Unleash your festive spirit at the River & Rowing Museum this holiday season!
- From December 18, dive into a world of joyful family workshops that'll spruce up your celebrations.
- To book your ticket, email: museum@rrm.co.uk.
Get ready for a dose of holiday cheer! Unleash your creativity with joyful family workshops at the River & Rowing Museum in Henley on Thames from 18 December. Just under an hour from London, the River & Rowing Museum is the perfect Christmas day out and hidden gem for families from the capital, Oxfordshire, Three Counties and more!
Transform your home into a festive wonderland with handmade decorations and create a snowman buddy to accompany your celebrations. For the bakers at heart, there's a gingerbread decorating bonanza. Craft and take home your delicious gingerbread pals in charmingly handcrafted boxes, perfect for sharing during the festivities.
But that's not all! Dive into a Christmas T-shirt design workshop or the festive bag printing and showcase your unique style while embracing the merriment of the season. All sizes welcome, so parents and children can join in the fun alike and wear their festive spirit.
And guess what? Every ticket includes a meet-and-greet with the man himself, Father Christmas!
Mark your calendars for these festive activities:
- Gingerbread Decorating
Monday 18 December 10.30am - 11.30am
- Make a Snowman
Tuesday 19 December 10.30am - 11.30am - Christmas T-Shirts Decorating Workshop
Wednesday 20 December 10.30am - 11.30am and 1.00pm - 2.00pm - Festive Bag Printing
Thursday 21 December 10.30am - 11.30am - Christmas Decoration Making
Friday 22 December 10.30am -11.30am
After meeting Santa, delve into the intertwined tales of the River Thames, rowing history, and Henley-on-Thames as all Christmas activity tickets include Museum access. Plus, step into the enchanting world of The Wind in the Willows to see the beloved riverbank world of Mole, Ratty, Badger, and Mr. Toad - an unforgettable nostalgia trip for all ages!
Tickets to the activities cost £12, and all children must be accompanied by an adult, who can accompany free of charge. Activity charge is in addition to museum admission, but you do not need to visit the museum to access the activities.
To book your ticket email: museum@rrm.co.uk - spaces limited so don’t miss out!
-ENDS-
Notes to Editors
About the River & Rowing Museum
The River & Rowing Museum, designed by architect Sir David Chipperfield, was opened in 1998 by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. The Museum won the Royal Fine Art Commission’s Building of the Year in the UK and the National Heritage Museum of the Year in 1999.
The Museum has five permanent galleries:
- River: Dive into stories of the mighty, yet ecologically fragile, river Thames. Learn more about the wildlife that calls it home, the landscapes and livelihoods it has shaped and the art and culture it has inspired.
- Rowing: Unleash your inner Olympian with hands-on and interactive exhibits that immerse you in the Olympic sport of rowing from its historical roots to the international sport it is today.
- John Piper: The River & Rowing Museum has the UK’s only dedicated gallery to the work of celebrated Modern British artist, and Henley local, John Piper. Experience first-hand his artistic versatility; from painting and drawing to stained glass and ceramics.
- Henley: Learn about the history of our famous town. From Stone Age settlements to river life and rowing regattas, the history of Henley is told through objects as diverse as Iron Age hoards to steam launches and paintings – including Jan Siberechts’s Henley from the Wargrave Road painted in 1698.
- The Wind in the Willows: A perfect introduction to Kenneth Grahame’s famous story The Wind in the Willows for children and adults alike. The famous tale of friendship between four riverbank companions is retold in theatrical 3D, with a magical soundscape for all the family.
Current temporary exhibitions
Unlocked, female artists of the River & Rowing Museum 1812-2012
Until 31 December 2023
The collection’s audit revealed that only one female artist was on permanent display. To start to counter this, the curatorial team have created a new temporary exhibition of work by female artists across 200 years that not only highlights their important contribution to art of around the Thames but also ask the visitor to question why women and their art are not always given the spotlight.
Gaila Adair: Rowing through the Landscape
14 December 2023 - 5 February 2024
Gaila Adair is a local artist who brings together her passion for the British landscape with her love of rowing on the Thames. The exhibition features her bold and colourful oil paintings, which capture the river in all seasons, often from a rower’s perspective.
“Island Life: A Journey down the River Thames" by Jonathan Goldberg
Until 1 March 2024
A striking new photography exhibition exploring life on the many islands of the River Thames. Photographer Jonathan Goldberg travelled from source to sea, documenting the sometimes-hidden lives of the people who live and work on the islands of the Thames. The 50 photographs on display capture the eccentric nature of life on the river, and the short film that he produced during his journey gives visitors a chance to see the Thames from unique perspectives.
Visitor information
- Address: The River & Rowing Museum, Mill Meadows, Henley on Thames, Oxfordshire, RG9 1BF. Tel: 01491 415600. Email: museum@rrm.co.uk.
- Entry to the cafe and museum shop is free of charge.
- For ticket prices please visit the museum’s website www.rrm.co.uk
Christmas and New Year opening times
The Museum, cafe and shop are normally open 10 am – 4 pm Thursday to Monday. Over Christmas and the New Year, the museum’s opening hours will be:
10 am – 1 pm on 24 December, closed over 25 and 16 December, reopen again from 10 am – 4 pm on 27 and 10 am – 1 pm on 31 December before returning to normal opening hours from Thursday 4 January.
END TO ALL