If you’re a fan of the extra-terrestrial but exhausted by the wall-to-wall Star Wars excitement this week, there are a host of attractions around the UK dedicated to science fiction – with not a Jedi in sight.
VisitEngland, the national tourist board, has handpicked a number of locations and museums that – though sating the appetite of a Force-hungry Star Wars fan – will also appeal to those wishing to travel beyond JJ Abrams’s new film, The Force Awakens.
Britain’s Roswell
Not quite Area 51, but Rendlesham Forest in Suffolk is the UK’s most famous UFO site, after unexplained lights descended over the area on a series of nights in December 1980. Guided tours of the forest are available for conspiracy theorists and the generally curious.
The National Space Centre
Home to the UK’s largest planetarium, the National Space Centre in Leicestershire is a one-stop shop for space enthusiasts. A rocket tower, flight simulators and astronaut tests are all part of the interactive experience. On December 15 there will be live coverage of British astronaut Tim Peake’s blast off to the International Space Station from a launch site in Kazakhstan.
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Alien Portal Destruction
Another site of the unexplained, Warminster is home to a number of unofficial “observatories” and has long been a meeting place for UFO spotters. A new trail around the region known as the Warminster Alien Portal Destruction commemorates the 1965 sighting of the The Warminster Thing, a mysterious UFO seen in the skies above the area.
The Centre for Life
A fascinating exhibition celebrating 25 years of the Hubble telescope is the central attraction at Newcastle’s Centre of Life this year. There is also a planetarium, a space motion simulator and a special kids’ zone, the Young Explorers’ Zone.
International Dark Sky Park
A large part of Northumberland – consisting of Northumberland National Park and the adjoining Kielder Water and Forest Park – was declared the largest Dark Sky Park in Europe in 2013. With no street lights in sight, on a clear night the sky is lit up by the moon and stars, while in the day the Kielder Observatory, Britain’s largest public observatory, is open to visitors.
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Spaceport
Wallasey’s Spaceport, in the Wirral, offers the opportunity to get hands-on in an interactive zone where visitors can test gravity, explore magnetic fields and puzzle over optical illusions. There is also a space ride rollercoaster to get a taste of what it’s like to be blasted above the earth's atmosphere.
The Science Museum
London’s Science Museum is world-renowned for its historic collections, inspiring galleries and family activities. From Stephenson’s Rocket to the Apollo 10 command module, some of travel history’s most important artefacts are on display here – and it’s free.
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And some more Star Wars attractions…
Puzzlewood
These Gloucestershire forests and ancient ruins are rumoured to be the inspiration behind the setting of Middle Earth in the Lord of the Rings, but has more recently hosted film crews of The Force Awakens. A self-guided tour of the area’s twisted tree roots and moss-covered gullies will certainly have you feeling other-worldly.
Legoland
Windsor’s Legoland is this winter playing host to Lego brick recreations of seven of the most famous scenes from the Star Wars films – perhaps a handy way to jog your memory of the story so far before a trip to see The Force Awakens.
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