Essential information

Type
Family fun
Location
Date and times Until 30 August 2026 | Daily except Mondays
Prices Free
Plan your visit to the National Maritime Museum Find more family fun in Greenwich

Set sail on an adventure at the National Maritime Museum this summer! 

Join us for storytelling sessions, craft workshops and interactive fun to learn about the wonders of the ocean, sailors, ships and more.

Events are free and there's no need to book in advance. Activities are suitable for all ages. We also have some SEND-focused events for families with access needs.

Click the links for full details, and get ready for a summer of adventure!

1 / 3
Craft workshops
2 / 3
Play Outdoors Tuesdays
3 / 3
Storytelling on the Ocean Map

Summer activities at a glance

Summer Play Tuesdays 

Tuesdays see the return of our popular Summer Play Tuesdays sessions. Make the most of the sunny weather and enjoy seaside-inspired activities.

11am-1pm and 2-4pm | Location: Learning Space

Wednesdays: music

Wednesdays are music days at the National Maritime Museum this summer. Come and listen to catchy tunes; dance, play and sing songs; and learn how music was used by maritime communities in the past. 

11am, 12pm, 2pm, 3pm | Location: Learning Space

Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays: craft

These are craft days! Get creative with a range of free themed workshops and take home your wondrous creations.

11am-1pm and 2-4pm | Location: Learning Space

Fridays: storytelling

Close your week with a storytelling session.

Storytelling: 30-minute timed sessions starting at 11am, 12pm, 2pm and 3pm | Location: Ocean Map

Saturdays: character encounters

Visit the National Maritime Museum on a Saturday in the summer holidays and you can meet different characters from history, all with their own fascinating stories to tell.

Don't forget

You can pick up a free trail or sensory bag from the front desk to explore the galleries in your own time. The Cove outdoor playground and the AHOY! Children's Gallery are also open every day.

Full summer activity timetable

WhenWhatTypeFull infoWhere
Tues 18 Aug; 11am-1pm; 2-4pmMoonbound Paper Rockets with Mita Nathwani BhuyanOutdoor craftsGet ready for lift-off in this playful outdoor activity inspired by Artemis 2. Design and build a paper rocket, exploring movement and learning about the lives of astronauts (some who worked from their own kitchens at home)! Romney Road lawns
Wed 19 Aug; 11am, 12pm, 2pm, 3pmSea Sounds Play with Kiran and JoeMusicStep onboard for an open, drop-in music session full of playful exploration. Families can discover instruments, sensory objects and simple songs, with gentle guidance from the facilitators and plenty of space to play, listen, sing or join in.Learning Space
Thurs 20 Aug; 11am-1pm; 2-4pmStyle Celebrations with Rebecca ChittyCraftsWear your history with pride! Inspired by Notting Hill Carnival, South Asian textiles and dress from Pasifika, create your own headpiece or garland. Celebrate colour, culture and identity through the process of joyful making.Learning Space
Fri 21 Aug; 11am, 12pm, 2pm, 3pmStories of Mama D’leau – Protector of the Rivers and Seas with Wendy ShearerStorytellingWendy Shearer will share tales carried across the Caribbean sea with the Windrush Generation. Join her for adventures of magical water creatures and their fierce protector Mama D’leau.Ocean Map
Sat-Sun 22-23 Aug; 11am-1pm; 2-4pm Symbols of Power - Foil Relief Creation with Love Hannington CraftsDiscover how power, alliances, and influence have been expressed through symbols across different cultures. Inspired by the Fon Stool and its connection to King Tofa and French colonial powers, create your own foil artwork exploring relationships, authority, and the lasting legacies of empire..Learning Space
Tue 25 Aug; 11am-1pm; 2-4pm Strong Women at Sea with Abi Horn Outdoor funCelebrate Dr Nina Baker's perseverance in becoming one of the first women to serve as a navigation officer, and the skills of strong women at sea. Families can explore mapping, navigation and hands-on engineering activities, using construction and tinkering to discover strength, problem-solving and the stories behind maritime work.Romney Road lawn
Wed 26 Aug; 11am, 12pm, 2pm, 3pmLost at Sea with Gecko MusicIn the 1960s, six boys from Tonga were shipwrecked on a deserted island in the Pacific. Join singer-storytellers Gecko for a creative family workshop in which you will imagine the incredible journey the boys went on and celebrate the power of friendship in isolation.Ocean Map
Thurs 27 Aug; 11am-1pm; 2-4pmFishing with the Matriarchs with Love Hannington CraftsLearn about the rich history of Caribbean women in fishing communities. Create magnetic fishing rods, catch your own fish and think about the people, skills and traditions that help communities thrive by the water.Learning Space
Fri 28 Aug; 11am, 12pm, 2pm, 3pmZheng He's Treasure Voyages with Debbie GuneratneStorytellingFind out what happened on an amazing sea treasure voyage where a Chinese explorer from the Ming dynasty met the last great king of Sri Lanka.Ocean Map
Sat-Sun 29-30 Aug; 11am-1pm; 2-4pmAn Antarctic Ball with Phil MikulskiCraftsDiscover real stories of gender expression during polar expeditions, where explorers held costume parties and shaped their identity on the ice. Families can design an outfit for an Antarctic ball inspired by creativity, self-expression and life in extreme environments.Learning Space

 

Activities for kids at Royal Museums Greenwich

The Cove playground

Climb, play and explore at The Cove, a fabulous sea-themed playground at the National Maritime Museum

Cutty Sark

Your guide to an action-packed day out with the kids on board Greenwich's historic ship

Queen's House

Find free exciting activities for children of all ages at the Queen's House in Greenwich

Royal Observatory

Bring your little astronauts to the Royal Observatory for space-themed fun

Families at Royal Museums Greenwich

Travel across the seas and through the universe at Cutty Sark, the Royal Observatory, the National Maritime Museum and the Queen's House