One Night in the Museum

Three groups of friends from different primary schools visit the Museum of Science and Industry in Manchester at night. With no adults around, they are free to go on their own journeys of discovery.

The museum contains artefacts dating from the Industrial Revolution up to today. Many of them are the ancestors of the technology the kids take for granted, such as phones, radios, record players and computers. There are also historical vehicles and industrial machines to explore.

Can museums and the historical objects they contain inspire kids brought up in an age of tech. Are they still relevant in the 21st century?

Three groups of Scottish primary school friends set sail on their One Night In The Museum adventure, and head to the National Maritime Museum in London. With no adults to help - or hinder - them it's up to the kids to navigate a labyrinth of learning on their own in this iconic museum, after hours.

The National Maritime Museum is the largest of its kind in the world. It covers hundreds of years of Britain's rich, seafaring history and is awash with epic stories of exploration, trade and adventure. And, as if that isn't enough, the museum also has its very own ship docked outside – the world famous Cutty Sark.

This week, the children - James, Lucas, Daniel, Eva, Ailsa, Corra, Corey, Millie and Craig – have this mighty maritime museum all to themselves. As they explore after dark, they'll be watched by some of the museum's curators who'll offer their light-hearted insights on what unfolds.

Three groups of friends from different primary schools visit the Royal Armouries Museum in Leeds at night. With no adults around, they are free to go on their own journeys of discovery. The museum contains artefacts from a thousand years of warfare, including armour from the age of Henry VIII, the largest suit of elephant armour in the world, and machine guns from the First World War. It also features exciting live combat displays.

What objects will spark their imaginations? Will they be inspired? Bored? Amazed – or confused? And although the kids are on their own, they are being watched – by the museums' curators. They provide a light-hearted commentary throughout each programme. What do the kids like? What do they find boring? Do the objects in the museum mean anything to them? How do they imagine the past? All these questions are answered during the programmes – often in funny or unexpected ways.

Can museums and the historical objects they contain inspire kids brought up in an age of tech. Are they still relevant in the 21st Century?