The best space-themed days out in the UK

The UK offers a range of fun days out for families where you can explore the universe with space fans of all ages. From planetarium domes, where 3D films make you feel like you’re flying through the stars and exploring distant planets, to hands-on interactive exhibits and real-life space rocks that are billions of years old, there’s something for all the family to enjoy. 

For a budget activity, why not pack a picnic and find the best places in the UK to see constellations and shooting stars in the night sky? Find a family day out that’s out of this world with our selection of the UK’s best space experiences.

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Not yet a member? If you're working in or retired from the public sector or civil service, Boundless has two great membership options to choose from: Boundless and Boundless Plus. Enjoy unlimited access or discounted entry to many of the UK’s top attractions, as well as year-round deals on restaurants, holidays, shopping and much more.

Explore the best space-themed attractions in the UK

Science centres and planetariums

1. Winchester Science Centre and Planetarium  

Blast off on an epic journey through the Solar System and find out what it's like to be out-of-this-world while exploring the wonders of space at Winchester Science Centre and Planetarium. Kids can find out what space engineers and astronauts do and help to successfully launch a space mission, as well as learning about meteorites, stardust, robotics and coding in the Explorer:Space exhibits. Budding scientists can get stuck into interactive challenges to explore how gravity works in outer space, before taking a seat in the planetarium for an unforgettable trip through the galaxy.

2. National Space Centre, Leicester 

Boasting the UK’s largest planetarium, a 3D space-flight simulator, interactive galleries and an iconic 42m-high Rocket Tower, this award-winning destination is a space fan’s dream. Discover the past, present and future of space exploration, and even set off on a low Earth orbit cruise with the Tetrastar Spaceport. In the National Space Centre planetarium, families, adults and children can explore the secrets of our cosmic chemistry, learn the explosive origins of the Universe and tour the night sky. There are also special events, including Space Lates, film clubs, astronaut visits and science fiction weekends.

3. We The Curious, Bristol

Photo: Lee Pullen

Whether you're an amateur astronomer or completely new to stargazing, you'll be inspired to discover the night sky for yourself after flying through space in the UK’s most-advanced and only 3D planetarium. 

We The Curious is housed inside a giant silver ball that looks like a shiny planet, the range of shows includes live tours of the sky above Bristol with knowledgeable presenters, flying through the rings of Saturn, and fully immersive and interactive experiences where the planetarium is a spaceship and the audience becomes the crew. Elsewhere in the museum, art and science collide to spark ideas in all ages.

While you’re in Bristol, why not visit Bristol Aquarium using the special offer from Kids Pass, which comes as part of Boundless membership? Read on to hear how Bristol family blogger Rose Fox enjoyed her underwater day out. 

4. Glasgow Science Centre 

The planetarium and Space Zone at Glasgow Science Centre is a must for lovers of all things space. The state-of-the-art dome projects live shows, led by astronomers and other experts, where you can voyage far into the Milky Way and beyond, as well as films including We Are Aliens, narrated by Rupert Grinch from the Harry Potter films. 

The Space Zone creates an immersive journey through the solar system where you can learn about the planets in our cosmos and what it’s like to work in space.

5. Techniquest, Cardiff

Children and adults of all ages will be inspired at the UK’s longest-established science centre. From Techniquest planetarium you can venture out into space to see if there is life on other planets, learn about the Greek mythologies behind the stories of our constellations, and more. 

There are five different zones that focus on space, the environment, chemistry, world issues and biomedical science, while the retro side of the building is home to classic Techniquest exhibits – a great space to head to with younger children.

6. Cambridge Science Centre

At this newly opened centre, you can bring along your budding astronomers on weekends and school holidays to explore hands-on exhibits and shows. Led by clever science communicators, Cambridge Science Centre shows will astound young minds with some spectacular live science in the centre’s labs and workshops. 

Space enthusiasts can sign up to the space academy and prepare to launch with the Moonshot show, while littler ones can enjoy their own STEMtots shows. They also run special sessions for home educators.

7. The Spaceguard Centre, Knighton, Powys

The Spaceguard Centre – also known as The National Near Earth Objects Information Centre – looks for objects that might come close to our planet, like meteors and comets. From its remote location in mid-Wales (a dark sky site ideal for astronomy), the working observatory is the UK’s main source of this information. 

Unaccompanied visits are not allowed, but on an informative guided tour (ages 9+), one of the country’s leading experts will explain the structure of the Solar System, why near Earth objects might be a problem, and how we might solve it.

8. Dynamic Earth, Edinburgh

Photo: Dynamic Earth

Edinburgh’s world-class Dynamic Earth science centre and planetarium tells the epic story of Earth, from beginning to end, as well as exploring how we can save it from the challenges we’re facing. 

Stargaze all year round with astronomer-led live shows in the full-dome planetarium, watch the Big Bang from the deck of a spacecraft and find out how the Earth was formed, step inside a time machine to witness some major moments in the history of our universe, and explore millions of years of evolution while you’re at it.

After you’ve explored the story of Earth, children of all ages will enjoy a trip to Edinburgh Zoo to view the animals that roam our planet. Boundless members can gain unlimited access with Kids Pass.

9. Southend Planetarium, Southend on Sea 

Sit back and explore the universe during live guided tours of our solar system, with the opportunity to ask questions of the knowledgeable experts who present the shows. The talks at Southend Planetarium change throughout the year as different parts of the night sky become visible, covering fascinating things like in-depth explorations of the Moon as well as the moons of other planets, and the stories behind the constellations. There are also some special seasonal events, such as a spooky Halloween show.

10. Life Science Centre, Newcastle 

Photo: International Centre for Life

Drift away from Earth and up into the stars for a magical experience in the biggest planetarium in the North of England. See eye-popping space films and visuals in high-definition detail, and real-time live views of the universe; whizz through the Solar System and touch down on planets to investigate their surfaces. 

In the Life Science Centre Space Zone, explore the wonders of the Universe, step inside a replica of the International Space Station and find out what it’s like to live in space, then navigate spacecrafts and collect falling space junk at Mission Control.

Science Museums

11. Science Museum, London

Photo: Science Museum

Offering some other-worldly experiences for lovers of all things space. In the Exploring Space gallery you can see a full-sized replica of the lander that took astronauts to the Moon for the first time in 1969, and now on permanent display is Soyuz, the actual module that brought astronauts Tim Peake, Yuri Malenchenko and Tim Kopra back from the International Space Station in 2016. Other highlights at the Science Museum include the IMAX film Hubble 3D, narrated by Leonardo DiCaprio, where you walk with astronauts as they embark on a breathtaking spacewalk.

12. ThinkTank, Birmingham Science Museum

The planetarium at ThinkTank offers a range of immersive shows perfect for big and little people interested in astronomy and space. Through the 4K system – the only one of its kind in the West Midlands – you can tour the night sky, go on an adventure around the solar system, journey to the edge of the universe, learn about historic space programmes and take a tour of the International Space Station, narrated by British astronaut Tim Peake, who shares what life was like on board. 

13. Natural History Museum, London

Photo: Trustees of the Natural History Museum

Human history includes space exploration and research – it’s where we came from and life on Earth couldn’t exist without the Sun. Spend a day exploring the Natural History Museum’s cosmic highlights from the collections, which include gem-filled meteorites that are 4.5 billion years old, extraterrestrial specimens and diamond stardust that’s older than our solar system. The museum’s scientists are working at the forefront of space research, so you can ask them about our Solar System, space missions, space travel, the search for life on Mars and much more.

Why not make the most of your time in London with a visit to Kew Gardens – read on to hear how lifestyle blogger Katy Stern took advantage of unlimited entry to Kew to enjoy a day out with her family courtesy of her Boundless membership. 

What’s more, Boundless Plus members gain unlimited access to Historic Royal Palaces' London sites, including the Tower of London and Hampton Court Palace. 

Learn more about membership to Boundless and Boundless Plus. 

Dark Sky Discovery Sites

14. Gaze at the stars from Dark Sky Discovery Sites

Whether there’s a meteor shower, a lunar eclipse, or you just want to look for constellations, the UK’s Dark Sky Discovery Sites are always there – a nationwide network of places with great views of the night sky. On a clear night, just find your nearest site – there are some in town and city parks, so you don’t have to venture into the wilderness. Pack some blankets and download a free app such as Night Sky to help you navigate the stars. Some sites host special events or regular stargazing sessions too.

Observatories and telescopes

15. Royal Observatory, Greenwich

Escape the city and head to this observatory on the hill to enjoy a family day out of astro-themed fun. Stand beneath the magnificent onion dome of the Great Equatorial Telescope at the Royal Observatory and marvel at one of the largest refracting telescopes in the world. 

Step over the famous Meridian line and chat with Royal Observatory Explainers who bring astronomy to life. Take an awe-inspiring tour of the Solar System in London’s only planetarium, which also has special space-themed cosmic events. There’s something here for all ages and lovers of space.

16. Jodrell Bank, Macclesfield

This working science centre Jodrell Bank houses the Lovell Telescope, the UK’s largest radio telescope. See it move as the scientists use it to observe the universe. Explore the depths of space across the site’s four pavilions, one of which is an architecturally stunning dome with a line cut in the entranceway that acts as a giant sundial. Listen to the sounds of the Big Bang, enjoy hands-on exhibitions and spin the planets with a clockwork replica of the universe. Scientists are there to explain how the universe works and there are special events for children, but there’s also plenty for grown-up space fans.

Exclusive member event: Join Boundless in December 2024 for a winter solstice celebration at Jodrell Bank. Enjoy an atmospheric Planetarium Show and an interactive science show for kids. Tickets for members cost £10 per person, and there’s a chance to win stargazing goodies. 

Visit Boundless Winter Solstice visit to Jodrell Bank event page for full details. 

17. The Observatory Science Centre, Herstmonceux, East Sussex

Budding young astronomers who want to fully immerse themselves in the science of space can join half or full-day workshops at the Observatory Science Centre during school holidays, to search for answers to questions like: What’s in space? Can we see it? How big is it? Older children can explore the observatory’s interactive indoor and outdoor exhibits about astronomy, the Domes of Discovery Exhibition, which tells the story of the Royal Observatory, and more.

Do more with Boundless

If you're working in or retired from the public sector or civil service, Boundless has two great membership options to choose from: Boundless and Boundless Plus.

With Boundless, you get unlimited access or discounted entry to many of the UK’s top attractions including Kew Gardens and Wakehurst and WWT centres across the UK, as well as year-round deals on restaurants, holidays, shopping and much more. With Boundless Plus, you can enjoy additional benefits including unlimited access to Historic Royal Palaces sites, National Trust for Scotland places, access to the Ramblers' extensive group walks and routes, and peace of mind with roadside assistance and local recovery by LV= Britannia Rescue.