We’re rounding up some activities and events you could get involved with this British Science Week! Start planning for March now, you can even get involved with some of these suggestions below.
For enquiries about any of these events, please contact the event organisers directly.
Something for everyone
200 years of the Royal Institution Christmas Lectures!This year the Royal Institution (RI) marks the 200th anniversary of their famous Christmas Lectures, and they’re making British Science Week 2025 part of the celebrations! On Wednesday 12 March at the Institute of Physics in London, Michael Cutts of the RI will be giving a unique talk looking back at the history of the Christmas Lectures, the extraordinary ideas they covered, and how they’ve inspired generations. The talk begins at 6pm and is free and open to all, although a ticket is needed.
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Southampton Science and Engineering FestivalBritish Science Week takes place this year 7-16 March and as it happens, so does the University of Southampton’s Science and Engineering Festival! There is a packed schedule of free, family-friendly “hands-on activities, workshops, talks, exhibits shows and laboratory tours”. Attending the festival will be fantastic way to celebrate the Week – exploring a university campus and hearing from a range of STEM professionals.The full programme and tickets will be available in mid-February.
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Colliderfest, HullThe inaugural Colliderfest – a ‘four-day science and arts extravaganza’ will take place in Hull City Centre during British Science Week! The festival is happening 13-16 March, with Thursday 13 and Friday 14 March focusing on school events – shows, workshops and exhibitions by leading scientists. The weekend days will be perfect for families to come and enjoy interactive exhibits and live performances. Evening events will cater to older audiences. Colliderfest’s partners include University of Hull and Hull Museums and Galleries, and will showcase the scientific achievements of the area and highlight local STEM career options.
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Science Lates at the Glasgow Science CentreLots of British Science Week events are for children and young people, but this one is for grown-ups only! The Glasgow Science Centre is celebrating with a special evening event – Science Lates: Forces of Change, ‘a dynamic night of discovery, drinks, and hands-on fun’. There’ll be lots of exhibits, games and workshops to get involved in, including Brain Bingo, food and special themed-cocktails. This one is strictly for over-18s, so if you’re lucky enough to look under 25 bring ID! Essential information Prices: £15 per adult, £12 concession |  |
British Science Week at Tower BridgeBritish Science Week is coming to London’s iconic Tower Bridge! On Saturday 8 March there will be free drop in sessions at Tower Bridge from 10am-4pm for families and people of all ages. History and science will meet “where people can discover the Victorian steam engines, coal-fired boilers, and accumulators that once powered the mighty bascules of the Bridge and how they have evolved over time”. There will be lots of fun, hands-on activities that fall under to this year’s theme of ‘Change adapt’. You could assemble a 3D jigsaw to discover secrets of the Tower, enter a bridge-building competition or produce your own electricity with a hand crank generator! Please note standard entry fee does apply. |  |
LightFest, Millenium Galleries, SheffieldIgnite your curiosity this British Science Week at a free, hands-on scientific exhibition about light, the quantum world and a greener future! LightFest will introduce you to the quantum nature of light, and some of the ways that light is important in life, technology and art. Discover how plants convert sunlight into food and explore the remarkable ways that light interacts with nanostructured materials. Find out how photosynthesis inspires scientists to develop new technologies to solve the greatest challenge facing humanity today: how to live sustainably on Earth. Thursday 13 March to Sunday 16 March 2025
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Tinkering WorkshopsIf you’re in or around London, Exeter, Hastings or Cambridge, join educator and author of The Tinkering Workshop Ryan Jenkins during British Science Week for tinkering masterclass! Ryan and teams at ShiftED Makerspace, Exeter Library, Mechanical Making Space in Hastings and Cambridge Science centre for free workshops exploring tinkering. ‘Tinkering is a way to learn about art science and technology that emphasizes experimentation, collaboration and playfulness. For tinkering projects there’s not a specific end-point and each design will be different depending on the questions and ideas of the learners.’ Families will build imaginative creatures and machines from the materials provided. The workshops will be taking place 6-9 March. |  |
History of Science Museum presents: The Alleviating Art: Lady Mary Montagu and Smallpox InoculationThe History of Science Museum in Oxford is celebrating British Science Week with theatre! The one-act, one-actor play will It draws from the letters of Lady Mary Montagu, a pioneering advocate who revolutionised public health in England in the 18th century. The Alleviating Art explores Lady Mary’s decision to bring the practice on inoculation against smallpox to England and campaign for its adoption. Facing fierce opposition, Lady Mary inoculated her young daughter—the first recipient of smallpox inoculation on English soil — to prove the safety of the technique. The play will be followed by a panel discussion and a drinks reception. There are two performances during the Week on Friday 14 March and Saturday 15 March. Please note that Saturday’s performance will be filmed. Essential information Prices £15 per adult, £12 concession |  |
Bournemouth natural science society and museum: Making a success of a career in Natural ScienceBritish Science Week is a great opportunity to share with young people how broad the choice of STEM careers is! Bournemouth Natural Science Society & Museum is celebrating with a special lecture for young people aged 7+ who might be interested in a career in science. Join Paul Leonard, who has previously worked on STEM projects for the Government, at 14.30 on Saturday 15 March as he discussed topical issues including pollution, climate change and protecting ecosystems. Booking is required: email [email protected] to book. This event is in-person and on Zoom. |  |
Live lessons!
BBC Teach Live LessonsKey Stage Two (KS2) pupils are in for a special treat this British Science Week – a BBC Live Lesson featuring British astronaut Tim Peake! Available to watch at 11am on the CBBC channel on Monday 10 March, and hosted by Grace Webb and Greg Foot, this 30-minute lesson will take pupils aged around 7-11 on a whirlwind journey. “By the end of the session, [the children] will have completed an ‘astronaut training plan,’ preparing them for life in space and inspired to blast off into the world of science and space exploration.”
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NFU Education Science Farm LiveNFU Education are back with Science Farm LIVE for British Science Week 2025! This year there are four new lessons, including one given in Welsh, taking place between 10-13 March. The lessons are perfect for pupils learning at KS1 and 2 levels. The topics covered in the lessons align with the curriculum, and this year’s theme of ‘Change and adapt’! “We’ll be exploring all the ways that animals and crops are adapted to their habitats here in Britain and all the ways that British farmers are adapting their practice to fight against climate change.”
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Tech She Can live lessonThis year Tech She Can, in partnership with Accenture, are running a live lesson to celebrate British Science Week! Tune in with your KS2 pupils at 9.30 on Wednesday 12 March to join Francesca Bartlett, a Tech She Can Teacher, for an interactive session on the future of AI. “Students will discover how cutting-edge technology and AI is protecting forests, cleaning oceans, and reducing air pollution to create a greener future for our planet. Throughout the lesson, Fran will highlight lots of related technology careers which students could pursue in the future.”
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The STEM Hub online lessonKick off British Science Week 2025 with free live lessons from The STEM Hub on 7 March! Jen, STEM Ambassador and Education Manager at the Manta Trust, will lead two interactive sessions that will explore ‘how animals adapt to survive and thrive in an ever-changing ocean’. Students learning at KS3-5 levels can log in at 8.40-9.10 to explore ‘the incredible strategies marine creatures use to overcome challenges in their habitats, uncover the impact of environmental changes’. Pupils learning at KS1-2 levels can join Jen at 1.30-2.15pm to explore ‘unique adaptations, uncover how creatures face habitat challenges.’ |  |
Ideas for schools!
International Centre for Life robotics themed workshopsTo celebrate British Science Week 2025, the International Centre for Life in Newcastle is hosting a special set of robotics-themed workshops! There are 30-minute workshops for pupils learning at K1, 2 and 3 levels covering topics including coding robotic bees, the future of robots in our lives and a robot arm challenge. From 10-14 March, workshops also include a visit to Luma, a 9-metre long robotic snail. Essential information Prices: £5.50 per pupil
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Essex Science exhibitionAs part of British Science Week 2025, the University of Essex is inviting older students, those in Years 10-13, to come along to the campus for a day of workshops, demonstrations, activities across lots of STEM departments. The Essex Science Exhibition, which will take place on Wednesday 12 March, includes a campus tour and sessions based around the theme of ‘Change and adapt’. This is a perfect opportunity for students thinking about their next steps to explore an academic setting. The University of Essex is also offering a CPD webinar for teachers and advisers at 4pm on 11 March. The hour-long webinar, ‘Careers in Biomedical Science’ will be run by Dr. Penny Beckerson from the University of Essex’s School of Life Sciences. She will provide key insights to ‘guide students towards careers in biomedical science’.
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Ocean Conservation Trust DayThe Ocean Conservation Trust, a charity with a mission to restore and protect the ocean, is celebrating British Science Week 2025 with a new show at the National Marine Aquarium in Plymouth! Embracing the theme of ‘Change and adapt’, the 30-minute show will explore the physical and chemical changes in the ocean. It is designed to be interactive, with exciting experiments, and link to the curriculum. Schools that aren’t local to Plymouth but want to share this topic for British Science Week are in luck – the Ocean Conservation Trust has provided a free, downloadable resource full of activity plans to be used in the classroom. It includes activities for pupils learning at KS 1-3 levels.
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Lotherton workshopsCelebrate British Science Week at Lotherton in West Yorkshire! The Lotherton estate includes a zoo, Wildlife World, which is home to all sorts fascinating animals including penguins and capybaras. To mark British Science Week, Lotherton are putting on ‘Change and adapt’-themed workshops in Wildlife World and their nature grounds. There are workshops designed for early years-aged children, and pupils learning at KS1-3 levels running from 7-16 March covering everything from adapting to the dark to the changing seasons. Essential information Prices: £5 per pupil |  |
Aberystwyth University Science FairAberystwyth University is celebrating British Science Week! There will be free interactive exhibitions running on campus based around the theme of ‘Change and adapt’ running from 11-13 March. The fun, hands-on activities are particularly aimed at pupils in Years 5-7, and attending gives them a chance to spend time on a university campus – which could be inspiring! Schools can apply for funding towards the cost of transport. |  |