FAQs

Booking your visit

• When is Eureka! open?

Here are our term-time opening hours:

Monday: Closed
Tuesday: Open 10am – 4pm
Wednesday: Open 10am – 4pm
Thursday: Open 10am – 4pm
Friday: Open 10am – 4pm
Saturday: Open 10am – 5pm
Sunday: Open 10am – 5pm

We’re open every day until 5pm during the school holidays.

• Do I need to pre-book?

Yes – Absolutely! Every visitor to Eureka! will need to pre-book.
Even if you are an existing annual pass holder, you still need to pre-book your visit.

When you pre-book your tickets, please choose your day carefully.

There is a high demand for tickets, therefore, please only book if you fully intend to make a visit. We only have a limited number of tickets available each day and want to welcome as many people as we can.

If you need to amend your booking, please let us know in advance by emailing info@eureka.org.uk or calling us on 01422 330069 between 9:30 and 16:00 so we can release your tickets for other visitors.

You can book online using our booking system here.

• Can I still turn up and pay at the admission desk?

No, unfortunately we can’t offer that anymore. All visits must be pre-booked.

• I’m an annual pass holder – do I still need to book in advance?

Yes, even if you have an annual pass we still need you to book in your visit so we know you’re coming. This way we can limit the number of visitors in the building. Just log in to your dashboard and select the book visit button on your annual pass.

Remember, you must have activated your annual pass to book your visit. If you haven’t activated your pass, please check your emails for your activation link and fill in the details for everyone. If your annual pass was made at the till point (e.g. gift voucher made in to an annual pass at the till on the day of your visit), you should just need to register an account here.

As we only have a limited number of tickets available each day, please only book if you fully intend to come. Visits that are booked but then not taken up has a direct impact on our future sustainability.

If you need to amend your booking or have any issues with your annual pass, please let us know in advance by email to info@eureka.org.uk so our customer service team can handle this.

• I’ve pre-booked, can I cancel or amend my booking?

Yes – you need to do this in advance. Please email info@eureka.org.uk with your booking details and we can do this for you. Please do this as far in advance as possible.

If you need to cancel an annual pass revisit, you can log in to your dashboard and cancel your booking under the upcoming bookings section or email us at info@eureka.org.uk and we can cancel it for you too.

• I’ve booked for the wrong site – can I amend this?

If you have booked for the Wirral site (Eureka! Science + Discovery) and meant to book for the Halifax site (Eureka! The National Children’s Museum), please email info@eureka.org.uk where our Halifax team can transfer the booking to the Halifax site.

If you have booked for the Halifax site and meant to book for the Wirral site, please email hello@eureka.org.uk where our Wirral team can transfer the booking to the Wirral site.

• I’m an Essential Carer – do I still need to book in advance?

Yes, even though your entry to Eureka! is free as an essential carer, you must book your arrival slot so we know you’re coming. Choose the Essential Carer button when you pre-book on the booking system, and remember to bring proof of your carer status with you on the day. We usually ask for DLA/PiP letter or something that states a member of the party requires regular care as proof of your carer status.

• If I am an adult, can I visit without children?

Eureka! is designed for children and their families to play and learn together, so ensuring that our museum is safe and family-friendly is important to us. We therefore do not allow adults to visit without children during our opening hours, unless pre-agreed with our Visitor Service team at least a week in advance. Find out more about adults visiting Eureka! without children here.

• Why do I have to book a timeslot?

We have 10 minute booking slots to spread out arrival times and reduce the likelihood of queues to get in once you arrive. We know it’s difficult to arrive exactly on time, especially with kids in the car – so your booking is available for half an hour after your booked arrival time.

• Are visits time-limited?

No, visitors can stay and enjoy Eureka! for as long as they wish. We have capped our visitor numbers each day.

• I have a discount voucher, how do I use it?

If you have a code, just enter it in the promo code box during the “review your booking” section of the booking process and it will recalculate the cost of your entry based on the code your offer relates to. We do offer NHS/Blue Light/Military discount – you can email us at info@eureka.org.uk for the Halifax discount code or email us at hello@eureka.org.uk for the Wirral discount code. Alternatively, give us a call for the code! You will need to bring a NHS ID/Blue Light Card/Military ID on arrive to proof the discount is valid. Without this, you will be required to pay the discounted amount on the day. Please note: Tesco Voucher orders do not need to put a code in this box – please see below how to book with Tesco Vouchers.

• I want to use my Tesco Clubcard Vouchers, how can I do that online?

You will see a ticket type for Tesco Reward Partners. Choose this option and enter the number of people visiting and make sure all adult/children tickets are set to 0 then follow the process to book your arrival time slot. When you arrive at Eureka! you will need to show your Clubcard code to our admissions staff. Without the code, you will need to pay full price for your entry. Please note that if you use Clubcard Vouchers to pay for entrance then you will not receive an Annual Pass. For more information, please visit the Tesco Clubcard website before you book to see all the terms and conditions of using your Clubcard Vouchers to access Eureka!

• I have a Eureka! Gift Voucher, how do I use it?

You will see a ticket type for Gift Voucher. Choose this option and enter the number of people visiting and make sure that all adult/children tickets are set to 0, then follow the process to book your arrival time slot. When you arrive at Eureka! you will need to hand your Eureka! gift voucher(s) to our admissions staff. Without the vouchers, you will need to pay full price for your entry.

• My child has a Blue Peter Badge, how do I book this?

Blue Peter Badge Holders can get free admission. When booking online, you simply need to put the badge holder down as a “gift voucher” instead of a child ticket so you will not pay for them through the booking system, and then pay for everyone else normally. On the day, our enablers will need to see the badge and card. The rest of the family that have paid will receive an annual pass making them free for the next twelve months.

• I have a Max Card – how do I book?

The Max Card allows 1 adult and 1 child to visit the museum for free. When booking, put 2 under the Max Card option (this accounts for 2 people using the Max Card, not 2 Max Cards). Anyone not covered by the Max Card will be paid for under the normal ticket types. Those paid for at full price will receive an annual pass and when booking in future, you just add two on the max card option each time.

• Do you have a Childminder annual pass?

We do! The childminder pass is £75 and allows for the lead childminder, 1 additional adult and 5 children to visit the museum for free for the next twelve months. To get a childminder pass, you must send a picture of your EY certificate, a form of ID (e.g. Drivers Licence) and a phone number to contact you on to info@eureka.org.uk where our customer service team will give you a call to handle the payment and create your childminder pass for you to use.

• Can I book over the phone?

Our booking system online is very simple to use so you should be able to do everything you need to do without support. However, our team are here to support as best we can. If you’re able to book online, please do so. If you have any queries relating to your annual pass, an existing booking, changes to a booking or other booking enquiries, the quickest way to get a response is to email info@eureka.org.uk. Alternatively, our phone lines are open 9:30 until 16:00 if you would prefer to speak to a member of the customer service team at 01422 330069.

• How do I get my tickets?

We don’t send physical tickets, but we do send you a confirmation email instead. You’ll just need to show the email on your phone when you get here so our front of house team can scan your barcode or let us know your booking reference when you arrive – no need to print anything out. Your confirmation email arrives after you have booked and will contain lots of information about your visit. You’ll then receive a second email with your annual pass activation link if your booking entitles you to an annual pass. Please make sure you use the correct email address and check your junk mail folder before contacting us.

• What’s Gift Aid and who should sign for it?

If you are a UK tax payer, adding Gift Aid to your admissions price means that we can claim back the tax that you have already paid on the price of your admission, so for every £1 you spend at our tills we can claim back an extra 25p

• What will you do with my personal information after I book online?

Read our Privacy Statement for more info.

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Annual Pass Holders

• I’m an annual pass holder – do I still need to book in advance?

Yes, even if you have an annual pass we still need you to book in your visit so we know you’re coming. This way we can limit the number of visitors in the building. Just log in to your dashboard and select the book visit button on your annual pass.

Remember, you must have activated your annual pass to book your visit. If you haven’t activated your pass, please check your emails for your activation link and fill in the details for everyone. If your annual pass was made at the till point (e.g. gift voucher made in to an annual pass at the till on the day of your visit), you should just need to register an account here.

If you need to amend your booking or have any issues with your annual pass, please let us know in advance by email to info@eureka.org.uk so our customer service team can handle this.

• I need to pay for an extra person on my booking – how do I do this?

When you select the book visit button, this will automatically fill in for the tickets you have on your annual pass already if you are logged in. You can edit this auto-fill to remove people who aren’t visiting or you can update the number of people to add on any additionals. You will only be charged for those who aren’t on your annual pass.

• Can someone else use my annual pass?

The annual pass is non-transferrable. It is only valid for those named on the annual pass. Anyone not named will be required to pay and then they’ll get their own annual pas starting from the day of their first visit.

Any other questions about the annual pass, please visit our Annual Pass FAQs page.

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Arrival

• What do I need to bring with me on the day?

You’ll need your booking confirmation email with the barcode or your booking reference to quote on arrival. Each person in your party will be checked in using this at the desk.

– If you are an annual pass holder and haven’t uploaded a picture, please bring photo ID with you such as a Drivers Licence.

– If you are an essential carer, please bring your DLA/PiP letter or something that states that a member of the party requires regular care.

– If you are using a gift voucher, remember to bring the physical voucher with you so we can convert this into an annual pass, if applicable.

– If you are using Tesco Clubcard Points, you must bring the redeemed QR code from Tesco for our front of house team to scan to apply the discount.

– If you are using a Max Card, don’t forget to bring the Max Card with you.

– If you are using a Blue Peter Badge, you will need to bring the badge and card as proof of the Blue Peter Badge Holder.

– Any discount vouchers you have must be brought or valid IDs for relevant discounts.

Failure to bring relevant materials will require you to pay the full admission price.

• How long do people usually spend at Eureka?!

We usually say it can take 2-4 hours to get around the museum but this is very much dependent on your child and their interests, if you have lunch, if we have events on etc. If you have paid full admission or anything that allows you to get an annual pass, you can always come back and see the rest of the museum whenever you like so don’t worry about rushing around and seeing it all in one go!

• Can I arrive earlier than my timeslot?

If you arrive earlier than your timeslot, you may be asked to wait and play outside before you enter the museum, depending on the number of visitors already inside.

• Can I use the café before our booked arrival time?

I’m afraid not! Any café visits are included in your timeslot so you will not be able to use the café before you can be checked in.

• What if I miss my arrival slot?

We know it may be tricky arriving within your half-hour timeslot. However, we ask that you aim to arrive as close as possible to this to avoid having a queue build up outside the building. If you are unavoidably delayed, you will still be able to access the museum if you have a valid booking for that day.

• Will there be any school groups in?

Yes. We welcome school visits on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays during term time.

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Facilities

• Do you have car parking on site?

Yep! If you pop in our postcode (HX1 2NE), this will take you to our car park. If this car park is full, we have an overflow car park if you go under the bridge and past the main Eureka! building and then a further over-overflow car park if required. Our parking is pay and display so make sure you go to the machines. It is £3.60 for up to 3 hours, £5.50 for up to 6 hours, £7.10 for up to 12 hours and £12.50 for up to 24 hours.

• Do you have accessible car parking?

We do – if you drive under the bridge towards the main Eureka! building, there is some accessible parking on your left hand side just after the marquee. If this is full, there is some more parking if you go past the building into our overflow car park. Just pop your blue badge in the window and this will be free for you to park there or anywhere else in our car park.

• Do you have toilets?

Yes, we have toilets on both floors. Downstairs toilets are by the café and this also includes a Changing Places toilet for adults with additional needs that require a hoist and an All Access toilet. Upstairs toilets are located at the top of the stairs with an All Access toilet on the balcony.

• Do you have baby changing facilities?

We have baby changing in all toilets listed above and a separate baby changing/baby feeding room upstairs on the balcony.

• Do you have a lift to get upstairs?

We do! After you have checked in at the till point, the lift is on the right hand side of the entrance and opposite the information desk.

• Do you have a café on site?

We do have a café on site, offering a range of lunch options, hot and cold drinks, cakes and snacks. You can find more information about our café opening hours and download the menu here.

Once you have purchased your food at the counter, you can takeaway or sit in our café area to eat.

• Can I bring a picnic?

Yes, of course! We have a limited number of picnic spaces inside the museum (primarily our lunch area underneath Archimedes in the Living and Working Together gallery). There is also lots of space out to eat picnics on nice days and there is also the Marquee outside when it is not being used for events.

• Do you have a Gift Shop?

We do have a gift shop on site with a range of Eureka! branded items, toys and science based activities to suit all budgets.

• Do You Have Lockers?

We do not have lockers available so pack light if possible. We do have coat rails at the end of the SoundSpace gallery but please note, anything left is at your own risk.

• Do you have somewhere I can leave my buggy?

We have a buggy park on both floors. The buggy park downstairs is located towards the end of the SoundSpace gallery. The buggy park upstairs is located outside the Desert Discovery gallery. There is also limited space in the Creativity Space so we ask – where possible – for buggies to be left in the mini-buggy park outside of the Creativity Space upstairs.

• Can I leave and come back in?

On arrival, we give you hand stamps which allow you to leave and come back in if you need to run back to the car or up in to town for a bit. If your handstamp has washed off and you’re heading out, just pop to our information desk and they’ll give you another one. On your way back in, just show this stamp to the front of house team at the desk.

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School Holidays

• What events do you have on in the school holidays?

Please visit our whats on page to find out what events we have on and what dates these fall under.

• Do you allow group bookings in the holidays?

During February and October Half Term, we do not allow group bookings but all other holidays, we are more than happy to accommodate you (subject to availability). To check availability, please contact our bookings team at booking@eureka.org.uk

• The website says you’re sold out – can we pay on the day?

Unfortunately not. If the website says we have no tickets left, we cannot book you in and you will be turned away. If we are fully booked for the morning, you are welcome to book an afternoon slot but you will not be allowed in prior to your booking time as we are sold out before then. We recommend booking well in advance before the school holidays to ensure that you are get a morning slot as these typically sell out the fastest.