Magna Science Adventure Centre

About the museum

Magna occupies the former Templeborough steelworks of Steel, Peech and Tozer, which stood on the site of a Roman fort and closed in 1993. The huge melting shop was converted by the architects WilkinsonEyre into a science visitor attraction, which opened in April 2001. The conversion won the Stirling Prize of the Royal Institute of British Architects in 2001, and the exhibitions were also recognised at the Design Week Awards.

The main exhibits are arranged in four pavilions, Air, Earth, Fire and Water, which together contain more than 100 hands-on exhibits about science, technology and industrial heritage. Visitors can operate real diggers, sail along a water canal and melt steel in a model electric arc furnace. A show called The Big Melt recreates the steelmaking process with sound, light, sparks and flame and runs every hour.

Outdoors there is the Sci-Tek adventure playground and, in summer, the Aqua-Tek water play area. A charity, Magna Trust, runs the centre, which also hosts large events, conferences and festivals in its halls. A tram stop on site opened in April 2026.

Highlights

• Four themed pavilions: Air, Earth, Fire and Water
• The Big Melt show, an hourly recreation of steelmaking with fire and sound effects
• Real diggers to operate and a quarry face to blast in the Earth Pavilion
• Model electric arc furnace in the Fire Pavilion
• Sci-Tek outdoor adventure playground
• Steel Experiences tours led by former steelworkers

Permanent exhibitions

• Fire Pavilion – Hands-on exhibits about fire and materials, including melting steel in a model electric arc furnace and exploring magnetism.
• Water Pavilion – Hands-on exhibits about the water cycle and water pollution, with a water canal and a wet play area inside a giant steel wave.
• Earth Pavilion – An underground pavilion with hands-on games, real diggers to operate, sand pits and a quarry face to blast.

Founded

2001

Operated by

Magna Trust

Admission & discounts

Prices are for booking online; tickets bought on the day at the door cost more (adult 23.95 pounds). Admission includes all areas, the Sci-Tek outdoor playground and, in summer, the Aqua-Tek water play zone. A full-price ticket can be upgraded to an annual pass at no extra cost, and tickets are valid for 12 months. Blue Peter badge holders may bring one child free with a full-price adult. Magna accepts card payments only. Group and uniform-group rates are available for 12 or more paying visitors.

Accessibility

• Wheelchair accessible
• Elevator
• Accessible restroom
• Accessible parking
• Service dogs welcome
• Tactile models & exhibits: no information
• Sign language tours: no information
• Easy-to-read materials: no information
• Audio description: no information

The main entrance is step-free with automatic doors, and all visitor areas can be reached by lifts and walkways, although some walkways are raised and there are slopes and industrial flooring. A Changing Places room in the Red Hall can be opened with a RADAR key and used without buying admission. Accessible parking spaces are near the main entrance. Magna is dark, loud and cold in places; ear defenders and sensory packs can be borrowed, and a visual story, sensory map and sound trail are available.

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

• Family tours & workshops
• Hands-on stations
• Baby changing facilities
• Playground / play area
• Kids’ birthday parties: not available

More than 100 hands-on exhibits suit children of all ages. Sci-Tek is a large outdoor playground and Aqua-Tek a splash park in summer. There are sensory storytimes and seasonal soft play for under 5s, and baby-change facilities in the Red Hall, the Earth Pavilion and the Sci-Tek area. Birthday parties are not offered, and the Water Pavilion can leave children wet.

Getting there & parking

The sat-nav postcode S60 1FD leads to Magna Way; the pedestrian entrance is on Sheffield Road (S60 1DX). From the M1 use junction 33 from the south and junction 34 from the north; Meadowhall shopping centre is about one mile away.

Amenities & dining

• Café
• Museum shop
• Coat check: not available

The Refuel Cafe in the Red Hall serves hot food from 10am to 3pm at weekends and in school holidays, with a reduced menu on weekdays in term time. Packed lunches can be eaten in the Red Hall or outdoors at Sci-Tek. The shop and cafe accept cards only. Luggage and pram storage is not available.

Events & venue rental

• Spaces for rent
• Private parties
• Corporate events
• Weddings / ceremonies

Up to 1,000 guests.

Event spaces include the Big Hall (dinners for up to 1,000 guests), the Red Hall, Face of Steel, the Phoenix, Fuel and conference rooms. Multi-cultural weddings and Christmas party nights are offered.

Plan your visit