Science Museum : Family friendly interactive galleries in London
Exhibition Road
London SW7 2DD
Several interactive galleries which encourage learning through play and exploration, enabling children to develop key science skills in a fun and stimulating way. If you are visiting with Under 5s, make sure you head for The Garden (ages 3 – 6) to explore the basics of floating and sinking, shadows and reflections, music, and even construction using giant building blocks. Children aged 5 – 8 will love the Pattern Pod, where they can experiment with copying and creating patterns with amazing multi-sensory exhibits. There is also an IMAX 3D screen on site – remember to book tickets in advance though! There are often special activities, including the hugely popular Science Night, where kids can camp out in the museum. Admission is free, but there is a charge for some special exhibits and activities, as well as for IMAX shows.
The shop sells incredibly cool gadgets and gifts – click here to have a look around.
Opening Hours: Daily 10 am – 6 pm.
Website: Visit Science Museum website
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About the Author: Janis
I look after the day-to-day running of ReallyKidFriendly.com, as well as some geeky stuff behind the scenes. Thanks to my two boisterous rascals (aged 4 and 5), I have become an expert in soft play areas, parks, energetic music classes, and where to get a stiff drink once the kids have gone to bed. Really – ask me anything! 
We went to the science museum with 3 kids aged 4 or under. It’s free to get in, which is a great start and if you stick to the bigger more interesting stuff (like the space rockets!) there’s enough to keep them happy for a couple of hours. Another highlight was the aviation section (top floor I think) which has aeroplanes suspended from the ceiling, which went down very well. There’s an area in the basement called ‘the garden’ which is specially designed for under 5′s. There’s a water play bit (where water proof smocks are provided, very handy) and lots of other entertaining stuff (funny mirrors etc) that has an educational feel to it.
The Science Museum’s website says that you should plan 15 minutes for the garden, but the kids we took would have happily messed around there for hours. My only criticism was the food that we bought in a cafe on the basement, the sandwiches were very plasticy and it was all very expensive, your best bet would be to take a packed lunch and you could do the whole thing for free!
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Must admit don’t think you can go wrong with a trip here for kids of all ages. It’s just packed with things to do and its FREE. The new “launch pad” is a real favourite with hands on experiments. Mine also love the space and flight exhibits. Wasn’t madly impressed with the new Wallce and Grommit exhibition but perhaps I was expecting too much.
The only draw back I can think of is that it can be VERY busy. Sometimes better to go at the end of the day. Not generally eaten there we tend to take a picnic – the picnic area is great.
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Loads to do, lots of fun.
I recently went to the Science Museum’s Wallace & Gromit Inventions exhibition with my 3.5 year old daughter and a friend and her similar-aged son. Both had a great time and there was plenty of activities (computers, karaoke, tumble area, Playdoh benches, air pumps, drawing stations, etc) and play areas to keep them amused for nearly 2 hours. Outside of the exhibition there’s a play area for under 8s in the Wellcome Wing. Kids can dress up as animals or spacemen, interact with various electronic activities and go crazy in the excellent Pattern Pod. There’s enough to do here to keep the kids occupied for at around an hour, and the café is just round the corner – as are toilets, etc. A morning or afternoon at the Science Museum is great fun for all, and it’s free! If you can go early morning and during the week it’s obviously a lot less busy.
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This is one of the best museums to take your toddler to as there are two areas that are specifically toddler focused as well as other parts of the museum that are really fun for toddlers to see. Toddler focused area include the Pattern Pod and The Garden The Pattern Pod is located at the very rear of the museum, on the ground floor and offers a wonderful experience for small children. The exhibit is officially designated as being for 5 – 8 year olds, but there are many interesting, hands-on things for your toddler to investigate. Dress up clothes for children to try on and play around in. There are tiles that children can insert into a special display that projects different patterns on the ceiling, pattern puzzles and a pattern making art program plus much more. The Garden is a real treat to take your children to, its well-hidden in the basement so ask about it if you do not find it on your own. The first thing you notice when you walk in are small children wearing orange protective aprons playing in the most elaborate water table you have every seen. Filled with small boats that float down a cascading canal, children are able to work different levers and pumps to direct the water and boats. It is really great fun. Further along is a play area that suggests a building site, with giant blocks you move around a small climbing frame using wheelbarrows, bag and pulley rope, a chute or any other imaginative ways toddlers can derive. There is an area soft toys, an amazing multi-sensory room, puppets… I know I am missing some things, but you will have to bring your little ones and see for your self. The picnic areas are right outside The Garden, basically a large area of steps to eat on, or you can go to any of the cafes or restaurants. Read more reviews on London-Baby.com
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