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Family activity

Festive Fun Day

Celebrate ‘the most wonderful time of the year’ at our fun and festive day.

Date
6 December 2025
Location
The National Archives, Kew

Get swept up in an array of activities for all ages – including wintery storytelling, document workshops, chocolate making, carol singing, crafts, facepainting, sensory play and more – accompanied by mince pies and mulled wine for the grownups.

Don’t miss out! Book your general entrance tickets now (£5 per person, under 3s go free) and be sure to 'add on' bookings for some of our in-demand timed activities.

Key event information

All persons attending the event require a ticket for entry - children and adults. Please book as many general admission tickets as needed for your family and then book ‘add on’ activities to avoid disappointment on the day.

The day is fully flexible, so you can drop in for 30 minutes, or stay for the whole five hours. Activities are running throughout the day, so you can arrive and stay for as long as you wish.

We don't have any childcare facilities, so you'll need to stay with and supervise your children at all times during the event.

Quiet break out spaces will be available on level one.

Event details

Date
6 December 2025, 10:30 to 16:00
Price
Free to £5
Age
Up to 12
Location
Across our building
The National Archives, Kew, Richmond, TW9 4DU

This event has sold out.

Dates for this event

6 December 2025

  • 10:30 to 16:00

Get priority booking

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Plan your visit

What is The National Archives?

The National Archives is the official archive of the UK government, and England and Wales. We are the guardians of over 1,000 years of iconic national documents.

Everyone is welcome to visit our headquarters in Kew. We put on exhibitions, events and displays and offer reading rooms giving access to our collections there.

Find out more about who we are

Getting here

The National Archives is located by the River Thames in Kew, 30 minutes from Central London. We offer advice on travelling to us by car, bike, train or bus.

Read our advice on getting here

Children and families

We provide a warm welcome to visitors of all ages, including children and family groups.

  • Free activity sheets (for ages 1+) are available from the Time Travel Club trolley in our entrance hall
  • Our café is child-friendly and there are picnic benches outside
  • Prams and buggies are welcome, and we have a buggy park
  • Baby changing facilities are located by our entrance hall, at the top of the main stairs, and in the library
  • Emergency supplies of nappies and wipes are available

Find out more about visiting with children

Eat and drink

We have a café and coffee bar provided by Maids of Honour, a historic local tea room and bakery. It has spacious indoor and outside seating and a soft play area.

On the menu is a variety of high-quality lunchtime meals, sandwiches, snacks, soft drinks, tea and coffee. Vegetarians, vegans and other dietary requirements are all catered to.

Find out more about our café

The brutalist main building at The National Archives, Kew, reflected on the water of the lake beside it.