Spring holiday at Science and Industry Museum
Johnny James, Managing EditorVisit now
Spring holiday at Science and Industry Museum
Always double check opening hours with the venue before making a special visit.
The Science and Industry Museum is going galactic this Easter, turning the spring holidays into an adventure through space, science and silliness. Running from 28 March to 19 April, its free family programme is inspired by the new, world premiere exhibition Horrible Science: Cosmic Chaos, bringing a welcome dose of hands-on fun to the school break.
Across the museum, young visitors can test their coordination, balance and dexterity in a series of astronaut-style navigation challenges as the building transforms into mission control. There’s also the chance to discover what life is really like aboard the International Space Station, take in views of Earth from orbit, and design a mission patch worthy of an astronaut’s spacesuit.
One of the strongest hooks is a brand-new live show exploring the strange practicalities of eating in space. Expect a closer look at what astronauts actually consume in orbit, with the chance to sample space-inspired snacks if you’re feeling adventurous.
The programme runs alongside Horrible Science: Cosmic Chaos, a large-scale immersive exhibition that’s £10 entry. Here, young explorers can head on an intrepid journey through the Solar System, where abstract ideas are made tangible through physical interaction. Expect experiments, challenges, mischievous storytelling and all the gleefully disgusting facts you’d hope for from the Horrible Science universe.
Elsewhere, the museum’s permanent galleries are very much open – and all included in free general admission. From the industrial breakthroughs of Revolution Manchester to the hands-on creativity of the Textiles Gallery and the playful challenges of Experiment, there’s plenty here to make a proper day of it. Another layer comes with the ticketed experience, Power Up, offering avid gamers the opportunity to play their way through five decades of iconic video games.
The museum is also increasing its catering offer for the half term holiday, opening its first-floor Bistro alongside the usual Café, while the shop stocks a range of Horrible Science-inspired toys, games and even space food to take home.
In other words, this is more than a few activities bolted onto a quick spin around a museum – it’s a fully-fledged family day out, with enough included in free admission to make the optional extras feel exactly that.
