Family Science Day 2025

FREE – TICKETS RELEASING 9AM, 23RD FEBRUARY 2025

Come and meet a real scientist! Get involved with some fascinating hands-on learning and experiments. Lots of experts on hand to ask those tricky science questions.

Admittance to Family Science Day will be by ticket only. Tickets are FREE and can be obtained by going to the Dorset Museum website to book. Due to high demand for this event, we sincerely ask that if you book a ticket but then are unable to go, that you cancel it to make the place available.

There will be 2 time slots available from 11am-1pm and from 2pm-4pm. Tickets are available on a first come first served basis. You will need the ticket on the day, either printed, or on your phone, to be admitted to the Family Science Day. Please check the Dorset Museum website or Dorchester Science Festival Facebook page or Instagram for additional information.

4+ Children, Adults and Families

Other events happening here

Exhibition: Gladiators of Britain

A British Museum Partnership Exhibition with Colchester + Ipswich Museums will delve into the lesser-known history of gladiatorial contests in Roman Britain. Launching at Dorset Museum & Art Gallery in January 2025, the exhibition will tour four UK venues, tracing the footsteps of gladiators who once fought in Britain’s amphitheatres.

Sun 23rd Mar - All day
and 49 future schedules

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Gladiator Trail

Step into the thrilling world of gladiators with our Gladiator Trail, a fun-filled family activity that will take you on an exciting journey through the museum!

Sun 23rd Mar - All day
and 49 future schedules

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Store Tour

Join our Collections Team for an opportunity to explore behind the scenes in Dorset Museum & Art Gallery's Collections Discovery Centre.

Wed 26th Mar - 2:00pm
and 9 future schedules

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Storytime at the Museum

Come and join us for fun-filled Storytime where you can listen to some amazing tales in our Community Space at Dorset Museum & Art Gallery!

Thu 27th Mar - 10:00am
and 7 future schedules

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Roman Dorchester Walk

Join our trained guides to step back in time and immerse yourself in the historic Roman town of Durnovaria...

Tue 1st Apr - 10:00am
and 2 future schedules

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GLADI-EGG-TOR Trail

Join us this Easter for an exciting adventure on our “GLADI-EGG-TOR” Trail!

Sat 5th Apr - All day
and 16 future schedules

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Quiet Opening

Explore the Museum and take part in drop-in activities during our Quiet Openings. Especially suitable for visitors with autism or other sensory conditions, and their siblings, parents and carers. The sessions are also suitable for any group or individual who would like to visit our museums and galleries at a quieter time.

Sat 5th Apr - 10:00am
and 7 future schedules

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Hands-On History

Immerse yourself in the fascinating world of Roman history by getting up close to authentic Roman artefacts.

Sat 5th Apr - 10:00am
and 2 future schedules

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Easter Craft Arena: ‘Gladiators of Britain’ Art Workshop

Step back in time and create your very own Roman tablet to take home!

Tue 8th Apr - 10:00am
and 1 future schedules

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Easter Craft Arena: ‘Gladiators of Britain’ Art Workshop

Unleash your creativity this Easter by crafting a clay animal egg cup inspired by the fierce creatures of ancient gladiatorial games!

Thu 10th Apr - 10:00am
and 1 future schedules

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Poetry Reading in the Museum

To coincide with the Roman Dorchester festival and the Museum's Gladiator exhibition, visitors to the Museum on Saturday 12 April are invited to listen to the New Hardy Players reading poetry about ancient Rome.

Sat 12th Apr - 11:00am

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Make, Create & Conquer: Make Your Own Helmet and Shield

Bring history to life with this epic, free drop-in event at the Museum.

Sat 12th Apr - 12:00pm

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Explore the Fascinating Roman History of Dorchester

Join us for a fascinating journey into the rich history of Roman Dorchester with two expert speakers.

Sat 12th Apr - 6:00pm

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Deadly games in Roman Dorchester? Gladiator shows and beastly spectacles in Britannia

Join Dr John Pearce for a talk that explores the reality of gladiatorial spectacles and reveals the grim truths behind these celebrated events at Dorset Museum & Art Gallery on Thursday 24 April, 6:00pm – 7:00pm.

Thu 24th Apr - 6:00pm

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Fairy Folk Tales

Step into the enchanting world of Dorset folklore and immerse yourself in the magical tale of "The Singing Barrows at Bincombe Bumps".

Tue 27th May - 10:00am
and 1 future schedules

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Hardy Women: Mothers, Sisters, Wives, Muses

Join Paula Byrne for a talk exploring Hardy Women which offers a fresh perspective on Hardy’s life, exploring it through the lens of the women who shaped him—his formidable mother, devoted sisters, first loves, long-suffering wives, and inspiring muses. Through their eyes, we see the man behind the novels, a figure both enthralled by and at odds with the women around him.

Fri 30th May - 6:00pm

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Hardy Women: Mother, Sisters, Wives, Muses – Lecture by Paula Byrne

Event in partnership between the Thomas Hardy Society and Dorset Museum & Art Gallery

Fri 30th May - 7:30pm

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Empire, the West Country and Thomas Hardy | Corinne Fowler and Rena Jackson

This joint talk explores the British Empire's impact on the West County, examining Dorset's colonial connections, imperial wealth, and literary responses, including Thomas Hardy's portrayal of global influences in Wessex.

Fri 4th Jul - 6:00pm

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‘The Shadow on the Stone’: Hardy and Archaeology | Mark Damon Chutter

Join Mark Damon Chutter, the Chairman and Academic Director of the Thomas Hardy Society, for this special talk as part of our Festival of Archaeology programme.

Wed 23rd Jul - 11:00am

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Fraught with high tragedy: new insights on the Maiden Castle Iron Age ‘War Cemetery’ | Dr Martin Smith

This talk presents new work by archaeologists from Bournemouth University, that has used radiocarbon dating to arrive at new conclusions regarding the dead of Maiden Castle and why they were laid to rest within the ramparts of this iconic site.

Thu 24th Jul - 6:00pm

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Jane Austen and the Sea | Lizzie Dunford

Join Jane Austen's House Director Lizzie Dunford for this illustrated talk exploring the connections of Britain's greatest writer with the coast that surrounds our islands.

Fri 1st Aug - 6:00pm

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Family Science Day 2025

Next events

Location

Other events happening here

Exhibition: Gladiators of Britain

Gladiator Trail

Store Tour

Storytime at the Museum

Roman Dorchester Walk

GLADI-EGG-TOR Trail

Quiet Opening

Hands-On History

Easter Craft Arena: ‘Gladiators of Britain’ Art Workshop

Easter Craft Arena: ‘Gladiators of Britain’ Art Workshop

Poetry Reading in the Museum

Make, Create & Conquer: Make Your Own Helmet and Shield

Explore the Fascinating Roman History of Dorchester

Deadly games in Roman Dorchester? Gladiator shows and beastly spectacles in Britannia

Fairy Folk Tales

Hardy Women: Mothers, Sisters, Wives, Muses

Hardy Women: Mother, Sisters, Wives, Muses – Lecture by Paula Byrne

Empire, the West Country and Thomas Hardy | Corinne Fowler and Rena Jackson

‘The Shadow on the Stone’: Hardy and Archaeology | Mark Damon Chutter

Fraught with high tragedy: new insights on the Maiden Castle Iron Age ‘War Cemetery’ | Dr Martin Smith

Jane Austen and the Sea | Lizzie Dunford