Young minds were busy at work in the centre of Swindon during half-term as families turned out in large numbers for hands-on science activities at The Brunel Shopping Centre.
As part of this year’s Festival of Tomorrow, the shopping centre hosted a week-long programme titled Living in the Future, transforming retail space into a temporary hub of experiments, workshops and interactive trails.
Across the February half-term break, children and their families were invited to explore engineering challenges, space-themed sessions, sound and music demonstrations, climate and nature activities, and practical chemistry workshops. Organisers estimate that more than 1,000 children — alongside parents and guardians — took part in the sessions, with many others completing a Robot Trail that guided participants around the centre.
Louise Halliday, Head of Programming and Outreach for the Festival of Tomorrow, said the response had been encouraging.
“It has been wonderful to see so many families enjoying these free activities together in the heart of the town,” she said. “The turnout at The Brunel was fantastic, proving once again what a vital space this is for bringing our local community together through discovery and play.”
The Festival of Tomorrow has become a regular fixture in Swindon’s events calendar, bringing together science, technology and the arts in accessible formats aimed at all ages.
FI Real Estate Management, which manages The Brunel, supported the initiative. Founder and Managing Director Tim Knowles said making the sessions free to attend was key.
“Offering these activities for free gives parents a hands-on option and helps inspire curiosity in the next generation,” he said.
With hundreds of budding scientists trying their hand at experiments and creative challenges, the week demonstrated how public spaces can double as places of learning — at least for half-term.
