Families
Visiting the RA
From free drop-in workshops to our fun and engaging Art Detective trails, and galleries full of colourful paintings and sculptures to explore, families are welcome at the RA – and kids under 16 go free to all our exhibitions.
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Exploring art and artists
A place for families
At the RA, we offer a warm, welcoming environment for families.
Through monthly family studios and practical workshops based around the exhibitions on display in our galleries, we encourage children and adults to learn together.
At our events, families can explore art materials and creative techniques in projects they can work on by themselves or together, to build a shared interest in art. We welcome all families to our family studios and some of our workshops are particularly tailored for families with children with special educational needs.
Family studios are free and you can just drop in – there’s no need to book. Please note the family studios are not suitable for private birthday parties, as these workshops are public Learning events. Out of courtesy to other families, any private birthday parties will be asked to leave.
Family studios are supported by Jeanne and William Callanan.
![A free weekend drop-in family workshop]()
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We love coming here to the Sunday workshops. The materials at the children’s disposal are always amazing and the ideas are varied and original. The best art workshops in London!
A family at a family studio event, February 2016
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Visiting as a family
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![Family studio]()
Visiting as a family
Did you know that kids under 16 can visit all the Royal Academy’s exhibitions for free?
Take a look at our current exhibitions, or the range of family events that we offer.
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![A free weekend drop-in family workshop]()
Facilities
If you are visiting with babies or young children, we offer a changing facility inside the accessible toilet which can be found to the right of the staircase in the Front Hall of Burlington House.
Highchairs are available in our restaurants and cafés. If you would like to breast-feed, the most comfortable area may be the leather seats by the entrance to the RA restaurant in Burlington House.
Pushchairs and buggies are welcomed in our galleries and can be stored in the cloakroom.
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![Eating and drinking at the RA]()
Eating and drinking
We offer a range of family-friendly eating and drinking opportunities. The RA Grand Café is ideal for a quick bite to eat, a mid-exhibition break, afternoon tea or a long leisurely lunch. We welcome families and children, and are open Saturday – Thursday, 10am to 5.30pm and Friday, 10am to 9.30pm.
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![A free weekend drop-in family workshop]()
A free weekend drop-in family workshop
Photo: Roy Matthews © Royal Academy of Arts
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Video
Family studios at the RA
“It inspires us to be more creative as a family” – find out what else our visitors have to say about family studios, our free monthly drop-in workshops.
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Family resources
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![Art detectives sketchbook cover]()
Art Detectives sketchbooks and exhibition trails
Visiting the RA as a family? Pick up your free Art Detectives pack at the entrance to the exhibition, from the reception desk in the front hall, or download below. Each pack includes a sketchbook to use during your visit to the RA and at home, as well as a pack of cards bursting with drawing activities and information about artworks in the exhibition. A great way to engage children, these fun and creative activity packs are perfect for budding young artists. Art Detectives are sponsored by the Flow Foundation.
Download the David Hockney: 82 Portraits and 1 Still-Life Art Detectives
Download the Abstract Expressionism Art Detectives
Download the Intrigue: James Ensor by Luc Tuymans Art Detectives
Download the Revolution: Russian Art 1917-1932 Art Detectives
Download the America after the Fall: Painting in the 1930s Art Detectives
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![Festive print worksheet - be creative at home]()
Be Creative at Home
Our worksheets offer inspiration for follow-up activities after your visit. You can download our special worksheets with detailed instructions for activities you can try at home, inspired by some of our recent family studio drop-in workshops.
Download the worksheets
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![Family trail guide architecture download]()
Burlington House family trail
Explore Burlington House, the home of the Royal Academy of Arts, with this guided family trail. Using an illustrated map, journey around Burlington House, a highly decorated 17th-century mansion in the heart of Mayfair, and discover some of the RA’s hidden treasures along the way.
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