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 record 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 lots for the youngest guests as I rediscovered once 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 probably the most from our go to – listed here are my high Science Museum ideas, the ten issues it is advisable learn about exploring this London museum with a toddler.
For my full set of recommendations on visiting London’s museums with toddlers and youngsters, take a look at my final information, in addition to one of the best issues to do in London with preschoolers and toddlers
1. Test 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 value figuring out earlier than promising your children.
That features the fabulous Wonderlab too – geared toward major faculty age children and tweens quite than toddlers, it’s nonetheless more likely to be in your record in case your littler ones have older siblings.
Tickets price from £9 plus there’s an annual move which prices lower than the value of two visits (at £14 for youths) should you 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 have to prebook a free entry ticket to the primary museum – should you go to on a term-time weekday, you’re unlikely to have an issue getting in, though prebooking is strongly suggested at weekends and faculty holidays.
2. Pack frivolously to your time out
Whereas there’s a cloakroom on the Science Museum, it’s solely accepting small gadgets quite than buggies and pushchairs any extra.
You possibly can take buggies into the museum and plenty of galleries, though they aren’t allowed inside some areas for area 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).
When you’re visiting the Sample Pod, there’s additionally a small buggy parking space close by which you should utilize when you’re visiting this space. And there’s additionally area inside Wonderlab to depart pushchairs.
Any possessions within the buggies are left at your personal threat although. If you wish to go away luggage someplace safe, there are additionally lockers on stage -1, which price from £3 for small lockers (sufficiently big for coats). These are card fee solely.
3. Begin with the Backyard
The Backyard is an interactive gallery geared toward pre-schoolers based mostly round water, mild, sound and building – assume enjoying with interactive water reveals to dam the move and float boats, stacking enormous blocks and getting fingers on with a number of totally different sensory shows.
The Backyard additionally residence to the Science Museum mushy play space, in addition to some music impressed reveals and puppet theatre.
Unsurprisingly, it’s additionally probably the most standard areas, so you might want to attend throughout busy instances (the identical goes for Launch Pad and Sample Pod). The quietest instances 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 difficult, so it’s value having some motivation (or bribes) up your sleeve!
4. Deliver spare garments
There are now not any waterproof aprons and cover-ups supplied within the Backyard so it’s a good suggestion to deliver your personal should you can.
As toddlers can at all times discover a solution to get moist and messy it doesn’t matter what precautions you are taking, it’s effectively value packing spare garments for significantly enthusiastic days (or if it’s chilly outdoors).
5. Pack a map
The Backyard can also be tucked away within the basement and never at all times simple to seek out – as a substitute of taking the primary lifts by the doorway, go previous the store and café on the bottom ground 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 should you get misplaced although. You can too obtain sensory maps.
6. Discover the toddler actions
When you 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 test what’s on for under-fives on any given day.
Some are firmly geared toward preschoolers whereas some are most likely higher for extra assured children poised to start out faculty, however it’s an awesome start line to allow you to choose what your toddler goes to take pleasure in.
EDIT: beforehand you possibly can get free wristbands for kids on the data desk should you had been visiting the Science Museum with toddlers, so in case your little one went lacking, it could assist safety discover them – this now not appears to be an possibility.
7. Be an early hen
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 geared toward households with youngsters aged 4 to fifteen, though siblings are additionally welcome to attend. It’s free however it is advisable e-book, 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 assume
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 ground close to Shake Bar, and it’s also possible to prebook lunch luggage and youngsters’ lunch luggage whenever you e-book tickets.
The bottom ground café additionally has excessive chairs, whereas milk may be warmed on request should you’re visiting with a child. You’re additionally welcome to breastfeed anyplace, however there’s a quieter Household Room on Degree -1.
Beforehand, you possibly can usually eat in any quiet uncarpeted space of the museum – useful when the basement space is filled with faculty teams and also you need a quieter spot within the Science Museum for toddlers – however there’s usually lots area within the picnic areas.
9. Do test the opposite children’ galleries
Though the Launchpad space is geared toward older youngsters, toddlers will love sticking teaspoons to the magnet block and the bubble blowers.
The Sample Pod is one other interactive gallery, geared toward 5 to eight-year-olds however with lots for toddlers to take pleasure in, together with garments for dress-up and sample puzzles – my daughter beloved making shapes with mild particularly.
And whereas youthful guests won’t recognize the engineering marvels on show within the galleries crammed with automobiles or centered on area, what number of toddlers don’t love automobiles, trains and planes?
To not point out rockets. You would possibly end up scampering by means of at velocity however the bonus of a free museum is which you could adapt your go to to brief consideration spans and at all times come again one other day!
10. Put together with an app
The museum additionally produces its personal apps, together with one for pre-schoolers – out there for Apple and Android – known as Treasure Hunters to encourage youngsters to look past one of the best recognized reveals.
You earn badges and the challenges embody easy choices like taking a photograph of the largest wheel you could find, so toddlers can take part as a lot as older siblings. The sport is designed to be performed on one gadget, 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/area shuttle photos copyright MummyTravels, all others courtesy Depositphotos
