Our opening times change seasonally – and you can find out when we’re open at the moment on our opening times webpage.
Please note: During term time, Monday – Friday, there may be school groups visiting the science centre.
Tickets for timed slots can be purchased online in advance of your visit. Once inside the science centre, you can stay for as long as you like.
Some slots will be kept free for walk-ups – but booking is advised to avoid disappointment.
Life is a great place for groups of all sizes to spend a day and take part in some fun science activities! If you’re bringing 20 people or more, it’s best to book in advance and take advantage of our reduced ticket price.
Find out more on our group visits page.
School groups are welcome to visit the science centre.
Find out about our exciting workshops and science centre visits on our schools page.
You are not required to book in advance for our live science shows or planetarium during a normal science centre visit. Show times are listed at the entrance to the science centre and on screens outside the theatre and planetarium.
All science centre activities are filled on a first come first served basis.
We are able to take cash payments in our café, gift shop and for walk-up ticket sales, however we would ask you to opt for contactless payment whenever possible. We accept all major credit/debit cards except American Express.
Why is contactless payment preferred? We’re a charity and it costs us to process cash. Also from a hygiene perspective, contactless is the safest option.
Yes. Free WiFi access is available to all of our customers throughout Life Science Centre.
We have quiet spaces which can be made available on request. Call 0191 243 8223 (Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm excluding Bank Holidays) or ask a member of staff on arrival.
The shows run at various times during the day depending on demand. You will be given information on arrival.
Yes, lockers and storage crates are available for hire in our reception area on a first come, first serve basis. For lockers, a £5.00 deposit is required and £4.00 will be returned when you return your key. For storage crates, a £10.00 deposit is required and £8.00 will be returned. These facilities are for science centre customers only – sorry but we don’t offer luggage storage for the general public.
Yes, you are welcome to return to the science centre on the day of your visit. Simply show your receipt when returning via reception.
Yes we have an onsite café serving a range of hot and cold drinks, savoury food and sweet treats. View our sample menu. Times Square Café is located next to our gift shop. If you’d prefer to bring your own lunch, you are welcome to use our free packed lunch area.
Yes, you can! We have separate recycling bins for food waste, paper/card, plastic/metal, and general waste. These bins will be clearly labelled and located in key areas, including the Life Café, Times Square Café, Playzone, and more. Please use the correct bin for each type of waste. Thank you for helping us recycle!
For the safety and comfort of all our visitors, we ask that you enjoy your hot drinks in our cafes and packed lunch area only. Cold drinks are fine.
Yes, the centre is fully accessible for both wheelchair users and pushchairs. Visit our Accessibility page for details.
We are breastfeeding friendly throughout the venue, and a private space can be made available upon request – please just ask any member of staff. There are highchairs available in our cafes and picnic area, and our cafés have bottle and food warming facilities. Changing facilities are located throughout the science centre.
You are welcome to take photographs, but please be mindful of other visitors. See our full photography terms and conditions.
You won’t find any hidden charges inside the science centre. Your day ticket gives you access to ALL exhibitions, planetarium and live science shows, the Experiment Zone* (ages 7+) and (subject to availability) activities in the Making Studios.
During the festive season, separate admission prices apply to our open-air ice rink.
The International Centre for Life Trust is a registered educational charity. We receive no public funding and depend on our admission fees and commercial activities to continue to achieve our mission to engage everyone with science. Read about our purpose and values.
Yes, children aged 2 and under visit for free (maximum of 2 children per paying adult). Please select a free under-2 ticket when pre-booking your tickets online.
Yes, if you’re a visitor with a disability and you need a carer, you can bring them free of charge when you buy a ticket. Please select a free carer ticket when pre-booking online and bring relevant proof to show our reception team on arrival.
Yes! We offer a range of online discounts for NHS staff, Max Card holders and which can be found on our online discounts page.
Not at the moment. You can find out current prices on our ticketing page.
If you have an annual membership to Life, you will still need to book a time slot to visit.
At the moment, you can only purchase annual membership in person. When visiting the science centre, you can upgrade your day ticket to annual membership and just pay the difference.
Yes, there is an option to add-on parking when you pre-book your tickets online. Prepaid can only be used on the day of your science centre visit and is valid for a maximum five hour stay. Parking bays are not reserved and in the unlikely event that no spaces are available on the day, a refund for your parking will be issued. When you arrive at Life’s reception, the team will validate your parking using your vehicle registration, which will activate the barrier for your exit. Please ensure you have your registration number on arrival. Times Square Car Park is located just around the corner from the science centre and the sat nav reference is NE1 4AD.
We receive lots of requests every month for raffle donations and as an educational charity, we’re not in a position to routinely give away free tickets. Sorry we can’t help and we wish you every success.
Still have a question we’ve not been able to answer? Our team would be happy to help.
