Robinson Crusoe and Rope Making at The Historic Dockyard Chatham

The Historic Dockyard Chatham is offering family activities during the school holidays which are all included in the normal admission price and run every day from 29th March until 20th April.

The true story of Alexander Selkirk on whom 'Robinson Crusoe' was based will be told on board HMS Gannet every day at 2.30pm by one of the many costumed characters. Other activities include colouring, a Family Fun Trail (downloadable from the website before visiting) and a Brass Rubbing Trail.

A special Family Ropery Tour will run every day at 12.45pm. This tour is designed to entertain the whole family and visitors will find out how rope is made, its uses in Nelson's navy, punishments it was used for and how to fire a cannon. The tour ends with a 'hands on' rope making demonstration and some lucky children are picked to help with this. All children participating take home a small sample of rope.

Opportunities for children to let off steam are offered by the outdoor adventure play area, the indoor play area and the ball pool.

With all full price tickets being valid for 12 months from date of first visit, this enables visitors to return to the dockyard as many times as they like throughout the year, making a visit exceptional value.

Galleries at The Historic Dockyard include three Historic Warships - the cold war submarine Ocelot, HMS Cavalier the Second World War destroyer and HMS Gannet (1878) the last sloop of Queen Victoria's Navy - the Museum of the Royal Dockyard tracing 400 years of maritime history, a working Ropery which uses traditional methods, the Wooden Walls gallery incorporating The Road to Trafalgar exhibition plus the RNLI's national collection of lifeboats. Gardens to explore, indoor soft play and outdoor adventure play, a licensed restaurant and a tea shop complete the facilities.