About Morning Explorers
Morning Explorers is an accessibility program designed for autistic people, or people with a similar disability. Running on the second Saturday of each month, Morning Explorers days offer some accessible adaptions to the museum experience, and will coincide with an optional Autism Friendly activity or show.
On Morning Explorers days we offer early entrance into the museum
for autistic adults, autistic children, and any friends, family, and carers who
would like to join. This allows groups to explore the museum at a quieter time,
before we open to the public.
Entrance for Morning Explorers will begin at 9am, before the museum opens to the public at 10am. To reduce the noise level, the majority of sound making exhibits will be muted until 11am. Ear defenders and sensory maps will be available on entrance, and access to quiet spaces may be arranged on request.
Pre-booking essential for admission.
Free entry for Members but you will need to pre-book at ticket.
Activities
Each Morning Explorers day will coincide with an optional Autism Friendly activity or show. This will rotate monthly between a live show in our Planetarium, a pre-recorded Planetarium experience, or an activity taking place on the museum floor. Please be advised that shows in the Planetarium will cost £3.50 in addition to the admission price (£3 for Members), which can be purchased on the day. The schedule for Autism Friendly activities and shows is laid out below.
- 7th October – On Gallery Activity
- 11th November – Pre-recorded Planetarium Show
- 9th December – Live Planetarium Show
Live "Tonight's Sky" Planetarium Show
Our popular Tonight’s Sky planetarium show has been adapted to be Autism Friendly, giving visitors a chance to explore what stars we might see in the night sky, to look up close at some pictures of our Moon, and even learn about some of the most distant planets in our Solar System, all with a specific focus on accessibility.
This presenter lead experience will cost £3.50 in addition to the admission price (£3 for Members). The show will last 25 mins. Capacity is set to 75% to allow audience members more space, and visitors may choose to leave at any time. Light levels will be low during the show so visitors will be asked to use one of our torches to safely navigate the room if they choose to do so.
Pre-book the planetarium show at the ticket desk on arrival.
Pre-recorded Planetarium Shows
Our pre-recorded planetarium shows offer a 360 degree visual entertainment experience. All Autism Friendly showings will be in the form of a 25 minute subtitled and narrated animated feature for all ages. The scheduled listings coinciding with Morning Explorers days in 2023 are laid out below.
- 12th August – We Are Aliens
- 11th November – Polaris, the Space Submarine and the Mystery of the Polar Night
Polaris, the Space Submarine and the Mystery of the Polar Night tells the story of Vladamir the polar bear, and James the penguin as they go on a journey of discovery into space, to learn why their two homes both have such long winters.
We Are Aliens, narrated by Rupert Grint, details the hunt for alien life, how we might look for life in space and what amazing technology scientists use to do so. Are there real aliens out there? Or are we alone in our universe?
This experience will cost £3.50 in addition to the admission price (£3 for Members). Capacity is set to 75% to allow audience members more space, and visitors may choose to leave at any time. Light levels will be low during the show so visitors will be asked to use one of our torches to safely navigate the room if they choose to do so.
Pre-book the planetarium show at the ticket desk on arrival.
On Gallery Activity
We have lots of galleries to explorer during your visit and in addition there will be on gallery activities available to interact with on level 2 in our Find Your Future gallery between 10-11am. The activities will be hands on and will give an opportunity to explore STEM (Science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) in an unusual way.