Essential information
| Type | Family fun |
|---|---|
| Location | |
| Date and times | 15 - 20 February 2026 | 11am-4pm |
| Prices | Free |
Come along to the National Maritime Museum this February half term for a whole host of fun events for families inspired by love, fashion and LGBTQ+ History Month!
From storytelling and singing workshops to maritime crafts and marvellous history, there's something for all ages at the National Maritime Museum this February. The events have been created in consultation with families and are suitable for all ages.
All sessions are free with no need to book in advance. Check out the full programme below.
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Sunday 15 February
Loving keepsakes
11am-1pm and 2-4pm | Learning Space | Suitable for all ages
Once upon a time, sailors swapped tiny, engraved coins to share love and connection as they travelled across the seven seas. Inspired by these loving keepsakes, you can craft your very own keepsake, celebrating love and identity in all its forms.
Using foam sheets and ink, you’ll create your own prints to keep or give to someone special.
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Monday 16 February
Rainbow fish
11am-1pm and 2-4pm | Learning Space | Suitable for all ages
Let's have fishy fun with all the different colours that help people express their identity, pride and belonging! Rainbows are a proud symbol of the LGBTQ+ community, and Rainbow fish are a bright reminder that every colour and identity belongs in our world's oceans.
Get stuck into rainbow-coloured craft materials to create your own vibrant rainbow fish, exploring colour and community.
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Tuesday 17 February
Pride in the cosmos
11am-1pm and 2-4pm | Learning Space | Suitable for all ages
A long time ago... in Gbe stories from West Africa, the world was guided by Mawu Lisa, an agender being who held both the Sun and the Moon in perfect balance. This ancient story reminds us that identity isn't binary!
Create your own Sun and Moon on a stick by decorating one side of a plate as the bright sun and the other as the calm moon, with inspiration from the ZWO Astronomy Photographer of the Year exhibition.
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Wednesday 18 February
Polari zines
11am-1pm and 2-4pm | Learning Space | Suitable for all ages
Imagine creating a whole new, secret language to express who you are!
In this fun, family-friendly zine-making workshop, you’ll learn about ‘Polari’ – a secret language once used by sailors and the LGBTQ+ community. Match words to their meanings, invent your own secret language through drawing and play, and create your own Polari zine to take home.
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Thursday 19 February
Julian is a Mermaid storytelling and dress-up play
11am-1pm and 2-4pm | Learning Space | Suitable for all ages
'Julian is a Mermaid' is the perfect story to celebrate LGBTQ+ joy at the National Maritime Museum.
This will be a fun and sparkly dressing-up and storytelling session where little ones can twirl, play and explore who they are through accessories and imagination while listening to the joyful story, 'Julian is a Mermaid'.
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Friday 20 February
Dress to express
11am-1pm and 2-4pm | Learning Space | Suitable for all ages
Clothing has always been a bold way to show the world who you are. From powdered wigs to glittering jackets, the portraits in the Museum show fashions that once tightly set the rules for gender and presentation.
In this creative collaging workshop, families will reimagine and reinvent costumes for figures like Elizabeth I and Admiral Nelson, creating exciting new looks with fresh eyes.
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