Catalyst Science Discovery Centre and Museum

Science has never been so much fun! Catalyst is an interactive science centre and museum whose mission is to inform, educate and excite the widest audience about the relevance of chemistry through the unique offerings, hands-on experiences, the rich industrial heritage archives and strong links to the local area.

The ground floor interactive gallery is home to a host of hands-on exhibits where you can film in our TV studio, create an animation, make a marble run, test the scarf shooter and more!

Learn about the history of the area in our Birth of an Industry and the Baker Galleries and discover a small part of our archive collection in the Gossage Room where we also host adult group historical talks. The museum archive holds a wide collection of material from some of the big names in the North-West Chemical industry such as ICI and Brunner Mond.

Enjoy panoramic views across Cheshire from the glass-walled, rooftop Observatory Gallery, the perfect place to enjoy a heritage afternoon tea or for groups to experience one of our night at the museum sleepovers.

At weekends and during school holidays you can get to grips with real science in our purpose-built lab where we run activities and workshops that the whole family can enjoy.

Also on offer is free car parking, a gift shop and the Catalyst café, the ideal place to enjoy a tasty snack or drink whilst admiring the riverside views and the views of the Mersey Gateway Bridge.