Free

Essential Information

Type Family fun
Location
National Maritime Museum
Date and Times 31 March – 14 April 2024 | 11am-1pm and 2-4pm
Prices Free | Drop-in

Come along to the National Maritime Museum this Easter, where you'll be able to think and learn about protecting our natural environment through a range of fun creative workshops for families.

Check out the full programme below, and check our visitor information at the bottom of the page for more details.

Spring flowers

Sunday 31 March and Saturday 13 April

Join us to craft flowers out of scrap materials while discussing the importance of biodiversity and caring for various species. Discover how our actions can promote biodiversity in urban and marine areas.

Sea life puppets

Monday 1 April

Celebrate the vibrant creatures of our rivers and oceans by using scrap materials to craft finger puppets representing aquatic life and plants. Join us in exploring the connections between human and marine life.  

Preservation paintings

Tuesday 2 April 

Get involved with our collaborative ocean habitat painting. Work together with your family to create a large-scale image depicting ocean creatures and discuss ways to preserve their habitats. Join us in fostering creativity and environmental awareness as we paint a brighter future for marine life together!

Three children take part in an object handling session at the National Maritime Museum

Future travels

Wednesday 3 April and Thursday 11 April

Come brainstorm the future of sea travel with us by contributing to our 'Future of Ships' mind map installation! With your family, write, draw, and collage your ideas on your vision for future water travel. Get inspired by the variety of ships in our collection to think about the future of sea travel for design, energy, construction, passengers, and the impact of climate breakdown. Let your imagination set sail as we explore the possibilities together! 

Postcards for our planet

Thursday 4 April

Decorate postcards with scrap materials and write messages of hope and change to encourage people to protect our environment! 

Protecting the poles

Friday 5 April

Join us to create a 3D snow scene by crafting polar animals and eco-friendly transport, weaving indigenous traditional knowledge with western sustainability. Explore the impact of pollution and melting ice while designing your polar vessels and populating the scene with wildlife. 

Hope and regeneration

Saturday 6 April and Friday 12 April

Learn about the regeneration of life in the river Thames and celebrate its revival by making a collective banner of hope for our waterways and marine life. Using recycled fabric and collage images of marine life that have returned to the Thames, you will craft a message of possibility for our future together.

A young family take part in a craft activity at the National Maritime Museum

Rock pool habitats

Sunday 7 April

Explore the wonders of maritime habitats and conservation with your family! Craft your own rock pool mini ecosystems using egg boxes and enjoy our rock pool sensory corner. 

Parkside creations

Monday 8 April

Let's celebrate the beauty of Greenwich Park by crafting a 3D replica using recycled materials. Join in by creating your own plants or trees to contribute to our indoor park display. 

Sea-saving superheroes

Tuesday 9 April

You are invited to become a sea-saving superhero and craft posters advocating for ocean conservation using recycled materials. Either take your creation home or add it to our 'ocean wall' display, spreading messages of protecting our marine environment. 

Mapping Migration

Wednesday 10 April and Sunday 14 April

Add your handprints and collage materials to contribute to our global migration world map whilst discussing the impact of the climate crisis on migration past, present and future. 

Useful information
  • These workshops are open to all ages and abilities. You can book free National Maritime Museum tickets in advance or just turn up on the day. Individual sessions cannot be pre-booked in advance, but there will be plenty of opportunities to drop in throughout the day.
  • Activities will take place in the Learning Space on the ground floor of the National Maritime Museum. Please note that due to building work some areas of the Museum will be closed, including the Great Map and the AHOY! Children's Gallery.
  • Find out more about facilities and access at the National Maritime Museum here.

What’s On

Find more family fun coming up at the National Maritime Museum

Character Encounters
Talks and tours

Character Encounters

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
October half term at the National Maritime Museum
Family fun

October half term at the National Maritime Museum

Free craft activities, science games and family-friendly tours: there's something different happening every day at the National Maritime Museum this half term!
26 October - 3 November 2024
Free
National Maritime Museum
Discover Sundays
Family fun

Discover Sundays

Each Sunday come and explore the Museum's collection through hands on creative activities
Term time Sundays | 11am - 1pm | 2pm - 4pm
Free | Drop-in
National Maritime Museum
Black History Month activities for kids
Events and festivals | Black History Month

Black History Month activities for kids

Puppet theatre performances, workshops and drop-in sessions for all ages - see what's on at the National Maritime Museum during Black History Month in October
Throughout October
Free | No need to book
National Maritime Museum
Play Tuesdays
Family fun

Play Tuesdays

Bring your under 5 on a different adventure every week! Explore the Museum together through song, dance and stories
Term time Tuesdays | 10.30am, 11.30am, 1.00pm, 2.00pm
£4 per child and accompanying adult | Under 6 months free
National Maritime Museum
SENsory Sailors
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
LGBTQ+ Family Network
Family fun | Identity

LGBTQ+ Family Network

A safe space for local LGBTQ+ families to meet one another, get involved in creative activities for all ages and explore the stories within the collection
23 November | 11am-1pm
Free
National Maritime Museum
Safe Harbour
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 30 November 2024 | 12.30pm - 2.30pm
Ticketed | Free
National Maritime Museum