Join us for Ice Explorers – a fun, family-friendly open day at the headquarters of the British Antarctic Survey in Cambridge. Our open day is part of the Cambridge Festival line up.

Step into our icy world and find out how scientists, engineers and innovators are uncovering the secrets of our frozen poles. From the bottom of the oceans to the edge of space, our research helps guard the future of our planet.

Explore. Discover. Experience.

Ice Explorers invites families on an interactive journey into the polar regions – where the ice tells stories of Earth’s past and present, and holds the clues to its future. Through hands-on experiments, live demonstrations and fascinating exhibits, you’ll see how researchers study ice, wildlife and climate change in some of the planet’s most extreme places.

A group of people that are standing in the snow

  • Meet polar scientists and engineers who are studying Earth’s most extreme environments.
  • Step inside a polar field tent and see what it’s really like to live and work in freezing conditions.
  • Try on real polar clothing to learn what it takes to survive in the icy wilderness.
  • Hop aboard a snowmobile and snap a photo with our friendly penguins!
  • Hear stories from Antarctica – from battling blizzards to studying the ice, oceans and wildlife that hold clues to our changing planet
A penguin standing on a beach
Photo by Peter Fretwell

The polar regions matter

Why are Antarctica and the Arctic vital for understanding climate change? What questions are scientists trying to answer, and how does what’s happening there affect the rest of the world?

Our research shows that the polar regions play a huge part in the Earth’s climate – by reflecting sunlight, storing frozen water and driving ocean currents. Understanding how these cold places are changing means we can better protect our planet’s future.

This ice-cool experience is open to everyone – from curious kids to lifelong explorers!
Come along, uncover the science and take your first steps into the exciting world of polar research.

Tickets will be released in February 2026 and the event will be free to attend.

A large body of water.
A grounded iceberg seen from Lagoon Island in Ryder Bay, Antarctica