Magna Science Adventure Centre, The Face Of Steel

Visited with our 19 month old and she loved it. When we walked into the main walkway which is dark with lots of lights highlighting the steelworks she gasped and said "wow mummy"! Lots of buttons to press and handles to turn kept her entertained and she loved the scarf pipes in the air zone and water activities in the water zone. Tickets last for whole year so great value for money. Outside is a massive playground with a good range of equipment for all ages and big sand pit. Good day out for all.

Spent an amazing Monday at the Magna Science Adventure Centre! We've been meaning to visit for years, and this year we planned our holiday around it. Our 13-year-old science-mad son was a bit old for it but still had a blast doing activities with our friend’s 9-year-old. The centre's layout is ingenious and unique. Learning the history of the steelworks arc furnace while watching the visual art installation, including fire and sparks, was truly engaging. Our son loved all the interactive elements, especially the forge demonstration, and was thrilled to receive the steel demonstration piece! He then had a great time at the outdoor water park. The staff were welcoming, friendly, and informative. A word of warning: if your child is sound-sensitive, don’t forget a pair of ear defenders.

An amazing day out, with something for everyone. Magna is easy to locate, and you pick up the brown signposts with plenty of distance, there is plenty of free parking on arrival (disabled spaces are available, no parent and child - but we didn't have a problem opening our doors to get the kids out). We had booked in advance online, and were met by a lovely person at the front desk, who set us up with a pass that means we can come back all year (this is a plastic card, which will stand up to the trials of a wallet). The site is enormous, and there is a fair bit of walking to do, and 4 floors to handle. It is entirely accessible for anyone needing wheels (pram/wheelchair). We did have a bit of confusion working out what floor we wanted in the lift - while there are signs explaining outside the lifts, signs on the inside near the buttons would be handy. The lavatory facilities are clean and tidy, but could do with a coat of paint and a replacement rusty radiator or two. The baby change units are free-standing, rather than the ones that drop down from the wall; there are no safety straps - beware of this if you have a climber who needs a fresh nappy! The canteen has a fabulous rainbow wall, that had my 8 month old absolutely fascinated. Hot drinks are reasonably priced. Unfortunately a lack of recycling bins for cardboard cups. You can only sit in the canteen to eat food you have purchased. However, there are various spots with indoor seating (the drop down style like at the theatre), benches outside and grass in the playground to sit on in fine weather (please note: there is limited shade from the sun, bring a hat or an umbrella if you're picnicking outdoors on a sunny day). The exhibit is initially quite dark and a little intimidating with rumbles and clanging - if you have members of your group who have audio sensitivity, please bring their ear defenders or ear plugs. It is eerie to walk above the skeleton of the steelworks, and I was genuinely surprised how much was still in-situ! There are videos from before the steelworks closed being projected; all delightfully narrated in Proper Yorkshire Chelp! (This is definitely not a 'BBC News Voice'). You will wander by a sensory play area for under 4s, and if you have a tiny one with you, it is a lovely spot for them. Soft surfaces and bright colours. The BIG MELT ran approximately every hour from 11am on the day we went, and lasted about a quarter of an hour. A marvellous Yorkshire narration talks through how they made moulton steel - with sound effects, lights and pyrotechnics. It isn't overly scientific or inaccessible for of those of us who don't have a clue about how steel is made. Educational and entertaining, and didn't overstay it's welcome or get boring. The exhibit levels cover: Fire, Water, Earth, and Air (all required to make steel!). They are full of hands-on experiments for youngsters - and grownups - to partake in. Some require a "re-set period" and can't be run constantly, such as the fire tornado. However, after a clearly stated countdown, they can be set going again. A small number of experiments are being repaired or refreshed and are out of order, but they were in the minority. We paid a small extra fee to watch a live experiment session about rockets; and if more school science teachers were as engaging and enthusiastic as the presenter, more kids would succeed in science! An excellent summer addition to the venue! Outside is a huge playground, well padded with rubber mats and sand (make sure to tip your kids' shoes out before they get in the car!). There is a range of equipment to clamber on, suiting all ages capable of climbing. A water playground (bring swimwear and towels) was proving very popular on the beautiful sunny day that we visited - as mentioned earlier, shade is very limited. Our family (two grownups, a 5 year old and 8 month old) had a wonderful time, and we will definitely go back in the future.