Places to visit Science and technology United Kingdom

Commissioned by King Charles II in 1675 from architect Christopher Wren, the Royal Observatory allowed astronomer John Flamsteed to observe the sky. The royal park that surrounds it is partly designed by Le Nôtre. Inside the Observatory is the Greenwich meridian, whose line can be seen on the ground. In 1884, it was decided that the Greenwich meridian would correspond to the 0 meridian, from which all distances would be measured from east to west. Recently, calculations have located the meridian a little further east than the trace!

How is a tornado formed? What is DNA? The answers to all these questions and many more are explained at We The Curious, a fun-filled Cité des sciences. Don't miss the planetarium show to learn how to spot the constellations. The facility also takes advantage of the presence in town of the headquarters of Aardman Animation Studios, creators of Wallace and Gromit, by designing a hands-on space dedicated to animation. From adjusting lighting to learning drawing and movement techniques, it's sure to inspire new vocations!

Built in 1953 and equipped with a refraction telescope, it is the only observatory in Great Britain where an astronomer is permanently present. Exhibitions on space exploration are organized there.

History : The Mills Observatory was established by a bequest from John Mills in 1935, a wealthy flax farmer, who left the observatory a legacy of fertile land. Designed by the town's architect, McLellan Brown, in collaboration with Professor Ralph Sampson, it is built in sandstone and has a rather atypical dome 7 m in diameter. It was built for the sole purpose of popularizing science to the general public! Its main telescope measures 400 mm in diameter and offers quality images of the Moon and the planets. However, it has another, much more prestigious and older instrument, a 250 mm telescope made by Thomas Cooke of York in 1871. Alas! due to its age and condition, it is hardly used anymore. When this observatory opened its doors on October 28, 1935, it housed a 450 mm mirror telescope built by Grubb Parsons of Newcastle. What remains of this equipment can still be seen today in one of the observatory's rooms. An astonishing mixture of classicism (the buildings and old telescope) and modernity (the telescopes in which visitors usually observe), this observatory is still worth the trip, as it is located in a pleasant wooded park that stands in stark contrast to the surrounding residential areas.

This space, which also serves as a tourist office, is freely accessible and free of charge. It offers curious visitors the opportunity to discover the history of the Caledonian Canal, but also the particularities of the region and its great sites, such as the Great Glen or Loch Ness, of course. You will learn all about the construction of the canal and Queen Victoria's passage. In fact, the Queen Victoria Diamond Jubilee Fountain, just a few steps away, is a testament to the village's sympathy for her. The Caledonian Canal Centre also has a shop and a very friendly café.

The Llechwedd slate quarries have 250 chambers linked by 40 km of galleries. We tell you all about the living conditions of the miners at a depth of several meters. Working by candlelight, in vast caves, on the banks of underground lakes. It's a journey to the heart of the country's culture and history. It's a must to fully appreciate the hard work of the miners.

There'salso a gigantic zip line for thrill-seekers (www.zipworld.co.uk) and an underground playground with nets and trampolines.

An artificial lake designed to supply a gigantic hydroelectric power station has been dug out of the Eliden mountain. It's like something out of science fiction! Today, the project is considered a global engineering prodigy. This energy laboratory, created in the bowels of the mountain, is the subject of impressive tours. The site is currently under restoration, but the view over the lake is well worth the detour.

Located on a former mine, the Alternative Technology Centre attracts convinced eco-lovers and curious people by the thousands every year. Originally, the C.A.T. was a community of idealists who decided to live in self-sufficiency. To do this, they had to produce their own electricity, recycle their waste, not use fertilizers, etc. The goal: to minimize its environmental impact. The experience almost immediately attracted the curiosity of ecologists from all over the world. More than 30 years after the foundation of this community, some of the idealists of the time still live at the C.A.T.

From now on, the Centre's vocation is to explain the basics of sustainable development by exposing the different ways of using renewable resources: the sun, wind, water; the funicular that runs on water provides an excellent illustration. The C.A.T. also tries to go further in its approach to promoting renewable energies: it offers, for example, courses explaining how to build a straw-based house or how to build panels using old radiators to heat water and your home... During these courses, you can be housed in the "eco-cabins" on site. You can also taste the specialities of the vegetarian tea room or buy organic products. It is really an exciting and worthwhile visit, to better understand the climate emergency and the challenges of global warming.

It is the largest camera obscura (darkroom) in the world. This Victorian period attraction has since benefited from technical advances in optics and allows a much clearer vision than it was at its origins. Today, more than 1,000 m² of landscapes are visible, and this in a very precise and detailed way. An impressive optical experience. To get there, you take a funicular to reach the hill. In the end, in addition to the camera obscura, we enjoy a superb view of the city of Aberystwyth.

The Cruachan hydroelectric station, nicknamed "the Hollow Mountain", can be visited by guided tours. First, a free time in the exhibition - which deals with energy in all its aspects: ecology, techniques, engineering, but also the history of the site and social history - will familiarize you with the subject. A special area is dedicated to children. Then your guide will take you by shuttle bus into the mountain. The observation of the site is done from a platform through a bay window.

It is the largest scientific and technological discovery centre in Great Britain. It makes science attractive and accessible to the youngest audience through experiments, exhibitions and performances. The topics covered are vast, from fossils to forensic techniques! It is an opportunity to discover a planetarium and the best of the hologram genre. An unmissable if you have time or if it rains, which appeals to children as much as to adults. We recommend it to you!