A Visit to the National Space Centre in Leicester | Everything You Need to Know for a Family Day Out with a 3, 8, and 10-year-old.

11 minutes ago
5 min read

Full circle moment here. I haven’t been here since I was a child, and now I’m bringing my own children.

Come with us to the National Space Centre in Leicester, and if you’re looking for a family day out that works across different ages, this one is definitely worth knowing about.

From giant rockets and astronauts to planets, meteorites and black holes, there is SO much to discover.

And the best bit? It’s not just for the children. There’s plenty here to keep the grown-ups entertained too.

The first thing you'll spot is The iconic Rocket Tower stands 42 metres high and is home to some of the National Space Centre’s biggest artefacts, including the British Blue Streak and Thor Able rockets.

The tower has four exhibition decks taking you through the history of rocketry, the Space Race and Britain’s role in space exploration.

And getting up close to an actual rocket is pretty special.

The children loved heading up in the lift and seeing the Blue Streak from different levels, it really gives you an idea of just how enormous these things are.

This was one of my favourite parts because there’s so much to actually do.

Inside the Into Space gallery, you can walk through a mock-up of the Columbus Module from the International Space Station and discover what it’s like to live and work in space.

There are six interactive galleries covering everything from astronauts and spaceflight to the Universe, our Solar System, Earth and some of the more unusual objects in the National Space Centre’s collection.

In the Home Planet gallery, you can discover how satellites monitor the health of our planet and how they help us understand what is happening here on Earth.

There’s even an interactive floor where you can chase fish, and yes, this was a BIG hit with the children.

Stan, three, could have stayed there for ages.

If you’ve ever wondered what a black hole actually is, how the Universe began or whether we might be alone in it, this is where things get properly mind-blowing.

And you don’t have to be a space expert to enjoy it.

There are plenty of interactive elements throughout the galleries, so the children can get involved while you learn something too.

There’s even a Space Oddities gallery, showcasing some of the more unusual objects from the Centre’s collection. The exhibits are regularly changed, so there can always be something new to discover.

One of the things I really loved was the opportunity to see genuine space artefacts.

You can discover meteorites and learn what these ancient pieces of space can tell us about our Solar System. There’s even a real piece of Mars.

You’re seeing objects that have an actual connection to the story you’re learning about.

There’s also a newer Outer Solar System experience, taking you beyond our cosmic neighbourhood to distant worlds and icy moons.

It combines immersive visuals, hands-on interactives and space science, so children can explore some of the more extreme environments in our Solar System.

Basically, if your children like pressing buttons, exploring and asking approximately 400 questions, they’re going to be happy here!

Then there’s the Sir Patrick Moore Planetarium, with an 18-metre dome, it’s an immersive experience that surrounds you with the night sky and takes you on a journey through space.

It’s a lovely chance to sit down for a while and experience something together as a family.

And your first planetarium show is included with standard admission, subject to the available show..

We visited with Stan, three, and my godchildren Penny, eight, and Edward, ten, and all three found different things that interested them.

Stan was completely mesmerised by the interactive floor and the huge rockets.

Penny loved the hands-on activities and exploring the Solar System.

And Edward was old enough to start getting properly stuck into the science behind everything, but still young enough to be completely wowed by the rockets and space experiences.

That’s what makes it such a good family attraction.

You can all visit the same place, but experience it at completely different levels.

Having a brilliant indoor day out is always useful.

The National Space Centre is somewhere you can easily spend several hours, moving between the galleries, interactive exhibits, planetarium and Rocket Tower.

There’s plenty to keep the children busy, but there’s also enough fascinating information and history to make it enjoyable for adults.

It’s educational without feeling like school.

And there’s enough WOW factor to keep everyone interested.

If you’re planning a visit during the current summer offer, online tickets are £19.72 for adults and £17.93 for children aged 5–16. Under-fives go free, and parking is currently £4.

For our family of two adults, two children and one three-year-old, that works out at £75.30 for admission when booked online, plus £4 parking.

Your day ticket comes with a FREE Annual Pass upgrade.

That means you can return for standard day visits for a whole year without paying another admission fee. You just need to book your return visit in advance.

So if you live within travelling distance of Leicester, this could be particularly good value.

Would we go again? Absolutely.

It was such a lovely full-circle moment for me, returning somewhere I remembered from childhood and now watching my own children explore it.

There’s something for every age, from the three-year-old who just wants to chase fish on the floor, to the ten-year-old who wants to know how astronauts actually survive in space.

And there’s plenty for the adults too. Everything from our planet and beyond.

So if you’re looking for your next family day out in Leicester, I’d definitely put the National Space Centre on the list.

Everything you need to know:

📍 Where is it? National Space Centre, Exploration Drive, Leicester, LE4 5NS.

🚗 Parking: On-site parking is currently £4.

🎟️ Tickets: Prices are currently £19.72 for adults, £17.93 for children aged 5–16 and under-fives are free.

🎫 Annual Pass: Standard admission currently includes a free Annual Pass upgrade, giving you free standard day admission for a year from your purchase date.

🌌 Planetarium: Your first standard planetarium show is included with admission. Additional planetarium shows are currently £5.

👶 Best for: All ages, but particularly brilliant for primary-school children. There’s plenty for younger children to enjoy visually and interactively, while older children can get much deeper into the science.

⏰ How long do you need? I’d allow 3-4 hours, and potentially longer if your children want to spend lots of time on the interactive exhibits.

☔ Rainy day rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

🚀 Don't miss: The Rocket Tower, Blue Streak rocket, Columbus Module, interactive floor, planetarium and the real space artefacts.

💡 My top tip: Book online and save on tickets when purchased in advance, check the planetarium schedule before you go and don't rush the interactive exhibits.

SAVE this for your next family day out in Leicester! Charlie @rutlandblog