21+ science activities for children outside of London

Summer is the perfect time to expand young minds with exciting, hands-on learning of all things science and technology. While we’re busy with a packed season of Holiday Workshops here at the Ri, there are lots of amazing events happening outside of London!

Peter Gallivan, our Family Programme manager, recommends some free or affordable highlights for those who are not local to the Ri.

Northern Ireland

• Explore Northern Ireland’s railway heritage at the Whitehead Railway Museum, featuring a collection of dozens of locomotives and carriages
• Meet dinosaurs, blow bubbles and build with LEGO at Armagh Observatory & Planetarium.

Scotland

• With a summer outdoor club for young ones, a planetary and an exhibition about deep seas, you’re spoilt for choice at Dynamic Earth in Edinburgh
• The Dundee Science Centre offers a breadth of activities for children, from a free play centre to a child-friendly exhibition about the human body
• You will find an abundance of interactive displays at the Aberdeen Science Centre, exploring space and engineering – with areas suitable for children under 6

North East of England

• Are you ready for a summer of fun? The Life Discovery Centre in Newcastle upon Tyne is offering a variety of interactive events. Explore space, geology, chemistry and more!
• The Mini Science Club at the Sunderland Museum and Winter Gardens is running a science club for 1-4-year-olds, packed with messy science experiments!

North West of England

• All aboard! Explore the fascinating world of locomotives through the ages, from steam to diesel, at the Ribble Steam Railway and Museum in Preston. Don’t miss out on a ride on the steam trains (children under 3 go free)
• Find some insect friends by joining a summer bug hunt with the World Museum in Liverpool
• Put your lab coats on, because things are getting science-y at the Catalyst Science Discovery Centre in Cheshire! Their summer programme offers a variety of shows and hands-on activities

Midlands

• The Science and Industry Museum in Manchester offers a summer programme suitable for all ages, including a temporary exhibition exploring the digestive system. You can also put on your palaeontologist hats at the Manchester Museum or catch a ride on a heritage bus at the Museum of Transport. Best of all, all these activities are absolutely free!
• The Thinktank science museum in Birmingham is buzzing all summer, from quiet autism-friendly mornings to wonderfully chaotic Toddler Thursdays at the planetarium
• Escape the city for a day of hands-on learning at the Lapworth Museum of Geology, where you can take part in family activities or check out the permanent exhibition featuring, dinosaurs, volcanoes earthquakes and more.

South West of England

• We The Curious in Bristol has a completely free programme of outdoor activities for young ones
• Future pilots and aerospace engineers will want to check out the summer events at Aerospace Bristol
• If you're in Padstow, you claw-not miss the Lobster Lab at the National Lobster Hatchery, packed with hands-on educational activities and games
• PK Porthcurno (Museum of Telecommunications) has an exciting line-up of engineering workshops aimed at young ones, as well as nature-themed outdoor activities

Wales

• Here at the Ri, we know a thing or two about motors. So how could we not mention the Internal Fire Museum of Power in Cardigan, boasting the largest collection of working engines in Wales? Check out their special events and lates running this summer
• Techniquest in Cardiff has over 100 exhibits encouraging children to explore all areas of science hands-on. Entry starts at £10
• Start them young! Xplore in Wrexham is hosting Toddler Days full of activities and age-appropriate experiments.

South East of England

• The Science Centre in Oxford is buzzing all summer long with events for young scientists. Why not cool down with a refreshing outdoor workshops exploring fluid dynamics with water?
• Discover fossils, feathers, butterflies and bones at the Booth Natural History Museum in Brighton. Don’t miss their summer trails inspired by their collection!
• Cambridge Science Centre will be running their free pop-up museum all summer long in the Grand Arcade Shopping Centre

When in London...

If you’re based in the capital, do come and visit us this summer! We’re just a short walk from Green Park, and we’re open all summer with a host of Holiday Workshops bringing all areas of STEM to life, designed for young people aged 7-18.

Fancy something a bit more spectacular? Check out our Theatre events for families.

Did we miss anything?

There’s so much going on around the UK, we couldn’t cover it all! If you know of any exciting learning opportunities for children this summer, tweet us at @Ri_Science