Catalyst Science Discovery Centre

Catalyst Science Discovery Centre Contact information, map and directions, contact form, opening hours, services, ratings, photos, videos and announcements from Catalyst Science Discovery Centre, Mersey Road, Widnes.
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Catalyst Science Discovery Centre & Museum is an independent charitable trust that aims to make science exciting and accessible to people of all ages and abilities, through fun interactive galleries, workshops, and shows

Halton resident? Take advantage of our community entry price, JUST £5 per person in June and July. 🔍 Explore our interac...
02/06/2026

Halton resident? Take advantage of our community entry price, JUST £5 per person in June and July.

🔍 Explore our interactive gallery packed with hands-on exhibits
🔬 Dive into fascinating archives and historical artefacts
💫 Take your curiosity to new heights in our 4th-floor Observatory gallery
🌳 Let the kids burn off some energy in our outdoor playground

Community Pricing is available for up to 6 people per address (adults and children cost the same), but you’ll need to prove your postcode at reception. Tickets are purchased on arrival, and workshops are available at an additional cost.

Full T&Cs on our website.

With a delicious range of options for all ages, and a play area to continue the fun, our on-site cafe also gathers big r...
31/05/2026

With a delicious range of options for all ages, and a play area to continue the fun, our on-site cafe also gathers big reactions 😋

Whether grabbing a coffee and cake or a more wholesome meal, all food is delicious and all made with local ingredients and advances in chemistry, which Widnes helped discover.

☕ Our cafe is open to all, no museum entry required.

Spark a bigger reaction when you upgrade to a year of discovery at Catalyst Science Discovery Centre 🤩Why stop at just o...
29/05/2026

Spark a bigger reaction when you upgrade to a year of discovery at Catalyst Science Discovery Centre 🤩

Why stop at just one experience? For a small fee, react, explore and discover more when you upgrade your general admission ticket to the annual pass, unlocking 12 months of unlimited fun!

With three museum galleries, interactive exhibits and a range of STEM workshops, there's always something new to discover every time you return.

Plus, even more value is on its way... As an Annual Pass holder, you'll be the among the first to experience our brand-new Synergy Project Gallery when it opens in January 2027 👀🧪

📩 Annual Pass upgrades are currently only available to purchase on the door

On this day 121 years ago, in 1905, the Widnes-Runcorn Transporter Bridge was completed and this Key was presented to Si...
29/05/2026

On this day 121 years ago, in 1905, the Widnes-Runcorn Transporter Bridge was completed and this Key was presented to Sir John Brunner to commemorate the occasion. It was Britain’s first transporter bridge and was one of the largest of its kind ever built.

To celebrate this pioneering achievement, a ceremonial key was created to mark the bridge’s opening 🗝️

Upon inspection, the key is rich in detail with features of the Brunner crest, the coats of arms of Runcorn and Widnes, scenes of the bridge coated in enamel, five small round sollet set pink and purple stones and two winged figures with a shield between.

The key was donated to Catalyst in 2021 and can be viewed in the archives section of the museum.

Looking for the perfect place for half-term fun in the sun? Look no further! ☀️Our outdoor play area is packed with clim...
28/05/2026

Looking for the perfect place for half-term fun in the sun? Look no further! ☀️

Our outdoor play area is packed with climbing frames, swings, and slides that always get big reactions 🙌

Plus, we’re located on Spike Island, surrounded by beautiful canal walks and plenty of places to sit back, relax and soak up the sunshine 🌳

When the heat gets a little too much, head indoors to explore our interactive galleries and hands-on exhibits inside the museum 🧪

And don’t forget, we also offer a special community entry price of just £5 per person for Halton residents 🙌

It may be half-term, but at Catalyst, there are no half reactions 🙌We’re still bringing the energy, experiments and exci...
27/05/2026

It may be half-term, but at Catalyst, there are no half reactions 🙌

We’re still bringing the energy, experiments and excitement all day, every day, because curiosity (and your little ones) never takes a break.

Join us for hands-on science, discoveries, and plenty of big reactions. Halton residents can take advantage of community pricing at just £5 per person

The world of chemistry is mind-blowing and can sometimes leave you in disbelief, sparking a desire to share every new di...
26/05/2026

The world of chemistry is mind-blowing and can sometimes leave you in disbelief, sparking a desire to share every new discovery 🤔

Our hands-on experiments and interactive exhibits inspire young scientists to explore, question, and uncover the wonders of the world around them 🧪✨

Catalyst has been sparking curiosity since 1987, and now we’re taking that reaction even further with our exciting new ...
25/05/2026

Catalyst has been sparking curiosity since 1987, and now we’re taking that reaction even further with our exciting new project 🧪

Coming 2027, Synergy will transform how you explore our stories, bringing together interactive exhibits, heritage collections, and hands-on learning in brand new, multi-sensory ways. It’s all about connecting our past with the future of STEM discovery.

Have you visited us over the years? What would you love to see next as we evolve? 👇

Born in Everton, Sir John Brunner was a pioneer of the chemical industry, helping shape a legacy that continues to impac...
24/05/2026

Born in Everton, Sir John Brunner was a pioneer of the chemical industry, helping shape a legacy that continues to impact our world today 👏

His career began at Hutchinson’s Alkali Works in Widnes, where he rose to general manager before forming a partnership with chemist Ludwig Mond; a German-born British chemist. In 1873, they co-founded Brunner Mond & Co. at Winnington, Cheshire, where they manufactured sodium carbonate using the ammonia-soda process under licence from Ernest Solvay to produce soda ash.

Their company grew rapidly, absorbing competitors and expanding its products. By 1911, it had become the world’s largest producer of soda ash, powering industries from glassmaking to soap production.

During World War I, it focused on producing materials for munitions such as ammonium nitrate, TNT, and synthetic phenol. After further acquisitions, it merged in 1926 with other firms to form Imperial Chemical Industries (ICI), later becoming its Alkali Division. In 1991, the soda ash business split from ICI to form Brunner Mond and Company Ltd, which later expanded independently before being acquired by Tata Chemicals in 2006.

This limited edition Brunner Mond Commemorative Goblet is number 677 of 1,000, that celebrates 100 years of Brunner Mond (1873 - 1973). See this and so many more artefacts in the Archives section at Catalyst

This half-term on Thursday 28th between 10am - 3pm drop into our Birth of an Industry Gallery for a special Synergy Proj...
23/05/2026

This half-term on Thursday 28th between 10am - 3pm drop into our Birth of an Industry Gallery for a special Synergy Project activity trail. It's your last chance to experience the gallery in its current form while exploring the exciting changes ahead.

Plus, our two half-term workshops start today and run daily until 31st May:

🔺 Towering Tetrahedrons
Explore one of the strongest shapes in nature. Work as a team to build a giant structure using sticks and elastic bands, big enough to climb inside!
Running daily 12:30pm and 3:00pm

🌈 Over the Rainbow
Discover the science behind colour and light. Investigate optical illusions, density, chromatography, and acids and alkalis as you search for rainbows in science.
Running daily 11:30am and 2:00pm

Workshop tickets cost £2.75 per person (in addition to the normal admission charge) and can be booked at reception on arrival.

And don't forget - Halton residents can enjoy special entry for just £5 per person throughout May, June & July!

Address

Mersey Road
Widnes
WA80DF

Telephone

+441514201121

Website

https://www.catalyst.org.uk/design-a-gallery-competition/

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