Science Museum

In the Science Museum you can get all sorts of information about scientific topics. Whatever you can think about, you will find it in this museum. The museum has such a numerous amount of different collections, you just can not see them in one day. Every collection is displayed in a seperate part of the museum and there are maps to find your way around the museum.

When we entered the museum we walked right into the area about the invention of steam and the steam engine. In here, there was an enormous steam engine that was operative. It reminded me of the little steam engines we had when we were kids, only this one was a little bit bigger. I wonder if they have to use these firelighters for this one too :+).

As I am a fan of everything that has to do with airplanes and space ships, I wanted to see the gallery about rocketry. Here we were informed about the invention and evolution of the rocket, both as weapon and as means of space travelling. First the technological aspects of a rocket are explained, for instance the different types of fuels used for their propulsion. After that, we got a lot of background information about the development of the V2 rockets. These were used by Hitler during World War II to bomb London.

The V2 rocket was high-tech machinery for that period of time. However, the accuracy of the rockets was bad. Several of the V2 rockets aimed at London never reached the city. But I think that Hitler did not really care, as long as his rockets hit something in (for Germany) enemy territory. We could also see how the rockets evolved in real high-tech laser guided, computer steered equipment (however, I know better ways to use these kind of technologies).

Then we walked into the, in my opinion, most interesting part of this gallery, space travel. Here we got a lot of background information about the race between America and the USSR to reach the moon (with both unmanned and manned space crafts) during the fifties and sixties. Here scale models of the Lunar Lander and the commander module were displayed.  As a little kid I always dreamt that later, when I was a grown up, I wanted to become a pilot or astronaut, but after all I learned here, I am glad that I was not one of those pioneers in space.

Next to that, we received a lot of information about the evolution of space travelling, for instance about the Viking modules which landed on Mars to explore this beautiful red planet. Several reproductions of pictures received from the Viking I and II were displayed. Of course there was also a lot of information about the Space Shuttle, communication and espionage satellites and the future of space exploration.

Next to that, we went to the galleries about the invention of electricity, light, telegraphy and telephony. Here too every topic was explained as simple as possible. Also there were several hands on experiences that visualised the working of for instance the telephone switchboard (what happened to the tin cans and a piece of string :+) ).

In the museum a special area is reserved for children. Here they can experience all kind of scientific discoveries over the last few centuries, as there are gravity, centrifugical force, video mixing and editing and so on.

If you are interested in Science, you sure will love the Science museum. I can also recommend this museum to parents with older children. Everything is explained in a very simple and easy way to understand.

Go to the website of the Science Museum for more information.

Unfortunately this museum is not covered by the London Pass. However, if you also plan to visit several other museums in London you might be interested in the London Pass, offering you free access to many museums and attractions in London.