Northern Ireland PORTAFERRY, CO DOWN: EXPLORIS AQUARIA Last chance to visit the London Science Museum’s Science Box on Tour - it looks at the information superhighway and the future of global telecommunications. Visitors can explore interactive television, the Internet and much more. Ends on September 1. Admission: Pounds 3.50, Pounds 2.15 concessions, Pounds 10 family. Tel: 012477 28062.
WALES CAERLEON, GWENT: ROMAN LEGIONARY MUSEUM Roman days for seven to 11-year-olds until September 1, include hands-on activities, dressing up, quizzes, prize competition and afternoon art workshops. Tel: 01633 423134.
CARDIFF BAY: WELSH INDUSTRIAL AND MARITIME MUSEUM Daily family activities include model waterways, a cannon demonstration, free miniature train rides, rope making, brass rubbings of engines and railway plates, posting a letter and following its journey on a touch screen video, railway and air-sea rescue computer games, and ships in bottles. Tel: 01222 4819191.
SCOTLAND EDINBURGH: NATIONAL GALLERIES OF SCOTLAND Archival recordings allow visitors to see and hear 56 great personalities, portrayed at the Scottish National Portrait Gallery’s “Speaking Likeness” exhibition until September 30. The earliest voice is that of Gladstone congratulating Edison on his invention. Meanwhile, fresh from London, “David Livingstone and the Victorian Encounter with Africa”, runs at the Royal Scottish Academy until October 6. Tel: 0131 556 8921.
NORTHERN ENGLAND NEWCASTLE:DISCOVERY MUSEUM September 1 is the last day people of all ages will be able to enjoy an extraordinary computer playground, admission Pounds 1. Tel: Paul Swift, 0191 232 6789 ext. 408.
LEEDS: THE ROYAL ARMOURIES MUSEUM Until September 28, family activities include: storytelling, object handling and trying-on sessions; adventure trails, assault courses, facepainting and more in a soft play area; computer interactive programmes and virtual reality simulators; and workshops such as mask-making, armour design and music. No extra charge. Tel: 0113 220 1900.
SOUTHERN ENGLAND GLASTONBURY: SOMERSET RURAL LIFE MUSEUM Demonstrations of needlecraft, August 30 (2 and 5 pm); weaving and spinning, September 1 (2 and 6 pm); and a honey show by the Street and Glastonbury branch of Somerset Beekeepers Association, September 7 (2 and 4pm). Tel: 01458 831197.
BRIGHTON MUSEUM AND ART GALLERY “Finding Out Together” activities for family groups on the theme of Africa, September 8, 2.15-4.15pm. Tickets Pounds 2 in advance (under threes free). Tel: 01273 713289.
BRISTOL: THE EXPLORATORY Escape from the colour maze, build a giant soma cube, unlock the prehistoric hut, sort out the rats in the drainpipe and solve the “impossible” puzzle. Families can give their brains a workout with over 30 puzzles from around the world at “Puzzle Mania”, running until November 4. Tel: 0117 907 9000.
LONGLEAT, WARMINSTER, WILTSHIRE On weekdays, pupils and accompanying teachers are invited to join Longleat’s artist in residence, Mark Ashton-Barrett, in drawing, printing and plaster casting the human hand. Fee: Pounds 5 per child booked in advance (one teacher free with every eight children). Tel: Sarah Bew, 01985 844400.
CENTRAL ENGLAND SANDWELL LIBRARIES, WEST MIDLANDS As part of “Sportin’ Sandwell”, a year-long celebration of sport, libraries have organised aerobics sessions, colouring competitions, story marathons, quizzes and a “Go for Gold” summer reading trail, which encourages seven to 12-year-olds to progress through bronze, silver and gold medal stages by readingreviewing up to 10 books. Gold medallists can participate in free sporting activities and could win tickets to sporting venues. Tel: 0121 569 4911.
DUNSTABLE, BEDFORDSHIRE:WHIPSNADE ZOO Daily elephant encounters and demonstrations of free flying birds of the world and Californian sealions. Special attractions are the swamp deer fawn, giraffe, wolf cubs and chimps whose births were featured on the BBC Animal Hospital: On the Hoof series. Tel: Claire Bidder, 01582 872171.
LONDON NATIONAL MARITIME MUSEUM, GREENWICH, SE10 The days of Queen Henrietta Maria and Inigo Jones are recreated in Fit for a Queen, performed five days a week, 12.15 pm and 1.45 pm, in the 17th-century Queen’s House. Performers take the roles of maidservant Alice Comfort and John Groves, master plasterer to Charles II, who is creating elaborate ceilings in the new rooms. Tel: 0181 293 9618.
MUSEUM OF THE MOVING IMAGE, SOUTH BANK, SE1 Costumes, props and Batmobile, Batboat, Batplane and Batcave models from Batman Forever are on display until September 29 along with storyboards from the animated Batman and film screenings. Tel: 0171 815 1336.
NATIONAL PORTRAIT GALLERY, WC2 “Assembling the Family: Photography and Family Portraiture” running until September 15 contains a doll’s house interactive video installation. Visitors access individual rooms to explore the theme of the family. The project brings the exhibition full circle from the earliest photographic technology of the daguerreotype to interactive multimedia. Tel: 0171 306 0055.
