Children's parties

You can book a birthday party via our Booking Page. Once the booking is made and payment is taken, your party slot is confirmed. We will contact you around 4 weeks before your party to gather dietary information and give you the opportunity to make any changes, such as adding additional guests.

Payment is taken immediately when you book.

Payments are made in GBP (£) by credit or debit card (we do not accept American Express). All prices include VAT.

You must accept our Terms and Conditions before making payment.

Parties are available on Sundays only, between 11am and 4pm

Each party booking is for 1 hr 45 minutes. This includes

• 45 minutes exclusive use of the ArtPlay Pavilion
• Followed by 1 hour exclusive hire of the Canteen seating area

For example, if you book an 11am party, you will have:

11 - 11.45am exclusive use of the ArtPlay Pavilion

11.45am - 12.45pm exclusive hire of the Canteen seating area

We would recommend 45 minutes for dining, with the final 15 minutes for clearing & saying your goodbyes. You are welcome to head outside and enjoy our Sculpture Garden after your party!

Parties are designed for children aged 8 and under.

Due to the nature of the ArtPlay Pavilion activities, we are unable to accommodate older children.

Each package includes up to 20 children.

You can invite fewer than 20, but the package price remains the same.

Need more space? Add up to 10 additional children for an extra fee per child (varies by package).

All packages include a 1 hr 45 minute party booking, comprised of:

• 45-minute ArtPlay Pavilion session
• 1-hour exclusive hire of the Canteen seating area with tableware (we recommend 45 minutes for dining, 15 minutes for clearing & saying your goodbyes)
• Table snacks, children’s juice, colouring sheets
• Birthday cake
• Printable invitation and thank-you note

Silver and Gold packages also include lunch boxes.

Gold packages include an Ice Cream or Hot Chocolate Station with toppings.

See the full breakdown in the Packages section above.

Yes! Children must be supervised by adults at all times in the ArtPlay Pavilion and the Canteen.

You can add an Adult Drinks Package (see above) to your party booking in advance, including prosecco, wine, or beer.

Alternatively, the Canteen will be open, selling a range of sandwiches, snacks, cakes and hot drinks.

Yes.

• Bronze: snacks and juice
• Silver & Gold: lunch boxes, snacks, and juice

All packages include a birthday cake.

All catering is provided by our on-site partner, Bovingdons Catering.

Yes. We'll contact you around 4 weeks before your party to collect dietary requirements.

Please confirm your guest list by then and notify us of:

• Any allergies or dietary needs
• Any special requests for the birthday cake (e.g., vegan)

Please note: All food is prepared in a kitchen where allergens are present. We cannot guarantee an allergen-free environment.

Invitations: All packages include a printable PDF invitation and thank-you note, sent to you upon confirmation.

Party Bags: Available as an add-on. These will be waiting at the Canteen on the day. Contents are fixed and cannot be customised.

You're welcome to bring simple table decorations, but:

• No wall fixings, adhesives, or helium canisters
• No open flames or sparklers
• You must remove all decorations at the end of your party

You may bring your own cake—please notify us in advance.

We recommend booking 8 - 10 weeks in advance, especially if you want a specific Sunday. Dates fill up quickly!

Please note that bookings will  close a month ahead of the party date. Any unfilled party slots will be opened up to general public booking.

Please refer to our full Terms & Conditions. In short:

• Cancel 10+ days in advance: full refund
• Cancel 5–9 days in advance: 50% refund
• Cancel less than 5 days in advance: no refund

To cancel, please contact birthdayparties@dulwichpicturegallery.org.uk

Yes, both the ArtPlay Pavilion and the Canteen are fully wheelchair accessible.

Please inform us of any access needs when booking. You can also take a look at our Access information.

There is limited on street parking near the Gallery.

We recommend using public transport. Find out more on our Visit us page.

Toilets are located:

• Inside the ArtPlay Pavilion
• Outside the Pavilion (via the garden)
• Inside the Canteen

Your 1-hour booking of the Canteen seating area includes 45 minutes for dining, and 15 minutes for cleaning and saying your goodbyes. We ask that you take any decorations with you end the end of your party.

Due to set party times, we ask for all guests to depart the Canteen promptly at the end of your booking.

Our cleaning and catering team will take care of fully cleaning the floors and tables. 

Please contact birthdayparties@dulwichpicturegallery.org.uk

Booking & Payment

• Your booking is confirmed once full payment has been received.
• All prices include VAT.
• Payments must be made in GBP (£) by credit or debit card (American Express not accepted).
• The package price includes up to 20 children. Fewer may attend, but the price remains the same. You can add up to 10 extra children for an additional per-child fee.
• Payment must be made at the time of booking. If payment is not received, we may cancel your booking.

Cancellations & Refunds

• Cancel 10 or more days before the event for a full refund.
• Cancel 5–9 days before the event for a 50% refund.
• Cancel less than 5 days before the event and no refund will be given.
• Refunds cannot be given for no-shows or reduced numbers on the day.
• We may cancel the booking if payment is not received or these terms are breached.
• We may also cancel for safety, legal, reputational, or operational reasons. If this happens, you’ll receive a full refund.

Guest Numbers & Access

• The number of children attending must not exceed the agreed maximum.
• Children aged over 8 cannot participate in ArtPlay Pavilion activities for health & safety reasons.
• Adults are welcome in the Canteen but space is limited.
• Your booking gives you access only to the ArtPlay Pavilion and the Canteen. Other areas of the Gallery require an entry ticket.

Behaviour & Supervision

• Children must be supervised by responsible adults at all times.
• The booker is responsible for the conduct of all guests.
• Shoes are not allowed in the ArtPlay Pavilion — socks must be worn by both children and adults.
• No food or drink is allowed in the ArtPlay Pavilion.
• Our staff may refuse admission or remove anyone behaving in a disorderly, unsafe, or inappropriate way.
• Any behaviour that could damage the Gallery’s reputation or put guests at risk is prohibited.

Catering

• All catering is provided by our on-site partner, Bovingdons Catering.
• External catering is not permitted.
• By booking, you agree to us sharing your booking details (name, contact information, booking date/time, dietary requirements) with Bovingdons for catering purposes only.
• It is your responsibility to give accurate allergy and dietary information.
• Whilst Bovingdons will make every effort to meet the dietary requirements of guests, please note all food is prepared in a kitchen where foods containing allergens are prepared. Therefore, Bovingdons cannot 100% guarantee that food does not contain allergens.

Decorations & Equipment

• Simple table decorations are welcome, but these are not allowed:
• Wall fixings, adhesives, pins, nails, screws, or tape
• Open flames or sparklers
• Helium canisters, confetti, smoke/bubble machines, or any unsafe equipment
• All decorations and personal items must be removed within your booking time.

Care of the Premises

• Please treat the ArtPlay Pavilion and Canteen with care.
• Any damage to the premises, furniture, fixtures, or equipment will be charged to the booker.
• Spaces must be left tidy at the end of your booking.

Safety & Prohibited Items

• Illegal substances, hazardous items, sharp objects, and pets (except assistance dogs) are not allowed.
• Follow all health and safety instructions from our staff.
• Smoking is not permitted in any building.

Lost Property

• We are not responsible for any lost or damaged belongings.
• Items left inside or outside the premises, including buggies, are left at the owner’s risk.

Timings

• Parties include:
• 45 minutes exclusive use of the ArtPlay Pavilion
• 1 hour hire of the Canteen seating area
• Early arrivals or late departures are only possible if agreed in writing beforehand.

Photography & Marketing

• You are welcome to take photos during your event, but please get permission from parents before photographing other children.
• We may ask for your permission to use event photos for marketing — this is optional and will always be confirmed in writing.

General

• These terms may be updated from time to time. The version in place at the time of booking will apply.

If you have any questions, please check our FAQs or contact birthdayparties@dulwichpicturegallery.org.uk