Christmas holidays

Take some time out for play and discovery this holiday!

If you're looking for things to do with the family this Christmas holidays, then join us for a day of curiosity with a festive twist.

What's on this Christmas holidays

• How do you get a genie out of a tight squeeze? Or help a dragon with bad breath? These are just some of the conundrums puzzling our helpline operator in our science-meets-panto show Fairytale SOS, returning this December.
• Down in our Winter Kitchen, there’s a season flavour to experiments exploring the science of spice and scent. Discover what makes chilli spicy, find out what’s happening on your tongue and mix up some delicious hot chocolate.
• Join us the Greenhouse for some simple experiments to help us understand why not all foods taste the same to everyone, with Grow your own taste test.
• Upstairs, get creative with 3D prints and simple circuits to create winter scenes in our colourful shadow boxes.
• In our Open City Lab, be transported to an imaginary desert island for Research Island Rescue - a series of challenges designed to hone your research skills.

All these activities are drop-in. Just check times on arrival. 

In the Planetarium

Add tickets to the UK's only 3D planetarium for just £4 per person (£3 concession). 

Join us in the search for extra-terestrrial life in Life in the Universe 2D or 3D. Older children and adults can escape into the beauty of the night sky in stargazing show ‘The Story of Stars’. 

Due to eye health restrictions, 3D shows aren't suitable for children under 6. Instead little ones and their grown-ups can pack their space bags and prepare for launch in interactive show Space Explorers 2D. 

For younger families, there’s a mini adventure with Father Christmas himself in ‘What Santa Sees’, a short 2D film combining storytelling and astronomy.