What Glasgow Science Centre does

Glasgow Science Centre is an independent Scottish charity (SC030809) founded in 2001, operating a five-star visitor attraction at 50 Pacific Quay, Glasgow, that combines entertainment with STEM education. Its core physical asset is the Science Mall — three floors of 350+ interactive exhibits across themed galleries (BodyWorks, Powering the Future, Space Zone, Idea No.59, A Question of Perception, Explore!, Outer Space, Quantum Technologies, The Big Explorer) — supported by dedicated science communicators running live demonstrations in the Science Show Theatre. Distinctive co-located attractions include Scotland's biggest IMAX screen, the only Planetarium in Scotland, the 127-metre Glasgow Tower (the world's only fully ground-rotating, wind-tracking freestanding tower), and the Newton Flight Academy simulator.

The organisation earns revenue from a diversified mix of streams: pay-as-you-go Day Entry Tickets (subject to a temporary 5% VAT under the UK Great British Summer Savings Scheme 25 June–1 September 2026), recurring Science Passport annual memberships priced at £34.50–£44.25 per person, add-on IMAX and Planetarium shows, ticketed special events (Science Lates, Designosaurs, The Science of Whisky, birthday parties), gift vouchers, on-site café and gift shop retail, corporate venue hire, commercial filming, and donations with Gift Aid reclaim. A separate Corporate Membership programme serves B2B clients, and the centre also draws grant funding from partners including the UK Space Agency and Morrison Construction for educational initiatives. Distribution is omnichannel via online booking (Ticket Tailor, Magento-based storefront), in-person box office, phone bookings, and direct corporate/education sales.

Beyond the Glasgow campus, GSC manages the Whitelee Windfarm Visitor Centre (Scotland's largest onshore windfarm) and runs an On Tour outreach operation, a GSC At Home remote learning programme, STEM Futures and STEM Learning Pathways for schools, Foundation Apprenticeships, and a Community Learning function engaging underserved groups including prisoners (Barlinnie Prison) and neurodivergent individuals. It engages over 370,000 children, young people and adults annually, reached its 6 millionth cumulative visitor in November 2024, employs over 200 staff, and reports to a Board of Trustees chaired operationally by CEO Dr Stephen Breslin. Subsidiaries include Glasgow Science Centre Limited (operating) and Glasgow Science Centre (Trading) Limited (commercial activities).

Name

Glasgow Science Centre

Legal name

Glasgow Science Centre Charitable Trust

Website

https://glasgowsciencecentre.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2001

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Glasgow Science Centre is an independent Scottish charity operating a five-star visitor attraction in Glasgow combining 350+ interactive exhibits, IMAX, planetarium, and the Glasgow Tower with STEM education programmes, school partnerships, and community outreach serving over 370,000 people annually across Scotland.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Science Centre and Visitor Attraction

NAICS

Museums (712110), Museums (71211)

SIC

Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900), Services-Miscellaneous Amusement & Recreation (7990)

akta.pro primary industry

Science & Technology Museums (THAJADAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Hands-on Science Exploration & Experiments (Lab Kits, Science Clubs) (EDAMABAA), Space & Astronomy Programs (EDAMABAE), Science Camps & Field Programs (Nature, Space, Marine, Geology) (EDAMABAB), STEM/Academic Competition & Enrichment Travel (THAKAGAG)

Keywords

• Interactive science exhibits
• STEM education programmes
• Science visitor attraction
• Educational outreach services
• Planetarium and IMAX cinema

Headquarters

HQ city

Glasgow

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Day Entry Tickets: Day admission tickets to the Science Mall with access to interactive exhibits across three floors. Tickets are sold online, by phone, and in person at box office. VAT reduced from 20% to 5% under UK Government's Great British Summer Savings Scheme (25 June to 1 September 2026).
2. Science Passport Membership: Annual membership offering unlimited access to the Science Mall for a year. Prices: £44.25 per adult, £39.45 per concession, £34.50 per child, Under 3s free. Provides recurring revenue from repeat visitors.
3. IMAX and Planetarium Shows: Add-on experiences including IMAX blockbusters and mini-films, and Planetarium shows available with day tickets or separately.
4. Special Events: Special ticketed events including Designosaurs, Science of Whisky tasting, birthday celebrations, Science Lates, and themed evenings.
5. Gift Vouchers: Day ticket gift vouchers and monetary value gift vouchers redeemable for tickets, memberships, shop, and cafe purchases.
6. Food and Beverage: Cafe and coffee shop serving meals and refreshments to visitors.
7. Retail: Gift shop selling science-themed merchandise and gifts.
8. Donations and Gift Aid: Charitable donations accepted with Gift Aid scheme allowing GSC to claim additional 25p per £1 donated from HMRC.
9. Event Hire and Filming: Venue hire for corporate events and location fees for commercial filming and photography.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Glasgow Science Centre operates a five-star visitor attraction and educational charity delivering interactive science experiences through its Science Mall (350+ interactive exhibits across three floors), Planetarium, IMAX theatre, Glasgow Tower, and Newton Flight Academy. It supplements these physical experiences with curriculum-linked school education programmes, community learning, outreach, and venue hire, and manages the Whitelee Windfarm Visitor Centre. Revenue is generated via admission tickets, annual memberships, retail, F&B, events, donations, grants and corporate sponsorships.

Product overview

Glasgow Science Centre is a five-star visitor attraction offering interactive science experiences through its Science Mall with over 350 interactive exhibits across three floors, supported by dedicated science communicators. The centre operates multiple distinct attractions and educational offerings including: the Planetarium for immersive space shows; IMAX cinema with Scotland's biggest screen; Glasgow Tower, the world's only rotating tower that tracks wind direction; and themed exhibition galleries (BodyWorks, Powering the Future, Space Zone, Idea No.59, Question of Perception, Explore!). Educational services include Curriculum-linked school programmes, STEM Learning Pathways with UK Space Agency funding, community learning, AI Summer School, and outreach On Tour activities. The centre also manages the Whitelee Windfarm Visitor Centre. Membership is offered through the Science Passport annual pass. The centre engages over 370,000 visitors annually and operates as an independent Scottish charity (SC030809).

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Science Mall: Main exhibition space with three floors of interactive exhibits
• Science Passport
• IMAX
• Planetarium
• Whitelee Windfarm
• Newton Flight Academy
• GSC At Home
• On Tour

Products and services

• Science Mall Three-floor exhibition space housing 350+ interactive science exhibits across themed galleries including BodyWorks, Powering the Future, Space Zone, Idea No.59, A Question of Perception, Explore!, Outer Space, Quantum Technologies, The Big Explorer, and the Science Show Theatre. Open to the general public via day entry tickets.
• Planetarium Full-dome immersive theatre experience offering astronomy, space exploration and science shows. Scotland's only planetarium, available as an add-on to day tickets or as a standalone experience.
• IMAX Theatre Scotland's biggest IMAX screen showing IMAX blockbusters, documentaries and mini-films with 3D capability, available as an add-on to day tickets. Ticketing is delivered through Ticket Tailor.
• Glasgow Tower 127-metre freestanding tower and the only fully ground-up rotating tower in the world, capable of dynamically tracking wind direction. Open to visitors as part of the Science Centre experience.
• Newton Flight Academy Flight simulator experience where visitors learn about aviation and pilot a simulator, available as an add-on to day tickets or via dedicated gift vouchers.
• Science Passport Annual Membership Annual subscription membership offering unlimited access to the Science Mall for one year. Priced at £44.25 per adult, £39.45 per concession, £34.50 per child, with under-3s free. Includes account management via the online ticket portal.
• Day Entry Tickets General admission tickets to the Science Mall providing access to three floors of interactive exhibits. Sold online, by phone, and at the on-site box office. Subject to a reduced VAT rate of 5% under the UK Government's Great British Summer Savings Scheme from 25 June to 1 September 2026 (down from the standard 20%).
• Education Programmes for Schools Curriculum for Excellence-linked programmes for Early Years, Primary, Lower Secondary and Upper Secondary, including Learning Labs, teacher CPD, and school visits. Bookable through a dedicated education team for schools across Scotland.
• STEM Futures Education programme for pupils aged 14-18 connecting young people with STEM industries through innovation and work readiness workshops.
• Learning Lab: Scotland in Space UK Space Agency-funded programme offering 8 weeks of lesson plans, live sessions with scientists and engineers, and visits to the science centre. Engaged 7,819 children last year including 2,000+ in the continuous Space programme.
• Community Learning Programmes engaging communities including The Bothy project, partnerships with The Hidden Gardens, free access for G51 residents, and science workshops delivered to Barlinnie Prison. Supports vulnerable populations and those with additional support needs.
• AI Summer School Summer programme introducing artificial intelligence concepts to young learners, with curriculum-linked content delivered by GSC's science communicators.
• On Tour Outreach Scotland-wide outreach programme bringing mobile science exhibits and demonstrations to schools and community locations across the country. Reaches audiences unable to visit the Glasgow campus.
• Whitelee Windfarm Visitor Centre Visitor centre at Scotland's largest windfarm near Eaglesham, South Lanarkshire, managed by Glasgow Science Centre. Offers an education programme about renewable energy, plus visitor access via standard pricing.
• Corporate Events and Venue Hire Corporate venue hire for events, team building, and commercial filming/photography in the Science Mall, IMAX, Planetarium, and Glasgow Tower. Corporate Membership programme connects businesses with the science centre.
• Gift Vouchers Day ticket gift vouchers, monetary value vouchers redeemable in shop, cafe, IMAX and tickets, plus Newton Flight Academy-specific vouchers. Monetary vouchers cannot be used for corporate events or alcohol.
• Birthday Parties Celebration packages for children's birthdays held within the Science Centre.
• Corporate Membership Corporate membership programme connecting businesses with the science centre, providing employee and client engagement opportunities.
• Cafe and Coffee Shop On-site cafe and coffee shop serving meals and refreshments to visitors.
• Science-Themed Gift Shop On-site gift shop selling science-themed merchandise, gifts and souvenirs to visitors.

Named customers5 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration15 records

Feature4 records

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Science Museum Group: Operates the Science Museum in London plus the National Railway Museum, Museum of Science and Industry, and Locomotion. Direct comparable in operating large-scale science museums with interactive exhibits and education programmes, though at a much larger UK-wide scale.
• Royal Museums Greenwich: Operates the Royal Observatory Greenwich, National Maritime Museum, Cutty Sark, and Queen's House. Comparable in operating a multi-attraction visitor destination with planetarium/observatory elements and school education programmes.
• National Museums Scotland: Operates multiple Edinburgh museums including the National Museum of Scotland with science and technology galleries. Similar Scottish visitor attraction scale with free admission model and complementary science education mission.

Direct peers

• Dynamic Earth: Edinburgh-based science attraction focused on earth sciences with immersive exhibits and education programmes. Closest direct peer in Scotland with similar visitor attraction model, educational mission, and 5-star VisitScotland accreditation.
• Thinktank Birmingham Science Museum: Birmingham science museum with interactive exhibits across multiple floors and education programmes. Comparable regional UK science centre with similar exhibit-driven visitor model and school engagement.
• Techniquest: Wales's largest science discovery centre in Cardiff Bay with interactive exhibits and STEM education programmes. Directly comparable in operating an interactive science centre with school programmes, memberships, and a similar annual visitor scale.
• Centre for Life: Newcastle-based science centre combining interactive exhibits, a planetarium, and biomedical research. Closely comparable operating model with multi-attraction science centre, planetarium, education programmes, and outreach focus.

Regional players

• Jodrell Bank Discovery Centre: Cheshire-based UNESCO World Heritage Site operated by the University of Manchester with science engagement and planetarium experiences. Comparable in combining astronomy/space programming with science education, though serving a different UK region.

Emerging players

• Eden Project: Cornwall-based educational charity operating biomes and educational experiences with a strong environmental and sustainability mission. Comparable charity structure with visitor attraction scale, education programmes, and corporate event hire revenue streams.
• Catalyst Science Discovery Centre: Widnes-based science discovery centre and museum focused on the chemical industry with interactive exhibits. Smaller-scale direct peer with similar interactive science discovery model and education focus.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/gsc1
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/glasgow-science-centre
• Instagraminstagram.com/glasgowsciencecentre
• TikToktiktok.com/@glasgowsciencecentre
• Facebookfacebook.com/Glasgowsciencecentre

Compliance11 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

Subsidiaries2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Glasgow Science Centre