Essential Information

Type Family fun
Location
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.

Cutty Sark Characters
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 and Fri-Mon in school holidays
Included with entry to Cutty Sark
Cutty Sark
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
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
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 at the National Maritime Museum
Talks and tours

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
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 28 December 2024 | 12.30pm - 2.30pm
Ticketed | Free
National Maritime Museum
Character Actors at the Queen's House
Family fun

Character Actors at the Queen's House

Meet historical characters connected to the Queen's House and take part in exciting performances
22, 29 December and 5 January | 12pm, 1pm, 2pm and 3pm
Free
Queen's House
February half term at the National Maritime Museum
Family fun | LGBTQ+

February half term at the National Maritime Museum

Join us for Out at Sea, a series of family activities and performances inspired by LGBTQ+ History Month!
15 - 23 February 2025 | 11am-4pm
Free
National Maritime Museum
Out at Sea
Family fun | LGBTQ+

Out at Sea

Visit the National Maritime Museum, Queen's House and Cutty Sark this February half term for a week-long festival of LGBTQ+ history!
15-23 February 2025
Free
In Greenwich
Out Of This World: Moons
Family fun

Out Of This World: Moons

Explore the moons of our solar system in this family workshop
18 February 2025 | 10.30am - 12 noon
£5 per Child
Royal Observatory
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.
20 February 2025 | 10.30am - 12.00pm
£5 per child
Royal Observatory