We loved the movie Night at the Museum when the museum literally came to life and there were all sorts of adventures! More and more museums are making their museum spaces available for overnight stays for families. Here are some Museum Sleepover Nights That Kids Will be Thrilled By, all around the world:

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Museum Sleepover Nights in the UK

Dino Snores at Natural History Museum, London

The unique Dinosnores sleepover at the Natural History Museum in London gives kids aged 7 to 11 the chance to explore the museum after dark while taking part in fun and educational activities.

Stalk the galleries as night descends and find T. rex in hidden in shadows. You’ll also have the chance to:

• explore a torch-lit trail
• get creative with a dinosaur t-shirt-making workshop
• dig deeper with an educational science show presented by a Museum scientist

At midnight, it’s time to settle down to sleep. In the morning, breakfast is served bright and early and you’ll get to experience a live animal show before waving goodbye to the Museum when it opens to the public at 10.00.

Future dates book up fast, these dates have space at time of writing: Dino Snores for Kids 11 January 2020, 7 February 2020, 29 February 2020, 14 March 2020 18.45-10.00

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Astronights at the Science Museum, London

If your child has ever wanted to explore the Museum after dark, or if the idea of spending the night in one of our iconic galleries fills them with excitement, then they’ll love Astronights, the special sleepover for children at The Science Museum.

With workshops, science shows and activities—rounded off with breakfast and a breathtaking IMAX 3D film—it will be a night they never forget.

Upcoming Dates: 7 December 2019, 18 January 2020, 8 February 2020, 7 March 2020, 17 April 2020, 2 May 2020, 5 June 2020

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Young Friends Sleepovers at The British Museum, London

Sleepovers at The British Museum in London give Young Friends the chance to spend a night exploring areas of the Museum after dark. There’s a great range of activities to get involved in – from storytelling, music and dance workshops, re-enactments and craft activities, plus a chance to see one of the current temporary exhibitions. It’s a fantastic opportunity to learn more about the Museum and the collection.

NB it’s £25 for the year’s Young Friends membership

Upcoming Dates: Saturday 26 October 2019

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Sleeping with the Sharks at Plymouth Aquarium

Sleeping with the Sharks at Plymouth Aquarium is an exciting opportunity to see what happens in the underwater world. Their sleepover experiences are engaging and let you know what you can do to help preserve the fantastic marine environment and how we all have a part in helping to keep it safe.

Upcoming Dates: 25th October 2019, 30th December 2019

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BedBUGS at ZSL London Zoo

Ever wondered what it’s like to sleepover at a Zoo? BedBUGS at ZSL London Zoo is the sleepover with a difference… The perfect sleepover for young explorers aged 7-11 years, guests get to stay overnight in the BUG house at ZSL London Zoo, have a torchlight tour and get woken up to the sounds of our residents! There are activities, a night tour, breakfast, a morning tour and access to the Zoo for the day after your stay all included!

Your experience includes dedicated hosts for the evening, an amazing animal talk, a torch lit tour of the Zoo, activities for the evening, goody bags and a T-shirt for the children, hot drinks for the adults all evening, a continental breakfast, morning tour of the Zoo before it opens to the public.

Upcoming Dates: 5th October and 1st November 2019

Museum Sleepover Nights in the USA

A Night at the Museum at American Museum of Natural History, New York

As the doors close and the lights dim, you and your group will head out with flashlights in search of a variety of adventures at A Night At The American Museum of Natural History.

Meet your relatives in the Anne and Bernard Spitzer Hall of Human Origins. Climb the stairs and enter the Age of Dinosaurs, standing beneath a fearsome T. rex. Then enjoy Amazon Adventure now showing in 3-D in the LeFrak Theater before the night comes to a magical close. Settle down beneath the 94-foot-long blue whale, next to African elephants or at the base of a striking volcanic formation and fall asleep in the darkened halls of one of the world’s most beloved museums.

Sleepovers are suitable for 6–13 year olds.

Upcoming Dates: 2019 dates are sold out but keep an eye on their website for 2020 dates.

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Penguins+Pajamas Sleepovers at California Academy of Sciences

At Penguins+Pajamas Sleepovers at California Academy of Sciences you’ll get to explore the exhibits after-hours and discover the deepest depths of the oceans, travel to the tops of rainforests, blast off into outer space at your own private planetarium show, and then settle in for story time after snacking on milk and cookies.

When the lights go out, roll out your sleeping bag next to the swaying kelp of the California Coast tank, or even at the Swamp window, face-to-face with Claude, the albino alligator. In the morning, rise and shine, then head over to the Academy Café for breakfast. Open to children ages 5-17.

Upcoming Dates:19th October 2019, 9th November 2019, 8th February 2020, 21st February 2020, 7th March 2020, 2nd May 2020, 22nd May 2020
5th June 2020

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Science Sleepovers at The Carnegie Science Center in Pittsburgh

At The Carnegie Science Center in Pittsburgh they hold different themed sleepover nights with fun activities including:

• A Movie in the NEW Rangos Giant Cinema
• Themed activities
• Planetarium or laser show
• Live theater show
• Sleeping among the exciting exhibits
• Official Science Center patch
• Late-night snack
• Continental breakfast
• Free admission for the day following the sleepover, including Highmark SportsWorks® and USS Requin

Check-in begins at 6 pm the evening of your sleepover, where you will receive a detailed schedule of the night’s happenings. The overnight experience will begin with a brief orientation, after which participants will enjoy a night of themed activities. Lights-out is at midnight. All sleepover gear must be removed from the building by 9:00 am, but you are welcome to stay the day after and explore even more with your general admission, included in your sleepover cost!

Upcoming Dates:

• Monster Madness Sleepover Friday 25th October
• Light Up Night Sleepover Friday 22nd November
• Elf Sleepover Saturday 7th December

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Museum Sleepover Nights in Australia

Dinosnore at The Australian Museum, Sydney

Dinosnore at The Australian Museum is an unforgettable overnight experience suitable for 6-12 years with accompanying adults. The museum is a very different place after dark, when visitors have left and the lights go out. Here’s what you’ll do at the sleepover:

• Enjoy a buffet dinner and get up close to native Australian animals such as crocodiles, pythons and lizards before coming face-to-face with Winny, our resident Muttaburrasaurus – an Australian dinosaur that lived around 100 million years ago.
• Embark on a torchlight tour to discover secrets and stories of AM’s collections before relaxing in the theatre to watch a family favourite film.
• When it’s time for bed, snuggle up with dinosaurs including Stegosaurus and Tyrannosaurus Rex.
• In the morning, wake to a continental breakfast at the rooftop cafe followed by an exclusive viewing of their current special exhibition.

Upcoming Dates: The Museum is closed to the public to enable a major renovation, Project Discover, temporary closure until mid-2020

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Museum Sleepover Nights in Canada

ROMKids Sleepovers at Royal Ontario Museum

Bunk down for the night at Toronto’s ultimate backstage museum pass at ROMKids Sleepovers at Royal Ontario Museum suitable for children ages 5 and up.

Before bedtime, visitors are invited to get up close to Museum artifacts with exclusive after-hours access to the galleries, speak with ROM experts, enjoy a special movie screening, and make your own souvenir to take home. Plus there’s PJ karaoke and a late night snack before you spend the night sleeping in the Museum!

Upcoming Dates: Check their website for latest dates

Over to you now. Have you done a museum sleepover with your child? Is there one we should add to our museum sleepover list? Tell us in the comments below.