Techniquest will reopen on 10 October. Tickets on sale now!Read more about it
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Know before you go
Here’s what we've put in place to ensure the safety of our visitors and staff.
Techniquest’s re-launch demonstrates a deliberate approach, drawing on the experience from the successful reopening of other attractions around the world, and has implemented enhanced health and safety measures to protect its staff and visitors.
The centre has implemented new measures and procedures, including opening with timed slots, limited attendance and required advanced ticketing and reservations.
Techniquest has changed its layout to accommodate social distancing in queues and other facilities throughout the exhibition.
Enhanced cleaning measures have also been implemented by our cleaning contractor and on-site staff.
Read on for more detail about all of these measures and more.
Face coverings
Under new Welsh Government law in relation to indoor spaces, it is now mandatory to wear a face covering when visiting Techniquest unless you are exempt.
If you arrive for a pre-booked session without a face covering and you are not exempt from wearing one, you will be required to purchase a face mask from Techniquest before you will be admitted into the exhibition.
Please read the Welsh Government guidance for further information.
Ticketing
Ticket sales are available through our website, with a limited number of tickets available each day. Capacities are being reviewed on an ongoing basis. Guests are required to purchase dated admission tickets prior to their arrival — Annual Pass holders must make a reservation for their visit date and time through the Techniquest website.
The validity period of a Techniquest Annual Pass will be extended for the number of lost days falling between the centre’s closure date of 18th March 2020 and the end of the closure period on 10th October 2020.
Two time slots will be available for public audiences:
| AM | 10:00–13:00 |
| PM | 14:00–17:00 |
During this limited capacity period public events, public shows and certain ticket types (including new annual passes) are unavailable. A maximum group size of 5 has been imposed unless organised through an educational institution.
At the point of purchase, visitors will be asked to provide basic personal information including name and email address for contact tracing purposes. By agreeing to our T&C’s you are allowing us to process your data for this purpose.
In line with the current public health guidance, each visitor will be given a stylus to use when interacting with our new exhibits. The booking fee will help cover these costs for the time being and ensure we can minimise direct hands-on contact.
Operations
At the beginning of each time slot, guests will be asked to queue using the Main Entrance and exterior of the building. A queuing system is clearly marked with indicators on the floor to advise social distancing spacing between groups.
A number of sanitation points are positioned around the exhibition and next to major touchpoints for guests to use during their visit.
The Science Theatre, Lab, Planetarium and specific high-risk exhibits are not be in operation. These exhibits include:
- The slide
- Interactive sandbox
- The shadow box
Other operational changes include:
- A temperature screening when you arrive at Techniquest. *Please do not travel to us if you or anyone you have recently been in contact with are experiencing any COVID-19 symptoms you may be turned away without a refund;
- Guests will be issued with a complimentary personal stylus to operate screens on new exhibits;
- The introduction of one-way systems for guests using the ‘Low light area’ and the ‘Wet area’;
- Arrow markers on the floor where guests should follow a particular path;
- Toilets throughout the exhibition will temporarily be made unisex. One family group will be permitted to use the facilities at a time;
- Guests may be expected to queue for the toilets during busy periods; floor markers and tenser barriers will indicate the queuing system. Staff will be made available to manage the queues if appropriate;
- Janitors check and cleans the toilets at least once every hour;
- Exhibition windows will remain ‘open’ where possible so the exhibition can be well ventilated. It is advised to bring warm clothing in colder weather conditions;
- Adequate staff at till points will allow the queue to be served quickly;
- Perspex screens/till guards will be installed at front desk and retail areas;
- Masks/visors will be provided for all front of house teams;
- Decommissioning air powered hand dryers and replacing them with disposable paper towels.
Retail
The retail unit is also in operation; signage throughout the shop and markings on the floor will signify the two-metre spacing customers must adhere to when using this area.
Card transactions will be the preferred option of payment; the PDQ machine will be sanitised after each use.
Cleaning procedures
External cleaning contractor carries out an early morning and evening cleaning routine which includes the use of ULV fogging, Electrostatic Misting and Compression Misting. Techniquest’s Operations Assistants will subsidise this effort by cleaning exhibits and high touch point areas between each bookable session.
We have identified a number of exhibits that require additional cleaning supplies or use of disposable gloves for visitors to use before interacting with them.
- Vacuum lift
- Sitting launch couch
- Bug rug
- Pull yourself up
- Dead-hang
- Calorie bicycle
- British Heart Foundation
Other cleaning measures include:
- Onsite first aid area has its own enhanced clean down process;
- Open bins will be used where possible to avoid creating further touchpoints;
- All cleaning fluids used in public areas are touch safe;
- Constant reviews of cleaning regime are undertaken, and appropriate changes are made.