Visit the Science and Industry Museum during the May Bank Holiday weekend from 1 to 4 May to enjoy an action-packed free programme of space science.
This event celebrates the first National Space Day since Artemis II astronauts touched back down on Earth and offers visitors the chance to get a taste of space in new live Science Shows.
Budding explorers can put their space skills to the test with interactive activities designed to stretch imaginations to the moon and back or visit the new out-of-this-world space exhibition, Horrible Science: Cosmic Chaos.
Ever wondered what astronauts eat in orbit, how they use the loo in zero gravity or why crumbs are bad news on the International Space Station?
Discover the answers and much more at the Science and Industry Museum’s bumper bank holiday weekend of free activities.
These events accompany the museum’s latest special exhibition, Horrible Science: Cosmic Chaos, giving more ways to explore the wonders and weirdness of space.
Interactive Experiences and Cosmic Curiosity
Launching on National Space Day on Friday, 1 May, the special programme will celebrate the wonders of space exploration and inspire astronauts of the future by fuelling cosmic curiosity.
This year’s event is especially timely following the recent return of Artemis II astronauts from their history-making mission around the moon.
Visitors can get a taste of space during new live shows by sampling real foods used to feed astronauts and discovering more about how humans live and work beyond Earth.
Stargazers can enjoy the night sky as it is projected across super-sized screens or get creative by crafting their very own constellations and designing a mission patch for an astronaut’s spacesuit.
These free activities are inspired by the latest blockbuster exhibition, where hands-on experiments, interactive challenges, and mischievous storytelling await.
The exhibition marks the first time the much-loved Horrible Science brand has been transformed into a large-scale immersive exhibition.
Immersive Science and Exploration
The experience takes visitors on a journey through a series of weird and wonderful worlds, from exploring the International Space Station and landing on the Moon to getting sizzled by the Sun and teetering on the edge of the Solar System.
Along the way, they can relax on sensory Planet Quark, gaze up at a twinkling starscape in the Cosy Crater, and venture into Dreadful Deep Space to investigate the universe’s strangest phenomena, including black holes and the mind-bending effects of spaghettification.
Tash Camberwell, Interpretation and Content Developer at the Science and Industry Museum, said:
“2026 has already been a stellar year for space!
“We’ve been so inspired by the amazing Artemis II astronauts, so I’m especially excited to bring space back down to Earth with an action-packed programme for the May bank holiday.
“Just like the exhibition, our holiday activities have been created for young people and their grown-ups to enjoy together by blending humour, hands-on science and spectacular experiences to spark curiosity in space and inspire the next generation of space explorers.”
General admission tickets for the Science and Industry Museum are free and can be booked online.
Tickets for Horrible Science: Cosmic Chaos are also available to book online and are priced at £10, with family discounts available.
Following a popular Easter holiday, early booking is advised for this bewildering event on the May bank holiday.
