you can continue the day there. Then head a block south into South Kensington for warm cafes, pizza and noodle shops for a cosy refuel.
