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“We decided to visit the National Space Centre on a wet...”

written by Trinitytrashuk on 23/10/2008

Good Points
If you sign a Giftaid form (takes two minutes) you get a full Annual Pass for no extra cost!!!

Bad Points
We had to leave :-(

General Comments
We decided to visit the National Space Centre on a wet and windy day and I must say that even though we made the decision due to the bad weather I wish we had visit here a long time ago, it's true you don't visit the things on your doorstep.

After paying silly money for parking at Alton Towers and the NEC ( £8!!!!!) I didn't have a problem with a £1 for the full day, I think the fact that there was a Security man patrolling the area when we arrived made the £1 seem like good value for money.

The building is stunning and the whole family spent ages getting the obligatory rocket tower photos before we actually made it inside.

I was very shocked to learn that the centre is a charity and unlike other museums they do not get any money to look after the artifacts on display (the Soyuz capsule as you arrive was worth the entry fee alone!). Especially when I have later read about how much money the Science Museum gets from the government and private sponsorship to do what I think the National Space Centre does just as well with no financial support (I only mention this as it is given in a comparison on an earlier review)

We of course upgraded to the free Annual Pass, which means we can come back again and I can assure you we will be.

There were some talks and craft sessions going on for the kids, so we sat and had a bowl of soup (well it was cold outside) and planned the day.

We went round all the galleries, stopping to do loads of hands on stuff, we went to a show in the planetarium (this was the highlight for me!) went on the simulator ride (nothing like those ones you get in town centres) my only concern was that the 3D glasses kept slipping off, so we had to go on a second time to see the bits we missed ;-)

There was a whole day of stuff to do and when we finally left, with space ice cream for the journey home, we picked up a lealfet and are planning to come back (for free!) for the different events that are coming up.

All in all I think this was one of the best family days out we have ever had!