SCIENCE MUSEUM ULTIMATE GUIDE

Open: Every day: 10:00AM to 6:00PM

Time Needed: 4 hours

Price: Free

If you’re a lover of anything and everything science-related, then a visit to London’s Science Museum is a must. But with a 3D IMAX cinema, an interactive flight simulator, and state-of-the-art interactive galleries, you don’t necessarily have to be a lover of chemistry or physics to appreciate the Science Museum in its entirety.

The Science Museum is actually Europe’s most visited science and technology museum, and attracts more than 3.3 million people every year. Located in South Kensington, the Science Museum’s origins can be traced all the way back to 1857 when the South Kensington Museum opened at what is now the Victoria & Albert Museum. In 1909, it was decided that the science and engineering collections at the V&A Museum would be moved to a separate location, and thus the Science Museum was born.

Science Museum Highlights

Today the Science Museum houses more than 300,000 objects which are spread out over five floors and categorized by topic (such as medicine, nuclear power, photography, electricity, food, technology, transportation, and much more).

Some of the most famous items located in the Science Museum include:

• The Launch Pad (a hands-on gallery so children can “explore basic scientific principles”)
• The Apollo 10 command module and flight simulator (which went around the moon in 1969)
• The Exploring Space Galleries (which also include a three-metre-high telescope which was flown on British space missions)
• A model of the world’s first international satellite
• Full-scale models of Beagle 2 Mars Lander and the Huygens Titan probe
• The first ever jet engine
• The Clockmakers’ Collection (which is the oldest display of clocks and watches in the world)
• Britain’s first broadcast transmitter
• Original design drawings and motor car construction records of Hooper & Co.
• The Apollo 11 Flight Plan which was signed by Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin
• A full-size replica of “Eagle” (the lander which took Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin to the Moon in 1969)
• The Gray-Milne seismograph (circa 1885)
• A Soviet BESM 1965 super computer
• A reconstruction of James Watson and Francis Crick’s model of DNA

Special Tips

If you're a London Pass holder, you can get 10% off at the Science Museum shop (if you spend over £10) and at the Science Museum café.

If you want to avoid the crowds, then try to visit later in the afternoon on a weekday. The museum is a perfect place to relax after a free walking tour or a shopping day.

If you're visiting with children, then make sure you head down to the basement so the kids can play in a fun-filled play zone and water-play area.

Some areas of the museum may be dimly lit, so those with visual impairment may struggle to read some of the information in the exhibits.

Getting There

Address: Exhibition Rd, London SW7 2DD, United Kingdom.

By Tube: If you are travelling by tube, the nearest stations are South Kensington (which is a five-minute walk away) and Gloucester Road (which is a 15-minute walk away). There is also an underground walkway connecting South Kensington station to the main entrance of the Science Museum.

By Bus: If you are travelling by bus, you can get there via routes 14, 49, 70, 74, 345, 360, 414, 430 and C1, all of which stop outside South Kensington station.

By Express: If you are travelling by express, there is a drop-off point located on Exhibition Road, which is just outside the museum. There is also an express stop at Warwick Road, Park Lane and Bayswater Road.

Walking: If you are walking, the main entrance to the museum is located on Exhibition Road.

By Car: If you are travelling by car, the nearest car parks are on Prince Consort Road and Queen's Gate.

Visiting the Science Museum

Recommended visiting time is around three to four hours.

To better enjoy your visit, you can leave your personal items in the lockers located on Level -1. These lockers are available for card payment only and come in three different sizes:

• £3 for small lockers, suitable for coats and small items
• £5 for medium lockers, which can accommodate rucksacks and small bags
• £7 for large lockers, for carry-on luggage and medium-sized bags

There is a map of the Science Museum that you can download from their official website to help you plan your visit in advance. Otherwise, there are maps available at the Information and Ticket Desks which provide more information on where to find the lifts, stairs, cafes and toilet facilities. There are also museum floor flans scattered all throughout the museum, as well as digital displays of events that are taking place on the day that you visit.

If you are visiting with your kids, children under the age of eight need to be accompanied by an adult when watching a film in the Discovery Motion Theatre. Certain age and height restrictions may apply, and you can find more information on the Science Museum’s official website.

You can purchase tickets to the Discovery Motion Theatre online in advance for a specific day, and you must book a time slot to see the film beforehand. (This can be done either online or at the ticket desk in the museum.)

Ticket prices and Opening hours

The museum is free to enter for anyone, but there may be fees for some special exhibitions, as well as the flight simulators and the IMAX Theatre (you can purchase your tickets at any sales deck in the museum).

The Science Museum is open daily (except December 24th, 25th, and 26th) from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., with the last entry at 5:15 p.m. Note that the galleries begin to close 30 minutes before the museum's closing time and that not all galleries are available every day. It is recommended to check the museum's website for any scheduled closures or changes in opening times before your visit.

The IMAX cinema has scheduled screenings throughout the week. On weekdays, films are shown at 11:00 a.m., 12:30 p.m., 2:00 p.m., and 3:30 p.m. At weekends, showtimes are at 10:30 a.m., 12:30 p.m., 2:30 p.m., and 4:30 p.m. You can check the schedule and book your tickets in advance on the official website.

Tickets for the IMAX Theatre cost:

• £12 for adults
• £10 for children
• £11 for seniors

Tickets for interactive galleries such as 'Wonderlab: The Equinor Gallery' (where visitors can enjoy live science shows), and 'Power Up' (an exhibition on the history of video games and consoles) cost:

• Day pass: £12
• Annual pass: £18
• Ages 3 and under: free

There are special events happening every month, such as lectures by reputed experts, discussions, and book presentations, which cost around £10.

The Science Museum shop offers a wide range of science and technology-themed products. Visitors can find educational toys, books, construction kits, stationery, and unique gifts that promote scientific curiosity with prices ranging between £10 and £100.

If you want to visit the Science Museum, you might also want to join some of free tours in London departing daily.