Play matters to Royal Museums Greenwich because it matters to children. It is the way through which they experience the world around them.

Play can support wellbeing for all ages, and we encourage everyone to playfully engage with the Museum.

What are play boxes? 

Throughout our sites, you might come across a play box. These fun-filled boxes are for families (children and adults alike) to explore and help you discover more about your surroundings.

From stacking blocks to party-themed props, our new play boxes at Cutty Sark provide the perfect opportunity to let your imagination set sail. There are no instructions, just use your creativity to play with the objects you find!

Peek inside Cutty Sark's play boxes

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Box 1 - Stacking and balancing 

The Lower Hold is at the very bottom of Cutty Sark. It was used for storing precious cargo. Stacking and storing cargo was a delicate business, and the safety of the ship relied on it!

You would need to stack as much cargo as carefully as you could, so you could make the most profit and not capsize the ship. Use the items in the play box to practice stacking, balancing and building.

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Box 2 – Immersive play

Like the Lower Hold, the 'Tween Deck was mostly used for storing cargo.

Between 1883-95 (a time known as Cutty Sark's Australian Wool Years), the ship would have been packed with huge bales of wool – more than 45,000 over its career!

Can you handle our bales of wool, at just a fraction of the size (and weight)?

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Box 3 – Parties on Cutty Sark

When docked and empty, sailors would use the 'Tween Deck for entertainment.

Captain Woodget was known to whizz up and down the deck on roller skates! The crew would even host dances and dinners to entertain guests when travelling around the world. You can use the props in the box to host your own party.

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Box 4 - Hats and jobs

Hats were an important piece of uniform on a tea clipper like this one.

Whether to determine rank, to combat adverse weather conditions, or just personal preference (see Captain Woodget in his Tam O’ Shanter cap), you would more than likely be wearing a hat of some sort.

Explore the hats in the play box, and the different characters that might have used them.  

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Box 5 – Figureheads

Cutty Sark is home to the largest figurehead collection in Europe. Figureheads were positioned at the front of ships and sailors believed they would ward off evil spirits and grant them good luck on their voyage.

As you can see, figureheads came in all shapes and sizes, resembling people, pets and objects! You could use the items in the play box to create your own figurehead.

What’s On

Planetarium shows

Ted's Space Adventure

Join Ted the bear on an adventure around the Solar System in this special live planetarium show for under-7s - perfect for little astronauts everywhere!
Weekends and school holidays
Adult £12 | Child £6 | Student £8
Royal Observatory
Family fun

Character Encounters at the National Maritime Museum

Visit the National Maritime Museum every Saturday to discover a different character from history with their own fascinating story to tell
Every Saturday
Free
National Maritime Museum
Family fun

Character Actors at the Queen's House

Meet historical characters connected to the Queen's House and take part in exciting performances
Sundays | 12pm, 1pm, 2pm and 3pm
Free
Queen's House
Family fun

Cutty Sark Characters

Meet colourful characters from Cutty Sark’s past and hear astonishing stories about life at sea in the age of sail
Weekends during term term | Daily during school holidays
Included with entry to Cutty Sark
Cutty Sark
Family fun

Play Tuesdays

Bring your under 5 on a different adventure every week! Explore the Museum together through song, dance and stories
Term time Tuesdays | 10.30am, 11.30am, 1.00pm, 2.00pm
£4 per child and accompanying adult | Under 6 months free
National Maritime Museum
Family fun

Safe Harbour

Safe Harbour is a series of free workshops created to provide a safe space for foster and adoptive families with children under 13 years
Monthly: Next date 19 July | 12.30pm - 2.30pm
Ticketed | Free
National Maritime Museum
Family fun

SENsory Sailors

Come along and enjoy this brand new sensory play session for children under 13 years with special educational needs
Once a month on Saturdays | 11am-12.30pm
Free | Pre-booking required
National Maritime Museum
Family fun

Discover Sundays

Each Sunday come and explore the Museum's collection through hands on creative activities
Term time Sundays | 11am - 1pm | 2pm - 4pm
Free | Drop-in
National Maritime Museum
Family fun | Ocean Court

Ready Steady Sail!

Join us for a day of ocean fun with crafting, storytelling and through an interactive walkabout performance to bring our new Ocean Map to life!
Saturday 19 and Sunday 20 July | 10.30am, 12pm, 1.45pm, 3.15pm - sold out
Free
National Maritime Museum
Family fun | Ocean Court

Ocean: above and below

Dive into an ocean adventure with free activities every day at the National Maritime Museum this summer!
Daily except Mondays | 23 July - 31 August 2025
Free
National Maritime Museum
Family fun

Summer holidays at the Queen's House

Join us at the Queen's House for a range of fun activities for families during the summer break
Wednesdays, Thursdays, Fridays and Sundays | 23 July – 29 August 2025
Free
Queen's House
Family fun

Summer holidays at Cutty Sark

Hands-on workshops, character actors and storytelling sessions - there's lots to enjoy at Cutty Sark this summer!
24 July - 31 August 2025 | See page for details
Free with entry to the ship
Cutty Sark
Family fun

Summer holidays at the Royal Observatory

Live science demonstrations, out-of-this world planetarium shows and fascinating talks are just some of the activities in store this summer
Throughout summer 2025 | See page for details
Some activities included with entry to the Observatory, some at additional cost
Royal Observatory
Events and festivals | Museum Lates

Silver Screen Science-Fiction: The Wild Robot (2024)

Finish the summer holidays with a fantastic family adventure as we watch The Wild Robot (2024) at the Royal Observatory Greenwich
Saturday 30 August 2025 | 6:30pm - 8.30pm
£10 Adult | £9 Under 25s | £5 Child
Royal Observatory