UK summer holiday activities for future scientists

School’s nearly out, and the science is most definitely in. Whether your child dreams of becoming an astronaut, engineer or inventor, the UK has an exciting line-up of summer holiday activities to fire up young imaginations. From hands-on experiments to mind-bending exhibitions, here are our top picks for science-curious families.

Mark 20 years since YouTube put science on screen

Launched in 2005, YouTube transformed science learning forever. To celebrate two decades of bite-sized science brilliance, many museums and science centres are teaming up with popular STEM YouTubers for live shows, workshops and meet-ups.

Look out for Science on Screen tours with creators like Physics Girl, Steve Mould and Maddie Moate, coming to science festivals across the UK. The Science Museum in London is also launching a new exhibit on digital learning, featuring viral experiments, creator interviews and a live recording booth.

Explore the universe at the National Space Centre

2025 is packed with space-themed milestones, including the 60th anniversary of the first spacewalk. The National Space Centre in Leicester is celebrating with live demos, astronaut talks and a new VR experience called EVA 65, which simulates being on a spacewalk in orbit.

The summer programme also includes rocket-making workshops, Mars Rover challenges, and family science shows – ideal for aspiring astronauts.

Experience the fusion of science and art

This summer, the boundaries between science and creativity continue to blur.

• Great Exhibition Road Festival, London (7 to 8 June): Explore AI art, science-themed fashion shows, and coding workshops for kids.
• Manchester Science and Industry Museum: Visit the new exhibition “Wired Worlds” exploring the relationship between music, data and design – featuring live demos from musicians using neural networks to compose songs.
• FACT Liverpool: Hosts “Living Code”, a digital art show where organisms, algorithms and installations blur into one.

Get hands-on with electricity at EDF visitor centres

Looking for a fun, free day out with an energy twist? Our visitor centres across the UK are running summer holiday activities for all ages including:

• Energy-themed escape rooms
• Interactive VR reactor tours
• Wind turbine engineering challenges
• STEM craft and coding clubs

And look out for us at Cheltenham Science Festival (3 to 8 June), where we’ll be sparking curiosity through electricity-themed games and experiments.

Celebrate curiosity at science festivals

• Bluedot Festival, Jodrell Bank (17 to 20 July): Music, astronomy, climate science and talks from leading thinkers.
• Green Man Festival, Wales (14 to 17 August): Visit Einstein’s Garden, the UK’s most magical science village.

Discover the science of sustainability

With the countdown to COP30 well underway, many museums and local events are highlighting greener technology, biodiversity and climate action.

• Eden Project, Cornwall: New summer trail exploring how plants inspire design and technology.
• Science Oxford, Oxfordshire: Tinker with upcycled tech, design your own solar-powered invention and track local wildlife with mini-drones.
• Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust (WWT) sites: Run STEM-themed nature walks and pond science days across the UK throughout the summer.

Rainy day? Turn your home into a science lab

If the weather turns (and let’s face it - it will), get comfy and stream some science magic.

Netflix:

• Connected - the science of hidden relationships
• The Mind Explained - bite-sized episodes on brain science
• Is It Cake? - Science Edition - a new twist on illusion baking meets food chemistry

Podcasts:

• BBC Earth Podcast
• Wow in the World (for kids)
• Science Vs

YouTube:

• Mark Rober’s DIY science challenges
• Kurzgesagt – In a Nutshell animated explainers

What's going on around the country?

Scotland

• Glasgow Science Festival (5 to 15 June): Interactive demos, AI art and family science treasure hunts.
• Edinburgh Fringe (1 to 25 August): Look out for science comedy, kids’ science theatre and shows like The Element in the Room (a musical about the periodic table).

London

• Brainiac Live! returns to the West End (July to August) with explosive demos and high-energy stunts.
• Science Museum: A new exhibit, “Powering the Future”, explores how renewables and nuclear are shaping our world.
• Grant Museum of Zoology and Old Operating Theatre: Unusual and unforgettable places to explore anatomy and evolution.

North of England

• Life Science Centre, Newcastle: New Robots & Us zone explores AI and ethics, with programmable bots for kids.
• Science and Industry Museum, Manchester: Family-friendly TinkerLab open all summer with daily hands-on challenges.

South of England

• Royal Albert Memorial Museum, Exeter: New “Animal Architects” exhibition reveals the natural engineering of beavers, bees and birds.
• Bristol Museum & Art Gallery: Aardman’s Wallace & Gromit Science Lab is back with interactive experiments and storytelling.
• Winchester Science Centre: Family science shows, a sensory space zone, and immersive storytelling under the stars in their upgraded planetarium.

Let the summer spark something amazing

Whether you’re discovering the wonders of the universe, tackling a coding challenge, or just getting curious in your own kitchen - science has never been more accessible or more exciting. So grab your goggles and go explore.