This guide is for families who have moved to London from abroad and want a day of hands-on science at the Science Museum’s Wonderlab, and for adults wondering whether it is worth a visit. You will learn what is inside, how tickets and discounts work, and how to plan a full museum day around it.
- What Wonderlab is and who it suits
- Tickets, prices and ways to save
- Planning your day at the Science Museum
- Access, sensory and health notes
- Beyond Wonderlab
- FAQ
What Wonderlab is and who it suits
Wonderlab is the Science Museum’s interactive gallery on Level 3. It has 50 exhibits across seven zones: Maths, Electricity, Forces, Space, Light, Matter and Sound. Children can watch lightning strike at a giant Tesla coil, race each other down the giant slides, follow live experiments at the Chemistry Bar and look at the stars with staff at the Orrery.
The museum recommends Wonderlab for ages 7 to 14, and the exhibits are built for that range. Staff called Explainers work across the gallery, answering questions and helping with experiments. They also run live science shows and demonstrations in the Showspace throughout the day, and these are included in your ticket. The newest show, Are we there yet?, covers the maths and science of engines, speed and transport. Children can help start a steam engine, fire a spark plug into the air and watch a fire lit to show how a jet engine works.
Parents often appreciate one detail in particular: every exhibit, demonstration and show in Wonderlab is screen-free.
Tickets, prices and ways to save
Many newcomers find this confusing at first. Entry to the Science Museum is free, but you still need to pre-book a free admission ticket. Wonderlab is separate and needs a paid ticket booked before you arrive.
Day pass prices vary and start from £13.50. The main money-saving rules are:
- Book ahead. Booking in advance is cheaper, and earlier and later time slots cost less if you book at least a day before your visit.
- Family discount. Groups of 3 to 5 visitors with no more than 2 adults get £3 off each day pass.
- Little ones go free. Children aged 3 and under do not pay.
- No booking fees are charged.
If you live in London and expect to come back, look at the annual pass. It costs £29.00 for anyone aged 4 and over, including a donation. Under-4s go free, and families of 3 to 5 people with no more than 2 adults get £4 off each annual pass. Annual pass holders still need to book two things for each visit: a free general museum admission ticket and a free Wonderlab time slot.
If your household receives Universal Credit or certain other benefits, a limited number of discounted day tickets are available. Adult tickets cost £5, you can claim for up to five people per household, and you must book at least a day ahead. The Wonderlab page explains which documents you need to show. If no Universal Credit tickets show for your date, that date has sold out, so try another one.
The museum cannot guarantee tickets on the door, especially in busy periods. Book online or call the booking team on 033 0058 0058.
Planning your day at the Science Museum
According to the Science Museum visit page, the museum is open daily from 10.00 to 18.00, including school holidays, and closes from 24 to 26 December. Last entry is 17.15, and galleries start closing 30 minutes before the museum shuts. Wonderlab opens at 10.00. Its page gives the closing time as both 17.30 and 17.40, so it is safest to aim to be done by 17.30.
Check the closures list before you go. Wonderlab closes at 16.00 on Wednesday 14 October 2026 and Tuesday 8 December 2026. The whole museum closes at 17.30 on Thursday 22 October 2026, stays shut all day on Wednesday 11 November 2026 and closes at 17.00 on Thursday 26 November 2026. The visit page has the latest list.
Use the Main Entrance on Exhibition Road, SW7 2DD. Your arrival slot is printed on your ticket, and you should try to arrive during that window. Children under 12 must be with an adult aged 18 or over.
Most visitors spend one to two hours in Wonderlab, and families often stay longer. An average museum visit lasts about two hours. A sensible plan is to book a Wonderlab slot and then spend the rest of the day in the free galleries. The Space gallery has moved: reach it along the level 0 corridor near Lifts/Stairs C, following the signs.
Inside Wonderlab you will find buggy parking, toilets and plenty of seating, which helps with younger siblings. The museum also mentions some building noise from new galleries under construction.
Access, sensory and health notes
Some exhibits use magnets that may affect pacemakers and other medical devices. These include the ferrofluid in Matter, Aurora in Space, the floating magnet, Tesla coil and lightning strike in Electricity, and the magnetic tessellation tiles in Maths. Warning signs are posted next to each one.
Live shows can include sudden loud noises, and these are flagged in the gallery on the day. The Show Space has a built-in hearing loop. For sensory or access questions, speak to staff when you arrive or call the Contact Centre on 033 0058 0058 before your visit. Free essential companion tickets are available through the same number.
Some Chemistry Bar experiments use eggs, and the show Flash Bang Wallop uses gluten-free corn flour. If allergies are a worry, talk to an Explainer.
Beyond Wonderlab
For children aged 7 and under, Bubble Explorers is a family show built around bubble experiments. Teenagers and adults may prefer Power Up, a hands-on gaming experience featuring consoles from the past 50 years, which also costs less if you book ahead. After your visit, Wonderlab+ is a free family website with activities and quizzes.
For international visitors and relatives staying with you, the museum offers maps in other languages and sensory versions, plus an Interactive Guide in British Sign Language, English, French, German, Italian and Spanish. Gift vouchers for Wonderlab annual passes are available for adults and children, but check the restrictions before buying.
FAQ
Is Wonderlab included in free Science Museum entry?
No. Museum entry is free with a pre-booked ticket, but Wonderlab needs a separate paid ticket. Day passes start from £13.50, and under-4s go free.
What age is Wonderlab best for?
The museum recommends it for ages 7 to 14. For children 7 and under, the Bubble Explorers family show is aimed at that age group.
Can I buy tickets on the day?
Possibly, but the museum does not guarantee tickets on the door, especially in busy periods. Booking ahead online or on 033 0058 0058 is safer and usually cheaper.
How long should we plan to stay?
Most visitors spend one to two hours in Wonderlab, and families often stay longer. Leave extra time for the free galleries, since an average museum visit lasts about two hours.
Official sources: sciencemuseum.org.uk · sciencemuseum.org.uk
Last checked: 14 October 2026 against the pages linked above. Prices, opening hours and programmes change; the venue’s own site always has the current details.
Sources
- sciencemuseum.org.uk: Wonderlab | Science Museum, accessed 14 October 2026
- sciencemuseum.org.uk: Visit | Science Museum, accessed 14 October 2026
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