Everything you need to know about hosting a children's birthday party at the AHOY! gallery of the National Maritime Museum.
What party packages are offered?
Morning party package: 10am-1pm
10am: arrival
10.15am-11am: AHOY! session
11am-1pm: Ocean Map picnic area reservation
Afternoon party package: 2pm-5pm
2pm: arrival
2.15pm-3pm: AHOY! session
3pm-5pm: Ocean Map picnic area reservation
How much does it cost?
£510 for a 45-minute exclusive slot in the AHOY! gallery and two hours in a reserved space on the Ocean Map picnic area. You will have a dedicated Birthday Host to look after you on the day. We will also offer a site visit beforehand to go through any questions you may have and ensure the day runs smoothly.
I am a Member of Royal Museums Greenwich, do I receive a discount?
Yes, members receive a 10% discount on the package.
How long does the party last?
Parties can be booked in two slots. There is a morning session from 10am – 1pm and an afternoon session from 2pm-5pm. This includes 15 minutes for any set-up you may need, an AHOY! session which lasts 45 minutes, and two hours of reserved use of the picnic area on the Ocean Map.
How many children and adults can attend?
Capacity in the AHOY! Gallery is 100 people per session. Please bear in mind that the picnic area on the map has a capacity of around 70 and we do ask that guests stick to a ratio of around 1:5 adults to children.
What age groups do you cater for?
The AHOY! Gallery is suitable for children under 7 years old.
When can I book?
Parties are available to book on Saturdays and Sundays. You can use the online enquiry form here.
If you wish to enquire about a booking during the school holidays, please contact birthdayparties@rmg.co.uk for more information.
How early do I need to book?
The earlier the better! To ensure you can book a private session in the AHOY! Gallery we require as much notice as possible to ensure your preferred package is fully available.
Do you offer parties in the week?
Currently the package is available at weekends and during school holidays.
Can I hold my party at any time?
As stated, there are two slots to choose from, a morning or afternoon slot. The morning session is 10am–1pm and the afternoon session is 2pm–5pm.
The timings and costs associated with the birthday party packages are non-negotiable. The prices and schedules are fixed and cannot be adjusted.
Do your parties have themes?
We do not provide themed parties, but if you have ideas on how you would like to theme the spaces then please discuss with us and we will consider how to support your event.
Can we come in fancy dress?
We would be very happy to see children (and adults!) in fancy dress.
Do you offer party invitations?
Yes! Examples of our two options can be found here. These are free of charge with your booking and will be personalised and emailed to you once payment has been confirmed.
Can I combine my birthday party with another event, such as a planetarium show?
Currently we only offer the AHOY! Gallery sessions and picnic area sessions.
Do you offer party packages at other Royal Museums Greenwich sites, including out of hours?
Currently we only offer the AHOY! Gallery daytime package.
How do I pay? Do I have to pay in advance?
Please arrange payment through the Bookings team. All payments, including for any catering, must be made by no later than 7 calendar days before the event.
How do I confirm my booking?
Once the date and time of your party is confirmed, we will send you a booking confirmation email, including a contract which will need to be signed and returned. The email will also outline details for payment, which is required in full at least 7 days prior to your party date.
Do I have to pay a deposit?
No, but all payments must be made no later than 7 calendar days before your event.
What if I need to cancel?
Please contact the Bookings team no later than 10 working days before the event.
Is parking included in the booking, and can I reserve parking for others?
Parking is not included in the booking. You can arrange parking for yourself and guests through our Bookings team or by booking online here.
What are the food packages? Do you cater for food allergies, intolerances or special dietary requirements?
Our catering offer by Benugo will be coming soon. You can self-cater for your birthday party. Self-catering guests take all responsibility for dietary requirements including allergies and intolerances.
Are there any other add-ons?
Yes, we can arrange to book a Pirate character actor to entertain your guests. The Pirate welcomes the partygoers and delivers a fun, interactive performance. The actor is booked for up to two hours for £210 + VAT.
Can we have a character actor?
Through one of our providers we can secure a pirate character actor for a two-hour session on the day of your event, subject to availability and advance notice.
How soon do I need to confirm any additional extras?
Your booking needs to be finalised and paid for by no later than 7 calendar days before your event.
Can I bring my own (hired) entertainment, such as a character actor or face painter?
Regrettably not: characters, mascots, live animals and all other outside entertainment are prohibited.
What happens if you are unable to honour our booking on the day? (i.e. fire alarm, flood, etc.)
All birthday parties will have a contract signed by Royal Museums Greenwich and the hiring persons. Any such issues will be covered under the terms of the contract.
What if we arrive late?
Unfortunately, AHOY! Gallery sessions have set time limits and we are unable to transfer bookings to another session.
Do adults need to stay for the duration of the party?
Yes, all children must be supervised by adults at all times. We recommend a ratio of at least 1:5 (1 adult per 5 children).
How will you keep our birthday party space exclusive and secure?
Our Birthday Host will make sure your picnic area space is clear and reserved for your arrival. Additionally, we always have a Visitor and Sales Assistant on the Ocean Map and in the AHOY! Gallery at all times.
Can I bring my own food or birthday cake? Is there a place to store or refrigerate my food?
You can bring your own cold food and cake, but please be aware that there is no refrigeration available. Please be aware that knives are not allowed on site and so cakes will either need to be pre-cut, or taken away for cutting by the Birthday Host.
Can I bring alcohol for the adults?
Alcohol cannot be brought on site. However, if you do wish to have alcohol at the party, you can purchase this at the café. Alcohol must be consumed within the designated picnic area space.
Will the café and shop be open?
Both our Ocean Map café and Parkside café are open during normal hours, subject to staffing on the day.
Can we have candles on birthday cakes?
Regrettably not, as the smoke from the candles may trigger our smoke detection system and require a full-site evacuation. We recommend LED candles which can be 'blown out' and these have been used by previous party hosts to good effect.
Do you provide drinking water?
Yes, this can be requested from the Birthday Host.
Do you offer party bags?
Unfortunately, we do not offer party bags. You are welcome to bring your own party bags to give to children but please be aware that some items, such as bubbles, are not permitted. Please check with your birthday party contact for advice on whether your planned party bag contents are allowed.
What will the Birthday Host do on the day?
Our Birthday Host will be on hand to greet you on arrival at the National Maritime Museum and will have organised the reservation and layout of the picnic space. They will escort you to your AHOY! session and will be able to assist with any queries or issues you may have on the day to ensure your party is a success.
Where can we leave bags and presents?
These can be left at the picnic area space and will be looked after by the Birthday Host. Alternatively, we have a cloakroom in the Sammy Ofer Wing of the National Maritime Museum which can be used free of charge.
Am I allowed to take photos?
Yes, but for personal use only.
Can I bring my own decorations?
Yes, although we will need to discuss details with you in advance to ensure they are all appropriate for the space.
Can we bring balloons and/or party poppers?
Regrettably, no balloons of any kind are permitted on site. Party poppers are also not permitted on site.
Can I bring my own party bags to give to children?
Yes, but please be aware that some items, such as bubbles, are not permitted. Please check with a member of the Visitor & Sales team for advice on whether your planned party bag contents are allowed.
Do you offer Thank You letters?
No.
Can we play party music or hold party games?
Yes, though we ask visitors to kindly consider others with regards to the volume used when playing music.
Can we bring arts and crafts activities for the picnic area space?
Any arts and crafts for the birthday party will need to be approved in advance by our Visitor & Sales team. If approved, we ask that you bring covers for both the floor and the tables to protect them from any damage.
Do you have anywhere to leave prams?
We have a buggy park located close to the AHOY! Gallery.
Who tidies up afterwards?
We ask that all guests be considerate when it comes to leaving the space clean and tidy.
Do you have first aiders on site?
Yes.
Do all party guests have free entry on the day of the party?
Yes, entry to the National Maritime Museum is free.
Can I drive to the entrance to unload party supplies?
This would need to be requested in advance but will only be permitted in rare circumstances due to the busy nature of the National Maritime Museum site.
Does the National Maritime Museum have a risk assessment or public liability insurance?
The Museum has completed a risk assessment for birthday parties in the AHOY! Gallery and picnic area. As a non-departmental Government body we are required to have sufficient public liability insurance to carry out all of our activities and we can confirm this is in place.
Do we encourage people to follow our sustainability policy?
Yes - we would strongly encourage all visitors to do what they can to help support Royal Museums Greenwich in its sustainability aims. This could include things such as no single use plastic or using recycled wrapping.
Can we use The Cove Playground?
The Cove Playground is accessible to all visitors during the day, so we recommend a visit to the Cove after your booking on the Ocean Map has ended.
