Techniquest

Techniquest houses more than 100 hands-on exhibits, designed to make real science fun and engaging for all ages. The centre has attracted millions of visitors since it opened in 1986.

Some of the interactive exhibits include areas where children — or adults! — can play with water, experience hurricanes and earthquakes, and warp electricity with the Plasma Sphere.

There are extra special exhibits, shows and workshops that change regularly throughout the year, which means there’s always something new to see, learn and do.

Founded in 1986 by Professor John Beetlestone and his colleagues from Cardiff University, Techniquest's first home was in a former gas showroom in the city centre, opposite Cardiff Castle.

Since moving to their current site in 1995, they have welcomed more than seven million through their doors and inspired a number of their youngest visitors to ask questions and be curious.

To celebrate 40 years of discovery, Techniquest has planned a number of special events and exhibits to be unveiled to the public throughout 2026.

Firstly, the Create & Shape Zone opened on the second floor of the site, full of hands-on craft stations to bring out the artsy side in your young ones — Spirographs, origami, and cardboard creations are just some of the stations available to explore!

The summer sees some of Techniquest's most iconic past exhibits return to the floor. As well as amazing the children, 'Mirror Maze' and 'Head on a Plate' will no doubt provide a healthy dose of nostalgia to their parents. In addition, some brand new musical exhibits will be unveiled.

Finally, Techniquest has brought back the Annual Pass for individuals and families who want to save money on subsequent visits.

Techniquest wants to inspire people from all kinds of backgrounds to explore and discover, bringing science to life for every generation: to encourage curiosity about life and the world around us, both on this planet and stretching far out into the cosmos.

Techniquest isn’t just a great visitor attraction. They work all year round with schools, students and teachers to help bring STEM subjects to life, planting seeds of curiosity across the education spectrum.

Their team have produced digital shows linked to the curriculum, to help classroom learning across several Progression Steps and Key Stages.