Jodrell Bank — Attraction in Lower Withington

Jodrell Bank – The world of space awaits you

What is Jodrell Bank?

Jodrell Bank is an UNESCO World Heritage site that is located in the heart of Macclesfield, Greater Manchester. It is a great place for die hard space fans. This brilliant museum holds a range of exhibitions, displays, talks and dome shows that take place throughout the year.

The site of Jodrell Bank is unique in that the building is spread out into 4 separate buildings across lovely surroundings.

Jodrell Bank consists of 3 Pavilions.

They are:

The First Light Pavilion

The Planet Pavilion

The Space Pavilion

There are also outdoor exhibitions too.

Exhibitions Visited

The Story of Jodrell Bank

This exhibition explores how Jodrell Bank became the place that it is today. It was an engaging, interactive and informative exhibition that explored RADAR technology and how the Lovell Telescope was developed.

It was also interesting learning about the life of the person that created the telescope. There was a school report that showed that he was not good at school but that then changed when he got older.

It was great that this exhibition used a variety of mediums such as text, photography, time- lines and videos. This ensured a fulfilling experience that stimulated all the senses.

Interactive Sections

In addition to the exhibition there were also some fun and entertaining interactive elements too. This consisted of a dressing up section where you could wear a number of coats and hats like a spy. It was cool.

There were some cool games and jigsaws relating to space that gave a fun perspective on these issues. One thing that I really enjoyed here was the spinning thing that when turned it moved the telescope. That was an awe-inspiring moment.

Entry and Admission

In order to visit Jodrell Bank you are required to book a time slotted ticket and to pay for it online in advance of your visit.

For price details then visit the Jodrell Bank website for further information.

Facilities

Jodrell Bank has a café that serves hot and cold food such as sandwiches, pasties and cakes. They also offer a variety of hot and cold drinks. It is reasonably priced.

Toilets are on site.

Lighting and Access

Some of the exhibition spaces at Jodrell Bank have dim lighting however using my Smart glasses enabled me to read the information and to see the objects to the best of my ability.

In relation to access then there is a step in order to enter the building and the other supporting parts of the building. There are ramps to access the various rooms in each of the 3 Pavilions.

Parking

Jodrell Bank has its own designated car park where you are required to pay for it online. However if you have a Blue Badge due to a disability then parking is free.

If you want to learn about space in a fun, immersive, engaging, and interactive way then Jodrell Bank is the perfect place to do...

Having not visited since I was primary school aged (ie a very long time ago), we visited recently when some relatives were up, and it was a great day out (the sunshine certainly helped!).

Really reasonably priced at £14 per person (which entitles you to visit again anytime over 12 months if you're a local resident), Jodrell Bank is a great place to visit, especially for families.

First of all, the exhibits themselves - really well set out, with lots of different places to access information (which helps when busy, so you don't feel like you're constantly reading over another's shoulder etc), and with plenty of interactive activities (such as a game detecting u boats in the Atlantic), it tells the story of Jodrell Bank and the science really well, in a way that really engages.

Exhibits and info is also placed at all levels, so kids and others (i.e wheelchair users - we visited with a relative who is a wheel chair user) can read and access the info in the main exhibit.

In the grounds of the observatory, there's lots of lovely grassy and leafy lanes, Jodrell Bank being right in the Cheshire countryside. There's loads of places for picnics, some outdoor activities (such as the whispering dishes), and the grand centrepiece itself, the Lovell Telescope.

A truly impressive structure that's now hitting, if not surpassed, 70 years of age, the Lovell Telescope looms over the local countryside, squat on its rollers and with the 50s prefab buildings that presumably made up the old control rooms for moving the behemoth when needed. There's a path around the Lovell Telescope that explains how it was made, the science it supports, and how the telescope is maintained. Some signs are showing their age and are slightly bleached/cracked, but for the most part it is all readable and fascinating. On a glorious sunny day, it really is a lovely place to visit and walk around.

Finally, you leave via an orrery, a clockwork model of the universe. This final exhibit includes a rack of digital displays about all the celestial bodies in our galaxy, from the planets to comets and the sun.

When visiting we also had lunch at one of the cafes, which features mainly local produce (and pastries from HM Pasties, which hires former prisoners). The food was good, though as is always the way at museum cafes, priced at the high end.

On cafes - there is one outside the main museum grounds that anyone can access, and which seemed a real draw on this sunny Sunday for cyclists.

Other positives - the woman at the ticket window was really helpful; and the entire centre was wheelchair accessible, with accessible parking too. If you book tickets online in advance, they can last for 12 months for repeat visits, if you're a local visitor.

As others have mentioned, it's easy to miss the turning, so keep your wits about you when...

Three stars? For such an incredibly important and influential site? Well, this review is not about the amazing discoveries, science and insights provided by either the telescope or the research areas of Jodrell Bank (all of which are off-limits to the general public) but the visitor experience itself.

First gripe - buy a ticket on-line and you get entry for twelve months, pay the same amount at the gate and the ticket is only valid for a day. Not entirely fair, but at least the helpful staff inform you of this before entry. The solution is to ignore the signs, re-enable the mobile data on your phone and go through the clunky on-line booking process.

The new(ish) First Light Pavilion is the primary visitor centre, a brutal, concrete lump of a building. Yes, if the sun’s out there are clever touches and the Space Dome auditorium is impressive, but the approach is as welcoming as an electric chair. The exhibition contains good and accessible information, presented in a heavily interactive style (bring hand sanitiser) but there’s no logical order and detail is repeated many times. I learnt about Jodrell Bank’s early finance issues on at least four separate occasions. A stark cafe is also located here (think iron curtain hospital in style), but I’d suggest going to the second cafe near the exit as a much more relaxed location.

A smaller, more child-friendly set of interactive displays are located nearer to the Lovell telescope itself, and it's certainly an impressive structure, especially if you’re lucky and see it move. Also nearby are a pair of parabolic “whispering” dishes that are a delight for children of all ages.

One of the biggest disappointments however, is the arboretum, which was planted by Sir Bernard Lovell himself. On-line you’ll see photos of what once was, but today, it is in an advancing state of neglect. Dead and fallen trees abound, paths are closed and overgrown, and huge swathes of brambles block the views. Whoever is responsible really needs to do better.

The way out for most people is back through the pay booths… probably because the exit through the shop is incredibly well hidden - into a darkened room and hard left behind a screen - which is a shame as there are some unique and fun gifts. Who doesn’t love...