Essential Information
| Type | Family fun |
|---|---|
| Location | |
| Date and Times | Throughout summer 2025 | See page for details |
| Prices | Some activities included with entry to the Observatory, some at additional cost |
| Members visit for free. Not a member? Join now |
Head to the Royal Observatory for a stellar family day out this summer!
From live demonstrations to talks, solar observing and voyaging the Universe via a planetarium show, all activities are designed to inspire curious minds of all ages.
Take a look at what's happening below, and find out what other family activities you can do at Royal Museums Greenwich here.
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Volunteer talks
Included in ticket price | Several talks each day | Subject to availability - check with staff on the day 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 Greenwich time ball and the story of John Harrison and his marine timekeepers.
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Treasures Tour
Daily at 11am, 3pm, 5.30pm | £5 Adult, £3.50 Student, £2.50 Child, Members go free | You must have Royal Observatory admission to attend a tour | Recommended ages 12+.
Explore some of the Royal Observatory's most treasured objects. You'll learn about the astronomers who lived and worked here and explore how they helped us understand space, time and navigation.
This guided experience will allow you to explore the history of the site from its very first observations, all the way up to the present day.
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Live demonstrations
Daily | 12pm-4.30pm | Included in ticket price
Learn how things work with live demonstrations, including how a camera obscura bends light, how to use an astrolabe, how the time ball operates, and more.
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Observatory Unlocked
Saturdays and Sundays | Usually 11am-2.30pm | Included in ticket price
Get hands-on with a safe solar-filtered telescope, explore the surface of Mars, try your hand at using a sextant, or see the invisible with our weekend interactive Observatory Unlocked sessions.
Learn more and see the highlights of what to expect here.
Peter Harrison Planetarium
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July Planetarium schedule
Prices: Adult: £12 | Child: £6 | Student: £8
The Sky Tonight
Daily (except term-time Thursdays) | Click 'Learn more' for times
Explore the night sky as it will be on the day of your visit and learn about some astronomical sights you can spot for yourself in this classic show.
Meet the Neighbours
Weekends and holiday weekdays in July (except Thursdays)
The Universe is a vast and intriguing place, and this show explores our own little corner of it: the Solar System.
Ted's Space Adventure
Weekends and school holidays | 11.30am
Ted’s Space Adventure is aimed at 3-7-year-olds. We’ll explore the Solar System with a bear named Ted (and companion Plant!), learning about the things we find there and how they affect us.
Audio Universe: Tour of the Solar System
Weekends and school holidays | 12.30pm
In Audio Universe, the soundtrack takes the lead. Objects in space are represented with sounds as well as being presented with incredible visuals. This means that this show is an immersive experience that can be enjoyed irrespective of level of vision.
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August Planetarium schedule
Prices: Adult: £12 | Child: £6 | Student: £8
The Sky Tonight
Daily in August | See 'Learn more' for full times
Explore the night sky as it will be on the day of your visit and learn about some astronomical sights you can spot for yourself in this classic show.
The Sky Tonight 1675
Daily in August except Thursdays | 4.30pm
This special version of The Sky Tonight will explore the night sky on the day of your visit, comparing what you can see today with 350 years ago, when the Observatory was first established.
Starstruck
Daily in August (except Thursdays) | 2.30pm
This show will explore the lives of stars, from birth to death and everything in between!
Ted's Space Adventure
Daily in August | 11.30am
Ted’s Space Adventure is aimed at 3-7-year-olds. We’ll explore the Solar System with a bear named Ted (and companion Plant!), learning about the things we find there and how they affect us.
Audio Universe: Tour of the Solar System
Daily in August | 12.30pm
In Audio Universe, the soundtrack takes the lead. Objects in space are represented with sounds as well as being presented with incredible visuals. This means that this show is an immersive experience that can be enjoyed irrespective of level of vision.
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Special Planetarium shows in August
Chinese Astronomy
9 August at 10.30am | £10 Adult, £5 Child
Explore topics in ancient and modern Chinese astronomy, including the Sun, Moon, stars and space exploration.
Morning Stars
2 and 16 August at 10.15am | £10 Adult, £5 Child
Our Morning Stars planetarium shows are designed for anyone who would benefit from a calmer and more relaxed environment, in particular those with autism.
Silver Screen Science-Fiction presents... The Wild Robot (2024)
30 August at 6.30pm | £10 Adult, £5 Child
Finish the summer holidays with a fantastic family adventure as we watch The Wild Robot (2024) at the Royal Observatory Greenwich. Come before the film to take part in exciting science activities linked to the film.
Poster © Universal Pictures
What’s On
See more events for families at Royal Museums Greenwich.
