Family Days in the Painted Hall  

Join us for a family take-over of the Painted Hall. On the third Sunday of the month, we’ll be setting up activity stations throughout the hall to encourage every member, and all ages, of your family to get stuck in, play, create and learn together. So, whether you’re an artist in training, a construction maverick, history-lover or can simply never resist a costume, there’s plenty of fun to be had.  

Every month the activities will respond to a different theme related to our site’s history, from Art and Architecture to Sailors and Pirates to Film and TV (to name just a few!), so each month, you’ll get to see the hall in a new way.   

Alongside our activities inside the hall, we will also be running free drop-in activities in additional spaces linked to the month’s theme. For our first session (February), this will be arts and crafts based in our King William Undercroft Café. Whilst in the café, if you’re feeling peckish, why not try our new Family Day Kids Lunch deal? 

Painted Hall Activity Stations:

• Sit and Sketch – A chance to sit, relax, and look up as you take in the artistry around you. Borrow a sketchbook and pencil (or bring your own), and get inspired by our prompt cards as you draw together. 
• Build and Connect – Surrounded by Wren’s incredible buildings, get your chance to build together and create your own architectural masterpiece  
• Dress-up  – Step into history through costume and become historical characters connected to the monthly theme 
• Collections and Conservation – Run by our very own Collections team, get hands-on with history and learn about what it takes to look after historical items and buildings  
• Family Painted Hall Talk – An adjusted and shortened version of our general Painted Hall Tour, the same stories but with our family audiences in mind, and the chance to interact with replica items inspired by the Painted Ceiling

Schedule 

Activities begin from 11am, and will wind down from 3.30pm, with last Family Day entry to Painted Hall advised at 3pm. 

Next Family Day: Sunday 15 February (Art and Architecture theme)
Drop-in arts and crafts activities in the café will begin winding down from 2.30pm. Activities in the Painted Hall will wind down from 3.30pm as usual.

Further Dates

• Sunday 15 March (Myths and Symbols theme) 
• Sunday 17 May (Sailors and Explorers theme) 
• Sunday 21 June (Film and TV theme) 
• Sunday 19 July (Crowns and Palaces theme) 
• Sunday 18 October (Myths and Symbols theme) 
• Sunday 15 November (Art and Architecture theme) 
• Sunday 20 December (Crowns and Palaces theme) 

*Currently, there will not be a standard Family Day on 19 April, Sunday 16 August or Sunday 20 September. 

Please Note: 

• Due to current lift issues, the Upper Hall only is wheelchair accessible. Family Day activities will be replicated across both Lower Hall and Upper Hall to accommodate this. 
• In addition, due to current lift restrictions, we kindly ask that buggies are stored in the Café buggy park, and not taken into the hall 
• Activities in the Painted Hall require a general admission ticket or Annual Pass to access 
• Drop-In crafts in the KW Café are free, and on a first come, first served basis. 
• You are welcome to bring your own small sketchbook and pencil for use in the hall. Due to the nature of the space, we currently only allow standard black/grey HB pencils to be used in the Painted Hall