Discovery Hub 2026 - Day 1

Thursday 22nd October - Day 1 (10-3pm - School Visits) and 3-4pm (general public drop in)

The Discovery Hub is an exciting mix of science and creative activities over three days for schools, families and the general public. The Discovery Hub features interactive exhibitions and workshops relating to the theme of Create and Celebrate. Schools activities are aimed at KS2 & KS3 students.

Booking Information:

Schools Bookings: Thursday 22nd October and Friday 23rd October (10-3pm) is reserved for booking from KS2 and KS3 schools and from home-schooled groups/families with age 8-14 focus.

Please email: director@bloomsburyfestival.org.uk to book, and feel free to pass this information on to schools or other groups who might be interested.  

We currently have 50% of capacity reserved so have some free times but the places are likely to go fast.

On Thursday and Friday (3-4pm), The Discovery Hub is open to the general public. No booking required. 

Programme: 

CAMERA OBSCURA

NIHR Moorfields Biomedical Research Centre

Step inside a newly constructed Camera Obscura which demonstrates how the eye works, and how the eye and the brain work together to create a visual interpretation of the world around us.

THE NIGHT SKY

UCL Astronomers

Learn how to read the night sky through two activities - a mobile planetarium show introducing the classification and patterns of the stars, planets and black holes; and practical hands-on activities with telescopes introducing concave mirrors and lenses.

EVOLUTION OF OUR EMOTIONAL SYSTEM

Dr Ayse U Akarca UCL Researcher and Artist

Participatory story-telling and art activities show how the cells of the body communicate with each other and explore how your emotions and thought patterns can transform awareness and healing.

SOAS ORIGAMI WORKSHOP

An open origami paper folding workshop themed on space, starts, the planets and the night sky

TAKE ME DOWN TO ELECTRO-CITY

UCL - U-Cell

With a focus on solar power for spacecraft and other astronomy related power, this interactive science stand explores hydrogen fuel cell and battery-powered technology and offers hands-on experience around the theme of energy storage. Take part in simple experiments and demonstrations.

FROM ANIMALS TO ROBOTS: CELEBRATING NATURE’S DESIGN

UCL academic Sara Adela Abad Guaman

Step into a world where nature inspires technology with cutting-edge robotics. Explore how the alpaca’s foot is inspiring the next generation of adaptive robots. You will feel, test, and discover the importance of feet for moving and adapting like living organisms.