For families

Visiting Watts Gallery with your family

Discover family-friendly fun, interactive exhibits, books, engaging trails and educational resources.

A boy lies on the gallery floor reading while his mother sits on a bench watching him, holding another young child.

5 Things to Find: Historic Galleries

Aimed at early years children and their adults, explore 5 artworks together using all your senses.
Young boy sketching in the Sculpture Gallery

Artists’ Village Sketchbook

Collect your own sketchbook filled with activities, prompts and space to draw, collect and reflect on your visit. Pick up from the Visitor Centre and Limnerslease ticket desk.
A group of children run in front of Limnerslease

Active Encounter Pack

Explore art and ideas in the galleries and across the Artists’ Village with prompts and question to enhance your visit. Pick up from the Visitor Centre.
Logo reads 'we've signed up! Kids in Museums Manifesto'

Workshops and events

Throughout the year, family groups can take part in a variety of making and creative workshops and events.

  1. A boy lies on the gallery floor reading while his mother sits on a bench watching him, holding another young child.
    Event

    February half term

  2. A young girl and young boy make using clay
    Event

    Clay Club

  3. Mother and child playing in a woodland playground
    Event

    Spring Family Days

  4. Event

    Watts Tots

  5. Event

    The Make Space

  6. Event

    Flower Fairies Family Days

Explore our site

Explore Watts Gallery to see artworks by George Frederic Watts, then visit our current exhibition. Visit Limnerslease, the home and studios of our founders. Take a walk around our grounds, including Watts Chapel and our 18-acre woodland.

Treat yourself or your loved ones to unique gifts in the Shop and Watts Contemporary Gallery. Don't forget to stop for food and drink in the Tea Shop.

We had a wonderful visit to Watts Gallery - Artists' Village yesterday. We felt very welcomed and staff were incredibly friendly and knowledgeable about the collections. The children and I spent a good amount of time drawing in the galleries and felt very encouraged to do this. The whole atmosphere of the village is peaceful and beautiful, we would love to return.

- Family feedback


Facilities for families

Prams and buggies

Prams and buggies can be taken into the galleries at Watts Gallery or left in the loggia. There is space to store pushchairs in the Foyle Lobby at Watts Studios. Watts Chapel is located at the top of a steep hill and accessed by a cobbled path, which can be a barrier for prams and buggies. There is currently no lift access to Watts Contemporary Gallery. The Tea Shop and Visitor Centre are fully accessible.

Baby changing and feeding

Accessible toilets are located at Watts Gallery, the Tea Shop and Limnerslease: Artists' Home. Baby change facilities are located in the toilet block outside the Tea Shop and at Limnerslease. If you find yourself caught out during your visit to us, please ask at the Visitor Centre for our ‘Caught Out’ box and we will be able to provide you with nappies, wet wipes, breast pads and cotton wool as well as a couple of other helpful bits.
Two hot chocolate in takeaway cups

Child-friendly eating

Our Tea Shop offers a children’s menu from 10.30am to 3.30pm, both to enjoy in the Tea Shop and as take away. Across our site there are also a number of places where your family can picnic.