Spooky Science Parties at Sunderland Museum & Winter Gardens – review
We enjoyed a Spooky Science Parties session at Sunderland Museum & Winter Gardens so thought I’d share an honest review.
The October half term was split over two weeks so schools in the North East were off either the week of 23 October or 30 October and we were in the first week.
I checked out the North East Family Fun half term what’s on guide and the Spooky Science Parties at Sunderland Museum & Winter Gardens were on during our week off and had some sessions still available to book so I was sold.
I booked the last afternoon slot so we could have lunch at home and plenty of time to drive to Sunderland, park and find the museum as we’d never been before.
About Spooky Science Parties
Sessions at 11am, 1pm and 2.30pm.
Join the team from Big Science UK for a fabulous spooky party with science demonstrations, experiments and glow in the dark slime making.
Tickets are £5 per child, adults go free when accompanying a child.
This is a family event and not intended for individual adult or adult groups.
Please contact the Museum staff for more information.
Places can be pre-booked using the Sunderland Museum & Winter Gardens website or via the museum shop.
Spooky Science Parties session at Sunderland Museum & Winter Gardens
It took us 45 minutes to drive to Sunderland from our home in County Durham.
We parked at Tatham Street open air pay and display car park which had lots of spaces and only cost us £1, as it’s free to park after 3pm.
Car parking and offers are something Sunderland does much better than Newcastle, I’ve never struggled to park and often only paid a few pounds in Sunderland.
Car parked and paid for we made the short walk to Sunderland Museum and Winter Gardens.
It’s an impressive building and Elsie was excited to go in.
We quickly made our way to the large room where the science session was being held and our name was ticked off the list and we found a seat near the front.
Neil warmly welcomed us and did some housekeeping and a few smaller experiments to warm the kids up.
Then we made our way to the tables at the back of the room and waited our instructions.
It was really engaging and fun and I think we all learnt something from the session.
There was lots of pouring and stirring for Elsie to do.
We had liquids changing colour and even things exploding.
We made raisins sink and float and learnt about acids and alkalines.
The 45 minutes of hands on experiments absolutely flew by and Elsie was captivated the whole time.
Then we made our way back to sitting at the front and Neil had some fun with balloons, leaf blowers and even did a mini fire in a large water container.
We really enjoyed the science session and would definitely recommend it.
Once the session was finished we looked around the museum.
Elsie enjoyed the gardens and in particular the fish and dinosaurs!
The spooky science party was a great way to kickstart our half term holiday fun.
Where is Sunderland Museum & Winter Gardens?
Burdon Road
Sunderland
Tyne and Wear
SR1 1PP
Directions
By car
A1
Take the exit at Jct 62 on A1 northbound or southbound
Follow A690 for Sunderland
Then A1231 for Hendon and then head onto Burdon Road
A19
Take the exit for A183 on A19 southbound
Take the exit for A690 on A19 northbound
Then A1231 for Hendon and then head onto Burdon Road
By Metro/Train
The nearest Tyne & Wear Metro station is Sunderland. This station also operates trains to Newcastle and Middlesbrough and is about 100m walk from the Museum.
Please note there are major refurbishment works currently taking place at Sunderland Station. The southern rail entrance/exit from Market Square and Union Street are currently closed. Passengers are being asked to use the northern entrance on Union Street to access the station.
You can find and book coach and train timetables on Trainline.
By bus
Numerous buses stop along Fawcett Street, Borough Road and Burdon Road, all of which are within two minutes walk of the Museum. These include Stagecoach buses 23, E1, E6 plus Go North East 33, 35 and 36.
Parking
Sunderland Museum & Winter Gardens is on the edge of Mowbray Park in the city centre, it does not have its own dedicated car park.
Tatham Street open air pay and display car park is close by. The entrance to the Museum is approximately 400m walk, past Tavistock Place then either along the North Terrace of the Park or along Borough Road.
There are several designated bays for disabled drivers close to the Museum entrance on Burdon Road and some on John Street approximately 100m away.
To see all car parks near to Sunderland Museum & Winter Gardens please click here.
Sunderland Museum & Winter Gardens opening hours
Monday – Friday, 9.30am-5pm*: Museum Shop, Ground Floor Galleries and Library
*Late night opening on Wednesday until 7pm.
Monday – Friday 10am-4pm: Upper Level Galleries including the Art and Special Exhibitions Galleries, and Bennelli’s Cafe.
Monday – Friday 10am-5pm: Winter Gardens
Saturday, 10am – 4pm
Sunday, Closed
Admission is free for everyone. Some exhibitions may have a charge. Donations are welcome.
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