Essential Information

Type Family fun
Location
National Maritime Museum
Date and Times Select dates between 28 July and 1 September 2024 | Drop-in activities
Prices Free

At the National Maritime Museum, we take play seriously! This summer, come and enjoy lots of maritime-themed fun for the whole family.

Unless specified, activities are drop in and will take place in the Learning Space, located on the ground floor of the National Maritime Museum.

Plan your summer adventure

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Thursday 22 August: 

Astronomy sun catchers

11am-1pm and 2pm-4pm

Get creative with sun catcher papercraft inspired by astronomy, and add a little colour into your day – and windows! This easy workshop is suitable for all ages and great fun for the whole family.

Stories of Sea Songs

30-minute timed sessions starting at 11am, 12pm, 2pm and 3pm, Voyages gallery

Which came first, the tale or the tune? Songs of the sea have larger-than-life stories in them. Join us for a storytelling session with music, with plenty of opportunities to join in and sing along.

Sunday 25 August: Ocean sunsets

11am-1pm and 2pm-4pm

Join us for this sunset art workshop. Inspired by beautiful ocean paintings in our collection, you'll use oil pastels to create stunning sunset scenes over the sea.

Monday 26 August: Make a lighthouse

11am-1pm and 2pm-4pm

Lighthouses mark dangerous coastlines and helps to guide ships safely into harbours. Join us for a fun and easy lighthouse making workshop.

Tuesday 27 August: Play Outdoors Tuesdays

11am-1pm and 2pm-4pm

Head to the lawns in front of the National Maritime Museum for a fun-filled adventure, perfect for under 5s and their adults. Our fantastic team of Early Years facilitators have created playful activities, encouraging little ones to explore all things connected to water.

Inspired by the trade of food by sea, join us for this session to get playful with food. Make a painting using fruit and herb teabags and shake sugar and aromatic spices onto paper to make a sensory picture. 

Role play with teapots and cups and serve tea to your family on the picnic blankets dotted around on the grass. For a full sensory experience, make some noise with coconut shells and shakers made with coffee beans.

Play Outdoors Tuesdays takes place every Tuesday during the summer holidays.

Wednesday 28 August: Underwater sculptures

11am-1pm and 2pm-4pm

Inspired by Rowan Mersh's Asabikeshiinh Aeris (Bronze Dreamcatcher)families can work together to describe images from our collections to each other and shape them from playdough or clay.

Thursday 29 August: Families takeover

11am-1pm and 2pm-4pm | Lawns outside the National Maritime Museum

Join us for a unique family activity where you'll design and explore an immersive art gallery on the lush grounds of the Queen’s House.

Engage your senses and creativity as you shape a living art experience! Come with your ideas on what changes would make art galleries more accessible – and friendly – places for your family. 

Friday 30 August: Wonderful windsocks

11am-1pm and 2pm-4pm

What are windsocks for? Come and learn about this underappreciated technology and make your own to take home.

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September

Sunday 1 September: Labyrinth exploring

Ancient Cretan maps depict the labyrinth – a confusing maze that is hard to navigate. Join us to create a huge labyrinth in our grounds (or inside, weather dependent). We will also be making finger labyrinths to take home. Come and see where it leads...

What’s On

Find more family events in Greenwich.

Play Tuesdays
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
Character Encounters
Talks and tours

Character Encounters

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
Ted's Space Adventure
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
Adults £12 | Child £6 | Student & Under 25: £8
Royal Observatory
October half term at the National Maritime Museum
Family fun

October half term at the National Maritime Museum

Free craft activities, science games and family-friendly tours: there's something different happening every day at the National Maritime Museum this half term!
26 October - 3 November 2024
Free
National Maritime Museum
Meet the characters of Cutty Sark
Family fun

Meet the characters of Cutty Sark

Meet colourful characters from Cutty Sark’s past and hear astonishing stories about life at sea in the age of sail
Weekends and Fri-Mon in school holidays
Included with entry to Cutty Sark
Cutty Sark
Safe Harbour
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 Oct 2024 | 12.30pm - 2.30pm
Ticketed | Free
National Maritime Museum
Discover Sundays
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
October half term at the Queen's House
Family fun

October half term at the Queen's House

Find fun for all the family at the Queen's House this October half term
28 October - 2 November 2024 | See page for times
Free | Drop in | All ages and abilities
Queen's House
Queen's House characters
Family fun

Queen's House characters

Meet historical characters connected to the Queen's House and take part in exciting performances
28, 30 October and 1 November 2024 | See below | 12pm, 1pm, 2pm and 3pm
Free
Queen's House
Black History Month activities for kids
Events and festivals | Black History Month

Black History Month activities for kids

Puppet theatre performances, workshops and drop-in sessions for all ages - see what's on at the National Maritime Museum during Black History Month in October
Throughout October
Free Entry
National Maritime Museum
Out Of This World: Moons
Family fun

Out Of This World: Moons

Explore the moons of our solar system in this family workshop
29 October 2024 | 10.30am - 12 noon
£5 per child
Royal Observatory
October half term at Cutty Sark
Family fun

October half term at Cutty Sark

Join us on board the famous tea clipper this October half term for some family fun!
26 October - 3 November 2024 | Selected times
Free with entry to the ship
Cutty Sark
Holiday to Space
Family fun

Holiday to Space

Travel across the Solar System and help Ted prepare for a holiday on another world during a planetarium show and interactive workshop for ages 3-6.
31 October 2024 | 10.30am - 12.00pm
£5 per child
Royal Observatory
SENsory Sailors
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
LGBTQ+ Family Network
Family fun | Identity

LGBTQ+ Family Network

A safe space for local LGBTQ+ families to meet one another, get involved in creative activities for all ages and explore the stories within the collection
23 November | 11am-1pm
Free
National Maritime Museum
Christmas decoration gilding workshops
Family fun | Christmas

Christmas decoration gilding workshops

Give gilding a go and create your very own Christmas decoration to add a golden sparkle to your Christmas tree!
Saturday 30 November and Sunday 1 December 2024 | 11am-1pm & 2pm-4pm
Free with entry to the ship
Cutty Sark