From finding out about the toilet habits of astronauts to a journey through Britain’s fascinating car heritage, there’s a museum to suit family groups, whatever your age range and interests.
1. Coventry Transport Museum
Visitors to Coventry Transport Museum (pictured above) can experience what it is like driving the fastest car in the world, encountering this feat in its 4D simulator. Within the city centre, the museum houses the largest publicly owned collection of British vehicles in the world and tells the story of Coventry through the rise and fall of its biggest industry. The collections also holds the record-breaking Thrust2 and ThrustSSC - the oldest Coventry-built car. The museum usually has a family ticket offer, as well as special group incentives such as free coach parking and guided tours.
2. Science Museum
For an exciting day out in London, with no admission cost, families can explore all sorts of fascinating displays on a visit to the Science Museum. Whether it be its interactive display Engineer Your Future, which allows visitors to take part in problem-solving games, or even a look at Medicine: The Wellcome Galleries, which houses 3,000 extraordinary medical artefacts, including Fleming’s penicillin mould, a professional pianist’s prosthetic arm and robotic surgery equipment, families can learn together. Special family trails are also available on the website so you can pre-organise your route.
3. The Roald Dahl Museum
Beautifully situated in the village of Great Missenden in Buckinghamshire, the very place where Roald Dahl lived and wrote novels such as Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Matilda, James and the Giant Peach and The BFG, the writer’s dedicated museum is a great place to his words come to life. Not only is there a range of activities for all ages, but visitors can also see some of Dahl’s early drafts to find out how the stories may have been different in some of his tales. Families can usually pay on the day but larger groups will need to pre-book.
4. National Space Centre
With six galleries to chose from, including the iconic Rocket Tower and the UK’s largest domed planetarium, family groups can get together to learn more about the wonder that is space. The museum, which is not too far from Leicester’s city centre, showcases a brilliant Into Space gallery, where all members of the family will enjoy a walk through a mock-up of the Columbus Module from the International Space Station, come face to face with real spacesuits as well being able to find out how astronauts go to the toilet in space! Groups of certain sizes can benefit from special packages which can include catering options.
5. National Football Museum
Self-proclaimed as the best family-friendly football attraction in Manchester, the National Football Museum claims to hold the world’s finest collection of football artefacts and archives, uncovering everything throughout the beautiful game’s history. The museum usually hosts interesting regular exhibitions throughout the year, mixed in with its permanent displays which showcase the very best, and weirdest artefacts linked to the sport, including the beach ball which was made famous in 2009 when a Darren Bent strike deflected in off the object. When booking online, family discount (two adults, two children) will automatically be added to the cost of the tickets and groups of ten or more can get in touch with the team prior to visiting to discuss requirements.
6. Winchester Science Centre
A new exhibition has completely transformed the entire top floor of the venue to encourage visitors to learn more about science, technology, engineering and maths through a range of engaging way throughout the space. Just some of the highlights include feeling the vibrations of a ten-metre long guitar, understanding acoustics inside a sonic rocket and seeing inside a giant ear to find out more about its inner workings. Groups must book online while families can usually pay on the day.
