National Space Centre, Leicester - worth a visit ?

stevewestern · 8 Sep 2017

Has anyone here been, and if so, is it a good day out ?
We are visiting the inlaws in Loughborough over the weekend and I hoping to get out, possibly taking them with us.
Is there a huge amount of walking, and is it worth taking a camera ?

Are there any better places nearby, ideally that are not too affected by weather ?

Any suggestions much appreciated !

cambsno · 8 Sep 2017

Yes it is good - took the kids there in Feb. Pretty much all indoors, quite dark and if its busy will struggle to get some shots as they may get in your way, stuff behind glass too. Very informative, I walk a lot so didn't find it too bad, would say its no worse than visiting other attractions. Kids loved it and lots to see and do.

stevewestern · 8 Sep 2017

cambsno said:
Yes it is good - took the kids there in Feb. Pretty much all indoors, quite dark and if its busy will struggle to get some shots as they may get in your way, stuff behind glass too. Very informative, I walk a lot so didn't find it too bad, would say its no worse than visiting other attractions. Kids loved it and lots to see and do.

Wonderful, many thanks Simon !
Mother in law struggles walking much, and I've just had steroid injections into my feet, so neither of us will do too much, but hey, it'll get us out of the house so that I don't have to listen too much to my father in law....!

tijuana taxi · 8 Sep 2017

Pumping Station museum next door is well worth a visit too http://www.abbeypumpingstation.org/

In fact we went there and gave the space place a miss as it was like a madhouse with school parties.

Could always take them for a ride on the Great Central Railway http://www.gcrailway.co.uk/

Major Eazy · 8 Sep 2017

stevewestern said:
Has anyone here been, and if so, is it a good day out ?
We are visiting the inlaws in Loughborough over the weekend and I hoping to get out, possibly taking them with us.
Is there a huge amount of walking, and is it worth taking a camera ?

Are there any better places nearby, ideally that are not too affected by weather ?

Any suggestions much appreciated !

Good fun pretending you're an astronaut, clicking and flicking switches in the mock-up of a Mercury space capsule, or an ISS module. You could pretend to be an engineer making final checks to the rocket before launch. IIRC, they even have a mock up living room set in the late 1960s, kind of bring back memories of your earlier childhood days (assuming you were a kid during the 1970s). Go ahead and try.

strumstrum · 9 Sep 2017

tijuana taxi said:
Pumping Station museum next door is well worth a visit too http://www.abbeypumpingstation.org/

great shout, exactly what I was about to suggest..

I find the NSC a bit underwhelming but I have been a few times but I am sure you will have a great day..

but do do DO nip next door to the Pumping Station its a great place, I spent many hours in the workshop there with my Dad renovating old fire engines[/good memories]

stevewestern · 9 Sep 2017

tijuana taxi said:
Pumping Station museum next door is well worth a visit too http://www.abbeypumpingstation.org/

In fact we went there and gave the space place a miss as it was like a madhouse with school parties.

Could always take them for a ride on the Great Central Railway http://www.gcrailway.co.uk/

Major Eazy said:
Good fun pretending you're an astronaut, clicking and flicking switches in the mock-up of a Mercury space capsule, or an ISS module. You could pretend to be an engineer making final checks to the rocket before launch. IIRC, they even have a mock up living room set in the late 1960s, kind of bring back memories of your earlier childhood days (assuming you were a kid during the 1970s). Go ahead and try.

strumstrum said:
great shout, exactly what I was about to suggest..

I find the NSC a bit underwhelming but I have been a few times but I am sure you will have a great day..

but do do DO nip next door to the Pumping Station its a great place, I spent many hours in the workshop there with my Dad renovating old fire engines[/good memories]

Wow. In all the years I've been coming to the in-laws there has never been any mention of any of these things. Many thanks - I'll see what gets the most votes when people get up.
I have only made it to Leicester once in almost 30 years of contractual obligation visits, so this opens up a whole new world..!

strumstrum · 9 Sep 2017

stevewestern said:
I'll see what gets the most votes when people get up.

pumping station is literally next door and both can be done in a day..

stevewestern · 10 Sep 2017

Sadly, life for a father of teenage girls is all about sacrifice.
The eldest didn't get up until close to noon, and the lure of shops for them was too great, so we walked around clothes shops and tried to hide from the deluge of rain.
Have to say that Leicester town is a lot nicer place than I had remembered, but maybe next time I'll go alone and do what I want to do....