Out at Sea

The Mermaid's Tail tour

11am | Starting point - Romney Road entrance of the National Maritime Museum | For ages 13+

Ahoy fans of folklore and storytelling, there’s something fishy going on at the National Maritime Museum! Mermaids and merfolk have captured the minds of sailors, travellers, merchants and storytellers for millennia. 

During this 55-minute tour through the collections of the National Maritime Museum, artist, historian and part-time love goddess HRH Aphrodite will take you on a deep dive through the ever-evolving image of merpeople, from beautiful fish-folk to harbingers of doom. 

Mama G storytime

11.30am, 1pm and 3pm | Ocean Map | Drop-in | Suitable for all ages

Meet our panto dame Mama G for a magical storytelling session on the Ocean Map.

Attire Applier

11am-1pm & 2-4pm | Rethink Space | For ages 13+

Fashion often follows societal rules regarding gender, class, and status. From Henry VIII's sizeable front piece, to Elizabeth I's stiff and lacy collar, to the beautiful bow adorning the neck of a Regency-era dandy – all of these tell us what kind of person the wearer is supposed to be. 

Let's break those expectations and try your hand at making a historical accessory piece in this fun and creative workshop.

Sea creature quiz

10.30am, 12pm and 2pm | Drop-in | Ocean Map | All ages

Quizmaster ShayShay will teach you all about the gender-defying creatures of the sea in this game show. Expand your knowledge about our fascinating sea-dwelling friends! 

Dance workshop

11am, 12.30pm, 2.30pm | Drop-in | Ocean Map | All ages

Use your imagination and movement to explore the owners of the sea, from the sandy shores to the sea floors. On this oceanic dance adventure, ShayShay will lead you to encounter all sorts of creatures of the deep.

Their stories 

11am-1pm | Seminar Room | For ages 18+

Queer narratives are often hidden throughout history. In this exploratory workshop, we'll be investigating the hidden queer histories woven into items from our collection using poetry and prose. 

At the end, you'll produce your own literary response to the themes and history we've explored, with plenty of prompts to get your creative juices flowing. You'll also have the option to share your wonderful creative writing work proudly with the group. 

This workshop is free, but booking is encouraged.

Book free tickets

Clothes make the sailor

Starting point - Nelson Navy Nation gallery | 2-4pm | For ages 13+

Reimagine the relationship between clothes and seafaring through a queer lens. We'll take a gallery tour to unravel the connections between sailors and fashion, and think about how clothes help people to express who they truly are. 

Once we've gathered enough inspiration, we'll head to the Rethink space to draw, collage and describe our dream sailor outfit.

This workshop is free, but booking is encourage via this link.

The A-Dressing of the Queen (Performance) 

1pm | Starting point - Nelson, Navy, Nation gallery | Drop-in | Suitable for all ages

How were 18th-century gowns worn? From smock to overgown, this lively demonstration explores textile history, wartime influences, and the changing fashions of Nelson’s era - brought to life with a queer perspective by two drag queens.

Portraits for your pocket

Drop in between 11am-1pm and 2-4pm | Propeller Space | Suitable for all ages

Portrait miniatures are small likenesses that you keep to remember someone. In this creative workshop, explore LGBTQ+ histories through these treasured tokens of love and identity, and use collage to make your own portrait, big or small!

Flags of belonging

Drop in between 10am-12pm and 1-3pm | Figurehead Space | Suitable for all ages

Create mini signal flags, boat bunting, or pride pennants inspired by maritime flag traditions — reimagined as messages of belonging, pride, allyship and community for LGBTQ+ History Month.

Screening of Family In Residence film

Time TBC | Drop-in | Ocean Map | All ages

Enjoy a film created by this year's LGBTQ+ Families in Residence!