Parenting Cafe – Conversations and Connections

During the holidays, my two daughters and I took a trip to the London Science Museum, and I have to say—it was the highlight of our break!

We booked our tickets online a few days in advance. Entry is free, but there’s a suggested donation of £5, which is worth it considering all the museum offers. I was especially impressed by how accessible the museum is—both for those on foot and anyone using mobility aids.

The museum spans three main levels, each offering something unique and exciting:

🥪 Basement – The Café A great place to take a break and refuel. There are plenty of seating options and kid-friendly snacks.

🚂 Level 1 – Energy, Steam & Space

You enter the museum on this level, and it immediately immerses you in the history of energy. We explored a number of large boilers and old steam engines, along with interactive posters that detailed the history and mechanics behind them.

Just beyond the energy section, we found the space gallery and it was amazing! A large interactive globe captivated my daughters, introducing them to the planets. There were also massive rockets suspended from the ceiling, and fascinating exhibits on space exploration, including a traction engine and a Jacquard loom, tying technology and history together beautifully.

⚕️ Level 2 – Medicine, Innovation & Everyday Science

This floor was like walking through a living history of science and medicine. From detailed displays of the human body—including a life-size model of a full-term baby in the womb—to vintage cars and early trains, this level sparked a lot of curiosity and questions from my girls.

Level 3 – The Wonderlab (Our Favourite!)

This is where we spent nearly half our day—and it was absolutely worth it. I booked our Wonderlab tickets alongside the main admission. It cost £10 each, but we got a family discount and paid £32.40 for all three of us.

Wonderlab is hands-on science at its best. We watched live chemistry demonstrations, where the presenters made science fun and interactive. The girls got to touch and explore materials while learning about oxygen, carbon dioxide, fire, and its extinguishing methods.

There were several shows throughout the day:

• Rocket Show – Using everyday items to demonstrate how rockets launch.
• Wonder Show – Exploring light, sound, and matter in fun, visual ways.
• Primetime Show – A creative look at the origins of numbers.

Each show was around 20 minutes, perfectly paced for kids’ attention spans. The explainers were fantastic—energetic, engaging, and super knowledgeable.

Other highlights at the Wonderlab included the Infinity Boxes and Double Gravity Well, both educational and mesmerising.

🌳 Bonus Fun at Hyde Park

After wrapping up at  the museum, we took a short 5-minute walk to Hyde Park. It was the perfect way to wind down the day with some fresh air and free play.

If you’re looking for a fun, educational outing in London, I highly recommend this one.

✨ Have you visited the Science Museum with your kids? What was your favourite part—or do you have another London gem to recommend? Drop a comment below—I would love to hear your recommendations.