Essential Information
| Type | Family fun |
|---|---|
| Location | |
| Date and Times | 25 October - 2 November 2025 | See page for details |
| Prices | Included with entry to the Royal Observatory |
| Members visit for free. Not a member? Join now |
Head to the Royal Observatory for a range of fun and spooky half term activities, from live demonstrations to talks and tours.
Take a look at the events below, and find out what other family activities you can do in Greenwich here.
Please note that all activities are included with admission and are suitable for ages 7+.
Event programme
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Spooky tour
28 October – 31 October | 12pm and 4pm | Included in admission | Sessions last 30 minutes
Come and discover the haunting history of Greenwich ghosts, treason and witchcraft at the Royal Observatory this spooky season.
Talks
Daily from 25 October – 2 November | Included in admission | Sessions last 15 minutes - check with staff on the day for timings
Unusual stories from the Royal Observatory
Hear strange, spooky and sometimes shocking stories from the history of the Royal Observatory.
Sympathetic magic and longitude
Perhaps the most curious suggestion for solving the longitude problem involved a dog, a bowl of iron sulphate, and magic. Find out how this spooky brew emerged from a tradition of Renaissance philosophy whose origins are as old as humankind - and how these strange ideas would inspire Newton’s theory of gravity.
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Observatory Unlocked
Saturday 25 and Sunday 26 October, Saturday 1 and Sunday 2 November | 11.30am-2.30pm | Great Equatorial Telescope dome | Included in admission
Step inside the iconic Great Equatorial Telescope dome and join our Observatory Explainers for a hands-on session all about telescopes! Explore how magnification works through live demonstrations and see how the Great Equatorial Telescope compares to other telescopes around the world.
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Live demonstrations
Daily at select times | Included in admission
Learn more about our Camera Obscura, historic navigation instruments and more by dropping in to our live demonstrations.
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Volunteer talks
Included in admission | Please ask staff for details
Discover the fascinating history of the Observatory and some of our most popular objects with our volunteer team. Come along to learn about the Prime Meridian, the importance of the Time Ball and the story of John Harrison and his marine timekeepers.
What’s On
See more events for families at Royal Museums Greenwich.
