Experiment at The Look Out Discovery Centre, Bracknell
Inside The Look Out Discovery Centre is a fun-packed, hands-on science centre with over 90 activities including an indoor stream, a huge ball run, a building site, a mini-supermarket, a hot air balloon to launch and a reaction testing game.
The centre is in the Swinley Forest with miles of walks and cycle routes, the awesome Look Out Adventure Play Area, the site of a Roman town and an iron age hill fort.
The Zones
The Discovery Centre is divided into five zones, each looking at a different area of science, nature and engineering.
Build It!
In this zone, children can dress up in hi vis jackets and hard hats and then use dumper trucks, wheelbarrows, chutes and pulleys to construct a house from bricks and lay a roof with slates.
Woodland and Water
This area includes an indoor stream with boats, waterfalls and dams and musical pipes to play.
Be sure to bring a change of clothes if you are going to play with the stream, my children get very wet!
Note that the Build It! and Woodland and Water Zones are inside the centre but somehow open to the air outside. They can both be cold so be sure to bring warm clothing in the winter.
Body and Perception
The centre piece of this zone is a huge magnetic board with moveable pipes and chutes you can arrange to form a ball run. When the ball reaches the end it is blown back to the start!
There are also activities like the mysterious treasure chest and an electronic table with games to play and a test your reactions machine!
Insect Enclosure
There are different animals to see, including a snake, stick insects, cockroaches, toads and leaf cutter ants – one of my favourites!
Forces and Movement
Here you can launch a hot air balloon and a rocket, play in a sand video game, investigate space, play a huge piano with your feet, build a bridge, or shop in the mini-supermarket.
Light and Colour
Last but certainly not least, this zone has experiments with light and the fun Optimusic, which is an interactive game you play by stepping into light beams.
Cafe and Kiosk
Inside the centre is a cafe that serves hot and cold food and also a gift shop.
Outside is a kiosk that sells refreshments and lots of picnic tables.
The Look Out Adventure Play Areas
The Look Out has two of the bet adventure play areas we have come across – one for ages 3 to 6 years and another for ages 7 to 11 years.
We love the Look Out Discovery Centre Adventure Play Areas and visit regularly.
The Swinley Forest
The Look Out centre is surrounded by the Swinley Forest, which has cycle trails and three signposted walks to try, including the Heritage Trail, which leads you to an iron age hill fort and the site of a Roman town.
Orienteering
There is also a permanent orienteering course, which you can buy from the reception desk in the Discovery Centre for £1
Visit The Look Out Discovery Centre website
Further Information
Nearest Town: Bracknell
County: Berkshire
Nearest Postcode: RG12 7QW
Adult Cost Range: £5 to £9.99
Child Cost Range: £5 to £9.99
Free if: Under 4
Opens: Daily
Where to Eat: Picnic tables and a cafe.
Facilities: A shop, cafe, ice creams, toilets and accessible toilets.
How Long We Spent There: 2 hours
Buggies: Buggy friendly
Parking: There is a large pay and display car park but this can be very busy.
Cost of Parking: From £3.10 for the first four hours.
Wildlife You Might See: Birds and insects.
Information Written: March 2017
Information Checked: January 2022
Ratings
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