The 42-meter Rocket Tower is designed to be tall enough to fit the Blue Streak rocket standing upright, an engineering feat requiring the tower to be built around the rocket.
The building's cladding is made of ETFE (ethylene tetrafluoroethylene), the same lightweight material used for the Eden Project’s biomes.
The centre holds a significant collection of genuine Soviet-era space suits and hardware.
It contains a functional mission control simulator that allows visitors to manage simulated space flight scenarios.
The site was constructed on the former site of the Abbey Pumping Station, connecting the location to Leicester’s industrial engineering heritage.
The National Space Centre is the United Kingdom’s largest visitor attraction dedicated solely to space science and astronomy. Its most prominent feature is the iconic 42-meter high Rocket Tower, which houses the real Blue Streak and PGM-17 Thor rockets. The centre is divided into six distinct galleries covering topics ranging from the solar system and space exploration to satellite technology. It houses the Sir Patrick Moore Planetarium, the UK's largest planetarium, which features a 360-degree domed screen. The building was designed by Nicholas Grimshaw and incorporates a distinctive ETFE foil cushion facade. It serves as an educational hub with interactive exhibits, including astronaut training simulations and space debris trackers. The centre is situated on a former industrial site, repurposed to house extensive collections of space hardware and historical mission artifacts.
Inside the base of the Rocket Tower looking vertically upward at the rockets.
Book your planetarium show slot online immediately upon arrival, as these sessions have limited capacity and sell out quickly.
Start your visit at the top of the Rocket Tower and work your way down the levels to avoid backtracking.
Check the centre's website for 'Late' events if you prefer visiting without school groups.
Do not attempt to see every interactive screen in detail during busy weekends, as queues can form; prioritize the planetarium and Rocket Tower first.
Closed on certain Mondays during off-peak seasons; check the official calendar for occasional maintenance closures.
