Discover a galaxy of stars this February half-term at the National Museum of the Royal Navy Hartlepool

Stargazing events return to the National Museum of the Royal Navy Hartlepool this February half-term, alongside exciting opportunities to discover how the stars guided Royal Navy sailors and to explore the world of coding and STEM through family-friendly activities.

Taking centre stage this February half-term are Stargazing sessions on Thursday 26 and Friday 27 February, where visitors can explore the night sky inside a pop-up planetarium. Alongside this, visitors will learn all about how Royal Navy sailors centuries ago would use the stars to navigate the high seas. Throughout the week visitors can also dive into tech-based coding activities. Families can create star patterns, programme robots, code constellations and more. Activities suit beginners, with options for more confident coders too. 

All February half-term events are free with a valid museum ticket, but some events do require visitors to book their slot on the day. 

Cheese Chase Challenge 

Monday 23 February to Wednesday 25 February 2026, 11am to 4pm 

Location: The National Museum of the Royal Navy Hartlepool 

Design and build your own maze, then use simple programming steps to guide a mouse through twists, turns and obstacles to reach the cheese. This interactive, screen-free activity builds early coding skills, logical thinking and problem-solving. Perfect for beginners, this is a playful introduction to the basics of programming that brings learning to life through creativity and hands-on fun. 

Stargazing at the National Museum of the Royal Navy Hartlepool 

Thursday 26 February to Friday 27 February 2026, shows from 11am to 2:45pm

Location: The National Museum of the Royal Navy Hartlepool 

The museum teams up with Wonder Dome to bring a pop-up planetarium to Hartlepool. Watch the stars and explore our solar system, then head to HMS Trincomalee to learn how sailors used the night sky to navigate. 

This event is included within your museum admission ticket which lasts a full year. Visitors are encouraged to prebook their slot upon arrival as spaces are limited. Planetarium shows are taking place at 11am, 11:45am, 12:30pm, 1:15pm, 2pm and 2:45pm. 

A Sailor's Guide to the Stars 

Thursday 26 February 2026, 11am to 4pm 

Location: The National Museum of the Royal Navy Hartlepool 

Amazelab are teaming up with the museum to bring visitors an incredible family workshop full of activities all about stargazing. This event is great whether you’re a young stargazer, a family looking for a great day out or you just want to learn more about space and history. 

In a variety of hands on workshops and activities visitors can get creative making constellation light jars, discover more about well-known star patterns and learn the myths and science behind them, learn about the movement of planets, and more. 

Craft, Code and Explore the Night's Sky 

Friday 27 February 2026, 11am to 4pm 

Location: The National Museum of the Royal Navy Hartlepool 

Set sail for adventure this February half term as the museum teams up with Sniff and Snails to craft, code and explore the night’s sky. 

In this fun and hands on workshop, families can discover how sailors have used the night sky to navigate the oceans for centuries as you take part in a series of coding challenges. Visitors will get the chance to code star constellations on a physical LED matrix, and craft and code a rotating Moon to explore its different phases. 

Best of all, visitors who complete all challenges will take home a Sniff + Snails goody bag, this event is the perfect blend of creativity and computing, designed to build confidence, spark curiosity, and make learning about space hands-on and fun. 

No coding experience is required and all abilities are welcome; this event is suitable for visitors aged 7 and up. 

Code and Command Challenge 

Monday 23 February to Wednesday 25 February 2026, drop-in between 11am and 1pm then workshops 1:45pm to 3:15pm 

Location: The National Museum of the Royal Navy Hartlepool 

Get hands-on with the mBot and explore the exciting world of coding in action, programming it to move, follow lines, avoid obstacles, and respond to sensors, while learning how to think like an engineer along the way. This event is perfect for beginners and young tech enthusiasts alike, it’s a playful, interactive introduction to programming and STEM concepts that comes to life before their eyes.  

These drop-in sessions will run from 11:00am to 1:00pm 

For visitors ready to take their mBot skills to the next level, there’s the opportunity to join DXC for an action-packed workshop where you’ll tackle advanced coding challenges, design creative missions, and make your mBot perform incredible feats. Perfect for young innovators eager to push their robot-building and problem-solving abilities to new heights! 

These more advanced workshops will run at 1:45pm to 2:15pm, 2:30pm to 3:00pm, and 3:15pm to 3:45pm, sign up on the day to save your place. 

A ticket to the National Museum of the Royal Navy Hartlepool offers visitors 12-months of access to the museum with free events throughout the year. To purchase a ticket please visit: https://tickets.nmrn.org.uk/en/nmrn-hartlepool/nmrn-tickets