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The big dig

London Museum Docklands — Activity

  • Two children in high vis jackets stand by a trench. Both are excitedly looking at a discovered artefact.

    Experience archaeology first hand and uncover London’s hidden past.

  • An adult and two children use plastic shovels to dig in a wooden sensory bin filled with wood chips, inside a room with brick walls and wooden beams.

    Dig down through the centuries in your own trench.

  • A child wearing a high-visibility vest smiles while holding a rock and a yellow scoop, standing indoors with exposed brick and beams in the background.

    Uncover some of the city's oldest archaeology.

Various times

22 Jul – 31 Aug 2026

from £6.95

Get ticket reminder

Become an archaeologist for the day and piece together stories of London’s history!

Londinium. Lundenwic. Lundenburh. These are just some of the names given to London over the past two thousand years. But are these words all that’s left of London from centuries past? Or do these ancient cities still exist beneath our feet?

Join our team of archaeologists at London Museum Docklands and help us uncover some of London’s oldest treasures. Dig down through the centuries in your own trench and unearth real objects made and used centuries ago. Work together to discover what they are as well as what the site had once been.

What will you reveal? The foundations of a Tudor home? Or even evidence of life in London long before the city existed?

For:
Families
How to attend:
In-person only
Good to know:
The sessions are split into trenches, with a maximum of 6 people per trench. Depending on the size of your group, you may have to share a trench with another family. To ensure a private trench, please select the full trench option. Some walk up tickets may be available on the day.Recommended age of 5+
Duration:
60 mins
Concessions:

Some concessions may be available – read our policy

“The use of real artefacts and the interactivity of the session – fantastic!”

— Visitor

“It was amazing, honestly. Probably the best dig I've ever done”

— Adrian, aged 9

Need to know

Tickets go on sale at 10am on Fri 26 Jun.

In this hour-long session, families will:

  • learn what archaeology is and what archaeologists do
  • excavate specially-built trenches based on a real archaeological site in London
  • uncover and handle genuine artefacts from London’s past
  • discuss finds to learn what they were and how they were used

All equipment is provided – including your hard hat, high-vis vest, trowel, activity sheets and brushes.

Complete the dig and earn a special sticker to mark your archaeological adventure!

This activity takes place at London Museum Docklands. Visitors will be digging in reconstructed trenches based on a real archaeological site in Gresham Street.

The museum is open every day 10am – 5pm.

If you have time, why not also visit our free galleries and get more in-depth with Docklands history?

Please let us know if we can make additional accommodations to make sure as many people as possible can enjoy the activity – please email us on [email protected] for more information.

Our building is accessible and we have lifts on every floor. If you need any help, please ask our friendly Hosts at the Information Desk when you arrive.

You'll find everything you need to know on our access page.

Our family-friendly cafe is the perfect place to sit down and relax for a bite or tea break. We have lunch boxes for kids, sandwiches, pastries, snacks and a wide selection of hot and cold drinks.

You’ll also find our shop with a curated range of gifts and souvenirs, including posters, prints, toys, books and jewellery.

More about shopping, eating & drinking

Prams and buggies are welcome in the museum and our gallery spaces. Buggy parks are located on the ground floor, behind the lifts, and just in front of the lifts in the basement.

Due to space restrictions in the big dig, we kindly request that buggies and prams are left in one of these buggy parks.

Tags

Activity London Museum Docklands Families

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