Mission Christmas, the Historic Dockyard Chatham’s interactive family experience, returns for 2024

A maritime attraction has announced that its acclaimed Christmas experience will return for a third year.

Visitors will once again be recruited to help the elves sprinkle some festive cheer over the Historic Dockyard Chatham in this year’s Mission Christmas event.

In 2022, the naval landmark announced that, for the first time in its history, it would open its doors over the Christmas season for an interactive family walkthrough.

The event returned last year, with new activities and a new story, and the same is set to happen this winter.

Visitors to the dockyard will be led into a secret sub-station where Santa’s elves hide out in the build-up to the big day and prepare toys for children all over the world.

Families will be invited to join the Elf Academy where they can learn essential skills like present-wrapping and toy-making from Santa’s helpers and graduate as an official Elf Apprentice.

Children will then get a chance to meet Father Christmas himself and receive a special gift as a thank you.

Parents will get an opportunity to snap photos of the meet-and-greet and there will also be a professional photo of your group taken by a member of staff.

The whole experience is set to last around 45 minutes and is best suited to children aged 4 to 10 years. You can book tickets online here.

When the interactive event has finished, the Mess Deck Restaurant will be open and serving seasonal hot drinks, including hot chocolates with gingerbread and candy cane flavours.

The gift shop will also be open with a range of seasonal gifts and unique items hand-made at the dockyard.

Mission Christmas is open on select dates from Sunday, November 24 to Christmas Eve at the Historic Dockyard Chatham.