Family Days
Every Saturday
Science Oxford Centre
Family Day
Families
Visit the Science Oxford Centre, open every Saturday for a unique family experience. Explore, discover and play in the Exploration Zone, where children and grown-ups alike have fun experimenting with interactive exhibits – create and test flying designs at the Air Table, build a giant magnetic ball run, and see what’s hot and what’s not with the Curious Camera. Create fun animations at the new ‘Animate Science’ from astronauts exploring space to dinosaurs in a Jurassic world, or design and make your own! Get hands-on with pop up activities at the Live Lab: on Saturdays from 12 October-2 November, meet special guest scientists and researchers in partnership with IF Oxford, the Oxford science and ideas Festival (see below for more information).
With 15 acres of woodland and ponds, there’s plenty to explore outside. Pick up an Explorer Backpack and trail map and see what wildlife you can spot and make a splash at the outdoor Water Lab (open until October). For half term, go on a spooky woodland pumpkin hunt on Saturday 26 October & 2 November!
Science Oxford Centre visitor café is open from 10am – 4pm.
Sensory-friendly Family Days: for SEN families or those who prefer a reduced capacity. Tickets are available to book here.
Session Times:
10am – 12pm
12.30pm – 2.30pm
3pm – 5pm
Suitable for ages 3+ (all welcome)
Under 3s free.
Tickets
£8 per person (includes Eventbrite fee)
Pre-booking essential.
All visitors to the Centre require a ticket including adults and children, but free tickets are available for Under 3s and Carers.
See below in ‘Additional Support’ for Carers information, or ‘FAQ Carer Ticket’ on our Centre Visiting page.
If you require more free under 3 tickets and the timed session’s u3 ticket capacity is full, please contact [email protected]. Thank you!
Woodland access all day.
Book:
October 12, 2024 | |
October 19, 2024 | |
October 26, 2024 | |
November 2, 2024 | |
November 9, 2024 | |
November 16, 2024 | |
November 23, 2024 | |
November 30, 2024 | |
December 7, 2024 | |
December 14, 2024 | |
December 28, 2024 |
Family Day Live Labs: hands-on pop up family activities in the Exploration Zone.
In partnership with IF Oxford, the Oxford science and ideas Festival on Saturdays from 12 October until 2 November: Meet special guest scientists and researchers for pop-up science experiments and activities. IF Oxford is a grassroots cultural charity which inspires communities across Oxford and beyond to create an annual science and ideas Festival in October for thousands of people to enjoy; visit if-oxford.com
12 Oct: Rivers and Ponds – activities with Cotswolds National Landscape: join us for interactive pond dipping activities, hands-on science experiments, and educational explorations. Learn about why some of our waterways are struggling, and ways in which you can help the creatures and plants that live in and around them to thrive.
19 Oct: Your Health, at Home and Away with UK Health Security Agency: learn about issues that affect your health and take part in a range of activities that highlight important issues and ways to help you to better look after your health. Find out which environmental factors within your home impact most on your wellbeing and discover how climate change influences public health in the UK.
26 Oct: Bloodsafe virtual reality: a life-saving experience with Oxford University – Nuffield Department of Medicine: experience life-saving blood transfusion training with NHS Blood and Transplant’s new virtual reality (VR) app. Get ready for an immersive VR journey, from meeting a patient to matching blood types. Researchers will be on hand to answer your questions and share how they are improving blood safety using genetics.
2 Nov: Diamond – more than just a gemstone with Element Six (UK): Diamond’s properties stretch far beyond its appeal as a precious gemstone. Its extreme and diverse characteristics make it the perfect material for a range of industrial applications including the machining of smartphones, high-end audio systems and in quantum enabled sensing devices. Explore diamond structure with hands-on activities.
Winter Live Labs
November 9th: Vision-themed activity with researchers from Nuffield Department of Clinical Neuroscience
November 16, 23 & 30: Seeing Differently! Look at different types of visual impairment with a range of special glasses. Can you still read an eye chart, unlock a box, find an object or make a cup of tea?
December: Red Cabbage Chemistry! Make your own indicator and use it to test and experiment.
Contact
Visiting information: Science Oxford Centre visiting information and FAQs here.
Email [email protected] for all event booking and visiting queries. Please allow 24-48 hours for a response, possibly longer over a weekend.
If you have an urgent query or require immediate assistance, please speak to a member of the team on 01865 810000 Monday – Saturday during office hours.
Ticket booking: For information on our refund policy and event terms and conditions visit here. If you cannot attend, you can request a refund or transfer your ticket to another day via Eventbrite.
Group Booking – contact us for group booking enquiries.
Venue
Science Oxford Centre
Quarry Rd, Headington, Oxford, OX3 8SB