EC1 Street of Elements – a new place for families with children in Lodz

At the end of 2021, a new and interesting place for families with children was created in Lodz. Street of Elements is something along the lines of a science center, but for slightly smaller children. We checked what it looks like inside, what are the positions and, most importantly, how does it compare to other similar places in Poland?

When the press release went out that there would be a separate section for children in Lodz, EC1, where they could learn about the world around us, we even couldn’t wait for the opening.

EC1 and the Science and Technology Center located here is one of the most interesting places in Lodz to see, but still not for smaller children. Although the exhibits and displays are interactive and attractive, the subject matter is too heavy for 3- or 4-year-olds. We were all the more pleased that someone also thought about toddlers, because unfortunately in Lodz such places are quite hard to find. There are playrooms, clubhouses, but when it comes to places more geared toward education, other than the Experimentarium in Manufaktura, there isn’t much choice (besides, the Experimentarium isn’t really for preschoolers either).

So it worked out. In October 2021, the Street of Elements opened. We waited a while to avoid hitting the crowds of visitors at the start of the attraction’s operation and finally went to EC1 in early February.

We do not hide, expectations were really high. We’ve been visiting both learning centers and places dedicated to smaller children quite often lately – we’ve seen quite a few of them, many abroad as well, so the bar was set quite high. How did the Street of Elements compare to them?

Table of contents

Tour of the Street of Elements

Let’s start with the fact that you enter the Street of Elements at a specific time (3 entrances during the day) and it’s good to book in advance, especially on weekends. There are 2 hours available, during which you can visit the exhibition ANY time.

FREELY is the key word. When a whole group enters the exhibition (and it can be as many as 100 people) all these people go from one attraction to another focusing on only one floor. This makes it crowded and creates queues. As part of the entrance, you are free to walk around the three floors, so we recommend you to take the elevator right down to the very bottom and start your journey through the Street of Elements a bit from the back (you lose absolutely nothing, there is no imposed tour path here).

Street of Elements is three floors full of different stations, tasks, experiments and fun. Supposedly divided thematically, supposedly by elements, but this is mainly seen on the lowest floor where water and fire clash.

At the very top, on the 2nd floor (this is where the entrance is), as soon as you enter through the gates you go through a tunnel to sharpen your senses: children touch different shapes of structures, observe. LISTEN. Then there is the first room, which is supposed to relate to the wind, but we focused more on those related to space (there is a mini solar system and a great track where children dress up as Mars satellites and have to run around the orbit). In addition, there is a pool of soft blocks, drawing boards, mega puzzles. The lower floor can be accessed by a slide (only for children over 6 years old), and the higher floor can be accessed by a mounted mesh tunnel (rest assured, there is a traditional elevator and stairs too).

There are definitely more posts on the lower floor. Here we learn about humans and animals, look at how they see and are fooled by optical illusions. The children really enjoyed the spider web, which has to be walked in 60 seconds without touching the suspended ropes.

At the very bottom is the part where water and fire dominate. On one side we have a trough of water on which you can launch ships, use water guns, run fountains, and on the other see a fire whirlpool show. Muscles are also on fire in this section, as visitors can hop on bicycles to generate energy or pump the air needed to lift a small rocket upward.

At the trough there are special cubbies that you can wear to avoid getting wet and a drying rack. Unfortunately, the trough has too weak a current to make 100 percent use of its potential.

There is also a climbing wall and a cave for calming in this part.

Is Street of Elements more of a playroom or a science center?

The problem we have with Street of Elements is that we don’t know whether to categorize it more as a playroom or a learning center.

Initially we thought it would be more of a playroom with educational elements to sharpen the senses, to learn something about the world by touching, trying, experimenting. Something like the great Zoom Museum for kids in Vienna (which we wrote about in the text about Vienna attractions).

At EC1 we have both elements of fun (there are pools of soft blocks, jigsaw puzzles, large stacking blocks, slides, a climbing wall) and education (stations that allow various experiments). However, they are placed side by side completely independently and are often unrelated, making it just a glimmer of a theme and lacking in depth.

As for the educational aspect, the orbit run was great, because here you could really learn a lot, as well as showing the way in which animals see. Other exhibits are largely instructions on how to perform a task without a word of explanation on how something happens in nature. So a big role remains with the parents to show and explain this.

There are animators walking around the facility showing and also helping which is a very big plus

Who is Street of Elements for?

According to us, children aged at least 3 will benefit the most from the visit. years. Younger ones will have fun with buttons, puzzles, simple tasks, letting the ships float so they won’t get bored, but still, the more educational stations may be too difficult.

On the other hand, 9- or 10-year-olds may already be bored or decide that it’s not for them, because, however, the decor and color scheme is prepared more for younger children.

It is worth adding, however, that parents will also learn something interesting, so it will not be just childcare :)

Practical information

One of the most important practical information is that you need to bring with you a change of shoes and a two zloty coin for the locker ;) You can only walk around the exhibition in changed shoes (can be slippers or athletic shoes), and if you forget you can walk in socks or pads.

The lockers do not have to be used – clothes and shoes can be left by the hangers at your own risk.

Also, we recommend coming during the week, not on the weekend: it’s cheaper and definitely looser.

Catering

There are no restaurants or cafes in the Street of Elements area. Only a corner with coffee and snack vending machines is available.

By the toilet on 2. Drinking water is available on the first floor.

Street of Elements opening hours

The Street of Elements is open Tuesday through Sunday from 10 am to 6 pm (closed on Monday), but you can only enter at specific times: 10.00, 12.30 i 16.00.

You can stay at the exhibition for a maximum of 2 hours and, in our opinion, this is the optimal time to visit the entire exhibition.

Street of Elements Price List

Prices vary depending on the day of the week (below weekday price/weekend price):

Normal ticket – 20/25 zloty
Ticket with Lodz Citizen Card or Lodz Large Family Card – 16/20 PLN
Children under two years of age enter for free.

Interestingly, there are no discounted tickets, so everyone entering pays the same.

We recommend buying tickets online to make sure you don’t run out of seats for the hour(click).

Getting to the Street of Elements

The Street of Elements is located in the renovated EC1 complex near Lodz Fabryczna station. There are several ways to get there:

Buses: 77, 80, 83 (stop Tuwima/Kilińskiego or Tuwima/Targowa).
Streetcars: 12B, 18 (stop Tuwima/Kilińskiego).

The above are the closest stops, but the Lodz Fabryczna station is also nearby, with many more buses (and trains).

Free parking has been provided for EC1 visitors at the Dowborczycy. You can also park your car on the streets: Tuwima, Targowa, Dowborczyków (paid parking).

The exact address:

Street of Elements
Street. Targowa 1/3
90-022 Łódź

Website: https://ulicazywiolow.pl/

Accommodation in Lodz

Hotels we can recommend in Lodz (not necessarily in the immediate vicinity of the Street of Elements):

Novotel Lodz Centrum, with our ebook
Address: al. Piłsudskiego 11A, Śródmieście, 90-368 Łódź
Prices: from 320 PLN for a double room
Link:
http://r4b.link/novotel-lodz
Puro Lodz Center, rooms with a great view of Poznanski Palace
Address: ul. Ogrodowa 16, Bałuty, 91-065 Łódź
Prices: from 400 PLN for a double room
Link:
http://r4b.link/puro-lodz
Campanile Lodz, a budget option.
Address: Aleja Piłsudskiego 27, Śródmieście, 90-307 Łódź
Prices: from 188 PLN for a double room
Link:
http://r4b.link/campanilelodz
Vienna House Andel’s Lodz, supposedly the best hotel in Lodz ;)
Address: Ul. Ogrodowa 17, Bałuty, 91-065 Łódź
Prices: from 450 PLN for a double room
Link:
http://r4b.link/hotelandelslodz

Our opinion about Streets of Elements

We definitely missed such a place on the map of attractions for families with children in Lodz. A very good location (can be combined with a visit to the Planetarium or the EC1 Science and Technology Center), a modern venue, interesting exhibits for the youngest, are just some of the elements that speak in favor of the Street of Elements.

Comparing to similar places in Poland and abroad, we unfortunately expected more, better developed space and clearer divisions of individual zones, but perhaps our expectations are too high? One could either focus on the educational aspect or the fun aspect, as the current combination is slightly chaotic.

Nevertheless, we recommend the place – if you are looking for covered attractions for families with children in Lodz, you should go here. Whether you are in Lodz just for the weekend or simply live in the area :)

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