Seven lottery–funded projects that are out of this world
'Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens' is taking cinemas by storm across the UK. Here's seven of the best lottery–funded projects to take you to a galaxy far, far away (and bring you safely back down to earth)…
For all aspiring space travellers, Cosmonauts: Birth of the Space Age fuels dreams of space travel and boasts a fascinating array of space stuff, including capsules and survival kits. As an added bonus you can also watch Star Wars: The Force Awakens here. www.sciencemuseum.org.uk
From rockets and satellites to space artefacts and even Martian surfaces… the National Space Centre is the nation's largest dedicated to space exploration and science. With over 150 activities to take part in and the country's largest Planetarium, you’ll be ready to take on the Galactic Empire. www.spacecentre.co.uk
Home to the third largest steerable telescope in the world, the Lovell Telescope at Jodrell Bank picks up some remarkable signals from outer space. Probing the depths of space since 1957, it's the perfect place to learn more about all sorts of cosmic phenomena (Ewoks, anyone?). www.jodrellbank.net
Techniquest is the UK's longest established science centre. Here would-be Jedi Knights can find out about everything from how life began to things that move faster than the speed of light. It's time to go to hyper drive... www.techniquest.org
'Help me Obi–Wan Kenobi, you're my only hope.' With over 200 hands–on displays, including build your own alien and a chat with a robot/droid, Princess Leia could have reprogrammed her own faulty droid. If only she’d gone to Think Tank. www.birminghammuseums.org.uk/thinktank
If you know your R2–D2 from your C–3PO you'll love whowhatwherewhenwhy at W5. It's home to RoboThespian, a life–sized robot/droid who chats, moves, educates and entertains kids big and small with a range of songs and impressions – and what's more you get to decide what he does. www.w5online.co.uk
As Hans Solo's co–pilot, Chewbacca that knew how to fix things in a hurry and he'd have been in his element here – three floors of hands–on science for future engineers. Plus there's a Planetarium, Scotland's biggest IMAX centre and a range of Destination Space events – all housed in futuristic titanium. Go Wookie–mad! www.glasgowsciencecentre.org
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