Science Centres and Museums in the UK

Some of the most famous and most visited science centres and museums in the UK include:

• Science Museum, London. Visited by more than 3 million people each year, the Science Museum (located on the Exhibition Road) in London isn’t only one of the most visited science museums but it is also one of the most visited museums in the UK. It is housing a collection of more than 300,000 artefacts which among other items also include the Stephenson’s Rocket, the oldest surviving steam engine Old Bess, the oldest surviving medicine chest, first jet engine and much, much more. There is no admission but fee may be charged for temporary exhibitions.

• Museum of Science and Industry (MOSI), Manchester. This museum is also home to a wealth of artefacts related to science and technology including cars, locomotives, aircraft, steam engines, communication technology,… with a focus on objects that are related to the city of Manchester. The museum is located on what was the first railway station in the world (opened in 1830 at the Liverpool and Manchester Railway).

• Museum of the History of Science, Oxford. Located in the city of Oxford, the Museum of the History of Science is focused on everything that has to do with science. It has one of the most impressive collections of scientific instruments in the world, especially when it comes to medieval and 17th century items but the museum’s visitors can also see an outstanding collection of 18th and 19th century science-related items. Besides for its fantastic collections, the museum is also famous for being housed in the oldest surviving building that was built as a museum in the world.

• Glasgow Science Centre, Glasgow. Opened only in 2001, the Glasgow Science Centre soon emerged as one of the most popular and most visited science centres not only in the UK but the entire Europe. It features IMAX cinema (the first of its kind in Scotland when built), the so-called Science Mall featuring a wealth of science-related exhibits, interactive workshops, planetarium and theatre, and the Glasgow Tower which is the world’s only structure that can rotate 360 degrees and the world’s tallest free-standing rotating tower.

• Life Science Centre, Newcastle upon Tyne. It is a part of the International Centre for Life, a science village which is dedicated to promoting life sciences and informing the public about related issues. It houses various science-themed exhibitions - both permanent and temporary, a planetarium, science theatre and a wealth of science-related events for both children and adults.