Pirates and Sunken Treasure: The Postal Museum Unveils A Mysterious Watery World of Kids Activities this Easter

The Postal Museum, home of Mail Rail, has a packed programme of workshops lined up for families visiting during the Easter holidays. The activities mark the launch of the museum’s new temporary exhibition, Voices from the Deep, exploring personal letters and other treasures shipwrecked at the bottom of the Atlantic Ocean for 77 years, and miraculously recovered.

Easter activities will take place on Tuesday, Thursdays and Saturdays from Tuesday 3 April to Thursday 12 April and are open to children of all ages.

All activities are included in the ticket price (except for tickets to Sorted! – The Postal Museum’s kids play space – only) and available on a first come, first served basis – just pop along to take part, but arrive early to guarantee a place.

What’s on?

Tuesday 3 April 2018, 11.30, 13.30 and 14.30 (45 mins): Storytelling
In the old days, letters on ships could be lost at sea as the crew battled pirates and storms. Meet the mermaids who find them in this enchanting storytelling session, as they dream of life on land having read snippets from this other world.

Thursday 5 April 2018, 11.00 – 13.00 and 14.00 – 16.00: Message in a Bottle
Imagine who might receive a letter placed in a bottle and dropped into the ocean. In this creative workshop, design your own bottle and write a letter to send to a stranger on the other side of the world.

Saturday 7 April and Saturday 14 April 2018, 10.00 – 16.00: The Galleries are Alive!
“When you can fight no more you must sink the mail.”
The captains and crew of the Post Office packet ships risked life and limb to carry letters overseas. Meet Captain William Rogers as he strolls through the museum’s galleries, and hear heroic tales of fighting pirates and braving the elements – all to save the mail.

Saturday 7 April and Saturday 14 April 2018, 10.00 – 16.00: Easter Treasure Hunt
Perilous pirates have hidden valuable treasure in The Postal Museum! Pick up a trail and solve the clues to hunt down the missing booty. Collect your chocolatey prize once you’ve cracked it.

Tuesday 10 April 2018, 11.00 – 13.00 and 14.00 – 16.00: Teapots and Trinkets
Visit Voices from the Deep to discover the treasures of the SS Gairsoppa shipwreck; from silver ingots to teapots and trinkets. Then, get crafty with clay and make your own piece of treasure, inspired by the rescued cargo. Led by artist Susie Foster.

Thursday 12 April 2018, 11.00 – 13.00 and 14.00 – 16.00: Sea Life Shrinkies
An arts and crafts workshop inspired by sea life on stamps, make your own mini souvenir on shrink plastic. Choose from a key-ring, badge or magnet to take home.

More on Voices from the Deep:

Sunk by a German U-Boat in 1941, the SS Gairsoppa was lost 300 miles off the coast of Ireland for 70 years. Its cargo, including silver bullion, tea and a bag of undelivered mail preserved in an airlock lay undisturbed until being discovered in 2011. Mimicking search lights of the recovery operation piercing through the ocean gloom, visitors to the exhibition will use UV torch lights to reveal snippets of fragmented letters and find out the story of the people who wrote them. Guests will also see original footage of the recovery by Odyssey Maritime Exploration, explore other items salvaged from the wreck – including a silver ingot and bottles of ginger beer and write a letter to their future self.

A ride on The Postal Museum’s 100-year-old-railway, Mail Rail, that runs deep under London can also be added to the price of a ticket, however we highly advise booking rides online in advance to avoid disappointment.

A 45 minute session at the museum’s postal play space for the under 8s, Sorted!, can also be added to any ticket.

The Counter Café in the museum’s Welcome space serves seasonal food and top-quality barista-made coffee for Easter pit stops and light lunches.