Magna Science Adventure Centre, Rotherham, with kids
Near the M1 in Rotherham, the Magna Science Adventure Centre turns a former steelworks into a child-friendly place of hands-on, interactive learning.
Why visit the Magna Science Adventure Centre?
Magna is an audacious take on a bog-standard science museum. There are more than 100 hands-on exhibits, spread across four ‘pavilions’ themed as Air, Earth, Fire and Water.
Playing the games and pulling the levers is fun, but what makes the Magna Science Adventure Centre special is the building. This science centre is inside a gargantuan former steelworks, where much of the steelworking machinery has been left in place. The hulking industrial look makes Magna hugely atmospheric to walk through, and gives it a genuine wow factor.
Magna Science Adventure Centre with kids
Magna is primarily designed for children, and aims for hands-on wherever possible. From experience, youngsters love playing with the miniature canal locks and water pistols in the water section, the mini diggers in the earth section and feeding colourful cloths into the tangle of wind tubes in the air section.
The majorly underrated aspects of Magna, however, are outside. The Aqua-Tek splash park has kids gleefully running around between fountains on a warmer day, while the enormous adventure playground next to it tends to be a massive hit once brains have been fried by the physics lessons inside.
Magna review: The best bit
The Big Melt is a 12 minute sound and light show that brings the former steelworks back to life. Projections and machinery cranking into action show how steel would have been forged at high temperatures, amid a display of sparks and fire.
Adults tend to appreciate the Big Melt more than children – it’s visually stunning, but does require standing still to watch and listen for longer than younger kids are prepared to tolerate.
Infants, juniors or secondary?
Both infant and junior age children tend to get a lot out of Magna. It’s highly interactive, with lots of buttons to push and a very light emphasis on education. The kids end up learning through play and their own curiosity.
Magna entry prices
On the surface, the entry prices to Magna are very expensive. It’s £17.95 for adults and £15.95 for children if bought online, but £22.95 and £20.95 respectively if bought on the door.
However, there is excellent value to be had if you live reasonably nearby. The single entry ticket at Magna can be upgraded to an annual pass free of charge. This makes repeat visits essentially free – and given that many kids can happily spend a couple of hours in the playground alone, this can be incredibly useful during the school holidays.
Prices were last checked and updated on 1 October 2024.
Full day, half day or a couple of hours?
Particularly if it’s warm and the Aqua-Tek splash park is operating, you can get a full day’s entertainment out of Magna. But it is perfect for repeat half day visits.
Attractions near the Magna Science Adventure Centre
Relatively nearby attractions that can be combined with a visit to the Magna Science Adventure Centre include:
- Yorkshire Sculpture Park in Wakefield.
- Cannon Hall Farm in Barnsley.
- Conisbrough Castle in Conisbrough.
- The Rock Up climbing centre at Meadowhall in Sheffield.
Nearby cities
The closest city to the Magna Science Adventure Centre is Sheffield – it’s in Rotherham, just on the other side of the Junction 34 on the M1.
Other cities within a 90 minute drive of Magna include Derby, Nottingham, Doncaster, Wakefield, York, Leeds, Bradford, Manchester, Hull and Lincoln.
Is it open on Mondays?
The Magna Science Adventure Centre’s opening hours are bafflingly erratic, and should be checked online before setting out. However, Magna is open most Mondays, which can be handy for teacher training days.
More information
For more information, visit the Magna website.
