Essential information
| Type |
Family fun
|
|---|---|
| Location | |
| Date and times | 18 July - 30 August 2026 | See page for details |
| Prices | Free with entry to the ship |
Climb aboard Cutty Sark and set sail for a summer of adventure!
From craft workshops themed around exploration and the wonders of the high seas, to tales of Cutty Sark's epic journeys over the waves, we've got a host of activities for all the family to enjoy.
Plus, be transported back in time by meeting historic characters roaming the ship every day, or enjoy some sea shanties on the first weekend of every month.
See what's on at Cutty Sark during the summer holidays below. All activities are drop-in and suitable for all ages and abilities.
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Families learning about tea at Cutty Sark
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Storytelling sessions
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Children crafting at Cutty Sark
Activities at a glance
Get an idea of the activities running each day of the week below, and scroll further for date-specific session information.
Every day: Character actors
Meet colourful characters from Cutty Sark’s past every day and hear amazing stories about life at sea.
Roaming encounters between 10.30am-12.30pm and 1.30pm-3.30pm, with static performances in the Dry Berth at 11.30am and 2.30pm
Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays
Every Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday we'll be running storytelling sessions or fun craft workshops, each with its own unique theme and related craft. See below for details on the activities happening on each date.
Family trail
Pick up a free family trail or backpack from the admissions desk and discover new facts, stories and people in Cutty Sark's life - past, present and future!
1 and 2 August: Sea shanty singers
Join our resident sea shanty groups at Cutty Sark on the first weekend of every month as they sing a selection of traditional maritime songs.
Full summer activity schedule
July
All activities take place from 11am-1pm and 2pm-4pm, except for storytelling sessions, which run for 30 minutes starting at 11am, 12pm, 2pm and 3pm.
| When | What | Full info | Where | Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tues 21 Jul | Sailors' Friendship Bracelets with Holden Rowan | Take inspiration from sailors' knots and signal flags to craft your own cord bracelet. Adorn it with colourful beads and send hidden messages through your wearable keepsake | Dry Berth | Craft |
| Weds 22 Jul | Seaside Puppet Shows with Rosie Fuller | Using puppets is a fun way to tell a story. Make a hand puppet and put on a performance, continuing the tradition of seaside shows and shared storytelling | Dry Berth | Craft |
| Thurs 23 Jul | Design a Journey Bag with Rebecca Chitty | Design a tote bag inspired by Yinka Shonibare's Ship in a Bottle. Using drawing, print and pattern, you'll explore travel, West African identity and the movement of people | Dry Berth | Craft |
| Tues 28 Jul | Sailors' Friendship Bracelets with Holden Rowan | Take inspiration from sailors' knots and signal flags to craft your own cord bracelet. Adorn it with colourful beads and send hidden messages through your wearable keepsake. | Dry Berth | Craft |
| Weds 29 Jul | Dreaming Tracks of Time with Jaquie Feldman | Inspired by Captain Cook’s arrival at Botany Bay and his interactions with local Aboriginal people, create your own songline trail, using symbols as a language to map your journey | Dry Berth | Craft |
| Thurs 30 Jul | Maritime Mosaics with Ling Chiu | Sailors, travellers and artists at sea were able to make art and tell stories using whatever they could find. Create a mini mosaic using leftover materials and sustainably craft your own maritime scene | Dry Berth | Craft |
August
All activities take place from 11am-1pm and 2pm-4pm, except for storytelling sessions, which run for 30 minutes starting at 11am, 12pm, 2pm and 3pm.
| Tues 4 Aug | Story Boats with Mita Nathwani Bhuyan | Create small sampan-style river boats, inspired by boats used across South Asia for travel and trade, and connected to the wider journeys of ships like the SS Tilawa. Using paper strips and simple shapes, build and decorate your own boats with patterns, colours, and messages | Dry Berth | Craft |
| Weds 5 Aug | Seaside Puppet Shows with Rosie Fuller | Using puppets is a fun way to tell a story. Make a hand puppet and put on a performance, continuing the tradition of seaside shows and shared storytelling | Dry Berth | Craft |
| Thurs 6 Aug | Design a Journey Bag with Rebecca Chitty | Design a tote bag inspired by Yinka Shonibare's Ship in a Bottle. Using drawing, print and pattern, you'll explore travel, West African identity and the movement of people | Dry Berth | Craft |
| Tues11 Aug | Story Boats with Mita Nathwani Bhuyan | Create small sampan-style river boats, inspired by boats used across South Asia for travel and trade, and connected to the wider journeys of ships like the SS Tilawa. Using paper strips and simple shapes, build and decorate your own boats with patterns, colours, and messages | Dry Berth | Craft |
| Weds 12 Aug | Meet the Crew with Paul Rubinstein | Board Cutty Sark on an 1885 wool-trading mission to Australia, getting to know the original crew members on the way. You'll meet the cook, the sailmaker and Captain Woodget, among others. They'll bring to life the everyday experiences of those who lived and worked on board the ship | 'Tween Deck | Storytelling |
| Thurs 13 Aug | Shipboard Sounds with Sara Byers | Before we had playlists and headphones, live instruments brought music to ships at sea. Make your own shaker or monkey drum and explore how songs and rhythms helped sailors keep time, lift spirits and make life on board feel a little more like home | Dry Berth | Craft |
| Tues 18 Aug | Maritime Mosaics with Ling Chiu | Sailors, travellers and artists at sea were able to make art and tell stories using whatever they could find. Create a mini mosaic using leftover materials and sustainably craft your own maritime scene | Dry Berth | Craft |
| Weds 19 Aug | Shipboard Sounds with Sara Byers | Before we had playlists and headphones, live instruments brought music to ships at sea. Make your own shaker or monkey drum and explore how songs and rhythms helped sailors keep time, lift spirits and make life on board feel a little more like home | Dry Berth | Craft |
| Thurs 20 Aug | Dreaming Tracks of Time with Jaquie Feldman | Inspired by Captain Cook’s arrival at Botany Bay and his interactions with local Aboriginal people, create your own songline trail, using symbols as a language to map your journey | Dry Berth | Craft |
| Tues 25 Aug | Meet the Crew with Paul Rubinstein | Board Cutty Sark on an 1885 wool-trading mission to Australia, getting to know the original crew members on the way. You'll meet the cook, the sailmaker and Captain Woodget, among others. They'll bring to life the everyday experiences of those who lived and worked on board the ship | 'Tween Deck | Storytelling |
| Weds 26 Aug | Maritime Mosaics with Ling Chiu | Sailors, travellers and artists at sea were able to make art and tell stories using whatever they could find. Create a mini mosaic using leftover materials and sustainably craft your own maritime scene | Dry Berth | Craft |
| Thurs 27 Aug | Shipboard Sounds with Sara Byers | Before we had playlists and headphones, live instruments brought music to ships at sea. Make your own shaker or monkey drum and explore how songs and rhythms helped sailors keep time, lift spirits and make life on board feel a little more like home | Dry Berth | Craft |
What’s on
See more events for families at Royal Museums Greenwich.
