FAQs

About

Discover is currently closed – but will reopen on Saturday 20 June. In the meantime, you can visit our nearby pop up space.

What is Discover?

We are a place where children and their families can enjoy playing, learning and making up stories together.

Everyone who visits gets to play in our two floors of Story Worlds, and our Story Garden. These are magical spaces to help kids’ imaginations run wild. Our Story Builders pop up throughout the day to tell stories, sing songs and help little ones play, create and imagine. Your Entry ticket will give you access to these spaces.

When you visit Discover, you can also add on additional events to your booking – these can include Storytelling Sessions for different ages, special events with authors and illustrators, and our spectacular, themed Immersive Exhibitions, where stories are brought even more amazingly to life – these change once each year. We also have a new space dedicated to 0-2 year olds, our Baby and Toddler Sensory Story Space is free with your Entry ticket but timed sessions (45 minutes) should be booked.

We have a new Bookshop and a Café.

If you or your child like to see a new space before visiting it, take a look at our social stories videos.

Can I visit if I use a wheelchair?

Definitely! Discover has lifts to all floors and wheelchair accessible toilets. Just ask our staff on the day if you need any additional assistance. Read more about Access here.

My kid has SEN or other additional needs – is Discover appropriate for them?

Absolutely! You can find out lots more about our offer for families with additional needs on our Access page here.

We welcome kids with SEN and other additional needs on any and every day but you can also choose from various Sensory Adapted and BSL events, and have a look at our Saturday Club Mighty Mega.

If you have any specific questions about your child’s specific needs, just email bookings@discover.org.uk where our team will be happy help.

Booking

How do I decide when to come and what to book?

There are two ways to plan your Discover visit, it depends whether you know what dates you might want to come on or if you want to browse all events:

1. To start with dates: On the homepage, click the ‘Build your visit’ tab. On the calendar you can then choose different dates for an overview of events on that day, including whether they’re sold out. Once you’ve found the date you want, click the ‘start building my visit’ button at the bottom, and you can select your times, events and tickets.
2. To browse all events: If you want to see an overview of events, visit the Things to See and Do page and scroll down. You can see everything we have coming up, and also filter events by things like date, age or school holiday period. When you click on an event, you’ll then have an option to see best availability and book tickets directly from the event page.

What are Day and Annual tickets?

Day Entry tickets give you access to Discover’s Story Worlds and Garden on a single date. Annual Entry tickets give you access to the same things, but you can come every day all year round (you still need to book Day Entry tickets for the days you visit, but they will be free). Find out more about Annual Entry.

Do I have to buy tickets in advance or can I just turn up?

You can purchase tickets on the door as well, at our reception. Additional events like storytelling sessions and immersive exhibitions do tend to book up in advance though, and we can even reach our capacity for Entry tickets on busy days, so we recommend booking ahead online if you can to avoid disappointment.

When is the quietest time to come?

We are quietest midweek during term time. You can play all day in our ground floor Story World and garden, although the upper floor of our Story Worlds will sometimes be closed for the first couple of hours, for school visits. If you want a day without schools, Fridays are just for families. If you want extra-quiet days, term time Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays are best.

If you can only come on a weekend or during the holidays, we are generally a bit less busy on Sunday afternoons and on very hot and sunny days. Rainy days are always the most busy!

How far in advance do you put tickets on sale?

We will always have at least 6 weeks of tickets on sale, usually more.

How can I be the first to find out when new events go on sale?

You can sign up to our newsletter here and/ or follow us on Facebook and Instagram.

Can I bring children of different ages to events – even if they’re not in the recommended age range?

Yes, everyone is welcome at all of our events – the recommended age guide is just to show who it is aimed at but older and younger children in your group are welcome to join if they want. We try to give as much information as possible on each website event page, so you can make your own judgements about suitability. Please note that only 0-2 year olds and their grown-ups can play in our Baby and Toddler Sensory Story Space – though we have a small, separate craft area in the room for old siblings.

What ticket discounts do you offer?

We offer various discounts, including:

Newham Residents – select ‘Newham Adult’ and ‘Newham Child’ ticket types.

Under 2s and under 1s

Disabled Adult or Child – these tickets are discounted and can also be accompanied by a free Carer, just choose the ‘Carer’ ticket.

Concessions – we offer concession tickets to Over 65s, Blue Light card holders, NUS card holders, recipients of Job Seekers Allowance.

Please not that if you choose a discounted ticket type, we may ask for proof of eligibility when you arrive at Discover.

How do I book large groups?

Our website limits bookings to 10 tickets at a time. If you have a group of over 10 people attending you can either book in multiple transactions or email us at bookings@discover.org.uk and we can help book this.

If you’re thinking about a larger group for a birthday party, find out more about Discover Birthday Parties here.

Can I change or amend my booking?

We can amend or change a booking for you as long as you let us know before the day of your booked visit, just email us the details with your order number to bookings@discover.org.uk and our bookings team will help.

Your Visit

Do I have to arrive at the start of my Entry ticket time (eg 10am)?

No – you can arrive at any time to play between 10am-5pm. Do make sure you arrive in good time for any additional events you have booked though, as these do not admit latecomers.

My email says collect tickets at the box office, where is that?

This is our reception desk as you enter the building – entry will be quicker if you have your confirmation email handy, but if not you can just say your name and our team can find you booking for you. You do not need to collect tickets in advance of your visit. Please be aware that you may have to show ID for any Annual Entry tickets you are using (just for adults).

Can I bring a buggy?

We have storage for buggies in our basement and/ or garden but many of our spaces cannot have buggies in, so if you have a pre-walker we recommend bringing a sling.  If you have a particular reason why you need a buggy with you – eg twin babies or a sleeping child – do speak to our front of house team who will be able to advise and accommodate your buggy where needed.

Do you have baby changing facilities?

 Yes we do. We have toilets with baby changing facilities on all three of our main floors.

What about food and drink?

We have a cafe on our ground floor – and on busier days the coffee-and-snack shack in our garden is open.

You are also welcome to bring your own food – we always have spaces where you can eat, both inside and in the garden, though food is not allowed in the Story Worlds or events – just ask a member of staff to point you to that day’s picnic spot.

Can I heat up baby food or milk in your café?

Can we leave and come back during the day?

Yes, you can leave and return all day between 10am-5pm. Simply keep your wristband on if you plan on coming back in during the same day.

Other

Do you do gift vouchers?

Yes we do! You can purchase Gift Vouchers here or on the day of your visit – with options for different prices.

What should I do if I have a complaint?

In the first instance, you should email bookings@discover.org.uk who will be able to help or pass on your complaint to the relevant team. If you are unhappy with the way your complaint has been dealt with, you can ask for it to be escalated in line with our complaints policy.

If you have general feedback that you don’t need a response to, please fill in the survey you will be emailed the day after you visit – we review these with the team regularly and make changes wherever possible.