A full programme of events for children and family visitors to the historic Greenwich National Maritime Museum (NMM) and Queen’s House (QH) during May 2011. For Royal Observatory, Greenwich and Peter Harrison Planetarium events please see May events at the Royal Observatory, Greenwich or contact the Press Office on 020 8312 6790/6732/6545.

May highlights

Treasure Island

Half Term: Monday 30 May – Friday 3 June 2011

This month in 1883 Robert Louis Stevenson’s Treasure Island was published for the first time and the National Maritime Museum is celebrating this half term with a series of themed events. Visitors can hop aboard for a swashbuckling adventure and discover what real pirates and privateers got up to on the high seas.

Pirate ship

Make a pirate ship for you and your family to sail to Treasure Island.
Drop-in workshop
Dates: 30 May – 3 June
Times: 11.30 – 13.30 | 14.00 – 16.00
Venue: NMM – Upper Deck
Ages: Suitable for all ages
Admission: Free

Treasure map

Hunt through the galleries looking for hidden pirate treasure and make a secret map showing where to find the loot in the Museum.
Drop-in workshop
Dates: Monday 30 May | Wednesday 1 June | Friday 3 June
Times: 11.30 – 13.30 | 14.00 – 16.00
Venue: NMM – Mess Deck
Ages: Suitable for all ages
Admission: Free

Creative cargo: ideas trolley

Discover more about what real pirates and privateers stole as treasure, and think about your personal treasures. Write and draw your ideas using a range of materials.
Drop-in workshop
Dates: Tuesday 31 May | Thursday 2 June
Times: 11.30 – 13.30 | 14.00 – 16.00
Venue: NMM – Explorers gallery
Ages: Suitable for all ages
Admission: Free

Female pirate

Meet a fearsome female pirate and find out about the life of danger and mischief for pirates on the seven seas.
Interactive performance
Dates: Tuesday 31 May | Thursday 2 June
Times: 12.00 | 13.00 | 14.00 | 15.00
Venue: NMM – Explorers gallery
Ages: Suitable for ages 6+
Admission: Free

Hidden treasures

Discover a real pirate journal, images of famous pirates like Blackbeard, and a first edition of Robert Louis Stevenson’s book Treasure Island.
Archive session
Dates: Wednesday 1 June | Friday 3 June
Times: 14.30
Venue: NMM – E-library
Ages: Suitable for ages 7+
Admission: Free

Play Tuesdays: pirates rule

Swashbuckling pirate themed activities for young children to enjoy with their family and friends.
Drop-in workshop
Dates: Tuesday 31 May
Times: 10.30 – 12.30 | 13.00 – 15.00
Venue: NMM – Mess Deck
Ages: Suitable for under-5s
Admission: Free

Pirates ahoy!

Get dressed up in your best pirate togs and sail down to Greenwich ready to take over the National Maritime Museum and Old Royal Naval College for a day of swashbuckling fun. Events running at the Museum will be Pirate Ship, Treasure Map and Hidden Treasures – see above listings for details
Drop-in workshops
Dates: Friday 3 June
Times: 11.30 – 16.00
Venue: National Maritime Museum and Old Royal Naval College
Ages: Suitable for all ages
Admission: Free

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: 7, 14, 21, 28 May
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 where the activity is today.
Dates: 1, 8, 15, 22, 29 May
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 drama.
Timed sessions; collect free tickets from the admissions desk
Dates: 3, 10, 17, 24 May
Times: 10.30 | 11.30 | 13.00 | 14.00
Venue: NMM
Ages: Suitable for under-5s
Admission: Free

General information

National Maritime Museum and Royal Observatory, Greenwich and Queen’s House are open: 10.00 17.00 daily.

General admission to National Maritime Museum and Queen’s House is free. From 8 March 2011 admission to the Royal Observatory’s historic Flamsteed House, Time Galleries, Meridian Line Courtyard and Meridian Building will be £10 for adults (£7.50 concessions). Entry for children under 16 is free. The £10 entry is an annual pass (visitors are able to return as many times as they like within 12 months for no additional charge). 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.rmg.co.uk or phone (020) 8858 4422.

-ends-

Issued March 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@rmg.co.uk