There's so much going on in Greenwich over the Bank Holiday and school half term week from Saturday 24 May to Sunday 1 June, you're going to have to get up early to fit it all in.
Highlights include:
You can also take your pick from the following.
Free events
Meet John Deman (free entry)
Painted Hall, Old Royal Naval College
Saturday 24 May
12noon, 1pm, 2.30pm and 3.30pm.
Visitors to the magnificent Painted Hall in the Old Royal Naval College will be able to ‘meet’ John Deman, a Greenwich Pensioner who left his West Indies home in the early 19th century to join Admiral Nelson’s fleet.
Hear about his life at sea as a young boy and in the Royal Hospital for Seaman as a Pensioner.
Go to the Old Royal Naval College website.
Timelines family workshop (free entry)
National Maritime Museum
Saturday 24 – Friday 30 May
11.30am - 1.30pm and 2 - 4pm
At to the National Maritime Museum you can take part in ‘Timelines’, a free, drop-in workshop where you can add all your family’s important dates to a giant timeline drawing.
Go to the National Maritime Museum website.
Clock-Face drop-in workshop (free entry)
National Maritime Museum
Monday 26 – Friday 30 May
11.30am – 1.30pm and 2 – 4 pm.
Make a grandfather clock headdress complete with a clock face mask to wear.
Go to the National Maritime Museum website
Magical Voyages (free entry)
National Maritime Museum
Tuesday 27 May
11.30am, 12.30pm, 1.30pm and 2.30pm
A special event for children aged 2 - 5 years, families can join ‘Sail-Away Jo’ on an action packed, interactive tour for young sailors looking for an adventure.
Go to the National Maritime Museum website
Discover Time-Keeping (free entry)
Greenwich Royal Observatory
Friday 30 May
11am – 12.30pm and 2 - 3.30pm
Find out about the intricate mechanisms that make clocks and watches tick, then go on to make a clock to take home.
Collect free tickets for timed sessions at the admissions desk.
Lunchtime Recitals
St Alfege Church, Greenwich
24, 29 and 31 May - 1.10pm
St Alfege Church in Maritime Greenwich will be hosting three free lunchtime recitals over the Whitsun week all starting at 1.10pm.
On Saturday, 24 May there will be a performance by Paolo Quaglia; Thursday 29 May sees a recital by soprano Iris Korfker from the Trinity College of Music while on Saturday 31 May there will be a performance by Ellie Steemson on saxophone accompanied by Jenny Ng.
The programme will include Yoshimatsu Fuzzy Bird Sonata; Heath Coltrane, and Woods Sonata for alto saxophone.
Go to the St Alfege website.
Ticketed events
A Touch of Dutch exhibition
Fan Museum, Crooms Hill
Saturday 24 – Sunday 1 June (closed Bank Holiday Monday 26 May)
‘A Touch of Dutch – Royal Fans from the House of Orange-Nassau’, is the first opportunity to view an amazing collection of fans outside the Netherlands that have belonged to four generations of ruling monarchs, as well as intimate portrait miniatures and photographs.
On show are 68 fans dating from the 18th to the 20th centuries: virtuoso pieces created by Europe’s greatest fan makers, studded with precious jewels and made even more fascinating through their meticulously recorded provenance. Also included are two fans painted by Queen Wilhelmina, a skilled amateur whose artistic creations add a personal dimension to the exhibition.
Open Tuesday – Saturday, 11am–5pm, Sunday 12–5pm: adults £4, concessions £3, children under 7 free.
Go to the Fan Museum website.
Secret of the Cardboard Rocket
Peter Harrison Planetarium
Monday 26 and Tuesday 27 May
11am and 3pm
Embark on an outstanding adventure as two children spend a night touring the solar system in a magic cardboard rocket visiting the sun, moon and planets with state-of- the art 3D-animation and spectacular effects.
This family show is recommended for ages 5 upwards. Ticket prices are: adults £6, children and concessions £4, family tickets £16.
The Peter Harrison Planetarium is in the Greenwich Royal Observatory in Greenwich Park.
Archaeology for All
Old Royal Naval College
Thursday 29 May
1 - 4pm
Join the Thames Explorer Trust on the foreshore of the river to learn how to sort and identify archaeological objects. Suitable for children aged 7 years upwards, wellington boots or outdoor footwear essential.
Meet in the Visitor Centre at the Old Royal Naval College. Ticket prices: adults £6, children £4.
Go to the Old Royal Naval College website
Greenwich Market with new food market
The vibrant Greenwich Market will be open from Wednesday through to Sunday.
The Market has recently extended its open days to include a new food only market on:
- Wednesday (11am-7pm)
- Thursday and Friday (10am-5pm).
Produce on offer at the new Food Market is increasing all the time and currently includes fruit and vegetables from the Greenwich Food Co-op, locally made breads, fine Italian food, sausages, freshly squeezed juices, seasonal produce, Turkish meze, cakes, health food, nuts, dried fruit, flowers and plants. There are also specialist stalls such as an oyster bar and the Vanila Bazaar selling vanilla products.
Read more about Greenwich Market.
Find out about transport to and from Greenwich.