Essential information
| Type |
Family fun
|
|---|---|
| Location | |
| Date and times | Saturday 24 October - Sunday 1 November 2026 |
| Prices | Free |
Journey down the river to Greenwich and take part in a range of creepy crawly-themed activities at the National Maritime Museum this October half term!
Featuring craft workshops and storytelling sessions, there's something different happening every day of half term.
And best of all? Many activities are free and drop-in with no need to book in advance.
Family workshops at Royal Museums Greenwich are designed for children and their carers to participate and learn together as an intergenerational group. Activities are planned on the basis of each participating adult bringing up to four children.
Check out what's on each day below. The Cove outdoor playground is open every day too, and there's also a host of events taking place at our other sites including the Royal Observatory, Cutty Sark and the Queen's House.
Find out more about family visits to Greenwich here.
October half term activities for families
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Meet James Robson, Cutty Sark's cook
Saturday 24 October | 11.30am, 12.30pm, 1.30pm, 2.30pm
Come and say hello to James Robson, cook on board Cutty Sark and learn about the meals eaten on board (and the creepy crawlies in the food!)
James sailed on ten different voyages between 1885 and 1895. Born in China, he was apparently found as a castaway when a baby and adopted by a sea captain and his wife, growing up in London before embarking on a career at sea.
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Astronomers Take Over
Daily | Times vary | See ticketing site for full details
There's never been a better time to visit Astronomers Take Over at the National Maritime Museum.
This October half term, there's a brand-new planetarium show, Cosmic Journey, for kids aged 11 and over; look out for Weird Science Live in the Star Huddle, a hourly 15-minute live demo run by a real astronomer; plus all the usual Moon Room, Mars rovers and Cosmic Quest fun.
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Unboxing the Universe
Saturday 24 and Sunday 25 October | 11.30am and 1.30pm | Lecture theatre
Packed with awesome live demos, weird and wonderful smells, and fun audience participation, Unboxing the Universe is a live science theatre show bursting with answers to your biggest space questions.
What is a black hole? What does our Solar System smell like? What does it take to launch a rocket into space? Find out all this and more at this exciting live show.
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Silverfish Scribblers
Sunday 25 October | 11am-1pm, 2pm-4pm | Learning Space
Silverfish love living in paper, which can be a real challenge for museum collections.
Join us to create your own wriggly paper silverfish puppet using folding, cutting and decorative techniques. Add your mark to our giant collaborative wallpaper artwork while discovering why conservators work hard to keep these tiny nibblers away from historic documents, maps and books.
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Munching Moths
Tuesday 27 October | 11am-1pm, 2pm-4pm | Learning Space
Watch out — there’s a hungry moth on the loose!
Discover the life cycle of the clothes moth as you build your own bead-and-pipe-cleaner moth, from egg to winged adult. Along the way, you’ll find out why moths are so fond of tasty treasures such as silk, wool and feathers, and create a menu of museum snacks fit for a very hungry moth.
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Bug Detectives
Tuesday 27 October, 11am and 3pm | Friday 30 October, 11am | Lecture Theatre
Pesky pests or beautiful bugs?
Join our conservation experts to discover how we protect the museum’s treasures from hungry invaders. Step into the shoes of a conservator and learn how we track, trap and identify the tiny creatures that think our collection looks like a snack. Discover the secret science we use to stop these tiny stowaways from damaging our history.
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The Great Big Bug Show
Wednesday 28 and Thursday 29 October | 11am and 2pm | Ocean Map
Join acclaimed children's poet Simon Mole and musician Gecko for an interactive workshop packed with poems, raps and songs to spark the imagination in a welcoming and supportive environment. Meet extraordinary insects, discover amazing bug facts and help bring the world of minibeasts to life through music, movement and plenty of audience participation.
Expect big laughs and even bigger bugs.
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Insect Island Adventure
Friday 30 October | 11am, 12pm, 2pm, 3pm | Group Space
All aboard for a sensory musical adventure where ships and insects meet! Explore life on board a ship using instruments and sensory objects, then set sail for Insect Island, where buzzing, clicking and fluttering creatures await.
Movement, games and music bring the story to life as families discover what different insects might sound like. Let's hope none of them make it back on board our ship…!
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Meet the Beetles
Friday 30 October | 11am-1pm, 2pm-4pm | Learning Space
Wooden ships had plenty of nooks and crannies that bugs called home. Meet some of the beetles, weevils, fleas and other creepy crawlies that travelled the seas aboard historic ships.
Then imagine the perfect bug companion for your own voyage and create a collection of mini bugs to take home using a range of craft materials.
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Astronomy Lego Brick Club
Friday 30 October | 11.30am-1.30pm and 2.30-4.30pm | Group Space
Get ready for a spooky space LEGO brick adventure!
Build alien monsters, mysterious spacecraft and more in this special Halloween-themed brick-building challenge. Whether you want to create haunted lunar bases or creepy crawlers lurking in the basement of the Museum, let your imagination run wild as you bring your own masterpiece to life.
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Spiders in Space
Sunday 1 November | 11-1pm and 2-4pm | Learning Space
Did you know spiders have helped astronomers explore the night sky?
Join us for a sensory storytelling adventure inspired by the brave spiders that spun webs in space. Props, movement and imaginative play will help families explore the connections between creepy crawlies and astronomy.
Designed especially for younger children and families who enjoy sensory experiences.
More half-term fun for October
Family fun at the National Maritime Museum
Bring your little sailors along for some maritime-themed fun
