Burn It Down (Magna ( Science Adventure Centre))

Member Name: WormThatTurned

Product:	Magna ( Science Adventure Centre)
Date:	08/07/08 (100 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Kids adventure park outside

Disadvantages: Freezing cold/ Broken exhibits/ Rubbish value

Magna Science Adventure Centre
Sheffield Road
Templeborough
Rotherham
S60 1DX
South Yorkshire
England

150 foot high and a third of a mile long, the £46m Lottery funded Millennium Commission project, Magna is the UK's first Science Adventure Centre.

I visited recently but is it any good ?

OPENING TIMES

Magna is open daily from 10am to 5pm.

CONTACT DETAILS

General information (Tel) : 01709 720002
General information (Fax) : 01709 820092
E-mail : info@magnatrust.co.uk
Website : www.visitmagna.co.uk
ADMISSION
Adults £9.95 / £9.00 (Peak/ off peak)
Children/ Concessions £7.95 / £7.00
Family of 3 £25.00
DESCRIPTION
Magna consists of six different parts. Four of them are pavilions based on the four themes 'Earth' 'Fire' 'Water' and 'Air'. The other two are multimedia shows based on Magna's roots - 'Steel'. Each of the six parts are connected together using modern archictecture - suspended walkways, scissor lifts, stairs and tunnels.
Each of the four pavilions is packed with challenges, displays and games. For instance in 'Earth' you can use a mini JCB to move balls. In 'Water' you can see how water power can be utilised. In 'Air' you can see how a Dyson hoover works and in 'Fire' you can see how you can shape steel.
One of the multimedia shows lies at the heart of the magna building and is called 'The Big Melt'. It is noisy and loud, mainly because it explains how steel is made. The huge furnace tells the story in itself.
The other multimedia show is a light and sound show 'Face of Steel' telling the story behind Templeborough steelworks and the men behind it. The images are broadcast on hundreds of screens near the entrance.
OTHER INFORMATION
Special Needs
The attraction and all its facilities are accessible to visitors who use wheelchairs. Visitors with special needs may wish to phone in advance to discuss their requirements.
Food
The Fuel Restaurant is open from 12pm to 3pm on weekends and during school holiday periods. It serves a wide range of hot and cold dishes. The Magna Cafe is open daily from 10am to 5pm serving a range of hot and cold drinks, snacks and light meals.
Magna Store
The Magna Store sells a unique range of souvenirs, gifts, toys, books and steelware. The store is open to anyone visiting the Magna site.
Outdoors at Magna
Sci-Tek and Aqua-Tek make up a very large playground area. You can purchase a ticket or annual pass for just the outdoor facilities. Adults are free with an accompanying child! Entry to Sci-Tek and Aqua-Tek are automatically included if you buy a ticket for entry into the Magna science centre. There are also toilets and a refreshment kiosk situated in the playground. The playground is accessible to everyone. Aqua-Tek is open Easter to October.
THE VERDICT
Lets not beat about the bush, the place is a huge disappointment. First of all the place is freezing cold - is this even allowed ? We visited on a cold winters day BUT it was warmer outside than in !! Fundamental flaw. I posted 'purchase some heaters' in the suggestion box. Whether is has an effect I don't know. Secondly not everything was working. The multimedia light and sound show was under repair. The five foot flame exhibition in the 'Fire' pavilion was broken. Two out of three mini JCB's in the 'Earth' pavilion were broken. Quite a lot of the exhibitions in 'Air' were not working or faulty. Do you detect a pattern ? Yes quite a lot is broken.
Lets move onto safety. The place is dimly lit therefore is a safety hazard. I'm surprised health and safety havn't shut the place down. We had to walk up some stairs in darkness and my nan tripped, grazing her knee.
The multimedia show 'The Big Melt' is very noisy and is unsuitable for young children. It terrified my young lad and someone elses. The molten steel pyrotechnics jetting into the air are impressive I grant them but probably not the wisest idea.
Onto admission prices - it's frankly a rip-off for what's included.
All in all, I found the place terrible value for money, lacking in interests and at best two hours entertainment.
Magna cost £46 million pounds - its going to cost more to bring upto what I would consider a Science Centre worth visiting.
I cannot stress how bad an attraction this is.

WormThatTurned2008

Summary: Very disappointing attraction that promised much yet delivered nothing