Family fun at Sir John Soane's Museum

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…Young visitors are invited to unlock the secrets of the Soane Museum and unleash their creativity with a series of holiday workshops  

Tucked away in Lincoln’s Inn Fields at the heart of London, the magical, mysterious Sir John Soane’s Museum offers a range of inspiring activities encouraging children to explore its hidden treasures and develop new skills with specialist guidance.

Sir John Soane (1753- 1837) was an inveterate collector, filling every corner of his beautiful home with items that fascinated him.  From fossils to classical fragments from Ancient Egypt, Greece and Rome and from contemporary paintings to architectural models, drawings and literature, he intended that after his death both his house and its extraordinary contents should be used to educate and inspire.  

Today the Museum continues that intention with its inventive and eclectic workshop programmes for adults and children.  One of Soane’s most prized possessions, the great alabaster sarcophagus of Egyptian King Seti I which occupies pride of place in the Museum’s crypt, inspires a number of summer workshops, including the chance to make a mini model mummy.  

HOLIDAY ACTIVITIES FOR CHILDREN

Enjoy either half- or full-day children’s workshops in the school holidays. Develop a skill or explore Soane’s treasures with specialist guidance.

·       Workshops are suitable for children aged 7+

·       Whole-day workshops run from 10:30am until 3:00pm

·       Half-day workshops run 10:30am-12:30pm or 2:00pm-4:00pm (please specify when booking)

·       All materials are provided

·       Children must bring their own lunch for whole-day workshops

·       £20 for whole day, £12 for half day, payable in advance

·       Address: Sir John Soane’s Museum, 13 Lincoln’s Inn Fields, London WC2A 3BP

·       Nearest tube: Holborn

Booking is essential - contact the Administrator on 020 7440 4263 or at [email protected]<mailto:[email protected]> .

Time for Tea!

Wed 4 August (2 x half days)

Caroline Dorset

Have fun finding and sketching unusual patterns in the museum, then paint your own colourful cup and saucer, inspired by what you've found.

Create a Canopic Jar

Thurs 5 August (whole day)

Kate Kelland

Explore the Ancient Egyptian secrets of mummification and look at the magnificent sarcophagus of Seti I.  Then make your own Canopic Jar fit for a Pharaoh.

Heads Galore!

Wed 10 August (2 x half days)

Caroline Dorset

Hunt for weird and wonderful heads made of stone, clay or plaster, then design and make your own special head from clay.

Mono-Printing

Fri 12 August (whole day)

Lucy Brennan

Learn the magic of mono-printing for making cards based on the Museum's amazing and inspiring collection - from funny faces and stained glass to fantastic urns and hieroglyphics.

Glorious Glass

Wed 17 August (2 x half days)

Sally Crowley

Study Soane’s stained glass and make your own version (using acetate, tracing paper, black paper and pens and coloured inks)!

Cast Away!

Thurs 18 August

Caroline Dorset

Create your own clay relief sculpture, then make a plaster cast from it to take home – inspired by decorative fragments and friezes in the Museum.

Make me a Mini Model Mummy

Wed 24 August (2 x half days)

Rosie Fuller

Investigate the sarcophagus of Seti I and discover why some ancient Egyptians were mummified after they died. Make a miniature model mummy to take home.

Preposterous Pets

Thurs 25 August (2 x half days)

Rosie Fuller

Hear the story of the Soanes’ family pet. Get inspired by animals in the Museum and create your own cuddly creature using simple sewing techniques and a lot of imagination.

Ancient Egyptian Amulets

Fri 26 August (2 x half days)

Rosie Fuller

Discover the secrets of ancient Egyptian amulets and the powers the Egyptians believed they had. Make your own amulet and learn to write a magic spell in hieroglyphs.

See more great activities for children at some of the world’s great museums in ‘Art for all the family’in July Cassone.