Events and activities

We have lots of different activities on offer, in and around the hospital for both inpatients, outpatients, and their siblings.

Activities hosted at GOSH

Creative Club Poster

Creative Club

Who for: Anyone Ages 5+

When:  3pm-5pm

Where: Beside the Disney Bay

What: You'll find members of the Play Team with opportunities to take part in some creative activities, and much more.

Paint Club Poster

Paint Club

Who for: Anyone Ages 5+

When:  3pm-5pm

Where: Beside the Disney Bay

What: You'll find members of the Play Team with opportunities to take part in some creative painting activities.

A poster with the words GOSH after hours and colourful illustrations of people.

After Hours

Who for: Young people and their siblings, aged 12 -years-old and over

When:  Wednesdays between 5pm to 6.30pm

Where: outside Pals and Pharmacy, also known as The COVE

What: You'll find members of the Play Team and YPF with opportunities for gaming, a chance to say hello, chat and chill, or take part in some creative activities, and much more. We have a table tennis table and a sensory space, for chilling out, for some much needed down time with a good book.

Drama Club Poster

Drama Club

Who for: Anyone aged 5+

When:  Thursdays between 4:30-5:30pm

Where: outside Pals and Pharmacy, also known as The COVE

What: You'll find members of the Play Team who will have lots of fun drama games and activities for you to get involved in.

Fri-Clay Club

Fri-Clay Club

Who for: Anyone aged 5+

When: Fridays between 3pm-5pm

Where: Beside the Disney Play

What: You'll find members of the Play Team who will support you with a hands on clay making experience.

Saturday Takeaway

Saturday Takeaway

Who for: All Ages

When: Saturdays between 11:30 am and 5pm

Where: Charity Hub

What: You'll find members of the Play Team who will have a range of games and toys which you can takeaway to play with over the weekend

A photo of a group of people smiling with their thumbs up.

Radio Lollipop

Radio Lollipop are a brilliant charity organisation, and they were founded in the UK in 1979, and have been at GOSH since 2004.

When: Volunteers visit GOSH throughout the week, and on Sundays. They broadcast through to TVs 24 hours a day, seven days a week with live shows and ward activities every Monday, Wednesday and Thursday between 6pm to 8pm and Sunday 4pm to 6pm.

For more details: Please email volunteer@gosh.nhs.uk

A photo of a group of people smiling, wearing yellow t-shirts with their hands in the air.

Weekend Club

When: Saturdays and Sundays between 1pm and 4pm

Where: Outside PALS and Pharmacy - The Cove

What: A wide range of arts and craft activities as well as face painting for both patients and siblings

For more details: Please email volunteer@gosh.nhs.uk

Friends who visit

Four people pulling silly faces

Giggle Doctors

When: Every Tuesday

What: Music, play, magic and storytelling by our Giggle Doctors.

For more details: Please email volunteer@gosh.nhs.uk

An illustration of a face in black, on a blue background

GOSH Charity Hub

What: The GOSH Charity colleagues have a hub space situated in the lagoon, where you can find out about events, how to become a charity champion, some of the research projects and funding they are involved in, as well as saying hello, and enjoying some arts and crafts.

When: Open Monday to Friday, from 11.30am to 2pm.

Photo of a small very fluffy light brown dog wearing a blue coat explaining that he is a GOSH therapy dog volunteer. He is stood on his back legs with his front paws rests on a table.

GOSH Therapy Dogs

At Great Ormond Street Hospital we have a team of wonderful canine volunteers who visit patients, visitors, and staff.

The main aim of our therapy dogs is to cheer up children and young people who might be missing their pet at home. They bring a smile to everyone they visit – staff as well as families – and generally make us all feel better.

When: They visit GOSH regularly and go to most wards and departments.

For more details: Please email volunteer@gosh.nhs.uk

A man smiling with a bookcase full of brightly coloured books and a girl holding a book.

Read for Good

What: Enjoy regular visits from the storytellers who share delightful tales with our children, young people and families. Read For Good also provide us with books and stories for our patients and families to continue their love of reading whilst in hospital.

Two people wearing hats and orange t-shirts outside of Great Ormond Street Hospital entrance, holding dinosaurs

Rent-A-Dinosaur

What: Want to meet a tyrannosaurus rex? A lumbering triceratops? Cute baby dinosaur? An awesome stegosaurus?

Come and hang with our friends for an unforgettable dinosaur experience.

The words Spread a Smile in pink, orange and blue backgrounds

Spread a Smile

Spread a Smile have been supporting us for many years, and their support ranges from whole day visits and spreading joy to inpatient and outpatient areas. They also support us during celebrations and multi- faith festivals, as well as summer and Christmas Parties.

When: Spread a Smile visit GOSH on Thursdays

For more information: Please email volunteer@gosh.nhs.uk

The Flying Seagull Project

What: Want to see some spinning plates, circus games, parachute games or a full show? Come and hang with our friends and meet the amazing clowns, musicians and entertainers.

The words The Spitz on yellow background

The Spitz Charitable Trust

The Spitz Charitable Trust provide fun and participatory music sessions at the hospital, and have visited wards and outpatient departments over the last year. The Spitz build relationships with patients and their families nurturing memories and creating new ones.

When: The Spitz musicians visit the hospital on a regular basis.

For more details: Visit The Spitz website

Four people in Stars Wars fancy dress

UK Garrison

Did you know GOSH is friends with the empire? We are lucky that we are allies with the empire and they make regular visits to meet children, young people and their families to create laughter, joy and beautiful memories.

Last updated: May 2025