From star-gazing in Coalbrookdale to a trip to the moon, Victorian style, visitors to the Ironbridge Gorge are in for an out of this world experience this February half term with a programme of exciting space themed activities. The museum trust will also be running its popular Kids Eat Free scheme at sites across the Gorge too.
Landing on the 18th February, visitors to Enginuity can step inside the discovery centre’s special Stardome for an immersive experience to find out more about the amazing galaxies, stars and solar systems above our heads.
The planetarium, brought to the museum by the Higher Horizons project at Keele University, offers 360° views of the cosmos to teach visitors young and old about everything from the astronomical origins of the Gorges most important resource - Iron - through to our search for alien life.
The 30 minute sessions will take place every hour from 10:30am to 4:00pm every day from 18th - 26th February. Entry is free with museum admission, but pre-booking is essential.
Visitors will also have the chance to create their very own planets at Enginuity thanks to the museum's drop-in Marbled Planets sessions. Using marbling inks, visitors can get hands on as they get creative with colours and patterns to bring their own swirling celestial body’s to life. Sessions will run from 11am to 3pm every day from 18th-26th February. The activity is free for PASS PLUS holders or £2 with admission for non-pass holders.
For those wanting to refuel after their space age adventures, the popular Kids Eat Free scheme will return to The Furnace Kitchen in Coalbrookdale where, from 18th-26th February families can enjoy a free kid’s meal with the purchase of a full priced adult meal.
Over at Coalport China Museum, visitors can let their imagination run wild by sculpting their own space-age creatures from air-dry clay. The drop-in sessions, running from 11am to 3pm from 18th to 26th February are free for PASS PLUS holders or £2 with museum admission.
The creativity continues at Jackfield Tile Museum with the return of the popular tile decorating workshops. From 21st to 23rd February visitors can learn about traditional technique of tube-lining before having a go themselves, decorating a ceramic tile with a design of their choice – maybe a planet, rocket or spaceman! Workshops cost £10.75 per person which includes drying, kiln firing of your tile which can be collected or posted to your home.
At Blists Hill, as well as the Kids Eat Free scheme which will be available at the town’s legendary Fried Fish Dealer as well as The Forest Glen Refreshment Pavilion, visitors can also enjoy a screening of the world’s first sci-fi film in The Goods Shed. 'Le Voyage dans la Lune' or ‘A Trip to the Moon’, a short science fiction adventure created in 1902 will be shown alongside a traditional musical accompaniment to give visitors a taste of what the Victorians thought about space travel.
For more information or to book your tickets, visit www.ironbridge.org.uk