Join the siege at the Royal Armouries this May Half Term

Visitors are invited to join the siege on the Royal Armouries Museum in Leeds this May Half Term as the museum plays host to an action-packed Forts and Firepower week.

From the 26 May – 3 June the museum will be jam-packed with have-a-go activities based around the themes of gunpowder, castles and siege warfare. Kids can experience the power and engineering behind some of history’s most famous battles in a siege masterclass, as well as launching their own bottle rocket and building their own fort or castle.

Alongside these fun sessions there will be a host of exciting performances, historic talks and combat demonstrations. Amongst these visitors can learn about the development of knightly castles through the ages, as well as talks on the Siege of York and defences in the Battle of Waterloo.

The Royal Armouries is home to the UK’s national collection of arms and armour. As well as its flagship museum in Leeds, it also houses the national collection of artillery at its site at Fort Nelson in Hampshire, with the central collection originating from the UK’s most famous fort, the Tower of London.

Commenting on the May Half Term activities, Mark Jackson, Events and Informal Learning Manager, says: “Our Forts and Firepower week is perfect for all the family and will be a great way to get kids outside and learning the history and science of famous battles. The week will really bring the museum and its collection to life, giving visitors a hands-on insight into the technology of castles and sieges.”

The Royal Armouries Museum is open 10 am – 5 pm daily. The event is free, however some activities may carry a small charge.

Find out more about the Forts and Firepower week on the Royal Armouries website.

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Notes to editors

Further enquiries to: Katie Canning, Communications Officer, katie.canning@armouries.org.uk, +44 (0) 113 220 1978