February 2012

A full programme of events for children and family visitors to the historic Greenwich National Maritime Museum (NMM) and Queen’s House (QH). For Royal Observatory Greenwich and Peter Harrison Planetarium events please contact the Press Office on 020 8312 6790/6732/6545

February Highlights

The ‘Traders Unpacked’ season concludes at the National Maritime Museum in February with a fascinating series of tea-related events throughout the school holidays and a special Chinese New Year celebration on Saturday 18 February.

Special event

Chinese New Year Celebrations

Celebrate Chinese New Year in the Year of the Dragon, and British East Asian heritage with a day of music, workshops and performances. Contribute to a giant dragon installation, take part in a New Year parade and meet sailor James Robson who worked on-board the Cutty Sark tea clipper. Come along and discover more about how trade by sea brought ideas, culture, language and people from Asia to Britain.

This event is in collaboration with Yellow Earth Theatre, film curator Cary Rajinder Sawhney and River Cultures.

Date: 18 February 2012
Times: 11.30–16.00
Venue: National Maritime Museum
Ages: Suitable for all ages
Admission: Free

February Half-Term Events

Ever wonder how the humble cup of tea became so popular? Tea has gone from a luxury drink for the rich in the 1660s, to the nation’s favourite drink today. Uncover the extraordinary journey tea has taken from your kitchen back to the British East India Company offering a refreshing alternative drink from China. Discover more through a range of activities and explore the new ‘Traders’ gallery.

Fancy a cuppa?

Make a contribution to a giant installation by contemporary artist Gayle Chong Kwan, and explore the British East India Company’s trade in tea.

Drop-in workshop

Dates: 13–17 February 2012
Times: 11.30–13.30, 14.00–16.00
Venue: NMM – Upper Deck
Ages: Suitable for all ages
Admission: Free

James Robson: a sailor’s tale of tea

Join sailor James Robson on an exciting voyage from China to Britain, and hear about his life on-board the Cutty Sark tea clipper and working with Chinese lascars. His revealing tale as a unique Londoner will uncover the little-known cost of the nation’s favourite drink.

Interactive performance

Dates:14, 16 February 2012
Times: 12.00, 13.00, 14.00, 15.00
Venue: NMM – Main entrance foyer and ‘Traders’ gallery
Ages: Suitable for ages 6+
Admission: Free

A story re-telling

Delve into the hidden story of tea and discover how far people went to bring the humble cup of tea to Britain.

Interactive history-telling session

Dates: 13, 15, 17 February 2012
Times: 12.30, 13.30, 14.30
Venue: NMM – ‘Traders’ gallery
Ages: Suitable for ages 7+
Admission: Free

Creative cargo: ideas trolley

Become a detective and uncover how many of the things you think of as British first came here by sea from across the world including tea. Write, draw and talk about what you discover.

Drop-in workshop

Dates: 13, 15, 17 February 2012
Times: 11.30–13.30, 14.00–16.00
Venue: NMM – ‘Traders’ gallery
Ages:  Suitable for all ages
Admission: Free

Play Tuesdays: tea party

Come and play at the tea party, and take part in activities for little ones to enjoy with family and friends.

Drop-in workshop

Date: 14 February 2012
Times: 10.30–12.30, 13.00–15.00
Venue: NMM – Learning space
Ages: Suitable for under-5s
Admission: Free

‘Traders Unpacked’, sponsored by Sharwood’s, is a wide-ranging season of music, film, fashion, debate and spoken word celebrating the opening of a new gallery at the National Maritime Museum: Traders: The East India Company and Asia. The gallery opened on 28 September and the season of events runs from October until February 2012.

Weekly Events

Explore Saturdays

Meet a character from the past and take part in an exciting performance that will bring maritime history to life.

Dates: 4, 11, 18, 25 February
Times: 12.00, 13.00, 14.00, 15.00
Venue: NMM
Ages: Suitable for ages 6+
Admission: Free

Discover Sundays

Be inspired by our maritime past and explore your personal connections to the sea. Ask staff at the Admissions Desk where the activity is today.

Dates: 5, 12, 19, 26 February
Times: 11.30–13.30, 14.00–16.00
Venue: NMM
Ages: Suitable for all ages
Admission: Free

Play Tuesdays

Young children can have fun with their families as they explore the Museum through making, music, dance and stories.

Timed sessions; collect free tickets from the admissions desk

Dates: 7, 21 28 February
Times: 10.30, 11.30, 13.00, 14.00
Venue:NMM
Ages: Suitable for under-5s
Admission:Free

Galleries for Young Visitors

Ship Simulator

Step aboard the Ship Simulator and discover the art of navigation and communication at sea. Become the captain of a ship and try your hand at manoeuvring into port using the state-of-the-art bridge simulator.

Equipped with the very latest technology used to train real seafarers, the simulator brings to life the excitement, difficulties, hazards and skills of handling ships at sea. You could find yourself at the helm of a fishing boat navigating buoys in New York Harbour, following a helicopter rescue mission to a sinking vessel, navigating a frigate into position off Sydney shores or steering a P&O ferry into port in Dover.

Admission: Free

General Information

• The National Maritime Museum, Queen’s House and Royal Observatory open at 10.00 and close at 17.00 daily (last admission 16.30).
• General admission to National Maritime Museum and Queen’s House is free.
• Admission to the Royal Observatory’s historic Flamsteed House, Time Galleries, Meridian Line Courtyard and Meridian Building is £7 for adults (£5 concessions).
• Entry for children under 16 is free. An annual pass is also available for adults priced at £10 (£7.50 concessions); this pass allows visitors to return as many times as they like within 12 months for no additional charge.
• An ‘Astro Ticket’ combining access to the historic Royal Observatory buildings and Meridian Courtyard with a Planetarium show is available offering savings for both individuals and families. An adult Astro Ticket is priced at £11.50.
• Family Astro tickets are priced at £19.50 (one adult and three children) and £24.50 (two adult and two children). Contact the bookings team or see the website for further information. Admission to the Royal Observatory’s Astronomy Centre which houses three state-of-the-art modern astronomy galleries is free of charge.
• All events included here are free of charge to all visitors unless stated.
• The Museum is located a short walk from the Cutty Sark DLR, and Maze Hill and Greenwich train stations. The closest tube stations are North Greenwich (to change to local buses) and Canary Wharf (to change to DLR), both on the Jubilee line.
• For updated information prior to visit please visit our web site: http://www.nmm.ac.uk or phone (020) 8858 4422.

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Issued December 2011 by the National Maritime Museum Press Office.

For further information or images please contact:
National Maritime Museum Press Office
Tel: 020 8312 6545/6732 | 07960 509 802
Email: press@nmm.ac.uk