Ground control to Major Tom! Take the kids on a STEM adventure they won’t forget at Winchester Science Centre and Planetarium in the South Downs National Park.

Find fun, hands-on, interactive exhibits, awesome live science shows and demos, all ideal with kids age 5 – 12 (and their grownups…). Then take your seat (no belt required) for a rocket-free journey around the stars and planets in the UK’s largest standalone Planetarium.

Winchester Science Centre is well known for its spectacular live science, with explosive wow moments that won’t disappoint in the free live show.

Sensory discoveries abound too at the interactive sound, hearing and vibration experience. Venture into an enormous 10m long guitar, climb inside a giant ear, try your hand at British Sign Language and even join the rescue mission to save Humphrey the Humpback Whale. Let’s hope there’s a big fish supper all round if you manage it!

Feeling left behind as the billionaires battle it out in the new commercial space race? Do it yourself! In Explorer:Spaceblasting you’ll blast off on an epic interactive mission through the Solar System. Jeff Bezos, eat your heart out!  Plus there’s an out-of-this-world interactive space zone with inspiration for the next generation of space engineers and astronauts, from robots and coding to black holes and human space flight.

In the UK’s Largest Standalone Planetarium, the 360° screen will put you right in the action as you fly through the Solar System and discover more about the stars, constellations and planets. Worried it will all go over their heads? (ahem). Look out for shows created for younger audiences, families and those with sensory sensitivities.

Back down to earth in the indoor/outdoor experimentation zone, Bio:Space, and outdoor adventure play area it’s nature that takes to the stage. Learn about the birds, bugs and plants tweeting, crawling and growing right here and in the surrounds of the ecologically important South Downs National Park.

If it all gets a bit much, take a break and refuel at the café. Or you could opt to spend some time in the Recombobulation Room, a specially-designed quiet space away from the hustle and bustle of the Science Centre. Err – can we get one of these at Muddy’s house, please?!