Community Visits

Visitor group

We are pleased that Bayfordbury Observatory now offers small group visits open to the general public. A blend of our popular Open Evenings and Group Visits, our Community Visits will be a 2-hour guided tour of Bayfordbury Observatory, including a talk on Astronomy by one of our Astrophysics students, a planetarium show, and an opportunity to observe some wonders of the night (or day!) sky through our range of telescopes, weather permitting.

Depending on the weather, between October and March, we will attempt to view targets in the night sky. Between April to September, we will attempt use our solar telescopes to reveal features on the Sun's surface.

Community Visits dates will be listed here and marked on our calendar as “Community Visit”. To sign up for one of our visits, please follow the link below to book a place. These visits are perfect for individuals, families or small groups that otherwise wouldn't meet the requirements for minimum numbers of our group visits. Visit contents are aimed at an audience of all ages, unless stated otherwise in the list of upcoming visits below.

What is included?

A community visit will include:

  • a talk from one of our astronomy students
  • a tour of the sky in our Planetarium
  • a peek through the telescopes at Bayfordbury (weather permitting)

Visits are typically around 2 hours in length, with a start time of 6pm. A member of staff at the Observatory will contact you in advance of your visit to confirm all the details.

Ticket Prices

  • Entry to the Observatory is £15 per person.
  • Tickets will be available below when they become available.

Payment is preferred in advance as spaces are limited and demand can be high, however we can offer tickets on the door if any spaces are available.

Upcoming Community Visits - Special Event!

Wednesday 2nd October 6.30-8.30pm "100 Hours of Astronomy" Special Event

Join us for a special event in collaboration with the 100 Hours of Astronomy project. Especially for beginners to the world of astronomy and stargazing, this free event aims to engage the local community in looking up and seeing what's out there, as well as taking part in some fun activities at home and here at Bayfordbury Observatory. This year's theme is "100 Years of the Planetarium" so we will be exploring so celestial wonders in our very own built in planetarium. Perfect for families of all ages.