The Science Museum has taken this international obsession a step further and presents the ultimate experience for fans of any age - The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy Exhibition. Specially created by the Science Museum and the makers of the new movie, this fantastic exhibition will take you to the far reaches of the universe and back. Divided into ten distinctive zones the exhibition immerses visitors in Douglas Adams’s fantastical world through re-created sets and over 200 props and costumes.

Visitors to the exhibition will follow lead character Arthur Dent’s voyage through the universe, exploring much-loved scenes including the Heart of Gold and the Planet Factory Showroom as well as new creations such as Humma Kavula’s planet Viltvodle. In addition, the science behind the Hitchhiker’s phenomenon is explained in text panels throughout your journey. Read on for a taster of what you can see in this exhibition.

Arthur’s House
At the start of your journey the familiar and everyday world of suburban Britain in the 70s is brought to life as you step through the front door of Arthur Dent’s rather ordinary house. Here you can familiarise yourself with the character of Arthur Dent and prepare for the remarkable journey you are about to undertake.

Within this area visitors will also learn more about Arthur’s alien friend Ford Prefect and the scientific wonders of our largely unexplored universe. As you near the back of Arthur’s house you will discover that a large JCB has begun bulldozing it to make way for a bypass, and it is at this point that you hear the Vogon message to Earth announcing that Arthur’s house is not the only thing about to be demolished. The only thing left to do now is hitch a ride on to the nearest spaceship...

Key props in Arthur’s House include:
· The thumb ring used by Ford Prefect to hitch lifts round the galaxy
· The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy book as used in the film
· Costumes belonging to Ford Prefect and Arthur Dent
· The sensomatic device which alerted Ford Prefect to the Vogons’ arrival

Vogon Constructor Fleet Ship
From the safe and comfortable surroundings of Arthur’s house, visitors suddenly find themselves in alien and unnerving surroundings. The dark, dank and dingy environment of the Vogon spaceship permeates this zone, as visitors come face-to-face with the huge Vogon Captain, Jeltz, on the ships’ bridge. Unlucky visitors are subjected to some rather hideous Vogon poetry and if you can bear to stay in this zone, you can find out more about who the Vogons are and science’s current take on the possibilities of intelligent alien life.

Key props in this zone include:
· The eight-foot tall Vogon Captain, designed and built by Henson’s Creature Workshop
· Moving life-size Henson models of Vogon soldiers and backbenchers
· Vogon memorabilia including guns, mugs, fishing rods, toilets, toothbrushes and even toilet paper!

Heart of Gold
Move through to the third zone and recreate the moment when Arthur and Ford were picked up by the stunningly beautiful and advanced spaceship, the Heart of Gold. Explore the spaceship's super-stylish interior and examine the characters of Zaphod and Trillian, as well as their costumes and Heart of Gold props used in the film (including the knitted bin and woollen vomit!).

The centrepiece to the zone features the Improbability Button and here you can use our interactives to play games and access interviews with the movie’s crew and cast and behind the scenes footage from the film. You can also look into the cosy interior of the HOG Pod spaceship, which Arthur and his friends use to go after Trillian when she is arrested by the Vogons.

Key props in the Heart of Gold include:
· The Improbability Drive
· Zaphod Beetlebrox’s costume, thinking cap and gun
· The interior of the HOG Pod spaceship

Marvin Zone
Continuing through the Heart of Gold, you are ‘welcomed’ by Marvin ‘the paranoid android’ who has a few things to say about life! As you wander though the spaceship’s corridor take a look at the life-size Marvin costume worn with some difficulty by actor Warwick Davis and find out about his character and the real artificial intelligence of our world.

Key props in this zone include:
· Life-size Marvin costume
· Marvin’s gun

Viltvodle
Following the narrative thread you then enter the dark and misty atmosphere of the planet Viltvodle as you search for Humma Kavula who has the key to finding out the ultimate question. This is a short walk through with props mounted on either side, including:

· Two five-foot high hairy legs (in fishnets and gold stilettos no less!) belonging to Ford Prefect’s giant ex-girlfriend
· A square-wheeled bicycle seen on Viltvodle

Humma Kavula
Visitors will then enter a temple-themed zone where they will be introduced to new character Humma Kavula and his belief in the coming of the Great White Handkerchief. This zone will include a recreation of Viltvodle, with costumes and props associated with Humma, and information about Humma’s belief in the Great Green Akleseizure. Text panels on the walls also discuss humankind’s belief in the existence of god and the beliefs of possible alien life forms.

Key props in Humma Kavula’s zone include:
· Humma Kavula’s costume
· Religious artefacts from the Viltvodle temple
· Plaster version of the nose temple

Deep Thought
This next zone introduces you to Deep Thought - the most powerful computer ever built - which gives the answer to the ultimate question. As you listen in anticipation to Deep Thought’s announcement of the answer to Life, the Universe and Everything you’ll also learn more about the super computer and the ultimate question.

Key props:
· Deep Thought
· Point of View gun
· Zaphod’s Magrathea costume including the ultimate questions cube necklace
· Trillian’s fancy dress costume
· Deep Thought tool kit

Planet Factory Showroom
Walk through the portal to Magrathea and you’ll be transported to the amazing Planet Factory Showroom – a sales area for discerning clients to select bespoke worlds to enjoy at their leisure. Here you can browse through displays of unusual and peculiar planets, in an environment drawn directly from large sets and props from the film. You will also find out more about the mysterious character of Slartibartfast and the science of planets and parallel universes. Here we also question of just how precious our own planet really is.

Key props in the Planet Factory Showroom include:
· Planet Factory displays
· Slartibartfast costume
· Cage used to transport Arthur and Slartibartfast to Earth Mark II (here you have the opportunity to have your photo taken a reminder of your visit)

Douglas Adams zone
As the exhibition comes to an end we reflect on the way Douglas Adams saw the world via a selection of his witty stories and writings. Additionally visitors can take a seat and watch mini documentaries about the film’s production and heritage.

Concept Art Corridor
As you depart the exhibition you have the chance to view the concept artwork commissioned and created for the film, which inspired the wonderful sets, props and costumes you have just seen.

A phenomenon of science fiction culture, The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy is set to inspire a whole new generation to think about science in a more creative way and with robots, aliens and so much more this accompanying exhibition will be entirely unlike anything you've ever seen! So hitch a ride to the Science Museum for infinite fun for all the family!

Oh and don't forget your towel...

For information about the movie visit the official film website