Essential Information

Type Events and festivals
Location
Prince Philip Maritime Collections Centre
Date and Times Saturday 7 September 2024
Prices Free

Heritage Open Days is England's largest festival of history and culture, bringing together over 2,000 organisations, 5,500 events and 46,000 volunteers. 

Every year in September, places across the country throw open their doors to celebrate their heritage, community and history. 

This year, the Prince Philip Maritime Collections Centre – home to Royal Museums Greenwich's stored collections and conservation studios – will be joining in the festivities.

group of people listening to tour guide

From guided tours to craft activities, check below to see what's on offer.

What's on

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Guided tours

This year the Prince Philip Maritime Collections Centre is throwing open its doors with onsite tours, centred around the theme 'Routes, Networks and Connections'. 

The tour will be led by Gabriel Dedji, an author, curator and musician who is passionate about creating interactive community spaces that educate us to feel empathy for one another and make the world a better place. The tour of the Prince Philip Maritime Collections Centre, ‘Feels Like A Better Tomorrow’, uses an expansive collection of items from across the globe and an array of historical anecdotes to stimulate togetherness, self-reflection and optimism.

Tours will run at the following times:

  • 11-11.45am
  • 1-1.45pm
  • 2-2.45pm 
  • 3-3.45pm
  • 4-4.45pm

Suitability: The tours are suitable for adults and children

Price: Free (donations encouraged!)

Booking: Due to the nature of the site, all places on the tour need to be booked in advance. Click the button below and select your entry time using the booking calendar.

Book a tour

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Craft workshops

Make, Do and Maintain is a monthly club for all generations to come together, share skills and learn more about museum conservation and collections. As part of Heritage Open Days, this month our fantastic facilitator Lucy-Anne will be setting up in the Collections Centre Community Garden to celebrate nature's roots!

She'll be delving into the fascinating history of potatoes and other root vegetables such as yams, ginger, turmeric, horseradish, carrots, and sweet potatoes. With our newfound knowledge we will be creating some 'root art', learning to carve roots to create unique stamps and use them to print beautiful greeting cards. All supplies are provided.

Timings: workshop runs from 10.30am - 12pm

Suitability: Make, Do and Maintain sessions are typically suitable for adults and children aged 7 and above. Children under 16 must be accompanied by an adult.

Price: free (donations encouraged!)

Book a workshop place

If you like what you see, make sure to look out for other Make, Do and Maintain sessions throughout the year.

Plan your visit to the Prince Philip Maritime Collections Centre

Tours and tickets

The guided tours and Make, Do and Maintain workshops are free for all visitors, but please make sure you book a ticket online in advance. Use the booking calendar to select your time.

If you are able to support the work of the Collections Centre with a small donation we would be very grateful.

Getting here

The Prince Philip Maritime Collections Centre is a quick, easy journey from central London by rail or via local bus services.

Address: The Prince Philip Maritime Collections Centre, Nelson Mandela Road, Kidbrooke, SE3 9QS

By train: You can reach us from central London via direct routes from Cannon Street, London Bridge, Charing Cross and Victoria. Our nearest station is Kidbrooke which is only a 5 minute walk away.

By bus: The following buses stop near the Prince Philip Maritime Collections Centre: 178, B16, 286, 132

By car: There is limited parking space in our car park but we will prioritise parking for visitors with disabilities. Please pre-book, otherwise we cannot guarantee a place. E-mail: ppmcc@rmg.co.uk

Getting to Royal Museums Greenwich

What’s On

Find more tours and events at the Prince Philip Maritime Collections Centre.

SENsory Social Club
Family fun

SENsory Social Club

Join the weekly online club for adults and young people with SEND
Friday during term time | 11am (Online session) or 1pm (Onsite session)
Pay what you can
Prince Philip Maritime Collections Centre
Saturday Super Store Tours
Talks and tours

Saturday Super Store Tours

Come behind the scenes and explore the stores at the Prince Philip Maritime Collections Centre
Saturdays at 1.30pm
£12
Prince Philip Maritime Collections Centre
Open Waves sessions
Workshops | Museum Lates

Open Waves sessions

Open Waves is a unique and free 12-week wellbeing session series for participants aged 25-45 from African Caribbean communities, led by audiovisual artist and live looping specialist Jasmine Kahlia
16 October - 18 December 2024
Free
Prince Philip Maritime Collections Centre
Behind the scenes tours
Talks and tours

Behind the scenes tours

Explore the inner workings of Royal Museums Greenwich and see conservation in action on one of our guided tours
Second and fourth Thursday of every month (see page for details) | 1.30pm
Adults: £16 | Members: £12
Prince Philip Maritime Collections Centre
The Optimism Sessions
Workshops

The Optimism Sessions

Join us for 'The Optimism Sessions', a 12-week creative wellbeing programme for those from a global majority background, aged 18 - 24. Participants will explore art, play, and reflection to rethink how they can positively impact the world.
Thursday 17 October - Thursday 19 December 2024 and two additional session on Saturday 26 October and 9 November
Free
Prince Philip Maritime Collections Centre
BSL Tour: The Prince Philip Maritime Collections Centre
Talks and tours | BSL tours

BSL Tour: The Prince Philip Maritime Collections Centre

Join guide John Wilson for a British Sign Language (BSL) tour of our state-of-the-art conservation and storage facility
Thursday 24 October 2024 | 1.30pm-2.30pm - This tour is now fully booked
Free
Prince Philip Maritime Collections Centre
Coder Dojo
Workshops

Coder Dojo

Be inspired by the collection and create computer programmes, animation, art and electronic experiments in response
First Saturday of the month (unless stated otherwise below)
Free
Prince Philip Maritime Collections Centre
Objects in Focus
Talks and tours | Member events

Objects in Focus

Visit our collection centre to get up close with an iconic object from our collection
Tuesday 12 November 2024 | 10.30am-11.30am
Free for Members – sold out
Prince Philip Maritime Collections Centre
Delve Deeper: Specialist tours
Talks and tours | Museum Lates

Delve Deeper: Specialist tours

Delve deeper into Royal Museums Greenwich's collection on our specialist tours of the Prince Philip Maritime Collections Centre for over 18s.
Thursday 5 December | 7-8.30pm
£20 Adults
Prince Philip Maritime Collections Centre