Wonderlab at Science museum

[SoManyFeelings]

Not sure where to post!

Taking 3 children, 12, 10 and 6 to London to visit family shortly and into London for a day trip.

Pre-booked science museum tickets. Haven't been for many years.

Is wonderlab what the launch pad used to be? Or is it something else entirely.

If so,

Is there enough to do in the science museum itself if I don't book tickets for wonderlab? Might wander up to Hyde park if it's not too much for them but not planning on doing other sights this trip.

It's a newer section like launchpad but much much better. Perfect for key stage 2. You won't want to miss it! Allow lots of time.

Having been recently with DDs 7 and 11, totally recommend booking the wonderlab. Both enjoyed it for a couple of hours. Not enough elsewhere in the museum to keep the interest of the 7 yr old.

Thanks both. Will get tickets then.

Wonderlab is great, very interactive. Probably the most engaging part of the museum. Also don't miss the space section on the ground floor!

My two loved it when we went a few years ago - they were probably about 4/5 and 9

Or possibly big one was 10

Mine didn't enjoy it at all. Lots of bits of it not working and very busy. Didn't help it was that really hot august weekend though!

It's brilliant, you could easily spend a whole morning in there.

Have just been to the Science Museum and I am surprised to see they are now charging to enter the WonderLab. What are the policy makers in this country doing?

I took mine to Wonderlab in the Easter hols. Kids loved it & thought it was great, i thought it was far, far too busy until the last hour & full of kids not being supervised properly who hadn't grasped the concept of taking turns/letting other people have a turn too, which I can live with in the park but not when I'm paying for the privilege.

The kids bit at the end of the ground floor is cool & i think there is also still something in the basement but that might be for very little ones. Then it just depends how into space/engineering etc etc yours are how much they get out of it.

I would book tickets for natural history as well - we could have spent even longer in there than we did if it wasn't for Wonderlab booking.

I like Wonderlab but agree it can be very busy. Also perhaps best for ages 5-9.

The new Engineers exhibition was popular with my 10 year old, and it’s free. Also the Covid exhibit and the Who am I? exhibit. (Hard to find!!)

Is it worth taking a 2 year old to this? Or anything in science museum more generally?

The Garden in the basement of the Science Museum is fun for age 2 and so is the Pattern Pod. Plus dinosaurs in the NHM. On a nice day you could combine with the Diana fountain or Diana memorial playground.

Great thanks!

@kikisparks I think wonderlab would be a waste of money for a 2 year old. And possibly a bit scary in parts as it's dark!

The basement play area is perfect. Also princess Diana playground in Hyde park if the weather is good

Sorry, I just repeated @minipie suggestions entirely.

Actually the thing my children still talk about is the first computer game "pong" in the basement, they just can't get over it!