News / We The Curious
We The Curious to reopen more than two years after fire
The hamster wheel is turning again, parachutes are rising and falling, bubbles are being popped, and the planetarium is taking visitors to far-flung galaxies.
We The Curious is officially reopening on Tuesday following a fire on its roof more than two years ago caused by a seagull dropping a stone on a solar panel.
The wait has been longer than anyone had been expecting but now the largest science centre in the South West is raring to go again.
Over the last few days, a group of primary schoolchildren and members have been back inside ahead of the doors opening to the public.
Look closely and there have been a few subtle changes around the place as well as a new cafe, but for the most part the space is exactly the same as it was when visitors last were inside on April 9 2022.
The hamster wheel remains one of the most popular out of the hundreds of hands-on exhibits to explore – photo: Martin Booth
We The Curious content director, Bryony Roberts, told Bristol24/7 that after more than 800 days of being closed, it was “absolutely joyful coming into here and hearing the space alive”.
“It’s as it should be. The venue back to life as it should be.”
For anyone who might never have been to We The Curious before, Roberts – whose own favourite exhibition is the parachutes – described it as a “brilliant experience”.
She said: “We are all about getting interactive, actually doing things, we want you to play, we want you to touch, to mess around with stuff.
“When you come in, I think there’ll be every type of experience that you’ll be interested in, so if you don’t like something, move on to the next thing because there will definitely be something for you to enjoy.”
Learn all about sand on the ground floor of We The Curious – photo: Martin Booth
On Saturday and Sunday, there will be a number of special events and surprises at We The Curious as part of the opening weekend celebrations.
Look out for artists on the roof, singing at the entrance, interactive challenges around the building, membership giveaways and much more.
Main photo: Martin Booth
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