Discovering42
BEST FOR
Ages 0-17
ENTRY
from £4
SETTING
Indoors
WHERE
Bodmin
What it’s like
Hands-on science exhibits, from a bike-powered record player to water that runs backwards, in a two-hour timed slot.
You book a two-hour slot and spend it pedalling a bike that powers a record player, watching balls levitate, and working out why the water in one exhibit seems to flow backwards. It's all hands-on physics, chemistry, engineering and environmental stuff, dressed up so kids don't clock they're learning anything until they're explaining it back to you in the car park.
The age range is broad, nought to seventeen, and honestly the exhibits with small parts, marbles included, mean you'll want to keep a close eye on anyone under three. Older kids get more out of the trickier mechanisms, so a family with a wide age gap should find something for both ends of it, but this isn't a venue where you can let a toddler wander off and explore alone.
Standard tickets are £15 for an adult and £10 for a child, with a low income rate bringing that down to £11 and £7, and under-threes at £4. It stings a bit for a family of four at standard rate, though Culture Card holders get in free, which is worth knowing if you've got one. Booking is required, not optional, so don't turn up expecting to walk straight in.
It's closed Wednesdays in term time, and opening hours shift depending on holidays versus term time weekends, so the two-hour slot you book matters more than usual here. There's a café on site with what they call a Magic Mocktail Chemistry Bar Experience, which is a nice touch after two hours of button-pressing. Parking's at Berrycoombe Road opposite, and calm dogs are welcome if you're bringing one along.
Facilities
Need to know
- Best for
- 3 to 17; under-threes need close watching around small parts
- Parking
- At Berrycoombe Road Car Park opposite, other carparks nearby
- Food
- Cosy café with Magic Mocktail Chemistry Bar Experience
- Wheelchairs
- Space for wheelchairs to move through freely
- Dogs
- Calm well-behaved dogs are welcome
- Getting there by bus or train
- Bodmin Parkway station is closest, then bus, steam train or taxi
- Worth knowing
- Culture Card holders get free admission
- Watch under-threes closely around exhibits with small parts, marbles included
- Occasional weekend or weekday closures happen while they add to the venue, so slots can shift
- Culture Card holders get free admission, worth checking if you're eligible
- The café's Magic Mocktail Chemistry Bar Experience is a good note to end the visit on
Plan your visit
How much does it cost?
£15 for an adult and £10 for a child at standard rate. Low income tickets are £11 and £7, under-threes are £4, and Culture Card holders get in free.
Do we need to book?
Yes, booking is required and each visit is a two-hour timed slot.
How long do we get?
Two hours per booking, so it's worth timing your arrival rather than drifting in.
Is it suitable for a toddler?
Under-threes can come but some exhibits have small parts including marbles, so you'll need to watch them closely.
Is it open every day?
It's closed on Wednesdays during term time. Hours change between holidays and term time weekends too, so check which slot you're booking.
Is there food on site?
There's a café, including a Magic Mocktail Chemistry Bar Experience.
Is there parking?
Parking is at Berrycoombe Road Car Park opposite, with other car parks nearby.
Can we bring a dog?
Calm, well-behaved dogs are welcome inside.
Is it wheelchair accessible?
There's space for wheelchairs to move through freely, and carer concession tickets are available.
How do we get there without a car?
Bodmin Parkway station is the closest stop, then a bus, steam train or taxi. It's also about a two minute cycle from the Camel Trail.
Are there discounts for carers?
Professional carer tickets are £8, and an additional carer for someone needing 2:1 or 3:1 support goes in free.
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