Seafest at Royal William Yard

With water on three sides and home to a vibrant coastal community, Royal William Yard is the perfect spot to play host to seaside celebration, Seafest, again this year. A weekend of activity is planned across the waterfront, in conjunction with Plymouth Waterfront Partnership and Plymouth Sound National Marine Park.

Visitors can expect a packed programme of events and activity at the yard across the two days.

Royal William Yard 200 exhibition

Discover two centuries of history over two weeks, with the launch of this exciting exploration into the past. A curated collection of artefacts, information, images and stories sourced from The National Archives, Devonport Naval Heritage Centre, Plymouth Proprietary Library, local historians, and captivating public submissions. Located at Melville Corner, it is free to attend. Running for a limited period – it’s not to be missed. 

History Guided Tours 

Join guided tours around Royal William Yard  with local historian Richard Fisher. Explore Europe's largest collection of Grade I listed military buildings and uncover why this remarkable site was created and its importance throughout history be it in conflict or in exploration. Tours run from 10.30am-12pm. Book your place

Marine Magic

Crawl into the belly of an enormous inflatable Sperm Whale to discover a marvellous marine tale. Six slots are available throughout the day at 10am, 10.30am, 12pm, 12.30pm, 2pm, 2.30pm. Sessions are free but availbility is limited. Attendees must be 3 and above and all children must be accompanied by an adult. Book your place.

South West SUP Paddleboarding Sessions

South West SUP Paddleboarding Sessions: Saturday 13 September - SUP Yoga Adults 8.30am - 9.45am  £10pp. SUP Yoga Family session  10.00am - 11.15am  £10pp or family of 4 £25. Family session 11.30am - 1pm £15pp or family of 4 £50. Sunday 14 September - Family SUP 9.30am - 11am. Family SUP 11.30am - 1pm £15pp or family of 4 £50. History tour 11am-12pm £15pp or family of 4 £50. Book your space.

Family zone

Family zone: Free activities including children's crafts, face painting, circus skills and Seafest Hide & Seek trail

Pop-up stands

Visit stands including Meet the Marine Park and coastal charity South West Coast Path, plus the RNLI water safety team (on Sunday).

Live music performances

Enjoy live music throughout the weekend. The tunes begin with Yard Sessions with Alex Hart on Friday 12 September. There will be further live music performances over the weekend.

Quiz night 

Nautical-themed quiz night at Steel Brew (£2 entry with donations to Plymouth Sound National Marine Park). Book your place.

Roaming entertainment

Look out for the sea-themed stiltwalkers navigating their way around the Yard.

Heritage Crafts:

Ships Biscuit Making: A free activity for children of all ages creating authentic ships biscuits, just like those produced in the Yard's massive bakery 200 years ago. Sessions at 11:30am and 12:45pm. Book your place.

Clay Tile Making: Join Tweeny from Ocean Studio's pottery - explore the amazing architecture of the Yard through clay, with the opportunity to recreate the iconic landscape through creating relief tiles. Saturday sessions at 10am, 11:30am, and 2pm; Sunday at 10am and 11:30am. Book your place. 

Stitch & Celebrate: With Make Fabric Boutique and Abbi from Mukta-Undone - join a stitching session to decorate a traditional wool military garment using upcycled fabrics and creative embellishments. There will be 30-minute creative sewing slots (first-come, first-served if busy) open to all skill levels.

Mount Edcgumbe Walking Tour

Starting at Royal William Yard take the ferry Explore the coast of Mount Edgcumbe with the South West Coast Path. Embark on a gentle 3-mile walk with the SWCPA Coast Path Connectors team to explore the heritage and natural beauty of Mount Edgcumbe park and gardens. The tour starts and finishes at Admirals Hard. Book your place.

A unique blend of maritime heritage and seaside fun, bringing two centuries of waterfront history to life. Find uot more about Seafest at Royal William Yard at royalwilliamyard.com/seafest