Half term science fun at The Beacon Museum

Posted on by Warren Birch

Just a 10-minute walk from Whitehaven Railway Station.

THE BEACON Museum is celebrating science this half term with a range of hands-on workshops and exciting events.

‘Gravity, forces and space’ is the theme of Science Week, running from February 18 – 26. It kicks off with a visit from a special visitor on the 18th – Spot, Sellafield’s robotic dog.

On that day the museum will also launch ‘Tim Peake – Space Descent,’ a short film from The Science Museum, running every half hour until May 28. Viewers can retrace Tim Peake’s breath-taking journey back to Earth from the International Space Station in an immersive 270° experience, suitable for the whole family.

And throughout the Science Week event, visitors can see family-friendly science shows at 11am and 2pm every day. Join our mad scientists as they defy gravity, launch rockets and make goo dance. After the show, the audience is invited to get involved in one of the workshops:

Space slime workshop

Saturday 18, Tuesday 21, Friday 24 February

Parachutes workshop

Sunday 19, Wednesday 22, Saturday 25 February

Rockets workshop

Monday 20, Thursday 23, Sunday 26 February

  • Places at the shows/workshops cost £5 per child, and all visitors must also buy a general admission ticket or have an annual pass. This can be purchased in advance online, or on arrival at the museum.
  • Children must be accompanied by a parent or guardian (adults do not need to pay for the show/workshops)
  • Visitors should allow 1.5 hours for this part of the visit – the science show and workshop last around 45 minutes each.
  • Booking is essential – visit The Beacon Museum’s website to book: https://thebeacon-whitehaven.co.uk/

As well as the science shows and workshops, museum staff will give talks about local scientists during the festival. These will be on the second floor throughout the day – ask at reception for details.

There will also be a trail around the museum – visitors can follow the clues to explore the galleries, and a get a certificate on completion.

And the arts haven’t been forgotten during Science Week. Museum guests can take part in a community art project, helping to create an artwork inspired by the constellations.

For more details, visit https://thebeacon-whitehaven.co.uk/ or call 01946 592302.