This Easter half-term, visitors to the Science Museum can enjoy a fun-filled day out with inspiring activities for every age group. Find out how the world can generate energy more sustainably, discover stunning clockwork marvels, spend the night at the museum and much more.
- Visitors to the Science Museum can discover Energy Revolution: The Adani Green Energy Gallery. This free new gallery explores how the world can generate and use energy more sustainably to urgently decarbonise and limit the impact of climate change.
- Visitors can also explore the mysterious hold that music has over us in Turn It Up: The power of music, a vibrant hands-on exhibition, or turn back the hands of time in Zimingzhong 凝时聚珍: Clockwork Treasures from China’s Forbidden City, a major exhibition featuring the intricate design and technical innovation of beautiful 300-year-old clocks.
- Teenagers can discover an interactive world of STEM careers in Technicians: The David Sainsbury Gallery, or explore the creative work of engineers which change our everyday lives in the Engineers gallery. Families can try over 160 consoles and hundreds of video games in Power Up, see science in action in Wonderlab: The Equinor Gallery, or have a sleepover in our galleries at Astronights.
The museum is open 10.00-18.00, seven days a week.
TICKETED EXPERIENCES
Zimingzhong 凝时聚珍: Clockwork Treasures from China’s Forbidden City
Until 2 June 2024
Pay what you can, £1 minimum per ticket (under-12s go free)
Recommended ages: 12+
This exhibition showcases a unique collection of 23 ornate clockwork automata, known as zimingzhong, collected by China’s Emperors and on display in the UK together for the first time. These opulent treasures take visitors on a unique journey through the 1700s to explore the technical expertise, creativity and international trade behind these centuries-old zimingzhong. Visitors are invited to discover the outward beauty and inner workings of these centuries-old timepieces, and their historic role in early cultural exchanges between Britain and China.
Turn It Up: The power of music
Until 6 May 2024
Ticketed: £10 (Ages 7 and under go free)
Visitors can get hands-on at Turn It Up: The power of music and play with beat, melody and harmonies in a musical playground. This exhibition explores the science of music’s mysterious hold over us and how it drives us to create, perform, feel and share. From why certain music can make us feel different emotions and how it might influence what we buy, Turn It Up: The power of music illustrates how profoundly music affects our lives. It explores the technological advancements pushing the limits of music while showcasing weird and wonderful instruments like the Pyrophone, an organ powered by flames.
Power Up
Ticketed, daily pass: £12, annual pass: £18
Age: 5+
In Power Up, the hands-on gaming experience, visitors can experience the evolution of gaming from the past five decades – from classics such as Pong and Mario Kart to the latest PlayStation and Xbox – while discovering the science and history behind gaming’s most iconic developments. With an annual pass, visitors can receive unlimited access to over 160 consoles all year long and battle it out with multiplayer Super Smash Bros, create their dream team for ultimate victory in FIFA, or show off classic arcade skills with Pac-Man.
IMAX: The Ronson Theatre
Ticketed, from £10
The Science Museum’s IMAX is one of only two screens in Europe to bring together IMAX 70mm film and next-generation IMAX with Laser. Visitors can catch Antarctica 3D (U), featuring footage from the filmmakers of the iconic Planet Earth II; A Beautiful Planet 3D (U) which showcases the tasks of crew onboard the International Space Station; Hubble 3D (U), which follows a team of astronauts attempt to perform one of the most difficult and important tasks in NASA’s history; Under the Sea 3D (U), follows an expedition investigating the mysteries of oceans and the threats they face from climate change; and Asteroids Hunters 3D (U) takes a look at asteroids, their origins and the danger they pose to our world.
Wonderlab: The Equinor Gallery
Ticketed, from £12 (Ages 3 and under go free)
Recommended ages: 7–14
Visitors can explore Wonderlab, the museum’s popular interactive gallery, be amazed by live science shows and enjoy demonstrations led by a talented team of Explainers. The gallery’s hands-on activities will inspire visitors to engage with the science all around them, through exhibits including a giant friction slide, live lightning demonstrations, a large rotating model of the solar system and more.
FREE DISPLAYS, EXHIBITIONS AND GALLERIES
Energy Revolution: The Adani Green Gallery
Energy Revolution: The Adani Green Energy Gallery invites visitors to explore how the world can generate and use energy more sustainably to urgently decarbonise global energy systems and limit the impacts of climate change. Looking at the past, present and future of these systems, this new free gallery displays both recognisable and surprising objects alongside interactive exhibits to highlight how we can journey together to a more sustainable, low carbon future.
Engineers
Free
Engineers uncovers the creative work of engineers which changes our everyday lives. Human stories are at the heart of the gallery, which offers a fresh perspective on the breadth and diversity of these important roles. Marking a decade of the Queen Elizabeth Prize for Engineering, the gallery showcases previous winners alongside some of the most exciting engineering innovations of recent years. Visitors can take a closer look at iconic objects such as the first digital camera and the cutting-edge CMR ‘Versius’ surgical robot arm, as well as learn more about the remarkable people who invented them.
Technicians: The David Sainsbury Gallery
Free
Technicians: The David Sainsbury Gallery is a unique interactive gallery for 11–16-year-olds which aims to change perceptions and celebrate the role of technicians. The gallery helps bring the overlooked but crucial world of technicians to life, with visitors invited to hear inspirational stories, explore a variety of technical roles and try one-of-a-kind interactive exhibits which mimic the tasks technicians perform every day. Step into Shuri’s Lab, a film set recreated from Marvel Studios’ Black Panther, to learn how technicians create blockbuster movies; try your hand at creating lifesaving drugs in the gallery’s health science section as a pharmacy technician; pilot a remotely operated vehicle on the ocean floor; or even control a robotic arm to discover the role of advanced manufacturing technicians.
Injecting Hope: The race for a COVID-19 vaccine
Until 12 May 2024
Free
Injecting Hope: The race for a COVID-19 vaccine explores the history and science behind the international coronavirus vaccination programme, telling the story of the global effort to develop vaccines at pandemic speed. This free exhibition unpacks the development of the COVID-19 vaccine and explores the logistical challenges behind one of the fastest and largest immunisation programmes in history. It considers how the response to the pandemic is being built upon for future preparedness and the realities of a future with COVID-19, whilst also providing a moment for visitors to reflect on their own experiences.
Pattern Pod
Walk-up, free
Ages: Under 8
This stimulating interactive gallery encourages children to develop science skills using play in a fascinating multi-sensory area. From sound to time patterns, they can explore robot trails, water ripples, textured walls and more.
The Garden
Walk-up, free
Ages: 3-6
An exciting interactive space, created especially for children aged 3-6 and their parents and carers. Inquisitive children can explore construction, water, light and sound.
Highlights Tours
Free activity, drop-in
Dates and times vary
Join 30-minute walking tours with the Science Museum’s experienced volunteers and discover the hidden stories behind the museum’s most iconic objects and galleries. Tours are available for different galleries, with information available daily on our website or at the information desk.
EVENTS
Astronights
Fridays 19 April, 17 May, 21 June and 12 July 2024
Standard tickets: £70; VIP tickets: £100
Age: 7-11
Young campers can experience a sleepover like no other at the museum, with a night full of activities. Inspired by our exhibition Turn It Up: The power of music, this includes science shows and workshops to delve into the science of music and sound, as well as the chance to see the museum after dark. This year’s Astronights programme is supported by TEMPUR®, who will provide all campers with a travel pillow.
Thursday 9 May 2024, 18.30 – 22.00
General admission: free; VIP tickets: £12
Science Museum Lates are adults-only, after-hours theme nights. This May, visitors will be invited to explore the incredible creativity of people working in science and tech. There will be hands-on craft workshops. Plus, all the regular Lates highlights will be here to enjoy, from dancing the night away in our silent disco under real rockets or (re)discovering the galleries after dark.
AI: Friend or Foe to the Design Industry?
Thursday 9 May 2024, 20.30 – 21.30
Price: £10
In a world where AI tools are becoming more prominent, what is the role of human designers? Are their jobs at risk due to the rise of AI? Or alternatively, should AI design tools be embraced as a creative instrument? An expert panel of designers, artists and curators will examine the complexity of this topic as well as speculate on the future of AI in design.
Can We Trust Computers?
Thursday 9 May 2024, 18.30 – 19.30
Price: £5
How much can we rely on computer predictions in personalised medicine and advanced material design? What about AI? And how can we make computers more reliable? An expert panel will come together to discuss these issues, and will ask the long-debated and contentious question—should we ever put nuclear weapons under the control of AI?
Marcus du Sautoy: How AI is Learning to Write, Paint and Think
Thursday 9 May 2024, 19.00 – 20.00
Price: £10 admission only, £15 admission and book
Mathematician and author of The Creativity Code: How AI is Learning to Write, Paint and Think, Marcus Du Sautoy, joins the Science Museum’s Principal Curator Jessica Bradford to explore the nature of creativity in mathematics, art, language and music, along with other speakers.
Kip Thorne and Lia Halloran: The Warped Side of our Universe
Thursday 9 May 2024, 20.20 – 21.35
Price: £15 admission only, £40 admission and book
Join Nobel Prize-winning physicist Kip Thorne and award-winning artist Lia Halloran as they explore some of the universe’s most intriguing questions, from colliding black holes and collapsing wormholes to twisting space vortices and down-cascading time.
Great Exhibition Road Festival
Saturday 15 – Sunday 16 June 2023
Free
The Great Exhibition Road Festival returns to South Kensington for a weekend packed full of free hands-on workshops and illuminating talks for all ages exploring how science and the arts can help people, communities and nature to flourish! As part of the festival the Science Museum will be hosting the Next Gen Zone for young people aged 13 – 25, who can try their hand at beating an AI trained arcade game, escape the clinic in a drug trial escape room and more. Be sure to register to receive the latest updates.
Journey of Life Lates
Thursday 4 July 2024, 18.30 – 22.00
General admission: free; VIP tickets: £12
Science Museum Lates are adults-only, after-hours theme nights. This July, Lates explores the enormous progress we’ve made in health around the world and how we might tackle the next big challenges, highlighting cutting-edge scientific research and technological innovations of people aiming to improve our health and well-being. Plus, enjoy regular Lates activities including our stellar silent disco and your chance to see our galleries after hours.
OPEN TALKS
This series of free online panel discussions connects audiences with an international line-up of cultural figures, scientists, and policy makers as they explore themes including race and identity, unconscious bias in tech and inequality in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths).
How to Fix Racial Bias in Genetic Databases
Thursday 28 March 2024, 19.30 – 20.45
Online, free
The field of genetics has seen ground-breaking achievements, such as cloning, genome sequencing, and vital research into disease prevention, and millions of lives have been saved and improved as a result. Yet most genetic research involves white Europeans – are we at risk of missing out on new therapies as a result? A panel of experts will discuss genetic data bias, as well as the attempts made to better represent our diversity within genetic databases. Speakers will include Professor David van Heel, Professor of Genetics, Queen Mary University London and Chief Investigator at Genes & Health, and Aarathi Prasad (Chair), author, biologist and broadcaster.
People, Pride and Progress: The Story of LGBTQ+ Railway Workers
Wednesday 22 May 2024, 19.30 – 20.45
Online, free
This discussion brings together rail historians and railway workers to tell the stories of LGBTQ+ rail workers and highlight the work of People, Pride and Progress, an oral history project from the National Railway Museum to record interviews and document the experiences of people in the rail industry. Speakers will include: Anthony Dawson, railway historian; Ashlynn Welburn, Archivist, People, Pride and Progress Oral History Project, National Railway Museum; Rachel Fullard, Diversity and Inclusion Manager at Rail Delivery Group; Ron Whalley, Railway Safety Systems Consultant, and Tim Dunn (Chair), railway historian and broadcaster.
