Brand new attraction at Jodrell Bank will open this summer

Jodrell Bank’s ‘transformational’ new visitor’s centre is all set to open in the summer, it’s been confirmed. It's part of the £21.5 million redevelopment of the site of the iconic Lovell radio telescope.

The ‘First Light Pavilion' is a grass-covered dome, which has been designed to mirror both the shape and the massive scale of the Lovell, and is all set to open on June 4. In a further nod to the stars above, the entrance to the centre is also placed on the meridian line, echoing ancient sites like Stonehenge and Newgrange in Ireland, with a window carved into the cement that will see the building act like a huge sundial.

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Inside, visitors will be able to discover the history behind the Jodrell Bank story, established in 1945 by the physicist and astronomer Bernard Lovell, as well as using hands-on control panels and taking in planetarium shows in a purpose-built auditorium, which features a vast curved screen and nine projectors.

There will also be a host of permanent exhibitions, boasting archive materials including diaries, letters, audio and video exhibits and photographs.

Professor Teresa Anderson, director of the Jodrell Bank centre for engagement, said: "After years of planning, we are thrilled to finally be able to announce the opening of First Light.

"This moment will mark a whole new chapter for Jodrell Bank and we're looking forward to welcoming our first visitors through the doors and into this beautiful new space.

That story of the emergence of radio astronomy is written across the landscape of Jodrell Bank and it is the only remaining place in the world that retains traces of the development of this branch of science from its earliest days to the