Having taken my daughter to stare upon whales and dinosaur skeletons within the Pure Historical past Museum as our first London museum go to, subsequent on our checklist needed to be trying out London’s neighbouring Science Museum for toddlers.
It’s one other museum I used to go to as a toddler myself, and whereas the dinosaurs left the extra lasting impression, there’s loads for the youngest guests as I rediscovered after I headed again with my two-year-old.
As issues have modified a bit since then, I made a decision to do my analysis on visiting the Science Museum with toddlers to get essentially the most from our go to – listed below are my high Science Museum ideas, the ten issues it’s worthwhile to find out about exploring this London museum with a toddler.
For my full set of tips about visiting London’s museums with toddlers and children, take a look at my final information, in addition to the perfect issues to do in London with preschoolers and toddlers
1. Verify the additional prices
Entry to the museum is free – though they do ask for a donation – however there are prices for the IMAX 3D Theatre, the Science Museum simulators and a few particular exhibitions, so it’s price realizing earlier than promising your children.
That features the fabulous Wonderlab too – aimed toward main college age children and tweens somewhat than toddlers, it’s nonetheless more likely to be in your checklist in case your littler ones have older siblings.
Tickets price from £9 plus there’s an annual cross which prices lower than the value of two visits (at £14 for teenagers) for those who dwell shut sufficient to return. Below-threes enter free in case you are visiting the Science Museum with toddlers and older children.
By the way, in case you are reserving tickets to Wonderlab or the exhibitions, you continue to must prebook a free entry ticket to the primary museum – for those who go to on a term-time weekday, you’re unlikely to have an issue getting in, though prebooking is strongly suggested at weekends and college holidays.
2. Pack evenly to your day trip
Whereas there’s a cloakroom on the Science Museum, it’s solely accepting small gadgets somewhat than buggies and pushchairs any extra.
You possibly can take buggies into the museum and lots of galleries, though they aren’t allowed inside some areas for house causes – there’s free buggy parking reverse The Backyard within the Spare Room, in addition to coin-return pushchair locks (these want a £1 coin).
For those who’re visiting the Sample Pod, there’s additionally a small buggy parking space close by which you should utilize whilst you’re visiting this space. And there’s additionally house inside Wonderlab to go away pushchairs.
Any possessions within the buggies are left at your personal threat although. If you wish to depart baggage someplace safe, there are additionally lockers on stage -1, which price from £3 for small lockers (large enough for coats). These are card fee solely.
3. Begin with the Backyard
The Backyard is an interactive gallery aimed toward pre-schoolers primarily based round water, gentle, sound and building – suppose taking part in with interactive water reveals to dam the circulation and float boats, stacking large blocks and getting fingers on with plenty of totally different sensory shows.
The Backyard additionally house to the Science Museum tender play space, in addition to some music impressed reveals and puppet theatre.
Unsurprisingly, it’s additionally probably the most common areas, so you might want to attend throughout busy occasions (the identical goes for Launch Pad and Sample Pod). The quietest occasions are often 10-11.30am and 4-5.30pm (closes at 4pm on weekdays in time period time).
No matter time you go, getting toddlers out is hard, so it’s price having some motivation (or bribes) up your sleeve!
4. Carry spare garments
There are not any waterproof aprons and cover-ups supplied within the Backyard so it’s a good suggestion to carry your personal for those who can.
As toddlers can all the time discover a approach to get moist and messy it doesn’t matter what precautions you are taking, it’s properly price packing spare garments for notably enthusiastic days (or if it’s chilly outdoors).
5. Pack a map
The Backyard can also be tucked away within the basement and never all the time simple to seek out – as a substitute of taking the primary lifts by the doorway, go previous the store and café on the bottom flooring then head down within the lifts.
There are maps to obtain in addition to giant print variations on the Data and ticket desks, and touchscreen choices inside for those who get misplaced although. You can even obtain sensory maps.
6. Discover the toddler actions
For those who take a look at the What’s On part of the Science Museum’s web site, you’ll be able to search by age – simply select ‘Who’ – so you’ll be able to verify what’s on for under-fives on any given day.
Some are firmly aimed toward preschoolers whereas some are in all probability higher for extra assured children poised to begin college, nevertheless it’s a fantastic start line to allow you to choose what your toddler goes to take pleasure in.
EDIT: beforehand you could possibly get free wristbands for kids on the info desk for those who have been visiting the Science Museum with toddlers, so in case your youngster went lacking, it could assist safety discover them – this not appears to be an choice.
7. Be an early chook
There are particular Early Birds dates, the place the museum opens at 8am, so youngsters who profit from a quieter setting can discover extra simply – it goes with out saying that the Science Museum is nearly invariably busy, however particularly at weekends and through holidays.
The occasions are accessible and aimed toward households with youngsters aged 4 to fifteen, though siblings are additionally welcome to attend. It’s free however it’s worthwhile to guide, and reserving opens round one month beforehand – the occasions happen on chosen Saturdays and Sundays all year long.
8. There are extra picnic spots than you suppose
In addition to cafes with youngsters’s menus, there are two designated picnic areas together with one subsequent to The Backyard.
There’s additionally a devoted picnic space outdoors Wonderlab on the third flooring close to Shake Bar, and you can even prebook lunch baggage and children’ lunch baggage whenever you guide tickets.
The bottom flooring café additionally has excessive chairs, whereas milk will be warmed on request for those who’re visiting with a child. You’re additionally welcome to breastfeed anyplace, however there’s a quieter Household Room on Degree -1.
Beforehand, you could possibly usually eat in any quiet uncarpeted space of the museum – useful when the basement space is filled with college teams and also you desire a quieter spot within the Science Museum for toddlers – however there’s typically loads house within the picnic areas.
9. Do verify the opposite children’ galleries
Though the Launchpad space is aimed toward older youngsters, toddlers will love sticking teaspoons to the magnet block and the bubble blowers.
The Sample Pod is one other interactive gallery, aimed toward 5 to eight-year-olds however with loads for toddlers to take pleasure in, together with garments for dress-up and sample puzzles – my daughter beloved making shapes with gentle specifically.
And whereas youthful guests won’t respect the engineering marvels on show within the galleries stuffed with automobiles or centered on house, what number of toddlers don’t love vehicles, trains and planes?
To not point out rockets. You would possibly end up scampering by at pace however the bonus of a free museum is which you can adapt your go to to brief consideration spans and all the time come again one other day!
10. Put together with an app
The museum additionally produces its personal apps, together with one for pre-schoolers – obtainable for Apple and Android – referred to as Treasure Hunters to encourage youngsters to look past the perfect identified reveals.
You earn badges and the challenges embrace easy choices like taking a photograph of the most important wheel yow will discover, so toddlers can take part as a lot as older siblings. The sport is designed to be performed on one machine, irrespective of what number of take part, so it’s a good way to entertain a number of ages without delay.
There are additionally some household trails – whereas none are aimed particularly at toddlers, there’s an interactive path and one for under-7s.
For extra issues to do in South Kensington with children, take a look at my ideas in addition to concepts for extra free issues to do in London with children
**First revealed 2015, final up to date 2023**
PIN FOR LATER: VISITING THE SCIENCE MUSEUM WITH TODDLERS
The Backyard/toddler images/house shuttle photos copyright MummyTravels, all others courtesy Depositphotos
