Travel through time with our family activities!
Time Travel Club is our family activities programme with events and activities designed for children. Learn, create and have fun with all the family.
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Plus, you can view and book all our upcoming Time Travel Club events via eventbrite.
Ministry of Time Travel – The Pickles Mission
- Select Saturdays and over October half term
The Ministry of Time Travel needs your help! Step into the thrilling world of the Ministry of Time Travel (MoTT), a secret organisation based at the heart of The National Archives, which decodes evidence from the past to safeguard time itself. A classified emergency broadcast has been received about the theft of the 1966 World Cup trophy. Solve exciting challenges to help junior time agent Beatrix, and Pickles the dog, save the cup!
Through an exciting combination of digital storytelling and interactive game-play, The Ministry of Time Travel is a unique and immersive world for family audiences to explore history together. This summer’s assignment is aimed at families, ideal for children aged between 8 to 12 years.
Ministry of Time Travel – Online Mission
The Ministry of Time Travel is looking for new recruits brave enough to tackle any mission! But successful Time Agents are made not born, so you’ll need to learn the tricks of the trade.
Under the tutelage of the Chief Timer herself, this online adventure will see you complete five exciting challenges highlighting records, photographs and stories from The National Archives’ collection. Ideal for children aged 8 to 12 years, you can take part at The National Archives on our first floor or from home.
Time Travel Craft Club: Halloween
- Select days in school holidays, 10:30 to 12:30 or 13:30 to 15:30
Spend time getting creative with spectacularly spooky crafts during the school holidays! Craft Club takes place in our café.
Find out more and book tickets on Eventbrite
Time Travel Club: The Haunted Archives (8-11 years)
- 10:30, Thursday 31 October 2024
Prepared to be spooked by all things weird and wonderful… are there really ghosts, sea monsters and even UFOs lurking in the vaults at The National Archives?
Time Travel Club: Meet the Inventor Storytelling (5-7 years)
- 11:00, Tuesday 29 October 2024
Join us for a storytelling adventure to delve into our unique and unusual Victorian inventions. Use your imagination to meet a wacky inventor from history and even become one yourself! You can take part in a craft activity after the storytelling too.
Time Travel Tots: Messy Play (2 to 5-year-olds)
- Once a month, various dates
Join us for a messy play session! We will use lots of fun sensory materials to spark your child’s imagination and creativity.
This event will be run by a member of staff, and is for children aged 2 to 5 and their carers.
It will take place in the Clore Learning Centre on the first floor. You may wish for your child to wear clothes that they can get messy, or bring a change of clothes with you. Aprons and wipes will be provided. Booking for your child is essential but adults do not need to book for themselves. Please provide the age of your child when booking.
Find out more and book tickets on Eventbrite
Sensory Storytelling for Babies and Toddlers
- Various dates for different ages
Come and join us for some sensory storytelling! The storytelling lasts for 30 minutes, with time for playing and chatting afterwards.
Find out more and book tickets on Eventbrite
About Time Travel Club
Our Time Travel Club family events are a great way for you and your children to learn and have fun.
From the Tudors to Second World War spies, find out about the fascinating and unique stories that make up the history of our nation. Interact with astonishing original records from our collection and enjoy creative craft activities as a family.
Activities to watch and try at home
We have a wide variety of family activities including online Tots storytelling videos, Craft Club videos and activities which tie into national initiatives, such as the Big Draw and Arts Award.
Time Travel TV
Discover our huge selection of Time Travel TV videos. Our TV series encourages viewers to explore archive documents from home with the guidance of members of the Education team. Throughout the series, you will learn about famous historical events and people, as well as the unusual documents we keep in our collection.
Each episode is completed with exciting follow-up activities, including a detective-based enquiry exploring other documents in our collection, and themed crafts.