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For people, place, prosperity and planet, we deliver impact with measurement science

NPL Open Day 2025

Information for
your visit

Make the most of your visit to our site 

  • All visitors will be given a map so you can make your way around our site.
  • We recommend that you bring a fully charged mobile device to have the best visitor experience, as you will be able to scan QR codes around site to find out more information about our amazing science. 
  • If you have any questions, feel free to ask any of our staff, who will be wearing blue NPL polo shirts or visit the help desk located in our main Reception, Module 16.    
  • Some of our scientists will be hard at work, so please appreciate that we are not able to open all of our facilities. For your own safety, please use the map to guide you around the displays. 
  • All personal items are the owner’s responsibility, we do not take responsibility for any lost or stolen items. 
  • The lifts are located behind the main Reception in Module 16 and also between Modules 12 and 13. 
  • There are no guided tours and some of the laboratories are quite small, so please be prepared to queue or change the order in which you visit the displays. 

Entrance tickets

Admission to the Open Day is by ticket only for all visitors.
Adults - £3
Children under 16 – free

Tickets are allocated by timeslot for your arrival. You may arrive at any time during your timeslot booking.
Last entry is 18.00. The site will close at 19.00.

Safety and wellbeing are a priority for all our colleagues and visitors, we want everyone to enjoy their day. We expect all visitors to be respectful to each other and NPL staff. We have a zero tolerance policy for intrusive or aggressive behaviour that is not in line with our organisational values and reserve the right to ask those behaving inappropriately to leave.

Book your place

Important information for your health and safety on site

Security 

Entry to our site will be subject to a mandatory bag check. 

You will also be asked to pass through our security arches and may be scanned with a security ‘wand’. Unchecked bags and their owners will not be granted access to the site. NPL reserves the right to refuse access to site.  

There are no cloakroom facilities, so to speed up entry to our site we recommend you minimise any bags. All visitors will be issued with a security wristband which must be worn at all times while on site. 

Prohibited items include but are not limited to: 

  • knives/blades of any kind  
  • alcohol 
  • glass bottles 
  • USB sticks 
  • dangerous or corrosive substances 

Our security team reserve the right to add to or amend this list at any time. 

Getting here 

Car parking is limited so please only drive if necessary. 

NPL is well served by public transport, find out your travel options here.

Please note that while we encourage green transport, we cannot allow any e-bikes or e-scooters on site.  

Refreshments 

The NPL restaurant, Newtons, will be open on the first floor to purchase snacks and drinks from midday until 18:00. Please note that no food or drink is allowed in laboratories. There will also be refreshments on the first floor of Module 1.  

Children 

Children are more than welcome to join us for Open Day, however the majority of our exhibits are not aimed at those under 8 years old. Under 16s must be accompanied by an adult at all times. We are unable to accommodate buggies/prams, so please do not bring these on site. 

Access Guide 

Our access guide provides more information for those coming to our site for the first time about the buildings and facilities. We recommend that all visitors review this information so they know what to expect.  

Dogs are not permitted on site, except for assistance dogs who may not be able to enter all areas of our site. 

Due to the volume of visitors, there is limited disability parking on site. Please indicate on your booking that you have a blue badge and let Security know when you arrive so that we can best accommodate your needs. We are unable to provide wheelchairs. 

Our Open Day is a large event, which means some areas of site can become busy, noisy and potentially overstimulating. Quiet areas are available at certain points on site. 

Photography and filming 

For security reasons, no photography is permitted a NPL. This includes video recorders, cameras and mobile devices. Official NPL photographers will be taking photos throughout the day, please indicate to them if you do not wish to be photographed. We will have one designated photobooth for you to enjoy outdoors to take a way a memento of the day! 

Safety  

If you notice an unattended package or a lost child, please inform an NPL member of staff immediately. 

Fire 

If you discover a fire, inform a member of NPL staff immediately. If there is a voice evacuation message over the tannoy system, leave the building immediately and report to the assembly point indicated on your map. Do not attempt to fight the fire or return to the building. 

Evacuation 

Should the need arise to evacuate a building or module during your visit, a continuous voice message will be heard. The following actions must then be taken: 

  • Promptly follow any instructions given by NPL staff, fire officers or members of the incident response team. 
  • Report immediately to the assembly point indicated on the map. 
  • Don’t use lifts. 

First aid 

For any medical emergency, seek assistance from NPL staff. Medical facilities are available for all visitors if required. 

Smoking  

NPL Open Day is a non-smoking event. Smoking, vaping or the use of e-cigarettes is not permitted in any building or the service roads between the Modules. 

Medical devices 

Please note that some laboratories are not safe for implanted or body worn medical devices (like pacemakers). Any issues will be indicated at the entrance of the labs. 
 

If any details have changed from the above on the day, they will be communicated to you as you arrive at the NPL site.  

Book your place

Work with us

We are proud to be a world-class organisation doing exceptional science, and to have an atmosphere of support and collaboration. If you are energetic, imaginative and share our values, find out more about the careers on offer at NPL.