The Science Museum – Summer Holidays 2026!
The Science Museum has always been one of those places that feels woven into the fabric of my childhood thanks to my Grandmother who took me when I would stay with her in London, and now into my children’s too. Every visit carries a little nostalgia, a little discovery, and this latest trip, exploring the new space gallery was no exception. The old space exhibition had been there for around forty years, so seeing its modern replacement felt like watching a beloved classic get the update it deserved.
The highlight was the talk we attended, gathered around a moving planet that shifted and transformed as our guide spoke. It wasn’t just a static model; it morphed from Earth to Mars to Jupiter and beyond, syncing perfectly with the storytelling. It made the whole experience feel alive, almost theatrical, and the children were mesmerised. The new gallery itself is smaller than the old one, but far more up‑to‑date, polished, and thoughtfully curated. Instead of feeling like a museum frozen in time, it feels current, reflecting the pace of modern space exploration and the excitement surrounding it.
The old space gallery’s former home is now being transformed into something new. I overheard whispers about a gallery focused on modern living, which sounds intriguing. I’ll be keeping an eye on that development because the Science Museum always manages to create spaces that feel relevant and engaging.
Of course, with change comes a little sentimentality. I still miss “In The Home”, the basement gallery that once housed everyday objects from domestic history, including the Baby Daisy vacuum cleaner donated by my grandmother. We used to visit it every time, the children proudly pointing out “Great‑Grandmother’s vacuum.” I felt a pang of sadness when I learned it would no longer be on display following the closure of the exhibition but the silver lining came this visit when I was informed: All removed items are being kept in a huge Science Museum facility in Swindon, where they’ll be viewable. So now I’ve added Swindon to my list of places to visit, because seeing that vacuum cleaner in its new home feels important.
The basement still holds one of our favourite spaces: The Garden, the immersive play area for under 7s. It’s not a garden at all, but a hands on science wonderland. Water play with dams and boats, giant bricks for building houses, sensory experiences, and endless opportunities for little ones to experiment. Posie was desperate to go again (even though we were there last month), and because it’s FREE (just like general museum entry) we happily obliged. It’s one of those rare places where children learn without realising they’re learning – the hidden veg element as I like to call it!
There are paid exhibitions too, like Wonderlab, which used to be The Launch Pad when Florence and Jimmy were tiny. It was free back then, but honestly, Wonderlab is even better now; bigger, brighter, more interactive, and the ticket price is absolutely worth it. You can upgrade to an annual pass, which is brilliant if you visit often and my children loved it this visit, as they always do, even the 14 year old proving you are never too old even if you like to pretend you are because actually, once there, you’ll just get drawn in. Another paid experience is the Bubble Show, which also used to be free once upon a time (sign of the times), but again, it’s worth every penny. It’s hands on, educational, and full of joy. We l had very happy little ones when we got to be part of the fun show which was the cherry on the cake!
We lucked out even more and squeezed in time at Power Up too! Power Up is a retro gaming heaven filled with consoles from every decade. You can play everything from old‑school classics to modern favourites, and it’s impossible not to get swept up in the nostalgia (I may have spent long enough playing Super Bomberman to make Posie feel very disgruntled waiting to go to “The Garden”. We hadn’t planned to go to Power Up, but since it’s right next to the “Bubble Explorers” show, and The Garden, we popped in while waiting and ended up loving it (well, Posie might have been able to do without it, but for the rest of us).
We also wandered through the flight area which was BRILLIANT for military history (a Jimmy fave) and the Pattern Pod which is a sensory delight perfect for children (both FREE). After nearly six hours, we’d barely scratched the surface of the museum and that’s the thing about the Science Museum: no matter how often you go, there’s always more to see, more to learn, more to love. It’s a firm favourite for us and always will be.
We were invited to try some of the exhibitions as guests of The Science Museum.