National Space Centre (Leicester)

Adult £12.72
Children (5-16) & Concessions £10.77
Under 5’s FREE

Lil “my best thing from the space centre was the rocket with the pump”
Ted “LOOK DADDY … STAAAAAARS”

Before I had kids I unfairly branded the National Space Centre as “bobbins”. However, having rediscovered it since Lil & Ted rudely interrupted our lives, it’s now gone way up in my estimations.

There’s a good few hours of entertainment here even for under 5s, with a range of interactive displays, experiments, bits of old spaceship/satellites, chunks of rock from outer space, a simulator, planetarium and even a full sized rocket which you can eat your lunch under. Inevitably there’s the obligatory gift shop, but for once you’re not forced to exit through the shop and there’s actually some really good educational stuff in there once you get past the furry aliens and cosmic gloop etc.

The excitement of the planetarium proved too much for Ted at the age of two, but we managed to stick it out for a good 10-15 minutes before his amazed yelps started to annoy the people around us. Lil on the other hand looked quite at home reclining in her chair and happily watching the stars above whilst our guide relayed the ancient greek myths behind various constellations.

Of the displays, Ted’s favorite was the touch screen meteor impact simulator which he gleefully used to plough various sized chunks of rock into the earth, exclaiming “CRASH” upon each impact before assessing the widespread destruction he’d just caused. Boys will be boys.

The entry price may seem a bit steep for adults and children over five, but your ticket gives you unlimited free entry for up to a year and it’s a great attraction for a rainy day so well worth the initial outlay.

Check out the website for special events and more information: www.spacecentre.co.uk.

Dad.