Essential Information

Location
Date and Times Open weekdays 10am-4.45pm | 10am-5.45pm on weekends | Open until 5.45pm daily from 21 July
Price Free
Please note

The Cove playground will be closed on Wednesday 11 June for refurbishment works.

Let your children's imaginations run wild at The Cove, a fabulous outdoor playground at the National Maritime Museum.

Clamber aboard the ship and take the wheel, spin on the compass roundabout, scramble through the mighty Kraken’s tentacles and come face to face with the giant 'Cutty Shark'!

At The Cove playground, kids can create their own swashbuckling adventures – where better to do it than in the heart of Maritime Greenwich!

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"This visually stunning and inclusive play space consists of a giant kraken, a huge pirate ship and a fearsome shark, all with accessible elements including a massive ramp up to the ship, lots of bright colours, sensory elements and BSL signs with liftable flaps – and SO MANY clever hidden touches"

- @bablands.london

Plan your visit

Where is The Cove playground?

Time to test your navigation skills! The Cove is found just outside the National Maritime Museum, right next to the Parkside Café and overlooking Greenwich Park. Look for the hedge with the giant orange tentacles poking over the top...

If you want to cheat, here's the spot to aim for on Google Maps.

Getting to Royal Museums Greenwich

Do I need to book?

The Cove is free to enter and there's no need to book in advance. However, if you'd like to combine your visit to the playground with a visit to one of Royal Museums Greenwich's fantastic family-friendly attractions, you're welcome to book tickets online in advance.

Are there toilets and cafés?

The Cove is right next to the Parkside Café at the National Maritime Museum, perfect for post-play snacks and family-friendly meals. 

The Parkside Shake Bar is located on the floor above, and offers a delicious range of maritime-themed ice creams and milkshakes, as well as hot and cold drinks.

Toilets and baby changing facilities are inside too, just to the left of the information desk on the ground floor.

All toilet and baby changing facilities are wheelchair accessible, and there is also a Changing Places toilet available. Please ask staff for directions.

 

Rules of The Cove

This is an adventurous play area. It provides challenging and stimulating play for children of different ages and abilities.

Please be mindful:

  • Some areas may become slippery due to ice and rain, or hot to touch when in direct sunlight.
  • By allowing children in your care to use this playground, you accept the level of risk involved.
  • Please use the recycling bins provided, and keep this space clean and tidy for everyone.
  • This is a children’s play space; no unaccompanied adults.
  • Assistance dogs are welcome.
  • This area is not always supervised, so please report any issues to staff at the Parkside entrance to the National Maritime Museum.
  • First aid assistance can be obtained by asking any member of staff in the National Maritime Museum.
  • CCTV is in operation.
  • Full Museum rules and regulations are available here.
What else can we do while we're in Greenwich?

Greenwich is full of great things to do with kids, from historic ship Cutty Sark to out-of-this-world planetarium shows at the Royal Observatory Greenwich.

The National Maritime Museum is family-friendly and free to enter. Explore the Museum's galleries and stories, featuring epic tales of explorers, real-life pirates and hundreds of fascinating objects.

Find more things to do with kids

Tickets and Opening

Free entry
No booking required

Standard opening hours

10am-4.45pm

Summer opening hours

31 May-20 July: Weekdays 10am-4.45pm | Weekends 10am-5.45pm

21 July-31 August: Open daily from 10am-5.45pm

  • Greenwich Station
  • Maze Hill Station
  • Greenwich Pier

What’s On

Showing events for kids in Greenwich.

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

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 | 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

Choose your tickets

The Cove playground is free to enter and you do not need to book in advance. However, if you'd like to combine your visit to the playground with a visit to one of our fantastic family-friendly attractions, you're welcome to book tickets online in advance.

National Maritime Museum

  • Guaranteed entry time
  • Access to all free galleries and activities
  • Astronomy Photographer of the Year currently included
Free entry
Book online
BOOK NOW

Cutty Sark

  • Explore the main deck
  • Walk beneath the ship
  • See how the crew lived
  • Family activities and interactives
  • Guaranteed entry time
  • Audio guide included
Adult£22
Child£11
BOOK NOW

Royal Observatory

  • Visit the Prime Meridian line
  • See the best view in London
  • Guaranteed entry time
  • Audio guide included
  • Planetarium shows not included
Adult£24
Child£12
BOOK NOW

Royal Museums Greenwich Day Pass

  • Save with a combo ticket
  • Entry to Cutty Sark
  • Entry to Royal Observatory
  • Guaranteed entry time
  • Planetarium shows not included
Adult£38
Child£19
BOOK NOW

Family fun

AHOY Gallery

  • Soft play
  • Maritime fun
  • Guaranteed entry time
  • Museum entry included
  • Suitable for all children under 7
Term time weekdays FREE
Weekends & holidays £3
BOOK NOW