Will get you thinking (Millennium Point in general)

Member Name: sammyboy3

Product:	Millennium Point in general
Date:	24/09/08 (161 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Very interactive

Disadvantages: Not advertised enough

Millennium Point,
Curzon Street,
Birmingham
B4 7XG
UK

Funded in the main by lottery money, Millennium point is a vast structure housing many things. It is located in Curzon Street 10 minutes walk from Birmingham's Bullring Shopping centre and is futuristic looking (think 'Bladerunner' type place). The locale basically incorporates two attractions, first is 'Thinktank' which has taken over from the old Birmingham science museum. It is an educational 'hands on' science museum and has things like learning about medical techniques and how the body works to how appliances work such as microwaves, satellites, cars etc, there are also exhibits about Birmingham and its history along with real steam engines and a real size spitfire hanging from the ceiling.

My favourite exhibits were the medical operation zone and the recycling centre, in the medical operation you play the part of the surgeon replacing the hip joint of the patient with a large screen in front of you and actors playing the parts of others surgeons and nurses. You have a type of wii remote device and a voice guides you through what you have to do in the operation. The recycling information interested me because it had the actual processes that our rubbish goes through in the display, and plaques explaining each stage. Virtually everything has a little explanation plaque, detailing background and function.

The other major attraction in the building is an imax cinema screen, it has a 50 ft by 70 ft screen and most of its films are in 3 dimensions, you are given special 3 dimensional glasses upon entering (much better than the little blue and red things given out with newspapers and cereal packets in the 80s), these glasses are quite weighty and do produce a great effect of things coming 'out' of the screen, most of the films last about 45 minutes.

Features are usually 'Space quest' or 'Under the Ocean' they basically explore the environments and have an educational bent. Although recently went to see batman the dark night there (which was showing in 2d) its unusual to have a major film filmed in IMAX format though.

Plenty of places to eat are to be found in the building with cafe's, fast food and souvenirs shops never far away.

Lastly the building does house some rooms for matthew boulton college and these can be seen in the corridor. The prices are OK and its well worth a visit if you haven't been there before and live in the Birmingham area.

THINKTANK PRICES:
Adult
£8.25 £9.25 £16.25
Child: 3-15 yrs
£6.25 £7.25 £12.25
Concession*
£6.25 £7.25 £12.25
Family of 4 (max 2 adults, 2 children)
£26.00 £28.00 £49.00
Opening hours are 10am-5pm with last admission at 4pm

IMAX PRICES:

Adult
£9.25
Child
£7.25
Family of 4 (max 2 adults, 2 children)
£30.00
Concession
£7.25

For more information tel : 0121 202 2222

I would recommend a trip here for the educational content. It can get crowded at school holiday times though.

Summary: Science made easy