2017 starts off with a bang! (Quite literally) at The Historic Dockyard Chatham, with the first of many activities for 2017 getting underway: From Saturday 11th February to the May Bank Holiday (Monday 1st May), the popular “Doc. Yard’s Secret Lab” returns with a brand new electrifying experience for the whole family.

In the Prep room, all young scientists will don lab coats and stylish safety specs ready to enter the Lab, where the 45 minutes of fun begins! Young scientists will get hands-on exploring the world of static electricity, have hair-raising fun finding out what happens when exposed to 100,000 volts of electricity and learn about the pulling power of magnets, including discovering how to make their own!

Secret Lab is open at weekends and school holidays (and for school visits during the week).  Lookout for our Secret Lab team with teasers at Dockside Outlet Centre (Saturday 11^th & Sunday 12^th February), The Pentagon Shopping Centre (Monday 13^th and Tuesday 14^th) and the McArthur Glen Ashford Designer Outlet (Thursday 16^th and Friday 17^th).  It’s a chance to find out about a trip to Doc’s lab before booking your visit to The Historic Dockyard Chatham. To find out more about Secret Lab including timings and tickets, please visit www.thedockyard.co.uk

As well as Doc Yard’s Secret Lab there is so much more.  If you did not get a chance to visit our new galleries – Command of the Oceans last year, then 2017 is your chance! Explore the Age of Sail in our state of the art galleries which reveal the full dockyard story, the people that worked here, the ships built here (including HMS Victory) and two internationally significant maritime archaeological discoveries – the collection of objects from the wreck of the Invincible and our ship beneath the floor – the Namur!

The Historic Dockyard’s impressive collection of locomotives will also be thundering through the site at weekends during the Half-Term (11^th & 12^th February and 18^th & 19^th February).  Don’t miss this opportunity to get up close and personal with these iconic machines.

Our three historic warships will be back open to discover, the working Ropery back in full string, as well as 3 adventure play areas –  it really is 80 acres of fun for all the family!

Don’t forget to grab a bite to eat at the Mess Deck – with a new menu for 2017 there really is something for everyone.

The site is open from 10am – 4pm seven days a week. 

Dates for your diaries for the rest of the year….

16^th & 17^th April 2017 – Festival of Steam and Transport

Full Steam Ahead for the best in Traditional Festival Fun

27^th May to 4^th June 2017 – Pirates!

Ahoy, me Hearties!  Join us over the May Half Term weekend for some pirate fun- Family friendly activities for the whole family.  Yo Ho Ho!!!

8^th June to 3^rd September 2017 – Breaking the Chain – The Story of the Dutch Raid of 1667  

A once in a lifetime chance to see the Battle of Medway story told through a wonderful collection of historic art, objects and manuscripts.

31^st July to 3^rd September 2017 – Doc.Yard’s Summer Fun

The Doc is back this Summer! With more experiments and more hands on fun!

16^th & 17^th September 2017 – Salute to the 40s’

Become part of our 1940’s Family and be transported back in time for two full days of vintage delight!