Leicester
Leicester Museum & Art Gallery · Photo: Ashley Dace
The National Space Centre fills a morning with rockets, astronaut kit and a planetarium show. Afterwards, swap space for dinosaurs and mummies at the free museum on New Walk.
Museum · 10:00–13:30 (3h30m)
Book a planetarium slot; lunch under the rockets at the café.
An indoor museum in Leicester, aimed at ages 5 and up.
Photo: spacecentre.co.uk
Museum · 14:15–16:15 (2h)
Free dinosaurs and Ancient Egypt; no café at the moment.
A free city museum on New Walk with dinosaurs, an Ancient Egypt gallery and Leicester's own stories, a short walk from Victoria Park. Some galleries are closed during redevelopment.
Photo: Ashley Dace
East MidlandsNottingham city centre
Spend the morning at Nottingham Castle, where the Robin Hood gallery and optional cave tour keep children busy under cover. After lunch, head beneath the streets on a guided caves tour, then finish with hands-on science experiments at a free windmill museum in Sneinton.
Nottingham Castle → City of Caves → Green's Mill and Science Centre
East MidlandsCastleton
Day one goes underground: a boat ride through a flooded mine, Blue John caverns and a hike up to a Norman castle. Day two heads up Mam Tor for big views, then out to the Derwent dams for an easy lakeside cycle or walk.
Peveril Castle → Treak Cliff Cavern → Speedwell Cavern → Mam Tor + 1 more
East MidlandsMatlock Bath
Ride the cable cars up to the Heights of Abraham for show caves, woodland play and views down the gorge. In the afternoon, step into the story of the first factory at Cromford Mills, free to explore.
The Heights of Abraham → Cromford Mills
