A Playful Museum – The Egypt Centre

The Egypt Centre is proud to be an advocate of Playful Places, which supports play in museums and cultural spaces. We are committed to creating a playful environment where visitors can engage with history through hands-on experiences. Our play offerings range from formal play spaces to informal opportunities, fostering a sense of wonder and discovery.

Why Play Matters?

Play is fundamental to children’s development and well-being. It’s how they interact with the world, express themselves, and experience life. By providing opportunities for play, museums can create a more engaging and enjoyable environment for all visitors. When children play, they feel more connected to the museum, their families, and the people they encounter. Playful experiences also make the museum a more vibrant and memorable place, encouraging repeat visits and positive recommendations. Moreover, a play-focused approach benefits staff by increasing job satisfaction and ensuring that children’s needs are equally valued to those of adult visitors.

Play Opportunities

The Egypt Centre has a range of play activities throughout our two galleries and on the first-floor landing. This is in addition to our public activities, such as mummification, senet, and object handling.

Keep an eye out for our playful puppy Anubis logo, which marks designated play areas within the galleries.

A cartoon illustration of a dog wearing a pharaoh's headdress and a short skirt, walking cheerfully in a circle.

Play Area

Unleash your inner archaeologist in our first-floor play area! This vibrant space, located just outside the House of Life, is perfect for imaginative play. Our Playmobil Pharaoh’s Pyramid features five mysterious chambers, each with its own secret traps like switches, trapdoors, and revolving doors. Don’t forget to dress up as pharaohs and princesses in our costume collection to complete your Egyptian adventure! You can also delve into the mysteries of the Nile Valley through our selection of children’s books. It’s the perfect place for young adventurers to explore and discover the wonders of ancient Egypt.

Plush Puppy Anubis

Greetings, fellow museum-goer! I’m Puppy Anubis, a curious canine companion seeking new adventures. Would you be so kind as to lend me a helping paw? I’d love to explore the galleries and see all the fascinating exhibits. If you’re up for it, let’s embark on a museum tour together!

Location: First-floor foyer on the windowsill near the top of stairs.

Black Labrador Retriever plush toy named Puppy Anubis sitting in a wicker basket, wearing a red and white collar with a tag.

Plush Kitten Bastet

Hello there, museum visitor! I’m Kitten Bastet, a playful feline seeking new sights and sounds. Would you be so kind as to give me a lift? I’d love to explore the galleries and see all the wonderful things inside. If you’re feeling adventurous, let’s go on a museum adventure together!

Location: First-floor foyer on the windowsill near the top of stairs.

A black stuffed cat named Kitten Bastet is sitting in a wicker basket, wearing a red and white collar with a tag.

Ba-bird

Let’s be a Ba-bird! Put on the bright, colourful wings and the fun mask. Can you flap your wings and fly around the room? Can you chirp like a bird? Let’s see how high we can fly!

Location: House of Death, near Ba-birds.

A group of four people, including two children and two adults, are standing inside a museum wearing colorful bird-themed costumes with wings and masks. They are posing in front of display cases containing ancient artefacts. The children are wearing gray hoodies with black and white bird wings, while the adults wear bright, multi-coloured wings and masks.

Build a Block

Let’s build a block masterpiece! Here are some bricks. Can you stack them high to make a pyramid? Or maybe you’d like to build a castle or a tower? Let’s see what amazing creations we can build together!

Location: House of Death, on the table near the mummification.

A yellow bin filled with colorful building blocks sits on a table. A few blocks have been used to create a pattern on the table.

Pipe Cleaners

Let’s create something extraordinary with pipe cleaners! You can twist and bend them into any shape you can imagine. Will you make a flower, an animal, or maybe a spaceship? Let’s see what magical creations we can come up with!

Location: House of Life, on the tables.

Three women are sitting at a round table inside a museum, smiling at the camera. They are holding colourful pipe cleaner crafts, with one woman in the centre holding a black pipe cleaner shaped like a mustache in front of her face.

Wooden Pull Along Duck

Quack quack! Let’s go on an adventure with this wooden duck on a string! I’ll be your guide as we waddle around the market stall. We can quack at the other shoppers, nibble on some pretend vegetables, and maybe even take a dip in the pretend pond. Let’s see what fun we can have!

Location: First-floor foyer in the Play area.

A wooden duck pull-along toy with blue wheels and a green head. The duck is on a wooden table in front of a colorful background.

Tutankhamun Gold Masks

Become the Pharaoh for a day! Try on a mask like Tutankhamun, the famous Egyptian ruler. Imagine you’re ruling ancient Egypt! Can you walk like a king? Can you give a royal command? Let’s see how majestic you can be!

Location: House of Death, on hooks on the wall.

A golden Pharaoh's mask hangs on a wall.

Egyptian Market Stall

Let’s explore an Egyptian marketplace! Look at all the fascinating things we can find here. We can buy some delicious-looking (but fake) food, like bread, dates, and figs. We can also admire the beautiful jewellery and amulets. Let’s see what treasures we can discover!

Location: Upstairs foyer in the Play area.

A wooden play stand with shelves and a counter. There are stuffed animals, including a cow, a goat, and a duck, on top of the stand. Baskets filled with toy fruits and vegetables are on the shelves and counter.

Large Wooden Loom

Let’s weave a masterpiece! This large wooden loom is perfect for creating colorful tapestries. Choose your favorite ribbons and start weaving! Can you make a pattern? Or maybe you’d like to create a piece of art? Let’s see what beautiful creations we can weave together!

Location: House of Life, next to the Music and Games case.

A small wooden loom with colorful ribbons threaded through it. A bag of ribbons is also nearby.

Ancient Egyptian Sandals

Step back in time with these ancient Egyptian sandals! Imagine walking through the pyramids or along the Nile River in these traditional shoes. Try them on and feel the history beneath your feet. Let’s see how regal you can look in ancient Egyptian footwear!

Location: House of Life, next to Senet activity.

A wicker basket containing two pairs of woven sandals.

Weighing Scales

Let’s weigh our hearts like the ancient Egyptians! Imagine a scale with a feather on one side and your heart on the other. In ancient Egyptian mythology, if your heart was lighter than a feather, you were allowed to enter the afterlife. Let’s see how light your heart is! Remember, a kind and pure heart is always lighter than a feather.

Location: House of Death, next to the weighing scales.

A replica of an ancient Egyptian scale, with one pan containing a small white stuffed feather and the other pan a red stuffed heart.

Colourful Alphabet

Let’s learn the Egyptian alphabet! Look at the colourful letters with hieroglyphs on the stairs. Can you match the English letter to its Egyptian counterpart? Let’s see how many hieroglyphs you can recognise. It’s a fun way to learn a bit about ancient Egyptian writing!

Location: On the stairs.

A set of wooden stairs with colorful stripes and symbols on each step. The symbols represent letters of the alphabet and hieroglyphics.

Dressing Up

Step back in time and experience the grandeur of ancient Egypt! Unleash your creativity and have fun dressing up in our authentic Egyptian costumes. From pharaohs and queens to scribes and soldiers, our collection will transport you to a world of mystery and intrigue. Let your imagination run wild and become a part of the ancient Egyptian civilisation.

Location: Upstairs foyer in the Play area.

Three girls and a adult male sitting on chairs while dressed as ancient Egyptians.

Animals of Ancient Egypt

Test your senses and guess the animal! Reach into our mystery bag and try to identify the hidden toy animal by touch alone. Can you feel the fur, the scales, or the feathers? Use your senses to solve the puzzle and see how many animals you can correctly identify.

Location: House of Death, next to the Animals case.

A burlap basket filled with pink fabric bags. A sign next to the basket reads "Guess the animal in the bag" in both English and Welsh.

Playmobil Pyramid and Sphinx

Unleash your inner archaeologist and discover the secrets of the pharaohs! Build your own Playmobil pyramid and sphinx and embark on a thrilling adventure. Explore the hidden chambers, uncover hidden treasures, and protect the pharaoh’s tomb from evil forces. Let your imagination run wild and create your own Egyptian epic!

Location: Upstairs foyer in the Play area.

A large Playmobil pyramid set is spread out on a table. The pyramid is open, revealing a chamber with figures inside. There are also mummies, sarcophagi, and other Egyptian-themed accessories scattered around the table.

Puzzles and Games

Stimulate your senses and have fun with our interactive free play toys! Our collection includes everything from colorful crayons to musical instruments, jigsaws to sensory toys. Experiment with different activities and discover new ways to express yourself and learn through play.

Location: Upstairs foyer in the Play area.

A wooden storage unit with multiple compartments filled with various toys and activities. The compartments are labeled with categories like "Coloring Sheets," "Jigsaws," "Musical Instruments," and more. Some toys visible in the compartments include a wooden stacking toy, a shape puzzle, and a musical instrument.

Junior Library

Become an expert on ancient Egypt with our Junior Library! Our collection of books is perfect for young explorers who are curious about the world. Learn about the pyramids, the Nile River, and the daily life of the ancient Egyptians. Your knowledge will grow as you delve into the fascinating history of this ancient civilisation.

Location: Upstairs foyer in the Play area.

A wooden bookshelf filled with children's books.