Pre-booked daytime groups £5.25 per student. Optional extras from £1 pp.
You can add a guided Telescope Tour, Workshop, Science Show or Team Challenges. All activities will be delivered in English but dialogue will be kept at an appropriate level.
Supervising adults (and coach driver) admitted FREE of charge.
Please contact The Centre to check availability on your preferred booking date. Details can be taken over the phone or you can email a booking enquiry.
Exhibits Find out more Access to the hands-on exhibits indoors and outside (weather permitting).
One of the copper clad domes houses the exhibition 'Domes of Discovery- the story of The Royal Observatory' which brings to life the 300 year history of one of the most famous scientific institutions in the world. Time to explore the exhibition is included in your visit.
From the beginning of February to the end of November.
The Centre opens daily at 10 am and closes 5 pm in winter, 6 pm in summer.
A daytime visit is expected to last 2 - 4 hours depending on whether you book extra activities.
During term time, The Centre can be busy with school groups during the morning so, where possible we recommend that student groups visit during the afternoon.
Our Café and catering unit serve burger & fries, toasties, hot dogs, sandwiches & light meals etc. as well as cake and coffee!
You can pre-order lunch for your group to save brining packed lunches etc.
Please tell us at the time of booking if you intend to picnic on site and we will endeavour to have an indoor space available for inclement weather.
Our Gift shop is packed with a fantastic range of souvenirs and pocket money science toys as well as science books, resources & astronomy related items.
To experience the site after normal visitor hours is an exciting experience and we open exclusively for your group.
The visit includes an atmospheric Telescope Tour presented to groups of students during the evening with an enthusiastic astronomer on hand to answer your questions. Weather permitting we also lead you to view the night sky through an historic telescope.
£6.25 per student. Minimum charge £125.
All accompanying adults are FREE of charge.
Evening visits usually take place after 6.30 pm and end before 10.30 pm, but we can work with the times you require.
Please contact us to discuss options, including catering.
The Observatory Science Centre is an historic site and visitors must take care at all times....Student groups will not be admitted with insufficient adult supervision.
FREE parking for coaches, minibuses & cars.
Dedicated team of staff and volunteers all have a Disclosure & Barring Service (DBS) Enhanced Certificate and many are registered STEM Ambassadors.
The Centre is a NON-SMOKING site, which includes e-cigarettes
CCTV is operating throughout the site.
Payment is due in advance or on the day and is accepted by BACS, cash, credit card or cheque. (payable to 'Science Projects Ltd').
We are only able to accept a voucher system by prior agreement.
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Please note we all work part-time .. if your enquiry is urgent you are welcome to call us
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The Observatory Science Centre is part of Science Projects Ltd, a company limited by guarantee registered in England No: 02186073 and a registered charity No: 298542. The registered office is 3 – 15 Stirling Road, Acton, London. W3 8DJ. UK.
Our usual parking field is temporarily closed following unprecedented winter rainfall
Please use the hardstanding car park on Wartling Road: just south of the estate entrance
Blue Badge parking bays available as usual behind the main building
All parking is free!
Please do call ahead to check......
