Terms and conditions

Observatory Science Centre and Museum is part of Science Projects, a company limited by guarantee (company number 02186073) and a registered charity (charity number 298542).  When we say “SP”, “we”, “us” or “our” we mean Science Projects. When we say our “Museum” we mean the whole site including the building, grounds and car park.  When we say “you” we mean the user or viewer of our website, the person organisation visiting our Museum or the person or organisation we are visiting for in school experiences including our mobile planetarium.

Terms and conditions for visiting our Museum – general admission

  1. Buying tickets
    1. Tickets can be bought online or in person. When using our online booking form please ensure you enter the right information and pick the correct date and time for entry. We will issue a confirmation with a booking reference number to the email address you give us.
    2. Children under 4 are admitted free of charge but you still need to book online or get a ticket in person.
    3. If you’re a visitor with a disability and you need a carer, personal assistant or essential companion to help you with access during your visit, you can bring them free of charge when you buy a ticket. You will need to present ID when you arrive – we’ll ask for just one of these:
      • A Gateway Card, Max Card, Yellow Card, Access card, Hynt Card or the CEA Card.
      • A Disability Living Allowance or Attendance Allowance award letter.
      • Personal Independence Payment letter.
      • A letter from GP or consultant confirming the need for a carer, personal assistant or essential companion.
      • War Disablement Pension or Armed Forces Independence Payment.
      • Blue Badge or a photocopy or scan of your Blue Badge.
    4. If you need more than one carer, personal assistant or essential companion, or if you don’t have any of these documents please talk to us and we can work with you individually.
    5. All general admission and event tickets are non-refundable and non-transferable. 
    6. We may apply promotional discounts and deals. These are given at our discretion and may be applied or removed at any time without notice.
    7. There may be a minimum age requirement for some special events, for example the minimum age for “Sparkling Stars” and Beer and the Big Bang is 18 years. Age restrictions will be made clear on the booking page. ID may be requested upon arrival.
  2. Arriving at the Observatory Science Centre and Museum
    1. Please arrive on the date stated on your booking confirmation. Please supply your booking reference number.
    2. No animals other than assistance dogs are permitted in the Museum. We do not have any facilities for kennelling animals.
    3. We may wish to search your belongings to ensure that items which could compromise the safety or security of our Museum, visitors or staff are not brought into the Museum. If you refuse then we may refuse you entry to the site.
  3. During your visit
    1. Our staff work hard to make your visit fun and safe. You must follow all their instructions as they will be made with your safety and enjoyment in mind.
    2. All children age 14 or under must be accompanied and supervised by an adult and remain within their sight and control at all times whilst at our Museum.
    3. Buggies and pushchairs are permitted but remain your responsibility at all times.  If they or other baggage items such as coats or lunchboxes are left unattended they may be removed for reasons of security and safety. We keep all lost property for one month, unless it is perishable or we believe it presents a risk to health and safety.
    4. No smoking, vaping or e-cigarettes are allowed within our Museum.
  4. Our exhibition
    1. We work hard to ensure that all our exhibits and shows run well and provide a great experience. However there may be times when exhibits have to be removed, altered or closed.
    2. We will try to give notice of this but in some circumstances it may be unavoidable. We cannot guarantee that any particular exhibit will be available on the date of your visit.
  5. Our science shows and telescope tours
    1. Science shows and telescope tours are free and offered at regular times throughout the day but we cannot guarantee that there will be space.  On busy days, if you want to ensure a space then you should ensure you come to the science show venue or telescope tour meeting point at least  10 minutes before they start.
  6. Your safety
    1. It is important to us to ensure that all our visitors have a safe and enjoyable visit. We reserve the right to refuse entry or to remove from the Museum any person (and if such person is age 14 or under any person supervising them) who doesn’t comply with these terms or whose behaviour we believe is or will have a detrimental effect on the enjoyment or safety of our visitors and staff.
    2. We expect you to closely supervise all children age 14 and under to ensure their and other visitors safety and enjoyment of our facilities.
    3. If we refuse you entry or remove you from our Museum due to your behaviour, or the behaviour of a person you are supervising, you will not be entitled to a refund.
  7. Photography and filming
    1. Visitors are welcome to take personal photos and short videos during their visit for private use and to capture memories of their day. Please be considerate of others when doing so, especially where children or visitors outside your group may appear in your images. Our team may ask to view or delete images if a concern is raised.
    2. All commercial photography, audio or visual recording is prohibited without our prior written authorisation.
    3. We may take photographs and film for archive and marketing purposes. On these occasions a notice will be displayed at the entrance. Permission will be sought from individuals (or their responsible adult if they are under 18) when they are the main subject.
  8. Special events
    1. Special events include, but are not limited to, evening events including those involving viewing the night sky through our telescopes, seasonal events, performances, talks, workshops and any other dated and timed activities that are not general admission.
    2. All special event tickets are non-refundable. This includes situations where you are unable to attend for personal reasons, travel disruption or illness.
    3. Where we cancel a special event in full, you will be offered either an alternative date where available or a full refund of the ticket price for the cancelled event.
    4. For an evening special event involving viewing the night sky through our telescopes, if the weather is not suitable to look through the telescopes (cloudy, rainy, foggy or if the wind is too strong), we do not cancel the event.  Instead there will be planetarium shows, opportunities to chat to astronomy experts and talks on the night sky.
    5. During evening special events our indoor exhibits will be available to explore but it will be too dark for our outdoor exhibits.

Terms and conditions for visiting our Museum – Schools and Groups

This section of these  Terms and Conditions apply to school visits to our Museum

  1. General
    1. The Museum will be open exclusively to schools and groups on the day of your visit. Unless your school has booked exclusive use of the Museum, please expect to be sharing the space with other schools or groups.
    2. The minimum group size is 15 students. If you wish to bring a smaller group, you can, but minimum charges (based on 15 students) will apply. However, if you are a SEND school and wish to bring a small group, this minimum charge may be waivered. Please contact groups@the-observatory.org to discuss your booking.
  2. During your visit:
    1. Parking is provided for educational groups free of charge. However, we do not accept responsibility for any damage to or theft of or from vehicles whilst parked at our Museum.
    2. The first activity will start at 10.30am. Please allow extra time to park your vehicle, make your way to the building, deposit coats and packed lunches in the allocated space. The Museum opens at 10am.
    3. To ensure your day runs as planned please arrive at your workshop, telescope tour and/or science show at your allocated time. If you arrive late, we may have to shorten or cancel the session.
    4. Students will need to follow all instructions given by our members of staff. Instructions are there to ensure safety and enjoyment.
    5. All children age 14 or under must be accompanied and supervised by an adult and remain within their sight at all times whilst at the Museum.
    6. We reserve the right to refuse entry or to remove any person whose behaviour we believe is having, or will have, a detrimental effect on the enjoyment or safety of other visitors and staff. If such person is age 14 or under, this will apply to their responsible adult.
    7. Students’ belongings remain their responsibility. Lost property is kept for one month, unless it is perishable or we believe it presents a risk to health and safety.
    8. Teachers or accompanying adults may take photos of their own group for school use only, provided this does not include other visiting schools or members of the public.
    9. We work hard to ensure that all our exhibits and shows run well and provide a great experience. However, there may be times when exhibits, shows or experiences have to be removed, altered or closed. If we are unable to provide your booked activity we will try to provide an equivalent experience for you.
  3. Payment
    1. We will invoice your school within ten working days of your visit. Payment is due within 30 days of the date of invoice.
    2. You will be invoiced for the number of students and adults present on the day and any other relevant charges.
  4. Amending your visit date or cancelling a booking
    1. If you need to cancel or amend your booking date for any reason the following charges will apply in addition to any charge for a new booking:
      1. Two weeks or less from date of visit:
        1. Cancellation is 100% of original booking value.
        2. Amendment is 50% of original booking value, plus new booking value
      2. Less than one month and greater than two weeks from date of visit:
        1. Cancellation is 75% of original booking value.
        2. Amendment is 35% of original booking, plus new booking value
      3. Less than two months and greater than one month from date of visit:
        1. Cancellation is 50% of original booking value.
        2. Amendment is 25% of original booking, plus new booking value
      4. Over two months from date of visit:
        1. Cancellation is free of charge.
        2. Amendment is free of charge.
    2. The charges detailed above will not apply if you have to cancel for reasons outside of your control including, without limitation: bad weather preventing travel, significant transport delays.
    3. To qualify for our 10% discount on a second school activity (visit or in school) when you book a group visit the second booking must be made and taken within the same academic school year. Any booking not made will not be carried over and will be lost.
    4. Offer is subject to availability and can be withdrawn by us at any point.
  5. Special events for groups
    1. Special events include, but are not limited to, evening events including those involving viewing the night sky through our telescopes, seasonal events, performances, talks, workshops and any other dated and timed activities that are not day visits (eg twilight group visits.)
    2. All special event tickets are non-refundable. This includes situations where any members of your group are unable to attend for personal reasons, travel disruption or illness.
    3. Where we cancel a special event in full, you will be offered either an alternative date where available or a full refund of the ticket price for the cancelled event.
    4. For an evening special event involving viewing the night sky through our telescopes, if the weather is not suitable to look through the telescopes (cloudy, rainy, foggy or if the wind is too strong), we do not cancel the event.  Instead there will be planetarium shows, opportunities to chat to astronomy experts and talks on the night sky.
    5. During evening special events our indoor exhibits will be available to explore but it will be too dark for our outdoor exhibits.

Terms and conditions for in-school experiences including mobile planetarium bookings

This section of these Terms and Conditions applies to in-school experiences including mobile planetarium bookings.

  1. Before your visit
    1. Digital resources for your school to take part in before and after our visit may be made available to you. These activities are not compulsory, but will deepen and enhance the learning experience of your students on the day.
    2. Risk assessments of any workshops and the planetarium will be provided digitally ahead of our arrival.
    3. Please let us know about any policy or procedures that our staff need to know before they visit.
  2. About your visit:
    1. A workshop is designed for a single class of up to 40 students.
    2. Your workshop/programme will be confirmed in advance and cannot be changed on the day.
    3. Each workshop has a unique pre-prepared resources kit. Our staff member will only bring the kits that are required for the booked workshops.
  3. During our visit:
    1. On the day, one of our staff members will attend your school at the agreed arrival time to deliver the experience you have booked. They will need:
      • A reserved parking space as close to the school building as possible, to support the easy transport of our science kit.
      • Step-free access to the venue in order to transport the workshop kits by trolley. If the rooms are not on ground level, they will need either access to a mechanical lift or support from school staff to help transport the kit to the venue.
    2. Exclusive access to the venue allocated for the workshop/s one hour before the first session is due to start to set up for the day.
    3. A dedicated storage area roughly 3m x 3m, away from students (this could be a spare room or corner of your school hall), to store kit. Please ensure kit storage is communicated with your staff.
    4. Easy access to a sink with running water where we can dispose of simple chemicals and wash hands.
    5. Students will need to follow all instructions given by our member of staff. Instructions are there to ensure safety and enjoyment.
    6. Teachers and school support staff will be required to remain with the students at all times to support behaviour management and share in the experience. If there is any dangerous behaviour we reserve the right to ask any student to leave the room, with the support of your school staff.
    7. For the mobile planetarium, we need a clear area of at least 8m x 8m with minimum 4m vertical clearance (taking light fixtures and similar into account) with flat, solid and clean (dust-free) floor.
    8. The Planetarium must be set up in a safe environment protected from the elements (wind, rain etc) and also protected from curious passers-by. Children must not have access to the outside of the dome without supervision by responsible adults.
    9. Nearby access to a mains power socket (preferably two but one will do) is required.
    10. The Mobile Planetarium has limited throughput of air and so temperatures will rise while people are inside. If the room itself is hot, then this can cause difficulties. If internal temperatures rise above 30ºC, shows will be adapted so that the presenter spends no more than 25min at one time inside the dome followed by at least 5min in a location under 28ºC. At temperatures over 33ºC, shows will be halted until cooled to 26ºC or lower, with an option of Q&A in classrooms or other spaces as an alternative activity. Where showings are cancelled by us for this reason, a relative percentage of the booking charge will be waived (e.g. if half the shows are cancelled, only half the normal charge would be invoiced). The calculation of this reduction is entirely at our discretion.
  4. Payment and Booking
    1. We will invoice your school within ten working days of your visit. Payment is due within 30 days of the date of invoice.
    2. You will be invoiced for the number of students and adults present on the day and any other relevant charges.
  5. Amending your visit date or cancelling a booking
    1. If you need to cancel or amend your booking date for any reason the following charges will apply in addition to any charge for a new booking.
      1. Two weeks or less from date of visit:
        1. Cancellation is 100% of original booking value.
        2. Amendment is 50% of original booking value, plus new booking value
      2. Less than one month and greater than two weeks from date of visit:
        1. Cancellation is 75% of original booking value.
        2. Amendment is 35% of original booking, plus new booking value
      3. Less than two months and greater than one month from date of visit:
        1. Cancellation is 50% of original booking value.
        2. Amendment is 25% of original booking, plus new booking value
      4. Over two months from date of visit:
        1. Cancellation is free of charge.
        2. Amendment is free of charge.
    2. The charges detailed above will not apply if you have to cancel for reasons outside of your control including, without limitation: bad weather preventing travel, significant transport delays.

Terms and conditions for using our website

  1. General
    1. If you continue to browse and use this website, you are agreeing to comply with and be bound by the following terms and conditions of use, which together with our privacy policy govern our relationship with you in relation to this website. If you disagree with any part of these terms and conditions, please do not use our website.
    2. The content of the pages of this website is for your general information and use only. It is subject to change without notice.
    3. This website uses cookies and is subject to our privacy policy which can be found here.
    4. Neither we nor any third parties provide any warranty or guarantee as to the accuracy, timeliness, performance, completeness or suitability of the information and materials found or offered on this website for any particular purpose. You acknowledge that such information and materials may contain inaccuracies or errors and we expressly exclude liability for any such inaccuracies or errors to the fullest extent permitted by law.
    5. Your use of any information or materials on this website is entirely at your own risk, for which we shall not be liable. It shall be your own responsibility to ensure that any products, services or information available through this website meet your specific requirements.
    6. This website contains material which is owned by or licensed to us. This material includes, but is not limited to, the design, layout, look, appearance and graphics. Reproduction is prohibited other than in accordance with the copyright notice, which forms part of these terms and conditions.
    7. All trademarks reproduced in this website, which are not the property of, or licensed to the operator, are acknowledged on the website.
    8. Unauthorised use of this website may give rise to a claim for damages and/or be a criminal offence.
    9. From time to time, this website may also include links to other websites. These links are provided for your convenience to provide further information. They do not signify that we endorse the website(s). We have no responsibility for the content of the linked website(s).

Our liability and general terms

  1. Liability
    1. Except for fraudulent misrepresentation, personal injury or death caused by our negligence, for which our liability is unlimited, our liability to you is limited to the price you paid for your ticket/for the in school experience.
    2. We have no liability for any loss of or damage to your belongings or your vehicle whilst visiting our Museum.
    3. Except as we have set out here we will not have any liability for delay or failure to comply with these terms where the delay or failure is due to causes beyond our reasonable control.
  2. General
    1. These terms set out the entire agreement between you and us in relation to your purchase of tickets and your visit to our Museum. It overrides any previous communications, electronic, verbal or in writing between you and us.
    2. Nothing in these terms gives anyone other than you a right against us.
    3. If it is decided by law that any of these terms are invalid, void or unenforceable then that term will be removed and its removal will not affect the validity of the other terms. It will be replaced by a term that is a valid provision that closely matches the intent of the original and the rest of the terms shall continue to be enforceable.
    4. If you break any of these terms and we decide to take no action at that time, that does not mean we will be unable to take action at a later date for that or any other breach of these terms.
    5. These terms are governed by and shall be construed in accordance with English law and subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the English courts.

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Science Projects Ltd

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.

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