Power Up at the Science and Industry Museum

Please note: this event is open every weekend during term time and seven days a week during school holidays.

Yes, okay, we know a cultural day out with the family really shouldn’t involve staring at screens. However, the ever-popular Power Up at the Science and Industry Museum (celebrating the history of all things gaming) offers avid gamers the opportunity to play their way through five decades of the best video games, and always demands an exception.

Since Power Up first opened in June 2022, it has fast become one of the museum’s key attractions. Thousands of visitors – of all ages – have enjoyed the evolution of gaming, getting hands-on with gaming gadgets and classic consoles. To mark the success of this gaming experience, the Science and Industry Museum have extended Power Up’s run and introduced a new annual pass meaning gamers can return as many times as they like over 12 months for just £18.00, less than the cost of two single-day tickets, which are priced at £8.00.

The experience is refreshed regularly, meaning there’s always a new challenge for returning players.

Whether you book a day ticket or an annual pass, you’ll be able to get your hands on over 150 consoles and challenge yourself and others to some of the most in-demand video games from the last 50 years.

Battle it out on Pong, rock out with Guitar Hero and floss the light-fantastic on Fortnite. Nostalgia lovers can see the evolution of familiar characters like Mario and Sonic on old-school arcade games, and tech fans can get immersed in the latest virtual reality. The best part is – the experience is refreshed regularly, meaning there’s always a new challenge for returning players.

You’ll be able to get your hands on over 150 consoles and challenge yourself and others to some of the most in-demand video games from the last 50 years.

Whether you’re a gaming enthusiast or just starting out, it’s awe-inspiring to see how creativity, technology and design has developed to transform the way we play video games. It’s also fascinating to see the similarities in the successful games that make players continually (and addictively) put their game faces on and skills to the test.

Winner winner.

Want to see Power Up in a different, adults-only light? On 12 March, the Museum opens after hours for a special evening of live performance, interactive games and food and drink. Read more about that here.