Have you ever wondered why The Historic Dockyard Chatham closes every December? For over 400 years, Dockyard workers past and present have been keeping a heavily guarded Christmas secret.
All over the world dockyards just like ours are on high alert at Christmas time, for deep in the Historic Dockyard is a secret sub station, hidden from plain sight. Here a crew of ingenious elves are stationed, poised to jump into action should Father Christmas run into trouble with his sleigh, need some help with his Santa-Nav or carefully pin-point a child staying away from home.
This December you’re invited to step into the centre of this secret world and help Mrs Claus save Christmas from catastrophe. The elves are shy and hide from sight yet they are excited that humans will be passing through the sub station BUT some of them have been up to mischief…
Your little ones will need to master the magical skills and learn the elf code before graduating from Elf Academy and solving the mystery of the missing clausometer.
Once you’ve saved Christmas, your journey will end in a magical meeting with Father Christmas. He’ll be so pleased with the help you’ve given Mrs Claus, he’ll present your little ones with a special gift to take home.
Quiet Sessions
We will be offering three dedicated, quiet experience times that have been specially tailored for those with additional needs.
These tours operate at a reduced capacity, giving families an opportunity to enjoy Mission Christmas in a calmer environment. These sessions will have quieter music, lower lighting and the guide will go at a slower pace to reduce overloading the senses and create an experience which is accessible for all.
Book early to avoid disappointment
Quiet Session Tickets
We will be offering three dedicated, quiet experience times that have been specially tailored for those with additional needs on:
Saturday 25th November – 3pm (FULLY BOOKED)
Saturday 9th December – 6.15pm
Monday 18th December – 6.15pm
Prices start from £17 for a child and £14 for an adult. Prices vary depending on the date you visit.
Please note: This is a separately ticketed event and annual tickets are not valid for Mission Christmas.
A guided Christmas story with interactive activities
A private meet and greet with Father Christmas for you and your group (Father Christmas will go at your pace, there is no hurry and he won’t be offended if you don’t want to see him)
A wrapped gift from Father Christmas for each child
One professional photograph with Father Christmas per group, with the opportunity to purchase further photographs and a special Mission Christmas storybook at the end of the experience (We understand not everyone likes having their photograph taken, please let our staff know if you would rather avoid this).
Although Mission Christmas is an indoor experience, the buildings will be at an ambient temperature, please wrap up warm and wear your best Christmas jumpers!
Eat, Drink & Shop
The Mess Deck Restaurant will be open, serving delicious festive food and steaming hot chocolates.
Our shop will be stocked with Christmas gifts including our special, handmade gift range from the Master Ropemakers.
Access information
Mission Christmas and The Historic Dockyard Chatham wishes to be fully inclusive and we make every effort to ensure that we are accessible to as many visitors as possible.
We have developed additional information that explains provisions around the site and help you plan for your visit.
All visitors require a ticket for Mission Christmas. Advanced booking is essential as tickets will not be available on the door.
Mission Christmas is a separately ticketed event and not included within an annual ticket to The Historic Dockyard Chatham.
Mission Christmas requires all bookings to consist of (at least) one adult and one child per booking.
Whilst we are operating the Mission Christmas experience, the rest of the galleries and attractions at The Historic Dockyard Chatham will NOT be open.
ARRIVAL –
Your booking time is the time you will begin your Mission Christmas experience, please ensure that you arrive 20 minutes prior to your allocated time slot. You are welcome to enjoy The Mess Deck restaurant and Shop if you arrive earlier.
ACCESSIBILITY –
Standard admission charges apply to all visitors; however, admission for accompanying carers or personal assistants is free of charge (1 carer per ticket holder). Carer tickets need to be pre-booked via telephone please call us on 01634 823800.
The tour is fully accessible, with one section of the tour requiring access via staircase or lift.
Due to the nature of the historic building and to comply with our evacuation procedures we are only able to facilitate one wheelchair user per session (please call us on 01634 823800 before booking to check availability). Please do let us know in advance if you or any members of your party require any additional support during your visit by calling us on 01634 823800.
This is a guided experience and there will be up to 15 visitors per tour.
Mission Christmas has been written for those who believe in the magic of Christmas. Our aim is for all ages to enjoy the experience, but it is most suitable for those aged between 4 – 10.
Children must be supervised by an adult throughout the experience.
Much of the experience is indoors but we recommend you wrap up warm and wear suitable footwear as the gallery is at an ambient temperature. There are no lockers or cloakroom available.
You will be asked to leave pushchairs in the designated Buggy Park.
The Mess Deck restaurant and gift shop will be available for you to use at your own leisure during your visit.
Food and drink is not permitted inside the Mission Christmas experience.
FATHER CHRISTMAS –
Your meet and greet with Father Christmas will be at the end of your guided experience. There may be a short wait ahead of your meet and greet.
You will visit Father Christmas in your booked group. We are unable to split or merge bookings to visit Father Christmas. If two families wish to visit Father Christmas separately, you must make two separate bookings. Similarly, if two families wish to visit Father Christmas together, you must make one booking (not exceeding our maximum of 8 per group).
All children with a valid ticket will receive an age appropriate wrapped gift from Father Christmas. Gifts cannot be exchanged.
A complimentary, professional photograph with Father Christmas is included in your ticket price (per group). This will be printed and presented to you after you have met with Father Christmas.
There will be the opportunity to purchase two additional professional photographs, complete with a special Mission Christmas storybook for £15.00 at the end of your experience.
Unfortunately, we cannot offer refunds or re-take photos after you have left Father Christmas.
REFUNDS –
All bookings are non-refundable and non-transferable.
If you are late for your allocated time or cannot make your tour for any reason, unfortunately we cannot offer a refund.
We cannot change tour times and cannot provide refunds for tours missed
In the event that we are required to cancel or close the experience for any reason beyond our control, we will offer you a full refund or the option to book into an alternative tour (subject to availability).
Frequently Asked Questions
We hope the information below answers all of your queries but if you have any unanswered questions, please contact us via info@chdt.org.uk
The Historic Dockyard Chatham is accessible by a wide variety of routes whether you are arriving by car, boat or public transport.
Your booking time is the time you will begin your Mission Christmas experience, we recommend you arrive 20 minutes prior to your allocated time slot. This will allow time to park, process your tickets through our Front of House team and receive your welcome talk.
You are welcome to enjoy The Mess Deck restaurant and our Shop if you arrive earlier but please be aware that food and drink cannot be taken into the Mission Christmas experience.
Yes, parking is included in your ticket.
Where possible, we will endeavour to honour your booking on another tour on the same day, however, should all of the tours for that day be fully booked, unfortunately we are unable to increase capacity due to the fire evacuation regulations of the space being used.
We have a play area immediately outside the arrivals area and our shop and the Mess Deck restaurant will be open.
The rest of the Dockyard, including its galleries and historic ships, will not be open during the Mission Christmas experience.
To say thank you to our annual ticket holders, we are offering them 24-hour advance booking on tickets for our Mission Christmas experience.
Tickets for non-annual ticket holders will go on sale on Friday 15 September 2023.
Saturday 25th & Sunday 26th November
Adult: £14.00
Child (Aged 3 and under): £4.25
Child (Aged 4 – 15): £17.00
Saturday 2nd – Sunday 10th December
Adult: £14.00
Child (Aged 3 and under): £4.25
Child (Aged 4 – 15): £17.00
Saturday 16th – Saturday 23rd December
Adult: £15.00
Child (Aged 3 and under): £4.50
Child (Aged 4 – 15): £18.00
Sunday 24th December
Adult: £16.00
Child (Aged 3 and under): £4.75
Child (Aged 4 – 15): £19.00
There is not a family ticket for the experience. Please select the number of adult and child tickets you require.
Yes you do need a ticket. Mission Christmas is a separately ticketed event and not included in your annual ticket.
As a thank you, we will be releasing tickets to our annual ticket holders 24-hours earlier than the full public sale. You will receive an email on Thursday 14 September to give you first access to the dates and time slots.
Mission Christmas is a separately ticketed event and not included in your annual ticket.
As a thank you, we will be releasing tickets for our annual ticket holders early on Thursday 14 September.
Mission Christmas is a separately ticketed event and not included in your annual ticket. Annual ticket holders do not get a discount on Mission Christmas but you will receive access to priority booking for tickets.
The Historic Dockyard Chatham, including its ships, galleries and exhibitions, will not be open to the public during December.
Our front of house team will be happy to help you purchase an annual ticket on the day of your Mission Christmas visit.
Please be aware the Historic Dockyard does not reopen to visitors until February 2024.
Your ticket to Mission Christmas includes; a 45 minute guided Christmas story, including interactive activities; a private meet and greet with Father Christmas for your group; a present to take home for each child; and one professional photograph with Father Christmas of your group.
You will have the opportunity to purchase additional photographs and a special Mission Christmas storybook at the end of your experience should you wish.
Whilst the concept of Mission Christmas remains true to the original story, for 2023 it’s a brand new mission, story and immersive experience.
Yes the Mess Deck Restaurant and Shop are free to access without a ticket. They are open from 9.30am – 7pm on Mission Christmas operating dates only.
If you would like your baby to receive a gift from Father Christmas, they will need a ticket. There is a ticket especially for children who are aged 3 and under.
We want all the families who visit us to have the best time, cracking puzzles and meeting our wonderful team. Timed tours with a guide help us give you that experience. It also ensures that we are able to look after you, in an emergency.
While we will do our best to give you and your family a great experience on the day, we cannot guarantee that we will be able to rebook you onto another tour. We recommend leaving plenty of time to get to us, to make sure you are on time for your Mission Christmas experience.
Tickets are non-refundable and non-transferable so please choose carefully when making your booking.
Tickets are non-refundable and non-transferable so please choose carefully when making your booking.
Tickets are non-refundable and non-transferable so please choose carefully when making your booking.
All tickets for Mission Christmas need to be booked online, in advance. Please check with your group to ensure you pre-book the whole group in advance of your visit.
Your Mission Christmas guided experience will last approximately 45 minutes, after which you will have a private meet and greet with Father Christmas. You can then enjoy our shop and Mess Desk Restaurant at your leisure. We recommend allowing around 2 hours for your visit.
Tickets are non-refundable and non-transferable so please choose carefully when making your booking.
If you are late for your allocated time or cannot make your tour for any reason, unfortunately we cannot offer a refund.
We cannot change tour times and cannot provide refunds for tours missed
In the event that we are required to cancel or close the experience for any reason beyond our control, we will offer you a full refund or the option to book into an alternative tour (subject to availability).
There are no discounts available for Mission Christmas.
No, you will not receive a paper ticket. When you make your booking you will be sent an email confirmation containing a unique booking reference. You will need to bring your booking reference on the day of your visit.
No, you do not need to print your booking confirmation. You just need to have your booking reference number to hand when you arrive at The Historic Dockyard Chatham.
Please email info@chdt.org.uk stating the name the booking has been made under, the email address used for the booking and the date of your booking. We can look up your booking and send you the reference number.
Please email info@chdt.org.uk stating the name the booking has been made under, the email address used for the booking and the date of your booking. We can look up your booking and send you the reference number.
Mission Christmas is a guided 45 minute experience through our museum galleries, usually called Command of the Oceans and Hearts of Oak. These areas will be transformed into an immersive Christmas experience.
Mission Christmas has been written for those who believe in the magic of Christmas. Our aim is for all ages to enjoy the experience, but it is most suitable for those aged between 4 – 10.
Whilst the concept of Mission Christmas remains true to the original story, for 2023 it’s a brand new mission, story and immersive experience.
Yes, you are welcome to take your own photographs throughout the experience but we ask that you avoid using a flash. We just ask that you are considerate of other family groups in your tour and try not to reveal too many secrets on social media so others can enjoy the surprises in the experience.
As part of your ticket price, you will receive a professional, printed photograph with Father Christmas. You will have the opportunity to purchase additional photographs and a special Mission Christmas storybook for £15 should you wish.
Children aged 1 and under are very welcome. If you would like them to receive a gift from Father Christmas, you will need to purchase them a ticket. There is a ticket especially for children who are aged 3 and under.
You will not be able to take a pushchair through the Mission Christmas Experience so please be prepared to carry babies.
We will be offering three dedicated experience times for those with additional needs on:
Saturday 25th November – 3pm
Saturday 9th December – 6.15pm
Monday 18th December – 6.15pm
These specially tailored tours give families an opportunity to meet Father Christmas in a calmer environment, with quieter music, lower lighting and smaller group sizes, to reduce overloading the senses and create an experience which is accessible for all.
Due to the nature of the historic building and to comply with our evacuation procedures we are only able to facilitate one wheelchair user per session (please call us on 01634 823800 before booking to check availability).
We do recognise hidden disabilities. Our staff recognise sunflower lanyards and these act as a discreet sign to indicate that an individual may need additional assistance or support.
The Mission Christmas experience is contained entirely in the Mast Houses, which are the buildings closest to the main Visitor Car Park.
The wider Dockyard will be having its winter rest and will reopen to the public in February 2024.
There will be no access to any of our ships during the Mission Christmas experience. During the closed period, our Ship keepers work hard to complete essential conservation work on our historic ships.
There is a very short walk from the one area of the Mast Houses to the Mess Deck Restaurant which will be outside, otherwise the experience is all inside. The secret sub station can be quite cold along with the weather, so we recommend you wrap up warm.
We anticipate that there will be a short wait while we assemble each tour group, but we hope that all tour experiences will begin on time. Your wait may depend on how early you arrive for your scheduled start time.
Your meet and greet with Father Christmas will be at the end of your 45 minute guided experience. There may be a short wait ahead of your meet and greet.
All children with a valid ticket will receive an age appropriate, wrapped present from Father Christmas.
No, there are no flashing lights. Some areas will have festive lights, which will be static.
Absolutely! We need as much festive cheer as possible to help make the secret sub station magical for Father Christmas.
Yes, you will have a private meet and greet with Father Christmas for you and your group.
Absolutely, our Mess Deck Restaurant will be open with a range of festive treats and light meals.
Yes, the Mess Deck will be serving a range of festive treats and light meals, as well as indulgent hot chocolates.
Please be aware that you will not be able to take food or drink into the Mission Christmas experience.
Yes, our shop will be open and will be stocking a range of Christmas gifts for all ages. The shop will be open from 9.30am – 7pm during Mission Christmas opening days.
Our shop will have a range of Christmas products and gifts as well as our wider Historic Dockyard products, including Call the Midwife merchandise and our popular handmade rope gifts by Master Ropemakers.
There are several toilets in the Mess Deck restaurant, including an accessible facility and baby changing facilities.
We can make our Changing Places toilet available to our Mission Christmas visitors, but please be aware that this the opposite end of the Dockyard to the experience and might be best accessed by car. Please feel free to call us before your visit for more information.
One area of the tour is upstairs, a lift is available for any visitors who are unable to use stairs. There are areas of uneven ground throughout the tour experience.
We recommend leaving pushchairs at home if you can, but if bringing one is crucial to your family’s enjoyment of the experience, there will be a designated buggy park. You will not be able to take your pushchair through the Mission Christmas experience.
Yes, however there is a lift available to help visitors who need it. There are also areas of uneven ground throughout the tour experience.
Although Mission Christmas takes place inside, the Mast Houses are quite old and can become quite chilly in weather. We recommend wrapping up warm for the experience. Our Mess Deck Restaurant is heated.
No, we do not have a cloakroom available for visitors.
No, there will not be a Christmas post-box on site, but Father Christmas would be more than happy to accept your letter personally.
As the Mission Christmas experience takes place inside a museum gallery, it’s not appropriate for your four-legged friends to join in, unless they are an assistance dog.
Events & Activities
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Don’t miss out on other great events and activities taking place this year.
