Tucked away on an unappetising industrial estate in Leicester, the Lottery-backped project delivers in spadefulls, especially for the younger visitor.

We took along our six-year-old and he was still finding new buttons to press, levers to turn and games to play when it was time to travel back to planet earth.

What's more, almost all of the buttons worked, the rockets fired and the flaps lifted, despite a thorough working-over by a sizeable Easter holiday crowd.

The museum tells the stories not only of space exploration but also the history of the solar system. It's all neatly and conveniently arranged around the spectacular Space Theatre where you can enjoy a 360-degrees cinema experience on the life of an astronaut - and, yes, it does feel as if you are flying through space.

On the catering side, the cafe is large but a little disappointing considering this is a national museum. The soup was good but the range of space snacks could be wider. At £12 and £10, the museum is good value for money, but watch out for the occasional extra charge once inside.

A quick word for the Abbey Pumping Station next door. For those in search of the quirky, this free museum is dedicated to the history of the toilet, and other such useful inventions. Drop in, if it's convenient. John Howes

Verdict: Star quality