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Observatories & Planetariums in Nottingham
Star-gazing near Nottingham usually means a trip out rather than a walk into town. Closest is Sherwood Observatory in Sutton-in-Ashfield, where open events from £50 let kids get hands-on with telescopes, and there's a volunteer-run café if you fancy a bite before or after. Further out, Flamsteed Observatory in Brailsford is free to attend and outdoor, with public observing nights through the society's telescopes, though it's worth checking the date suits before you set off. For something under one roof with more to do, a drive out to Leicester takes you to the National Space Centre, where tickets start from £20 for ages 0+, with a planetarium show, rockets to climb through and hands-on galleries, plus parking and a café on site. Sherwood suits an evening out with older children keen on real telescopes, Flamsteed suits anyone happy to brave the outdoors for a free look through the eyepiece, and the Space Centre is the one for a full day indoors whatever the forecast.
3 places 1 upcoming event 1 free to visit
What's on: observatories & planetariums
Places for observatories & planetariums
FreeFlamsteed Observatory
Brailsford
Peer through the society telescopes on a public observing night - check the date before you set off.
Parking
from £20National Space Centre
Leicester · ages 0+
A planetarium show, rockets to climb through and hands-on galleries about space, all under one roof in Leicester.
Booking requiredCaféGift shopParking+8 more
from £50Sherwood Observatory
Sutton-in-Ashfield
A planetarium and observatory near Mansfield where kids get hands-on with telescopes at open events, arrive early to explore the exhibition and grab a bite at the volunteer-run café first.
Blue badge parkingBooking requiredCaféEV charging+6 more
IN SEASON AROUND NOTTINGHAM
Good to know: observatories & planetariums in Nottingham
Are any of them free?
Yes, Flamsteed Observatory is free to visit.
What does a paid visit cost?
Paid entry starts from £20 at National Space Centre. Prices, ages and facilities are listed on every place page, taken from each venue's own published price list.
Whereabouts are they?
You'll find observatories & planetariums in Brailsford, Leicester and Sutton-in-Ashfield. Every place we list is in or around Nottingham, and each listing has the full address and directions.
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