Kids Go Free for Summer of Picnic and Play

From 19 July to 1 September Brunel’s SS Great Britain will host its Summer of Picnic and Play – a season of fun shows, hands-on activities, and history brought to life. For the first time, visitors are encouraged to bring along packed lunches and enjoy them on the ship’s newly restored weather deck, with views across the historic dockyard.

To celebrate the holidays, the SS Great Britain Trust are offering ‘Kids Go Free’, allowing one child to enter free with each full-paying adult. Visitors booking other annual ticket types online in advance can also save 10%, making it an affordable, fun-filled day out for the whole family.

The Summer of Picnic & Play programme includes:

Nostalgic outdoor fun with giant games, picnic spots and deckchairs – a nod to when deckchairs were first used on board during the Victorian era and to the 1930s – 1960s, when the ship was abandoned in Sparrow Cove in the Falklands and the bay became a popular picnic destination.

Science Magic Shows with exciting demonstrations that entertain and inspire young minds.

Meet Mr Brunel, an interactive performance where the great engineer himself shares stories and secrets from the ship’s revolutionary past including what happened on the Weather Deck – from Cricket teams training ahead of their Australian tournament to dolphin watching, sunbathing and more!

Immersive storytelling, where visitors can see, hear, and smell what life was like on board in the ship’s Victorian heyday.

Iona Keen, Head of Interpretation at Brunel’s SS Great Britain, said:

“We’re thrilled to invite families to make the most of the summer holidays with a visit to the ship. Whether it’s sharing a picnic on deck, watching science in action, or meeting Mr Brunel himself, there’s something for everyone – and with Kids Go Free, it’s the perfect time to come aboard.”