CATEGORY · RAINY DAY APPROVED

Science & Discovery Centres in Preston

If your kids think science means a museum with buttons to press, this bit of the map does something different. Out at Blackpool, the Spitfire Visitor Centre lets you get close to real planes mid-restoration, tickets from £6, and you can pay a bit more to sit in one or fly a replica. In Preston itself, Mad Science North England brings the science to you instead, a Mad Scientist doing slime, rocket launches and chemical reactions at your own party venue, from £40 and aimed at ages 5 to 11. There's a longer trip out to Liverpool too, for the Recycling Discovery Centre. For toddlers and older kids in one go, the Spitfire centre covers ages 0 to 16 and has free parking, food on site and a baby change, so it's an easy indoor day out. If you want free and don't mind the drive, the Recycling Discovery Centre's guided tour costs nothing and shows exactly where your bin ends up, though you'll need to book. Mad Science suits a party rather than a wander, since it comes to your venue rather than the other way round. Booking ahead matters for both that and the recycling tour.

✓ 3 places✦ 1 free to visit