A Newcastle science centre is celebrating after being rated the best attraction in England for its visitor experience, beating the likes of heritage venue Bletchley Park and the arty delights of the National Portrait Gallery in London.
Life Science Centre in Times Square, which is fully geared up for a busy half-term week, received a score of more than 90% - even 100% in some areas - following a series of 'mystery visits' to assess what it has to offer visitors. And its chief executive Linda Conlon says the team is "delighted" at the results.
The rating comes from research consultancy BVA BDRC which runs a series of visitor bench-marking programmes nationwide. During their mystery 'inspections', assessors score venues in a range of categories, such as memorable moments; friendliness of staff; type of welcome and facilities.
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And Life, which offers hands-on science experiences to families and welcomes around 250,000 visitors a year, topped the league of visitor attractions in England, also coming ahead of a varied mix of venues also including the London Transport Museum. It achieved a top score of 100% in areas such as quality of activities; creating a sense of discovery and inspiration and making visitors feel valued.
Comments from the inspection referenced its passionate staff; its live shows and how it exceeded expectations. Its overall score of more than 90% was the highest score received, achieving a benchmark for "exceptional quality".
Linda added: “We are delighted to receive this accolade which is testament to the passion and dedication of our team and to the positive response to an ongoing programme of investment in the centre." She said stand-out changes at the centre include a £1.5m investment programme behind the likes of its hands-on Wow Zone and an upgrade to its planetarium to create an immersive experience for visitors.
Life opened in the city in 2000 and as the venue leads up its 25-year anniversary, she added: "We remain committed to providing the best experience possible for all our visitors, including those with specific needs.” For more information about what is on offer at Life during half-term - including Halloween slime-making - see here.
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