A fantastic asset to Rotherham. Great for kids! Also holding great Events. Disabled Friendly Too!

Magna is located in an old steel plant just off the M1 in Rotherham. It is clearly signposted and easily found. It is a hands-on interactive science learning centre, primarily aimed at children, although adults can learn things as well. There is no heating in the building, so be prepared to wear your coat all day if it's cold. It is also quite dark in places, which creates an eerie feeling, like walking through an abandoned building. Inside there are four main areas, or pavilions, which are based on the four elements (Fire, Air, Earth and Water) and an exhibition area. There are also two fun/playareas outside: Sci-Tek an adventure playground) and Aqua-Tek (a very wet play area). The first thing we encountered was an exhibition on colour, what it is and how it effects our lives. This is a good exhibit, and if you don't know the difference between addictive and subtractive colour mixing, then this will teach you! You walk past the restaurant, and enter the main part of the building. Each of the pavilions is on a different level and there are stairs and lifts for access. We headed of towards Fire first. To get there you have to walk along a long gantry which runs alongside one of the old furnaces. It is very dark here with very little natural light. Every hour there is a display of how the furnace worked using lights and pyrotechnics which lasts about 10-15mins and is very good. In the Fire pavilion you can find out about fire and heat. The displays range from heating up a piece of wire with electricity, to how heat is used in making steel and there is an impressive fire-tornando in the centre of the room. Our next stop was up in an air-ship which was the Air pavilion. Here we found out how a dyson vacuum cleaner works, all about sound and various other things. Two floors down is the Water pavilion. Again this is hands on, so expect to get a bit wet. You can learn all about whirlpools, water flow and play with an industrial water soaker. Good fun for little ones! Down underground is the Earth pavilion. This is all about rocks and other natural resources. You can pretended to excavate rocks, carry them in a wheel barrow and watch how they move around a convey-belt system like a real quarry. It's even possible to lift yorself of the ground by pulling on a rope. There are three eating areas in the building: a restaurant which provides hot meals and sandwiches, a cafe (which we didn't sample) and a large area for eating picnics. This is also a reasonable gift shop which sells science related products and toys. This is a good example of a hands-on science museum that teaches children all about science without them realising. However, you'll probably find they want to spend all they're time outside playing in the play areas - probably the Aqua-Tek one. It is a good idea to bring either a swimming costume or a spare set of clothes for them as they will be absolutely soaked. Should you find you have finsihed here and there is still some time left in you day, then just 5mins away is Meadowhall Shopping Centre. read more

I would love to give Magna a 5 star review - in fact I would have done after my first visit. The problem is that nothing has happened to it for some time and its is slowly falling into decline. Every time I go I see the place getting dirtier and dirtier, and if something is broken in one of the exhibition areas it isn't fixed next time I go. I suspect this is down to local funding being absent. It's a real shame as it's a fascinating place and my children absolutely love it, but even they remarked at how broken stuff hadn't been fixed since the last time. Despite all that the concept is a very good one and I still tend to go there about once a year. The fire tornado is still great but a lot of the other stuff in that section is run down and doesn't work properly. The air section features some fun bits such as a steam whirlwind, and the water section is still amusing (but take care as your children are likely to end up getting very wet here!). If some money could be spent here on maintaining the place it would be fantastic, but as it is I can't see it holding the attraction it used to for my family. One thing that is worth mentioning is the brilliant childrens' playground outside (there is a dry and a wet section!) - this is absolutely enormous and it's hard prising your children off it when it's time to go home! read more

The theme of this science park is earth, fire, water and power. It is set in a disused, gigantic steel foundry and is vast, eerie and very cold. You must remember to take warm clothing no matter what time of year you go. It is very educational and interesting but dark and quite depressing. I was glad to get outside. The state of the art children's play area can be visited without having to go into the main building. One visit was enough. read more

We went very early on in the year and it was a little cold and unfortunatley too cold for the kids to play in the fantastic looking play areas outside. My daughter was born in Sheffield so I though it was important for her to have an understand of steel but it isnt the only focus. There are different parts for the different elements and where its safe to do so, its very hands on. The kids loved the water section and we then spent a while drying clothing under the hand driers in the toilets. Theres a nice cafe thats reasonably priced and a shop for the kids to spend more of your money in! it didn't strike me as expensive and we all had a good day out! I'd go again in warmer weather. Please remember to wrap up warm in winter, its a very large old steel works and i wouldn't say it was very cold but obviously heating it would be a nightmare for them practically and financially. A very good day out though all in all. read more

I haven't been into the actual museum part of Magna. However, i have visited the main hall room on a number of occasions. This is a good venue for conferences and gigs alike. The Arctic Monkeys played here back in 2006, and the vastness of the hall made for a great gig! read more

Magna is a great day out unfortunately the amount of exhibits that are broken just lets the place down. However, it is a good idea for an attraction and the place it's in, the former steelworks, is vast. It's also cold inside so take a coat! The new(ish) playgrounds outside are always busy and the cafe and shop are well equipped and well stocked. I've been to see several bands here in the 'big hall' which is a great venue with nice acoustics. read more

A great place for kids to explore and play with all of the exhibits, we loved Magna and have been a few times! The water play area was a big hit, as was the outside play area. Very busy in school holidays, it is deservedly popular - something a bit different to the usual zoos! read more

This is a good place to go for the children, to see how science works in four different sections: Earth, Fire, Water and Wind. Though it is quite expensive, and the hands-on exhibits can be flooded with children trying to get to them/ Be careful in the Water section, because it can be quite slippy. Check out the toilet seats too, which change dependent on level! read more

Magnificent and impressive place to take the whole family. The main hall of the museum is of epic proportions being as it is based in an old steel works. You get to the hands-on parts of the museum by waling across dimly lit high walkways whilst booming noises and the light of fire echoes all around. Be warned that small children may find this frightening, I had to take two 6 year olds outside as they were scared. There are earth, wind, water and fire sections all with great hands-on activities such as operating a digger, a recycling magnet and a waterway system. There are certainly enough activities to take up a whole day. Outside there is a fabulous playground, one of the best of its kind, with cargo nets, slides, spinny tangly things and many other toys I have no words to describe! It is well worth setting aside an hour to play on the playground. In fact you can just buy a ticket for the playground and not the museum as well. read more

I have been to this place a few times with my children and they really enjoyed looking at all the different exhibits. The water park is great in the summer and its not to hard to find. Also the price of entry is good. read more

Been here when Gatecrasher/Tidy had nights on... One word, AWESOME!!!!

Magna is a great place, especially if you have children. However, the amount of things that are broken lets the place down. I have been quite a few times and really enjoyed it. The last time i went it was a decent price and wasn't to expensive. It's a very good interactive exhibition set in an old steel plant off the M1. There is a play area outside, decent parking and a gift shop for anything you may want to take home as a present. Overall, it's a decent place to go to pass a few hours. I would reccomend. read more

visited today with my little brother, we were impressed by the building and interior layout but so many attractions were not working or not turned on,we must have missed out on at least 50% of the exhibits on display, staff couldn't care less that we paid full price to enter and got to see so little,even the main attraction of the steelworks in action which is supposed to have towering flames and sparks was not on very dissapointed no refund given but £10 food voucher offered what a joke ;( read more

this is a lovely day out for the whole family. set in a disused steel works on the border of sheffield and rotherham this really is an excellent attraction. lots of free car parking including plenty of disabled and parent and child spaces. divided into four zones based on the four elements of fire, water, earth and air there are various displays and activities the whole idea of magna is to get involved its a very hands on experience no one ever says dont touch! There is also an outdoor water park and playground. very good value for money and friendly helpful staff. Inside there is a cafe and a packed lunch area and a well stocked gift shop selling a variety of magna branded items as well as activity kits by science museum etc The only down side is that due its setting its unbeleivably cold inside even on a summers day. definately a good day out though especially for kids as they learn while having fun . take a towel and warm clothing and youre guaranteed a good day read more

i would recomend magna for older or quite outgoing kids.I took my neice when she was only 3 and she was really scared by the dark forboding entrance which is the old steel factory.The attractions are good fun though and educational read more