Arcadia England

By Vanessa Quimson

This year marks the tenth anniversary of the closing of the London Planetarium. On its opening in 1958, it became a learning center for visitors for over almost fifty years. During this time, the planetarium was open for shows where an audience of about three hundred people could enjoy a program that was out of this realm. Today, the only place to gaze at the unpolluted night sky is in the Peter Harrison Planetarium. Though the planetarium is the only one in London, there are many museums one can go to expand the mind. The Royal Observatory, British Dental Museum, London Science Museum, Hunterian Museum, and Wellcome Collection are arguably the best resources for information and science in London.

Royal Observatory / Peter Harrison Planetarium

The steep walk up the hill to the Royal Observatory is definitely worth the energy. Overlooking Greenwich Park and the River Thames, the Royal Observatory is a popular destination for those willing to learn more about our observable universe. “The Sky Tonight” planetarium show transforms museum-goers into stargazers by educating viewers how to spot the North Star and the constellations around it. An expert astronomer transports you into the mindset of our ancestors who imagined stories and characters from the patterns in the night sky. In addition, there are a few galleries scattered throughout the Royal Observatory where visitors immerse themselves into the field of astronomy through interactive games and activities. Children and even adults had short attention spans, wanting to try everything at once. A small queue for the interactive telescope left impatient children looking on while gathering loaded images of nearby galaxies and stars. Each exhibit allowed visitors to learn about space, engineering and what it was like for Copernicus to take his first glimpse into heavens.

Royal Observatory Greenwich (rmg.co.uk, 020 8858 4422). Planetarium show & Royal Observatory costs from £12.50 per person for adult, £6.50 for children. Open daily from 10am - 5pm.

British Dental Association Museum

Known as the UK’s largest collection of dental heritage, a quick glance into the British Dental Association will leave you wondering whether or not you have entered the correct facility. Located within the company headquarters, the museum is just a small room with display cases carefully spread around. First impressions are underwhelming. However, there was a surprising amount of information that can be enjoyed by anyone. The museum showcases a range of topics, starting with the origins of dental hygiene and the first uses of anaesthetic in the 18th century. Disbelief was my only feeling when I saw the drill, enamel cleaver, and spring mallet used for oral surgery. It is difficult not to imagine the pain of the patients while walking past the sharp odds and ends of these instruments. This intimate setting misleads you into thinking that this trip to the museum will be short, however each display case overflows with wisdom that will keep you intrigued for hours.

British Dental Association Museum (bda.org/museum, 020 7935 0875). Admission is free. Open from 1pm - 4pm Tuesdays and Thursdays.

Science Museum, London 

London’s Science Museum is the ultimate hands-on experience. With three floors and a collection of over 300,000 items to choose from, this museum will bombard you science and technology. Within minutes of walking into the museum, museum-goers are pulled in different directions by the many industrial steam engines scattered around the main lobby. Immediately, gazes wander up curiously about what could be on the floors above. On the ceiling hangs a large metallic ring that flashes words that can only be seen with strained eyes. One of the galleries includes an exploration into space. This dimly lit exhibition room will leave your neck sore from constantly looking at the rocket ships, satellites, and stars hanging above. A full scale replica of the Apollo laser ranging reflectometer invites visitors to take pictures in front of the machinery and astronaut suit on display. As parents complain about the amount of germs in the space gloves, kids get hands-on experience on what it is like to do intricate tasks while wearing a cumbersome spacesuit at interactive stations.   

Moving to the next gallery was like walking through time. This exhibition room presented technology spanning from the late 1700s to modern day. The area is filled with the steam powered ships, engines, and cars that helped exponentially advance to the technology in 2016. Within a glass case held rows of everyday technology from 1968-2000. From a Windows desktop to power tools and typewriters, this case freezes moments in time by displaying household items that were prevalent during those four decades.

Science Museum, London (sciencemuseum.org.uk, 020 7942 4000). Admission is free.  Open from 10am - 6pm every day. 

Hunterian Museum

“Warning! This exhibition contains images and specimens of medical conditions that viewers may find disturbing,” read the placard. The Hunterian Museum is not for a the faint of heart. Named after John Hunter, the museum demonstrates the structure of human bodies and share his scientific advancements to the world. Featuring a vast collection of jars containing various organs and body parts from deceased organisms. Those who wish to venture into this museum must be able to stomach the large amounts of internal parts. The all too familiar smell of hospitals fills the air and sets the mood for this space. Each section is classified by an organ system with a dissected display of the specimen held in containers filled with formaldehyde for preservation.

The gallery is hauntingly quiet. The only thing that can be heard is a beating heart from a video of an open heart surgery. Hanging on the walls are skulls and carcasses of a large array of animals such as crocodiles and buffalo. Upstairs one can learn about the way the surgical community has benefit from technology. A timeline of reconstructive plastic surgery and orthopedic surgery shows how technology helps exponentially benefit those who suffer from injuries and diseases. Though this museum can be grotesque, it is worth the experience to see how this research was applied to create medical breakthroughs, eradicate formerly rampant diseases, and treat life-altering injuries.

Hunterian Museum (hunterianmuseum.org, 020 7869 6560). Admission is free. Open Tuesday to Saturday 10am-5pm. Closed Sunday and Monday.

Wellcome Collection

The Wellcome Collection provides unique experiences for those who visit. This museum fuses an artistic interpretation on medical advancements and scientific discoveries. A short walk from the Euston Underground station, the galleries deal with the body, medicine and states of consciousness. The States of Consciousness exhibit was eerie and the low temperatures will give goosebumps to anyone who treks through the gallery. Movies of people experiencing the terrifying phenomenon of sleep paralysis play in the background and could only be viewed through a hole in a pillar. The other side of the room lay a sleeping life-sized dummy that guests were hesitant to approach and behind curtains, movies were being screened of people that dealt with loved ones in a vegetative state. This exhibit is perfect for those who love art and science and at the same time test anyone’s mental strength. 

Wellcome Collection (wellcomecollection.org, 020 7611 2222). Admission is free. Open from 10am - 6pm Tuesday to Saturday, and 11am on Sunday. Closed Monday.