Experimental Day Out

DaysOut

Getting handson with science

Scientifi c discovery has a new home in Wrexham. Shire heads to the Xplore! centre for some fact-based fun

DID YOU KNOW? In term time Xplore! is open to school groups Monday to Thursday, and to the public Friday to Sunday

Xplore!’s interactive exhibits will keep the whole family absorbed for hours If you equate science with spluttering Bunsen burners and dusty classrooms – think again. Xplore!, the brand new science museum in Wrexham, is engaging, exciting, educational and packed full of exhibits that will entertain adults and children alike.

Housed in a large open-plan hall, Xplore! is airy, spacious and modern. With over 100 hands-on activities, there’s plenty to keep you busy, and all exhibits have been designed to be accessible for all.

I’ve had frustrating experiences at interactive museums, thanks to damaged or faulty exhibits – but that was not the case at Xplore! Everything was well designed, robust and user-friendly, with helpful information displayed. Most importantly, the museum was stocked with friendly, approachable and well-informed staff who were only too happy to help.

My children (aged 11 and six) were thoroughly engaged, and we spent several

hours absorbed in the exhibits. Our favourites were the giant air-powered organ on which you could play a range of tunes (including the Welsh national anthem), the suction pipes that harnessed the power of air to send handkerchiefs zipping through a vast maze of tubes, the guitar that demonstrated exactly how sound waves work “We spent several and the light wall that allowed you to test your reaction speed. Xplore! also puts on sciencehours themed shows throughout the absorbed day, and these offer an intimate in the (but Covid-safe) feel with plenty of audience interaction. The exhibits” space-themed talk we attended was engaging for all ages and kept the whole family’s attention. From a demonstration of light waves using a slinky to a blast bottle showing just how rockets take off, there were plenty of memorable moments, and the speaker’s enthusiasm was moments, and the speaker’s enthusiasm was infectious. A fantastic excursion for all the infectious. A fantastic excursion for all the family, combining learning and fun. family, combining learning and fun.

Hungry for more?

If you’re looking for exciting ways to explore science, try these great educational days out

Catalyst Science Discovery Centre & Museum, Widnes, Cheshire A host of interactive exhibits, reconstructed scenes and multimedia programmes in this science museum that brings a range of subjects to life, from engineering to geography.

Enginuity, Ironbridge Gorge, Shropshire Discover how a blast furnace works, fi nd out how water power is used and fi nd out if you have the energy to pull a locomotive along a track at this science centre at the World Heritage Site of Ironbridge.

Jodrell Bank Discovery Centre, Macclesfi eld, Cheshire See the Grade I listed Lovell Telescope, join a telescope talk and discover a range of outdoor exhibits including the popular whispering dishes at this Unesco World Heritage Site.