New Immersive Planetarium Experience Launches in Bournemouth This October

Bournemouth is getting a rather spectacular new arrival this autumn, as a travelling immersive planetarium lands right in the heart of the town centre.

Planetarium Go! UK will be in Bournemouth from Friday 2 October to Sunday 25 October 2026, bringing a 360-degree cinema experience designed to take visitors through planets, stars and distant galaxies.

It is not simply an attraction for younger children either. The programme combines animated adventures with astronomy documentaries and immersive journeys through the Solar System, making it an unusual October experience for families, students and adults alike.

Step inside a 360-degree universe

Planetarium Go! is a travelling mobile planetarium where digital projection surrounds the audience across the dome.

Instead of watching a conventional cinema screen, visitors sit beneath imagery projected around them, creating the feeling of being immersed in the night sky and travelling through space.

Each visitor receives an individual headset with adjustable volume, while sessions have a maximum capacity of 60 people.

The individual films generally run for around 20 to 35 minutes, making the experience easy to combine with shopping, lunch or an afternoon in Bournemouth town centre.

What can you watch?

Several different shows are currently advertised, with age recommendations varying depending on the experience.

3-2-1 Lift Off is a 35-minute animated adventure recommended for ages six and over, while Beyond the Sun runs for 26 minutes and is recommended from age five.

Older children and adults can choose Exploring The Solar System, a 20-minute journey around our neighbouring planets, or From Earth to Universe, a 30-minute exploration of astronomy and the wider universe.

The mix means families can choose something playful for younger visitors or opt for a more documentary-style astronomy experience.

Something different for Bournemouth this October

Part of the appeal is how accessible the experience is compared with a traditional observatory or permanent science centre.

Rather than travelling outside Bournemouth to explore the night sky, visitors can experience a temporary planetarium during a visit to the town centre.

The attraction arrives at a particularly useful time for families too, running throughout much of October and into the approach to the school half-term period.

Bournemouth is one stop on Planetarium Go!'s travelling UK programme, following Leeds in September before the experience continues to Swindon from the end of October.

When is Planetarium Go! Bournemouth?

Dates: Friday 2 October to Sunday 25 October 2026

Visitors choose their show when booking and are advised to arrive at least 10 minutes before the performance begins. Tickets can also be purchased at the venue, although advance booking is recommended because sessions can sell out.

Is Planetarium Go! accessible?

The venue is wheelchair accessible and includes two dedicated wheelchair spaces inside the dome.

Seating consists of connected rows of reclining deck-style chairs, with some positioned at steeper reclining angles than others. Planetarium Go! advises visitors with back, neck or mobility concerns to take this into consideration before booking.

The experience currently does not provide subtitles or captions, so it may not be fully accessible for visitors who are deaf or hard of hearing.

Some shows can also simulate travelling through space or feature fast-moving planets and asteroids. Visitors who experience vertigo, dizziness or motion sickness are advised to consider their individual sensitivity when selecting a performance.

An autumn trip to the stars without leaving Bournemouth

October already brings plenty of reasons to head into Bournemouth, but Planetarium Go! adds something genuinely different to the town's autumn calendar.

Part cinema, part astronomy experience and part immersive attraction, it offers the chance to explore the Solar System without needing a telescope, a cloudless Dorset night or a journey to a permanent observatory.

For three weeks this October, apparently all you'll need to do is head into Bournemouth and look up.

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All Images: Instagram

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Planning more things to do in Bournemouth this autumn? Take a look at our guide to October in Bournemouth: 7 Brilliant Things to See, Do and Enjoy for more events and experiences happening across the town this month.

For families planning ahead to half term, discover Halloween Events in Bournemouth 2026, including trails, parties, crafts and spooky activities for children. 

Or see what else is happening locally right now with our regularly updated What’s On in Bournemouth This Week guide, covering live music, theatre, family activities and events across Bournemouth and Boscombe.