UCL's World Archaeology Festival

The World Archaeology Festival: Passport to the Past is held by the Institute of Archaeology at University College London as part of the Council for British Archaeology's annual summer Festival of Archaeology.

The World Archaeology Festival is a free family event for everyone, with a wide variety of activities themed around archaeology and the research of staff and students at the UCL Institute of Archaeology.

Activities

Flint-napping
How would you like to make your own flint just as stoneage people did? You will learn the basic techniques and get a souvenir to bring back home.

Library Treasure Trail
The archaeology library on the 6th floor is one of the biggest archaeology libraries in the world. See for yourself what treasures it holds.

Collection Tour
The Institute of Archaeology is not just a building full of archaeologists! Go behind locked doors to see a glimpse of our massive collection. You will also be able to visit different parts of the Institute as part of the tour.

Leave Your Mark
Participate in one the oldest form of art. Beware! Your hands will get dirty and your marks might stand for thousands of years.

Sandpit Archaeology
Are you ready to get your hands dirty? Become the next Indiana Jones by finding what's beneath the surface!

Can You Dig It
Archeology is not just about adventures and treasures. Come and learn what processes archaeologists go through to find what our ancestors have left behind. It is all about finding the right clues!

More activities to be confirmed

Useful Information

Admission Free

Hours 11am-5pm

Food
We suggest you bring your own food to have picnic in the Gordon Square. You can also used the staff room located on the 6th floor of the Institute building. We will sell simple drinks in the staff room.
There are many cafes near the Gordon Square you can use.

Restrooms
Use the restrooms in the Institute of Archaeology building. Men's restrooms are on the odd number floors and women's are on the even number floors.

Disabled Visitors
Activities in the Gordon Square are easily accessible. The Institute has ramps and lifts.

Institute of Archaeology University College London
31-34 Gordon Square London WC1H 0PY

Telephone: +44 (0) 20 7679 7495
Fax: +44 (0) 20 7383 2572

Buses: UCL’s Institute of Archaeology site is served by many Transport for London bus routes. Buses travelling from north to south stop in Gordon Street, immediately outside UCL’s main gate, while those travelling from south to north stop outside Warren Street station, about a five minutes walk from UCL.
Services to these stops include route numbers: 10, 14, 24, 29, 73, 134, 390.

Underground: The closest tube stations to UCL’s Institute of Archaeology site are Euston Square (Hammersmith and City, Metropolitan and Circle lines), Warren Street (Northern and Victoria lines), Euston (Northern and Victoria lines) and Russell Square (Piccadilly line).

"Thanks so much to all involved for a truly lovely day! My 7 year old daughter came home with bags full of things she'd made and enjoyed every minute (...as did the grown ups!). Well done to all concerned and please, please do it again next year..."
- Tess Machling and family, attendee 2013