Fun for the curious
Over 100 interactive exhibits, indoor and outdoor, as well as groundbreaking scientific history all in one place!
Grab your torch
Join us for an evening of discovery and space exploration. Stargazing evenings are the best way to experience the natural wonders of the night sky – looking through a telescope is awe inspiring.
Schools & Groups
We are a unique science learning destination set within the historic domes of the former Royal Observatory. Surrounded by beautiful Sussex countryside, our secure site offers a truly inspiring setting for groups to explore science and astronomy in a real-life context.
Celebrations
Whether its a birthday party, a wedding or any other event – we’d love to help you celebrate. Our fascinating telescope domes provide a unique backdrop for any celebration and our interactive science exhibits keep everyone entertained.
Gift Vouchers
Treat family or friends to a day of interactive science or an evening of stargazing. Even better, our digital gift vouchers are sent straight to their inbox, making them perfect for last-minute or long-distance gifting!
“What an absolute gem!
If you want hands on fun, where children and adults alike can touch, push, wind, press, feel, see, hear – then this is the place!”
Tripadvisor review
“Amazing little hands on science fun find! We filled a whole day at the centre with no waiting to use anything and the science show was great! Worth the journey to get to it.”
Google Review
“Had a wonderful evening of stargazing here last night. Saw Saturn, Neptune, Jupiter, the Andromeda galaxy, a nebula and eventually the Moon, which blew me away seeing it up close.”
Google Review
Discover
Find out more about our incredible historic telescopes and how to come and see the night sky
Beer & The Big Bang – 28th February
14/01/2026On Saturday 28th February, enjoy an evening looking up at the night’s sky with a bottle of English craft beer
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Big Telescopes for Small Astronomers
13/01/2026Explore the night sky with stargazing events for kids and families in East Sussex at the Observatory Science Centre & Museum
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Our Awesome Orrery
13/01/2026When you visit our ‘Domes of Discovery’ gallery, don’t forget to look up! Mounted next to the massive Congo Schmidt
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Solid, liquid, gas…plasma!
13/01/2026Explore our popular Plasma Globe exhibit in the ‘Light and Colour’ gallery. What is plasma? Plasma is the fourth state
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Shake it off!
13/01/2026Discover our popular Earthquake exhibit in the ‘Earth & Beyond’ gallery. Design, Build, Test, Learn! Have you ever felt an
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Stargazing Evenings
22/12/2025See the stars through our historic telescopes Stargazing Evenings at the Observatory are the best way to experience the natural
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The Isaac Newton Telescope
01/08/2025Read about the Isaac Newton Telescope, previously based at Herstmonceux. Sir Isaac Newton was born on 4 January 1643 at
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History of The Royal Observatory
01/08/2025From Greenwich to Herstmonceux The Royal Observatory was founded by King Charles II on 4th March 1675 when John Flamsteed
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Proving Einstein’s Theory of Relativity
10/07/2025Historic glassware exhibited at the Observatory includes telescope mirrors and a lens used in one of the 20th century’s pivotal
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Science for all
Our mission is to empower everyone to engage with science confidently and so feel more resilient in our complex world. We believe that science should be as fun and easy to talk about as Taylor Swift or the football.
100%
of profit to charity
1.5 million
visitors
30
Years open to the public
120
School visits every year
