In the mid 20th century, the Royal Observatory at Greenwhich was moved to Herstmonceux, East Sussex, to escape the problems of being in London (lights, smog, electric fields etc). However, after just a few decades at Herstmonceux, it was decided that this location wasn’t ideal either. The giant Isaac Newton Telescope that had been installed in 1967 had been moved a more cloud-free location in the Canary Islands, and the Royal Observatory moved their base to Cambridge. Instead, a hands-on Science Centre opened at the site in 1995 (after a temporary trial run in 1994), and since then it’s a great place for fun hands-on exploring and learning about scientific concepts of various kinds!
Last week, we visited the science centre for the first time in about two years (it’s been closed for most of that time, due to the pandemic). We really enjoyed looking around and trying out many of the hands-on activities, both indoors and outdoors:
One thing that can be useful to know, is that some of the activity stations outdoors get closed off if the weather is wet (for safety reasons, as they get slippery). So if you can, pick a dry day for visiting to get the most out of it.
The Observatory Science Centre is currently (November 2021) open Saturdays and Sundays plus one weekday per week, 10am to 4 pm. It is recommended that you book and pay for your tickets in advance (and you book for a whole day, no time slots), but they also accept buying tickets at the door if places are available. More information on their website: https://www.the-observatory.org/ . Admission prices for the centre are reasonable in my opinion, and carers go free when accompanying a paying child or adult who is disabled. You might be asked to show proof, such as a disability benefit letter or iGo card. All details about admission are found here: https://www.the-observatory.org/admission-prices.
Here’s a little slideshow of photos from our pre-pandemic visits, to show you some more of what you can expect to find at the science centre:
As we’re now approaching Christmas, I’d like to point out that the science centre has not only got a small gift shop at the entrance/exit, but also a shop online selling science themed toys, books, trinkets etc, as well as vouchers for tickets and events, and some quirky things such as astronaut food!: https://www.the-observatory.org/shop. To find out more about their astronomy events for adults, take a look here: https://www.the-observatory.org/events
Finally, on a very practical note, I was happy to notice, when we walked past the accessible toilet, that it now has a proper adult changing bed. I got a quick shot of it, but didn’t stop to have a closer look at the space. The website says there is a hoist as well. It’s great to see that more and more places are investing in facilities that make them more accessible for disabled visitors.
Thanks so much for reading! Have you been to Herstmonceux Observatory Science Centre yourself? Or perhaps you can suggest similar places for hands-on science learning, closer to where you live? Any comments or questions are, as always, very welcome below, thank you x
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Sensational Learning with Penguin 
Great review! My children would love to visit this hands on science museum it looks so cool. I especially like the sound of the gift shop. I also love that it has both indoor and outdoor activities. Thanks so much for linking up at #KCACOLS.”
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Thank you Dana! I too love that there’s a lot to explore both indoors and outdoors. It’s good fun, and learning just happens while enjoying the place 🙂 x
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That looks like a really good fun and educational day out for the kids. Thanks for sharing with #KCACOLS
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Thank you so much! It really is a great place 🙂 x
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I LOVE places like this! So fun!! Thanks for posting! #KCACOLS
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Thank you so much Jessy! That’s lovely to hear! x
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This place looks fab! So much to see and learn! We have been to the Royal Observatory Greenwich and it was a fantastic day out too. The girls really enjoyed it although it is not as big as this one. If you go to London some time, this could be a great place to visit too 🙂 Thanks for sharing your review with us at #kcacols xx
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Thank you Franca! Greenwich seems like a brilliant place to visit too, and I hope we’ll be able to do that some time. I’m happy to hear that you and your girls enjoyed it a lot! xx
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“Hands On” science is the best for children. You are blessed to have this resource. The dome appears to need some TLC.
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Thank you Michael! I absolutely agree, hands on is usually the best way to learn, and yes we’re very lucky to have this place not far from home. They seem to be doing maintenance almost constantly, so I’m sure they will see to the domes when needed too 🙂 x
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This sounds like a fun place to visit! I have been to the Royal Observatory at Greenwich.
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Looks an incredible place to take kids out and explore x
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Thank you! It’s a fab place 🙂 x
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Thank you Lisa! We’ve not been to Greenwich yet, it seems like a great place too x
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This looks like a fabulous place to visit and I love the look of the activity stations. Definitely adding this to the list of places to visit at some point. #MMBC
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Thank you! It’s a really great place to explore x
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Sounds like a fun place for a favmily to visit. Great photos too
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Thank you! It really is a great place 😀 x
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What a fantastic place to visit. We love it when there are lots of hands-on activities, perfect for my little sensory seeker.
Also great to see that they have made their toilets accessible for all. x 😊
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Thank you Jayne! Yes, places like this are fantastic for our kiddos who crave a lot of sensory stimulation 🙂 xx
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How interesting to read about the observatory. It looks and sounds like a great day out. x
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Thank you! It’s a great place, so much hands-on exploring to do 🙂 x
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