Magna science centre Rotherham, is it any good?

[manyhands]

Am thinking of taking the kids in half term but there looks like a lot is outdoors and it's very expensive. They are offering annual membership for free with am admission ticket.

how old are the kids?

it is quite good, but lots of walking, it is huge obviously. and it's cold, you should wear coats. not sure kids really appreciate it.

best bit is the playground outside and the water play park.

i'd just go when it's warm and do the outside, not do the inside at all.

my children like it, DS went for birthday treat - he is 9. IT very cold as norah says, you do need to wear your coats indoors, and I'd take spare clothes as is a lot of water and chance for splashing in the water area. If you have a science minded child it is great.

agree that the outdoor play area is really fab though.

They are 3 and 4, but like strange things and are very into anything sciency. Am tempted by the annual pass but am wondering if it's worth £25

yes i went with pre school age kids. they liked the whirling fire thing and the hot air balloon but not much else inside, though they did like pushing the buttons etc. oh, they did like the water zone where you fill different size cups and what not.

i on the other hand was in total awe of the size of it and how it was converted etc etc.

yes take spare clothes.

how close do you live? would you go a couple of times?

I haven't been now for a few years, but as said DH took DS for his birthday. inside there are 4 main areas - at bottom is earth with diggers and stuff - can trundle rocks about - are high vis jackets to wear and a story area with books to read

air area has air cannons to play with iirc, and 'instruments' that work with air

fire has a fire cyclone which is quite spectacular to watch

water has lots of hands on stuff, including locks and water wheels, and a model of the water cycle.

I think trhat if you live close enough to come back, and gthat the ticket includes outside (which I thin kit does) you'd get your money's worth - you could do bits of inside and have a long play outdoors when weather is better.

there is a display talk thing about how steel was made - not sure at 3 and 4 they would appreciate that.

It is good, but DS1 has anxiety issues and it was a major struggle to get him in - and the lifts terrified him. at the time he waS 6.

I have to say - its within sight of my house and I have never been!!

You used to be able to use tesco deals vouchers. Don't know if you still can.

Thanks for all the replies, we are about 1 1/2 hours drive away so would do it during the holidays. Thanks for the tips about spare clothes, think I'll put there waterproof dungarees on too!

5 and 8 old love it but 2 y old scared inside and COLD!!

yes it is quite scary cos it is so big and dark and it has a constant humming noise about it. odd and creepy really.

enjoy!!

DD was also terrified when we went here, she was 6 at the time. I thought the indoor stuff was beyond her understanding. Water play area (outside) was good though. I wouldn't go back.

My boys loved it when we went quite a lot of years ago. We went before the waterpark was built. I think they were probably 6 and 8.

They would love to go again ... maybe one day, who knows?

We used Tesco vouchers so that made it much cheaper.