W5 Interactive Center

W5 is Ireland´s famous and award winning interactive discovery center. The name W5 actually stands for Who, What, Where, When, and Why – the center strives to answer those questions and present the answers in a fun interactive way.

The W5 is found at the Odyssey Center - a large sports and entertainment center situated in Queen’s Island, Belfast, Northern Ireland. The Odyssey was funded by a number of companies and government agencies: the Millennium Commission (49%), the Laganside Corporation (11%), the Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure (18.5%), the Sheridan Group (18.5%) and the Sports Council (3.3%). It was completed in 2001 and is also the home of The Arena which is Ireland’s biggest indoor stadium with a capacity of 10,000. So as to avoid confusion, please be informed that Queen’s Island is now known as the Titanic Quarter.

The W5 has over 160 interactive exhibits which can be enjoyed by visitors of all ages. These unique exhibits are divided into four dynamic exhibition areas. These areas were named START, GO, SEE and DO.

START

Start is designed specifically for children aged eight and below.

In December 2005, the W5 rebuilt Start and added new exhibits designed to ignite the imagination and creativity of the little ones. There they can play car mechanic and customize a real Mini in the W5 Garage (pictured above); become engineers and architects and construct buildings that withstand earthquakes at the Shake Table; become entrepreneurs and run their very own play café (pictured above); become musicians and create their own sounds in the music studio; or they can make a splash at the water area complete with ball canons or see their own skeleton ride a bike!

Just recently they added a new play area whose exhibits are particularly suited for kids aged 5 and below. There they can play artists and design flowers or butterflies; or they can set up and design their very own little playhouse; or they can move further ahead and build their own mini city complete with roads, villages and railways, in the model landscape exhibit (pictured above).

GO

Go is for older and therefore more physically fit and intellectually active kids.

In the main exhibit area they have the tug of war challenge (pictured above) and the pulley chairs. And for the more thinking kids they have the space exploration exhibit (pictured above), the magnets exhibit and the build your own race car exhibit sponsored by K’nex – the kids can challenge and race each other’s creations.

They also have the astronaut challenge – where the kids must decide how to act in order to save the life of a young astronaut who has become infected by a Martian organism. And for more space adventures, there’s an interactive game where they must sustain life by sending supplies back and forth from earth to the space station.

Also there is an exhibit on the human body and the ever famous “opinion monitor” that is sure to spur curiosity!

SEE

The See exhibit can be enjoyed by both the young and the young at heart, and specializes in visual exhibits.

There they have a lie detector, a “sound wall,” and a number of professional microscopes.

You can also play invisible instruments and make music with lights. Plus, they have a lot of optical illusions that can only be seen in W5.

Just recently added in the area is Think Creative. The exhibit allows visitors to play animator and create their very own cartoons complete with sound affects (pictured above); or they can try their hand at theatrical lighting; or be the photo editor of their own paper; or explore the many different works and tasks of professionals.

Make sure you get to experience the shadow wall – where your shadow controls flowing sand (pictured above).

DO

Do is the most interactive of all exhibit departments – definitely for the older bunch.

There you can design and build advanced structures; or bring robots to life; or even play virtual sports.

The most famous attractions in Do are those found in the Weather Watch (pictured above). There you can be your very own weathercaster and discover a lot more about the different kinds and effects of weather. You can also design and build a wind turbine or test your knowledge on renewable energy

Aside from these permanent exhibits, the W5 also presents a changing set of large and small scale temporary exhibitions and events. Plus there are live science demonstrations daily that present at different schedules throughout the day.

This coming May 25^th, W5 is offering free admission to people over 50 years of age (just make sure to bring valid identification). And in June 15^th, as part of the Father’s Day celebration, fathers also get to enter free of charge.

Getting there is easy. The Odyssey is clearly signposted on all major roads.

Just in case, here’s a more detailed set of directions based on where you will be coming from:

If you’re coming from the north, approaching Belfast on the M2, just follow the signs onto the M3. Exit at Queen´s Island. Turn left at the stoplights at Sydenham Road. From there you can see the Odyssey on your right.

If you’re coming from the south (Republic of Ireland), approaching Belfast on the M1, cross straight onto Broadway and onto the Westlink. Just follow the signs for M3 or City Airport. Once on the M3 take the exit at Queen´s Island. Turn left at the stoplights at Sydenham Road. From there you can see the Odyssey on your right.

If you’re coming from Belfast City Centre, just follow the signs for A2 Bangor onto Queen Elizabeth Bridge. Stay in the left lane. After crossing the River Lagan turn left onto Queen´s Island. From there you can see the Odyssey on your left.

The site parking can accommodate up to 1,500 vehicles. Parking rate pp to 1 hour is £0.70, up to 2 hours is £1.40, up to 4 hours is £2.10, up to 6 hours is £2.50, and up to 8 hours is £3.50.

If you’re gonna ride the bus, W5 is only five minutes away by foot from the Laganside Bus Centre via Queen Elizabeth Bridge or Lagan Weir Bridge. If you’re gonna ride the train, it’s only ten minutes away by foot from the Central Station.

Reminders and other Info:

Ø allow at least 2 hours in your schedule to fully enjoy the entire experience – of course, you can stay longer than that as your ticket is valid for the entire day

Ø tickets are valid for an entire day and visitors can leave and come back any time – so you can also explore the entire Odyssey Complex while you’re there

Ø children of all ages can be brought to the W5 – with a special toddler section for those under 3

Ø children under the age of 12 must be accompanied by an adult at all times

Ø payment methods include: Cash, Check, Delta, Switch, Maestro, Solo, Mastercard, and Visa

Ø W5 is Euro friendly

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