Jodrell Bank Discovery Centre in Leek

September 2016 photos.... been to Jodrell Bank many times, but these are the only photos I could find for the Google Maps review. Have also enjoyed Blue Dot Festival also held in 2016.

As good and interesting as you can make it during a semi-pandemic. I was happy to go at a less busy time and be there with my party only at times. Interesting talk.

I have grown up visiting this superb facility on a regular basis (edit. born 69 and still growing 🤣). It is continually evolving and growing. The new pavilion was exciting to see, and the return of the Lovell Lectures was superb! If you have any curiosity at all, about anything, come here. You will love it.

Absolutely fabulous & very interesting. Our grandchildren loved it. The 15 min film show narrated by Brian Cox was literally "out of this world". Everything was very well organised. All staff friendly yet very professional.

Getting my space geek on at #jodrellbank today! What a great day out. Fascinating talks, interesting displays, immersive screen shows and plenty for the kids to see and do. Different play areas for outdoor fun and plenty of picnic tables and benches to enjoy your own picnic or something delicious from the 2 cafés on site. Craft fun during half term. Fun in the sun, or the pouring rain!Well done #universityofmanchester

Brilliant place. Lovely staff. Good value for money. The cafe was very clean staff friendly and lovely food. Prices were just what you expect and the portions were great

Worth seeing as a one off. 2 stars as my youngest loved it. Older two were really bored! One of which is a science boffin and they were extremely disappointed in the visit. There isnt really anything to do so it is way too expensive for what it is.

Fantastic educational day out right on our doorstep. The new First Light pavilion and exhibition is one of the best exhibitions Ive been to. The interactive displays are numerous and provide a great insight into the history of the site. The tablets with the quiz questions are so addictive and if you get ten questions correct it projects a meteor shower onto the whole exhibition. Loved it.

Have been wanting to come here for a very long time. For £12 each, the last hour of the opening times seemed a bit steep, plus the £4 for the parking on top (in a near empty car park for approx 1.5 hours). If youre going to go, make sure you go for a few hours to get your moneys worth. Besides that, we got exactly what we wanted, which were some wonderful close up shots of the Lovell Radio Telescope, although the shots were slightly marred by the maintenance workers in cherry pickers... so not ideal there, either.

A really interesting day out. The new visitor centre is worth the wait and the talk about the history of Jodrell Bank was packed.The cafe is clean and offers sandwiches and cake £6 for a sub sandwich which seems average for visitor attractions.There are lots of picnic areas if you wanted to bring your own food.The staff are all knowledgeable, polite and more than ready to help.If your interested in space it will a very good day for you.

We had a fantastic day with our grandchildren. Exhibitions and shows were amazing and breathtaking especially the Dome experience. We really loved the Dome. Staff were so helpful and knowledgeable. They were so engaging. Especially Samantha on the paying kiosk and shop and Ellen who we saw lots of times during the day. Will definitely be back on our annual ticket. Hopefully the telescope wont be parked up next time, it would be great to see it working 😊

Absolutely amazing place to visit. Had no idea what to expect apart from the giant telescope and was blown away with the activities. Learning all about Jodrell Bank with hands on interactive learning made it fascinating for adults and children.The talk about the planets and solar systems was phenomenal! They interact above your head and you get a good 45 minute talk from experts who know so much and are very enuthasic.A great cafe and coffee stop and lovely walks around the place is amazing.You have to try the whispering discs they are so good and so clever, I think this was one of my favourite things to try there.

Interesting place to visit, particularly if you have even a vague interest in space, or science in general. Some new exhibitions have recently been added but undoubtedly the main attraction is the imposing Lovell telescope. The grounds are good for a nice walk in summer time and the cafe is decent. There are plenty of science-related gifts in the gift shop obviously! The staff were very friendly and helpful when we visited and happy to explain things in a child-friendly way.

Visited on a Sunday in July 2022 early afternoon, below are my impressions (I also have a YouTube video about the experience on my channel "Adventures & Experiences"):- customer service: fantastic, everyone was smiley, polite, approachable, offered to help with anything we required and gave us directions.- parking: ample, but probably gets full on weekend mornings/lunchtimes- we paid £12 admission fee and £6 for the Dome Show. The Dome Show lasted just under 45 minutes and, if you come with kids, its informative and educational. However for us as a couple, it felt like a class at school, perhaps some music or more effects wouldve made it more exciting. The speaker did try to make it as engaging as possible.If you have kids over the age of 7, I recommend coming here, but if you have toddlers and you want to attend the show or talks, its not suitable for them as they could easily get bored. We had a lady with a toddler and he was crawling on the floor, making noise and you could tell he was bored, as he had a lot of energy and a shorter attention span for this talk.- the site is clean, there are picnic benches to eat or relax, the telescopes are impressive and the Jodrell Telescope is majestic.If you want an adventure, this is not the place. If you want an educational/informative day out and you enjoy learning about space, science and astronomy, then I highly recommend it.

We had absolutely a great day out here! So much to learn, to see. Interesting pavilions where a short video shown about the telescope, the space, the Milky Way, great set up, kids love it. In another one, the talk about the observatory and the telescope and even show the experiment on a big plastic bottle how the rackets are launched. Interesting!The cafe is lovely, great food, the staff are super friendly 🙂 Would recommend it, great day out!

Went to the Blue Dot Festival and loved the setting. The telescope has to be seen to be appreciated.

Ideally Id like to give 3 and a half stars.....Enjoyed the few hours we spent here. Located in pleasant surroundings. Staff are knowledgeable and friendly. Nice cafe. Exhibits range from really good interactive to less impressive images with words.Looses stars as there is an entrance fee plus extra for car park and one of the talks require payment making this a not value for money visit. It is in middle of no where so you have no option but to take transport so felt cheated by parking charge.

It is quite an impressive place in terms of history, achievement and education. There are a great number of interactive exhibits that teach you a lot about technology and space and are fascinating to children as well as adults. The grounds are nice, pathways and nature with plenty of places for picnics. The observatory is obviously the main attraction to see and its size is amazing. Its great to learn what weve been able to discover using it. Also went to the planetarium show. The theatre was smaller than I expected but the show was informative and entertaining. There are plenty of toilet and cafe facilities. The visit makes for an inspiring and educational trip.

Really interesting visit to Jodrell today. The new First Light visitor experience is brilliant, really interesting and very interactive. The talk in the Sky Dome was very educational and was well presented by a very knowledgeable person.Overall a very enjoyable visit, plus we have an annual membership so can go back again within the year.

The new visitor centre, the First Light Pavillion, is absolutely stunning! Weve been visiting Jodrell Bank for years and loved the gardens, so we were so impressed with how well the building integrates into the existing space. The new space dome is wonderful - we watched the free show as well as paying for the extra show, which was a 45 minute tour of our galaxy.The story of Jodrell Bank exhibition is excellent - a mix of videos, interactive exhibits and audio complements the written content, and I genuinely learnt so much from it.All the staff were so friendly and cheerful, they definitely added to the experience.Of course, the majestic Lovell telescope presiding over everything is always the highlight of the visit and never ceases to thrill!

My daughter and I visited yesterday. The new building was freshly opened and the exhibition was excellent and very informative. My daughter uses a wheelchair and some of the display boards were not readable because of how they were angled. We had a diificulty in the toilet which was solved quickly and efficiently. Staff were very helpful. The tomato and basil soup was good too!

Modern visitor center, engaging experience, especially for childrens, to get to know the history of Jodrell Bank Radio telescope and radio astronomy in general.The new First Light pavillion, opened on 4th of July, is modernly designed, with multimedia and interactive areas, and practical experiments.Vast green area around the telescope, with pic nic areas and facilities for schools.Cafe and shop.

Have visited the telescope once before and will again soon, but this visit was just for a motorcycle ride from East Yorks. for the day. Stayed for coffee only before return journey. Cafe excellent, good selection of drinks and snacks. Clean and comfy. Top score, but will be visiting again soon to look closely at the attractions and displays.

Fantastic place, great talks on the history of Jodrell Bank and the Lovell telescope combined with active science demonstrations. New planetarium opens on June 4th.

A great tourist attraction and piece of local cultural capital, everyone who lives nearby should visit Jodrell Bank at least once. The Lovell telescope is the main attraction but the surrounding buildings are full of interesting exhibitions and knowledgeable staff. It’s a great place to take the kids but you wouldn’t be out of place if you went without kids too.I attended a talk on my most recent visit and the presenter was engaging and informative. I’m pretty sure that the particular talk I went to was aimed at kids but she did a cool demonstration of a rocket and the other adults seemed to enjoy it too.

Amazing experience - worth visit and join the talk. Thank you, very unexpected but pleasant experience. There are plenty room for picnic, so go ahead and grab your own food at you can just simply visit local coffe... I can reccomend visit to anyone

Not worth the £22 family ticket price I paid for 3 people... providing the garden and play area was closed. Not much really to do other than see the big amazing satellite dish.The talk could have been a bit more friendly, as although it was good for me, I could see the children fidgeting!

Really interesting place to visit. Enjoyed walking around the centre. The half term show was educational but interesting- kids liked it. The staff who presented the show were really engaging and looked like they put a lot of effort into it. Probably not one for younger children. The cafe is very small so gets busy during peak times but there are plenty of picnic tables. Would go again. I would say its something to do for a few hours not all day but worth going.

Informative, interactive and fun.. had 2 adults, a 13 Yr old & a 2 Yr old. All age ranges were catered for. The science show was a particular favourite. Highly recommended 👌

Was a good experience and the size of the telescope is quite impressive. Enjoyed the hands on activities. Would have liked to have maybe had a live stream available into space to see a planet or moon, but did enjoy it.

An enjoyable couple of hours with a lot of very interesting information to learn about space and the site itself. The talk that was on was engaging and very well presented. Not a huge amount to do overall, but the price is fairly low and worth it for what is there. Would recommend going on a fairly warm and clear day as much of it is outside and the area can get quite windy.

Absolutely fantastic place to visit. Myself and my partner visited on a dreary Saturday morning. We were greeted by a very friendly member of staff who advised us about the talks and how to navigate around the grounds. With our trusty map in hand, we attended the 11am talk which was engaging and informative. Although the winds were strong, ventilation was maintained through open windows, and we were all socially distanced. The astro photography exhibition outside and in was breathtaking. We enjoyed an oat milk coffee an a pasty each from the café. The quality of food was excellent and we would definitely recommend treating yourself to a delicious pasty! Instead of sitting in the Café we went into a little wooden cabin where they had a log burner on the go. So peaceful and just what we needed on a very blustery day! The gift shop had a great selection of items for big kids and little ones alike. We cant wait to come back and explore some more. Would thoroughly recommend giving Jodrell Bank Discovery Centre a visit!

So so interesting we had a brilliant afternoon. We got rained off for a lot of it, so in the summer, we can explore a little more of the nature side. The staff were fantastic and so knowledgeable. Great talk about the telescope, too. she was brilliant (sorry, I didnt catch her name). Really good 😊

Kids enjoyed the mixture of indoor and outdoor activities. The highlight was the show with Earthy.

A great way to spend a few hours. Its been a few years since my last visit, and so pleased to return. So much to see, and I love the way that the Astrophotographer of the Year images are displayed in their garden setting. Look out for the "print option whereby you can print a scan and the coordinates from the Lovell Telescope.Their cafe gets quite busy, so be prepared for a wait for food and coffee, but theres an improved range of locally sourced goodies now.Although aimed at a younger audience, the Telescope Talk is worth attending too, with a "tame black hole being deployed.Look forward to returning when the new secret First Light building is open.

Had an educational day at Jodrell Bank. Amazing satellite dishes. We had lecture about the place, how the satellite dishes work and work is done there. Things for younger kids to do. As alot of it was out doors so try going on a dry day. Staff were amazing, helpful and friendly. They have a toilets, cafe and gift shop. Wheelchair friendly alot of parking. Lovely day out

We went fairly early on Sunday morning. Had a stroll around the astrophotography exhibit in the gardens then round to the telescope. Pictures do nothing do justice to how big this thing is!We attended the talk about the history of the site from a wonderfully enthusiastic member of staff. We then went for lunch at the cafe and then round the space centre.All in all a very pleasant way to spend a few hours, the new centre is due to open next year and that should be really impressive!

Very interesting look at how we view space and the stars. Great talk from a very enthusiastic young female expert. Well done to her for making the history of the site and how it is all used sound fresh and fun. (2.15pm on 20th August, I hope your boss reads this). Inspiring photography display and a lovely cafe. Nice grounds to walk around which made sense when we had listened to the talk!

Our family have been visiting The Lovell for generations. My grandad took me in the 60s. I took my son in the 00s and I took my grandson the other day.Highlights are those that have always existed. The majestic dish itself. The sense of our connection to the universe and just how important it has been in our exploration.The whispering dishes are still extraordinary, simple, physics experiments for everyone.The Arboretum is glorious.However, the trend towards Infotainment has tainted the pure simplicity of the place. Kids soon make mincemeat of moving parts and this is only too apparent in the already dowdy looking button pressing rooms.The cafe was devoid of Potatoes. A strange error to make on a busy holiday day.The gift shop, an odd mixture of science and fiction. More physics, fewer standard, high priced trinkets please?Outdoor gravity and centrifugal demonstrations didnt work well.We love this place. Its well priced and a truly beautiful historic legacy. Please leave it be?A live lecture event was very well attended and seemed excellent. More of that might be a good way to draw more in.The "Sound of the Big Bang" experience and infra red cameras are not.

The last time I had visited Jodrell Bank must have been when I was at secondary school and Im in my forties now so was unsure of what to expect (I remember it being awe inspiring when younger but things always seem so then!). This time I took my 2 children and it didnt disappoint!It was such a great day out! We all loved it. Seeing the large radio telescope as you drive up the road leading to the main entrance was as awe inspiring as I remembered. There are some new buildings and the grounds have been sculptured and tidied since I was last there (which should be expected really! Seeing it was so long ago!).The staff were friendly and helpful the admission price was fair £8.50 adult and £6.50 (eachfor kids we had a great time wandering round the gardens and the various astrology buildings. If there was one downside it would be the cafe prices which were steep but I suppose this is typical of most places like this but if visiting as a one off and not every week then its not so bad I suppose.There was also an astrological photography exhibition/competition on which was amazing to look at and read about. Also various animal as you followed some of the trails so plenty to do. If you are thinking of something to do with the kids in the holidays (or even outside ofthen this is a great option.

Spent just under three hours there. 5 year old really enjoyed the experience, great constellations trail to complete. We took a picnic and there was a great deal of choice of location to eat it, covered areas available for those like myself who are not a fan of wasp intrusion when eating. Fantastic space crafts section for children and adults to make things to take home. Interactive area was interesting and engaging for 5 year old. The photography competition gallery was great. Only downside, the cafe was a bit overpriced £4.50 for a pie, which put me off. We all had a great time and we are planning to go again when the new centre is finished, looks very impressive.

Its a great place to visit if you are into science or construction. Very meaningful, clear and funny presentation and a Discovery center on site. 2 hours well spent.

Had a lovely day out here. Unfortunately some areas closed off due to building work. Lots of things to see and lots of information. Plenty of hands on experiments for children. Staff pleasant, polite and very helpful. Highly recommended day out.

A brilliant price for such a spectacular piece of engineering. So many places to sit down and rest, plenty of interactive exhibitions for children and a fabulous talk by Lexi!

The staff were amazing from start to finish. As we walked from the train station as a group not realising how far of a walk it was and staff met us at the gate with a cold bottle of water each. They then took us to the cafe eating area and gave us all a free cold can of lemonade then ice cream. We had a wonderful time learning about space, the staff then tried to get us a taxi that would fit wheelchair in but unfortunately we couldnt get one to pick us up so they gave us all a free jodrell bank cap, wet flannels and another bottle of water each. They were so kind to us we cant thank them enough! Great for kids day out! (Just dont walk it on one of the hottest days of the year!)

Not been for a few years and great to see the place is having some upgrades, new planetarium is coming along nicely and hopefully be open around Xmas 2021 gift shop and cafe prices are a little pricey but not excessively.

The Lovell telescope is a magnificent engineering accomplishment, beautiful to look at and to photograph. The cafe serves lovely coffees and a range of sandwiches and cakes making for a great overall experience.

We enjoyed our visit. We saw the telescopes and had a very interesting talk from one of the scientists. The telescopes are huge and interesting. There had been an astrophysics photography competition and the pictures were stunning. Parts of the site are currently closed and they are building a new block. We had a coffee in the outside area of the cafe. It was a pleasant afternoon.

Great place to visit if youre interested in astronomy and the historical significance of the site. The grounds are well kept, a little bit of a shame all the gardens werent open, understandable due to the pandemic though. There are a couple of ongoing projects half done but when its finished I can imagine it would add value to the whole experience. Happy helpful staff. Will visit again soon.

I visited Jodrell bank on 13th June and had a wonderful time. The weather was perfect and there was so much to see and do the lovell telescope is huge and the mini lecture given by one of the staff was really interesting and informative and with an interactive element which the kids loved. There is parking available on site and toilets. The cafe has a limited menu although it was a nice place to sit with a cup of tea and a pasty I actually got 2 free hot drinks because play the national lottery and Jodrell are rewarding players as the lottery helps fund the upkeep of the centre. Id highly recommend a visit especially if you take children they will learn alot.👍