National Space Centre

Exploration Drive, Leicester LE4 5NS, England

0116 261 0261

Website

The Rocket Tower at the National Space Centre

10 visitor photos

Ranked #13 of 33 attractions in Leicester

167 Reviews

Type: Science Museums

Owner description: The National Space Centre was voted Large Visitor Attraction of the Year and upon arrival you will understand why, this really is a visit that is out...... more » Owner description: The National Space Centre was voted Large Visitor Attraction of the Year and upon arrival you will understand why, this really is a visit that is out of this world.Take a journey through the six hands-on galleries, stopping at over 150 interactive experiences, then travel in the glass lift through three floors in the 42m high Rocket Tower and encounter Space Race; the epic battle for the control of space!Sit back in awe in the UK’s largest planetarium; the Space Theatre, as we take you on a voyage of discovery in this 360° fulldome experience.Are you made of the right stuff to be an astronaut of the future? Human Spaceflight: Lunar Base 2025, will test your mental and physical ability to survive the long and dangerous voyage into deep space, culminating in a stunning 3D simulator mission through the Solar System to the ice moon Europa.This summer the National Space Centre launched another world exclusive interactive experience in association with The Met Office; the Weather Pod. Take your place to deliver a weather report in 2085, what will the UK look like, how has global warming effected us and how can space science help? Why not share your experience with all your friends and post your report on Facebook, Youtube or your own blog!The National Space Centre is an all weather attraction for all the family. Situated in the heart of the Midlands, the centre is located just two miles from Leicester city centre close, with easy access from the M1 and M69, just follow the distinctive brown rocket signs on all major arterial routes to find us. On site we have over 400 parking spaces, restaurant, shop and all the facilities you would expect from a world class attraction. The National Space Centre is hours of interactive fun and breathtaking discovery.The National Space Centre hosts many exciting weekend events, including astronomy evenings, movie themed events, astronaut visits, computer gaming challenges, even an invasion by the 501st UK Garrison Star Wars group and many more… see the website for full detailsOpening TimesSchool HolidaysMonday – Sunday 10am – 5pmSchool Term Time Tuesday – Friday 10am – 4pm, Saturday and Sunday 10am – 5pmWe suggest you allow a minimum of 4 hours for your visit

Useful Information: Activities for young children

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167 reviews from our community

Neil E

Leicester, England, United Kingdom

Senior Contributor

28 reviews

Reviews in 7 cities

21 helpful votes

“A great day out”

Reviewed 27 May 2012 NEW

The NSC is a great day out, though its not somewhere you can visit often ie every month. However do keep an eye out for special events as they are usually well organised and great fun. Take the time to look at everything and try anything interactive where possible. Decent restaraunt if you are feeling that way too! More

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princessBobo

LEICESTER

Senior Reviewer

7 reviews

“great for kids”

Reviewed 22 May 2012 NEW

some lovely things for the kids here, however when we went there was a lot of school groups. This did effect our visit as they over took the place. More

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Thank you for feedback and I am pleased to hear that you enjoyed your day out with us at the National Space Centre. With regards to school groups, we are an educational charity promoting out of classroom learning experiences and welcomed over 63000 students through our doors during 2011. We do work closely with schools to ensure that groups act... More

Coolonela

Essex

Top Contributor

55 reviews

Reviews in 25 cities

23 helpful votes

“Lacks the WOW factor”

Reviewed 21 May 2012 NEW

At £13 entry plus a charge for parking, the NSC is not cheap. The offer to upgrade your ticket to an annual entry pass, which implies you can't get round it all in a day, plus the imposing & unusual shape of the building gave me high expectations for my visit. Sadly the NSC doesn't really live up to expectations... More

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Thank you for your feedback; I am sorry to hear about your visit with us and I completely understand the comments you have made. As an educational charity we welcomed over 63,000 school children to the centre last year in a bid to support out of classroom learning; something that we are extremely proud of. We do work with schools... More

Merry T

Derby, United Kingdom

1 review

“Thoroughly underwhelming”

Reviewed 18 May 2012

We went with a group of 6 children aged between 3 and 14 and not one of them said it was any good. They found it extremely boring and the space cramped. They were shunted here and there and it didn't hold their attention. There wasn't enough space allotted in the picnic room and people were just sitting on the... More

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I am sorry to hear that you did not enjoy your visit to the centre; we offer a free annual pass in exchange for gift aid as we are a charitable organisation (and also because we feel there is too much to fit into a single visit.) I am also sorry to hear that your group was not impressed with... More

Nigel W

Shanklin, United Kingdom

2 reviews

Reviews in 2 cities

“Interesting with many things for our grandson to see and do.”

Reviewed 14 May 2012

The displays are good with plenty of room around them. Some of the displays are from real flights in space and therefore show the real size and conditions that were experienced. More

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Thank you for your feedback; I am pleased to hear that you enjoyed the exhibits on offer at the centre. Hopefully we will see you and your Grandson again soon in the near future. More

Trevor B

Leicester, United Kingdom

Reviewer

3 reviews

Reviews in 2 cities

“Nice and Interresting”

Reviewed 9 May 2012

Nice place, something else then other... I've been there with familly, kids were happy. More

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Thank you for your feedback and I am glad to hear that you and your family enjoyed your visit to the centre. I hope that you upgraded your tickets to annual passes free of charge and that you will visit us again soon in the coming future. More

emmyroo8

Coventry, United Kingdom

2 reviews

Reviews in 2 cities

3 helpful votes

“Just so-so”

Reviewed 7 May 2012

person found this review helpful

I am pleased that we used vouchers for our visit as it's certainly not worth the admission price. When we visited it was busy and chaotic, very disorganised. I have visited other similar attractions where I haven't been pushed around or have people push infront of me and my children when trying to look at a display. The cafe area... More

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Thank you for your feedback and I am sorry to hear that your visit did not live up to expectations. As a family attraction we have over 150 interactive displays and exhibits organised into 5 themed galleries. During peak periods the centre does become extremely busy and I am sorry to hear that your experience with other visitors was unpleasant.... More

lovefood1982

leicester

2 reviews

“Serious waste of money!”

Reviewed 5 May 2012

Unless you have kids dont bother. It is aimed at children and there is nothing for adults. I can't understand why people have written such good reviews! More

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Thank you for your feedback; I am sorry to hear that you did not enjoy the National Space Centre; we are a family attraction with information, displays and exhibits aimed toward visitors of all ages including the space race exhibition, displays on the luna missions and three rockets/ space ships on full display. If you would like to contact us... More

Radiohelen

midlands England

Senior Reviewer

10 reviews

Reviews in 5 cities

14 helpful votes

“Spacetastic”

Reviewed 3 May 2012

person found this review helpful

What's not to love about this place. Rockets, space suits, planets, sciency stuff, space food, a great gift shop and lots of room to run around. OK it's a tourist attraction so you aren't going to get bargain basement food but you can bring a picnic in the summer. I'd say it's best for primary school aged kids but when... More

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Thank you so much for your feedback; I’m ever so pleased to hear that you enjoyed your day out at the centre. We are extremely proud of our displays and exhibits here at the centre (over 150) and also of our special events, including the sell out May The Fourth Be With You which was held last weekend. We are... More

Relay

London, United Kingdom

Senior Contributor

46 reviews

Reviews in 31 cities

66 helpful votes

“Overpriced and underwhelming”

Reviewed 1 May 2012

person found this review helpful

This is a project primarily designed to try and regenerate a run down part of Leicester at your expense. The drive from the M1 is tortuous (not helped by inadeqaute signage) and when you finally arrive at the "Space Centre" you realise it's at the back of an old industrial estate, the approach to which has been hilariously renamed "Exploration... More

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Thank you for your feedback and I am sorry to hear that you did not enjoy your trip to the National Space Centre. I would like to just discuss some of the points you have made in your review; as a centre we have over 150 interactive displays and exhibits organised into 5 themed galleries, a 42m rocket tower with... More