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London’s Pokémon fans have been totally spoiled this year. In honour of the brand’s 30th birthday, and Pokémon GO’s 10th anniversary, there have been all sorts of Poké-themed events taking place. In January, there was the rare merch drop at the Natural History Museum, followed by the Pokémon Europe International Championships at the ExCeL in February. April saw the opening of the ‘Pokopia Garden’ in west London and in August, there was the huge Team Rocket-themed event in Potters Field Park. And there’s still more to come.
Now, Pokémon has partnered with London’s Science Museum and the European Space Agency to create an exciting new free trail. The Pokémon Space Trail has been designed to coincide with World Space Week. That’s happening from October 4 until October 10, but the event will run until January. Here’s what you can expect.
First, you pick up a free copy of the trail from the Energy Hall, then you set off on your expedition. As you wander through the museum’s galleries, you’ll come across the likes of Pikachu, Lunatone, Arceus and more, alongside large-scale installations and real stories of European space science and exploration.
In the Power Up gallery (a space filled with 160 functioning video games and consoles), you can try your hand at retro games like Pokémon Snap on Nintendo 64, Pokémon Battle Revolution on Wii as well as more up-to-date ones like Pokémon Legends: Z-A on Switch 2. If you’re a keen Pokémon GO-er, the trail will also offer the chance to catch Astronaut Pikachu, take part in Timed Research tasks and have special Pokémon encounters.
Once you’ve completed the trail, head for the dedicated Pokémon gift shop on the museum’s mezzanine level. There, you can pick up an Astronaut Pikachu plush, clothing, stationery and selected Pokémon Trading Card Game products. Just make sure you book a free timed ticket in advance.
The Pokémon Space Trail will be at the Science Museum from Friday October 2 until Sunday January 3. In November, the museum will host a special adults-only Late themed around the trail. You’ll get the chance to explore after hours, meet scientists, take part in workshops, watch a screening of Pokémon Detective Pikachu in IMAX and challenge people to a range of Pokémon-themed games. Sounds like a superfan’s dream.
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