Mini-Museum Explorers

Mini-Museum Explorers is a monthly creative session for children under five and their parents or carers, and the clever bit is that it moves around. Instead of staying in one place, it takes place at a different museum in each session, so over the course of the year you get to visit six different sites across Portsmouth.

Each hour is built around storytelling, songs, sensory activities, and arts and crafts. The themes change every time, and they're tied to the museum you're in. In January, Portsmouth Museum and Art Gallery hosted Express Yourself - Disco Party!, and February saw The D-Day Story focus on Second World War Hidden Heroes - Animals. March moved to the Portsmouth Natural History Museum garden for from pupa to butterflies and moths, and April returned to The D-Day Story for Second World War Hidden Heroes - Transport. May took us to Southsea Castle for Time travel: Life behind the castle walls, and June was at Eastney Engine Houses with Full STEM ahead! Water play activities.

The second half of the year keeps going. July returns to Portsmouth Museum & Art Gallery with Time travel: Experience Tudor life, and September heads back to the Natural History Museum garden for Falling Leaves & Forest Friends. October stays there for Life beneath the waves, while November sees Portsmouth Museum and Art Gallery celebrate Let's celebrate Portsmouth 100!. The year wraps up on Friday 11 December at the same gallery with Charles Dickens presents: a Victorian Christmas celebration.

Most sessions run from 10:15 to 11:15, though a few start at 10:00. It's £3 per child, or free if you have a leisure card, and you book your place by calling 023 9283 4779.