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New Offerings for Curious Young Sailors

The big aim this half-term? To introduce exciting new family-friendly offerings that make our historic ship even more interactive and inclusive for kids. Our newly assembled on-site team poured creativity and energy into every activity, and their hard work paid off. Across the week, we saw brilliant feedback from families, with visitors describing the ship as “welcoming,” “fun,” “super educational,” and even “the perfect activity for a five-year-old.”

Meet the Crew

Visitors got a taste of life at sea, meeting real members of the ship’s crew and learning about everything from cannon drills to navigation, all aboard a full-scale reconstruction of Sir Francis Drake’s famous galleon.

Myths, Masks & Monsters: The Caliban Craft Workshop

Inspired by Shakespeare’s mysterious sea-dwelling character from The Tempest, our “Masking a Monster” workshop let children explore the world of Elizabethan imagination. Using paint, collage materials, and a healthy dose of sea monster inspiration, kids created their own Caliban masks - many of which were proudly worn around the ship for the rest of the day!

“The Caliban workshop was really fun - my kids really enjoyed it. So original and creative.”
“The team were welcoming and engaging… A fun, unexpected activity. Have got to keep it on for summer!”

Shakespearean Shipshape Story Time

Every morning started with our brand new “Shipshape Story Time” sessions - interactive readings of Tudor-themed tales brought to life by members of our crew. These cosy storytelling sessions were followed by a themed arts and crafts activity. Children created Shakespearean players from scratch, learning about historical dress and character roles through creative play.

“Very fun and engaging. Kids trail was very well done. Staff were excellent throughout.”

Shakespeare’s Trail: To Sea or Not To Sea?

Throughout the week, families could also take part in our brand new self-guided Shakespeare Trail. Hidden across the ship were clues linking Shakespeare’s plays to real seafaring life - everything from stormy scenes in The Tempest to the naval camaraderie of Henry V. Along the way, children solved challenges, rubbed knightheads for luck, and uncovered the “poisoned” treasure of a captured Spanish galleon.

Visitors were surprised to learn just how connected Shakespeare’s works were to maritime life, and delighted by the trail’s hands-on format.

Visitor Feedback & Engagement

Over 79% of survey respondents said this was their first time aboard the ship, with many deciding to visit spontaneously. More than half of all visitors joined a self-led tour, and a large number took part in multiple activities. The response to our new programming was enthusiastic across the board.

Parents celebrated the combination of education and entertainment, from the “insight into history” to the “great value” of hands-on creative learning. We were especially delighted to see shout-outs to the team, described by visitors as “welcoming and engaging,” “patient and informative,” and “brilliantly knowledgeable.”

One parent shared that their child had been reading about The Golden Hinde and was excited to see the cannons in real life - another called the ship “amazing” and praised the joy of exploring history through art and storytelling.

The Caliban-inspired workshop was mentioned more than any other, with repeated praise for its originality and the way it captured children’s imaginations. From designing sea monster masks to rubbing knightheads for good luck, the ship was alive with little moments of discovery.

Looking Ahead

This half-term marked more than just a week of great workshops - it marked the beginning of a new chapter for The Golden Hinde. With a brilliant new Visitor Experience team on deck, we’re excited to carry this momentum into the summer and beyond.

We’ll be back soon with news about upcoming events and summer programming, but for now: thank you to every family who came aboard this half-term. Whether you joined a tour, crafted a mask, solved a Shakespearean riddle, or simply soaked in the history, we loved having you onboard/aboard.

Until next time - fair winds and following seas.