Art Fund Museum of the Year
At The Box we aim to spark your children’s imaginations with activities and learning opportunities for curious minds of all ages.
We place families at the heart of our offer, creating a fun and engaging and experience for everyone who walks through our doors. Explore amazing artwork, artifacts, and natural wonders with us, or enjoy our creative and interactive activities.
Take part in fun holiday activities and term time sessions for under-5s inspired by our collections and exhibitions
Create something inspired by what you’ve discovered at our Explore More tables
Explore our galleries where you’ll find some hands-on interactives
Pick up one of our seasonal trails to help you explore our spaces
Our creative and fun ‘I Wonder’ sessions are perfect for children aged six months to four years and their parents/guardians/carers.
As well as our busy programme of family activities, we run these special sessions for families with children under 5 years old to help our youngest visitors have fun with our collections and exhibitions. Join us at The Box to discover something new each week and explore through singing, dancing, making, play and stories.
The sessions familiarise young children with The Box, introduce them to our artworks and objects, and encourage them to make their own creations to take home. Grown-ups tell us they get a lot out of the class too! It’s a chance to chat to other grown-ups and do and see things that interest them.
I Wonder runs during term time and sessions can be booked in a discounted half-term block or on a week-by-week basis.
Permanent galleries
Pushchairs and Wheelchairs
The Box is fully accessible for pushchairs and wheelchairs. We have a small area where buggies and pushchairs can be locked-up, close to our baby changing room, but please feel free to walk your buggy around the galleries if you’d prefer, using the lifts.
Baby Changing Room
There are baby-changing facilities on the ground floor of our main building and in St Luke’s church. If there is anything you need, please ask at the Welcome Desk and we can help. We have spare nappies, wet wipes and sanitary products in case you’re caught short while you’re with us.
Eating and Drinking
We recommend a visit to The Box Kitchen & Bar where there are highchairs with trays available to use, a delicious children’s menu with tasty snacks and meals, plus free tap water. Please help us look after our artworks and objects by not eating or drinking in the galleries. There is space for picnics outside on Tavistock Place. The Little Box café in Tavistock Place also serves snacks and drinks as well as delicious ice cream including our infamous Mammoth Poo flavour!
Infant Feeding
We’re delighted to be accredited with Plymouth Latch On and part of the Plymouth Breastfeeding Welcome Kite mark scheme. Breastfeeding and infant bottle-feeding can take place anywhere at The Box. The Box Kitchen & Bar will provide hot water for warming bottles of milk on request.
Visit Our Shop
The shop stocks an exciting range of children’s products, games and books from fossils and soft toys to art materials. There are plenty of pocket money items for children costing £5 and under.
Explore More Tables
Take time out and enjoy reading books, playing games and having fun with crafts at the orange and yellow tables just above the welcome desk. The crafts change monthly and all link to the exhibitions, feel free to take creations home or leave them with us for everyone to admire.
Family Trails
Family trails are available free of charge to help families make the most of their visit and new trails are produced each year. All of our family drop in activities, designed for families to experience together, are fully accessible and designed with families in mind.
Additional Needs
Please see our access page for lots of useful information to help you prepare for a visit to The Box if you, your child or a family member has any additional needs. The page includes information for visitors with epilepsy and autism, and handy downloadable resources for neurodiverse families.
