Museum of London Docklands offers both in-person and virtual workshops for your students. Bring your students to these amazing, fun and hands-on workshops from The Museum of London Docklands or bring a workshop to your own classroom for your students to enjoy. From Life in the Victorian Docks to the Blitz.
About Museum of London Docklands
The museum brings the history of the docks and the River Thames to life, charting how the area was transformed into the Docklands we know today. Its galleries and resources will inspire students of all ages.
The museum’s location near Canary Wharf means they’re easily accessible by Tube, Elizabeth line, bus, DLR and even boat! Why not make a day of it and explore the quayside and local area while you’re there?
Book facilitated workshops on topics including the Victorian docks and the Blitz, or explore the museum your own way with a self-led experience. Self-led visits mean you can choose a personalised itinerary for your day including arrival time, gallery bookings and a slot in their dedicated lunch space for schools. You can include a class visit to their hands-on Mudlarks gallery for under-8s as part of your booking.
Join their Teachers’ Network to get regular updates and news from the museum’s learning team – members have access to workshop bookings before anyone else!

Museum of London Docklands At-Venue Workshops
Enhance your school trip to The Museum of London Docklands with these at-venue workshops.
Life in the Victorian docks Workshop
What can objects tell us about life in Victorian East London?
Explore real 19th century artefacts in this investigative object handling session.
Students will get hands-on with original tools, everyday household objects and photographs for a glimpse into jobs and living conditions for people who lived near the docks.
You’ll also have a chance to find out more in their galleries, including a walk through their evocative recreation of 19th century Sailortown.
Suitable for: KS2 students
Cost: FREE
Workshop duration: 60 minutes, plus 60 minute self-guided gallery visit
Find out more.

The Blitz: Ken’s World War Two story Workshop
Use eyewitness accounts, documents and photographs to build a picture of children’s lives during the Blitz.
Become a history detective in this interactive and exploratory workshop.
Discover Ken’s personal story of living in London’s Docklands as a child during World War Two, captured on film by the museum in 2020. Develop enquiry and evidence-based skills, while engaging with authentic lived experience. Empathise with personal experiences of evacuation, rationing and bombing, using objects and testimony that are relevant and poignant today.
Your booking will also include a 20 minute introduction to the Docklands at War gallery and self-directed time in the space.
This exciting workshop tells stories that won’t be found anywhere else!
Suitable for: Upper KS2 students (ages 9-11)
Cost: FREE
Workshop duration: 60 minutes, plus 20 minute self-guided gallery visit
Find out more
Locks, lifting and loads
Discover the secrets of our 200-year-old sugar warehouse and the people who worked here in this practical STEM and history session.
Explore the technology that helped unload and transport the heavy cargo that arrived in London’s docks from around the world.
Uncover how locks helped ships move in and out of the docks from the Thames and learn how levers and pulleys put the science of forces and motion to good use!
You’ll also have time to explore their City and River, No 1. Warehouse and New Port, New City galleries with your class as part of your day.
Suitable for: KS2 & KS3 students
Cost: FREE
Workshop duration: 60 minute session plus self-directed gallery visit time
Find out more.

River Rhythms
Go on a sensory journey though the Docklands in this interactive, musical session. Learn how this part of London has changed over 200 years from a bustling port to gleaming skyscrapers – while singing sea shanties, moving to classic nursery rhymes, smelling spices and playing instruments. Finish the session by creating your own song and accompanying movements, which will be recorded and sent back for your class to enjoy.
As a part of your timetabled visit, you will be able to visit Mudlarks, their interactive children’s gallery featuring soft play, small world play and water play.
Suitable for: EYFS & KS1 students
Cost: FREE
Workshop duration: 45 minute session plus self-directed time in their Mudlarks children’s gallery
Find out more.
In-School workshop
The Blitz through Connie’s eyes – at your school
Use eyewitness accounts, objects, documents and images to build a picture of children’s lives during the Blitz.
Learn about the Blitz through Connie’s personal story of living in London’s Docklands before and during the Second World War. Develop enquiry and evidence-based skills, while engaging with authentic lived experience. Empathise with personal experiences of evacuation, rationing and bombing, using objects and testimony that are relevant and poignant today.
This exciting session tells stories that won’t be found anywhere else!
Suitable for: KS2 students
Cost: FREE
Find out more.

Museum of London Virtual workshops
Your students can enjoy these videos and activities from the comfort of their own classroom and learn all about the Great Fire of London and The Bronze Age in these exciting virtual workshops/tours.
Fire! Fire! Virtual Exhibition Tour
Take a video tour of their previous special exhibition – Fire! Fire! – and learn all about the Great Fire of London through amazing objects.
Suitable for: KS1 students
Cost: FREE
Find out more.
Prehistoric London Exhibition Tour
The largest Bronze Age hoard ever discovered in London was recently unearthed in Havering. Discover its secrets in the film below then join a video exhibition tour!
Suitable for: KS2 students
Cost: FREE
Find out more.
Summary
The Museum of London Docklands offer a great selection of workshops to enhance your visit. If you can, a visit to the the Museum of London Docklands is definitely a must for you and your students.
Also, don’t forget about their amazing selection of FREE teaching resources!