The National Space Centre with its distinctive 42-metre high Rocket Tower, has become an iconic feature on the Leicester skyline since it opened in 2001. Designed by Sir Nicholas Grimshaw on the site of a former sewage works, the centre has become a favourite attraction for families looking for a fun day out exploring all aspects of space exploration.

The Rocket Tower houses the attraction’s biggest artefacts including two huge rockets. Visitors can continue through a series of interactive exhibits, shows and simulators that inform and entertain them and test the more intrepid to see if they are made of the right stuff to become deep space astronauts.

In October 2007 a new high-tech gallery opens, telling today’s news from space and describing what wonders might be achieved in the next 50 years. The visit concludes with a show in the extraordinary Space Theatre. Shows produced by the in-house creative team have caught the eye around the world and at present play in almost 20 per cent of the world’s largest “full-dome” planetaria.

The purpose of the National Space Centre is to inspire us all – particularly young people – to take a greater interest in science and engineering. A not-for-profit charity, the Space Centre has become established as a provider of high quality education programmes to support teachers and parents in helping their children to become excited about their studies.

www.spacecentre.co.uk
For school & group bookings, call 0116 261 0261

Visitor Information

Getting to the National Space Centre

By road: The National Space centre is located just off the A6, north of Leicester city centre, midway between the inner and outer ring roads. Brown signs with a distinctive rocket logo direct you from routes around Leicester.
By train: Midland Mainline and Central Trains serve Leicester station. Take a bus from Charles St, a short walk from the station, to reach the centre. www.midlandmainline.com, www.centraltrains.co.uk, www.ukfirstgroup.com

Opening times and ticket prices
The National Space Centre is open from 10pm-5pm (last entry 3.30pm).
Tickets: adult, £12 child (5-16yrs), senior citizen, student, disabled £10; family of four, (maximum two adults) £38; family of five, (maximum two adults) £47. Book tickets in advance by calling 0870 6077223. You will be put through to TicketWeb, our ticketing agency, which operates a 24-hour ticket booking line.

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