Schools Out... for Summer!
Looking for a way to keep the children happy during the school
holidays? Then check out our great selection of events and activities
Bedfordshire
Travel back in time to Romans 1600 at Stockwood
Discovery Centre in Luton on Wednesday 4 August
(1100-1500). Handle artefacts and make a mosaic.
Also in the town - the Wardown Park Museum has
Going Batty (learn all about bats) on Thursday
12 August; and Toytastic (play with old-fashioned
toys) on Thursday 19 August - both running
1100-1230 and 1330-1530. At the Bedford Museum,
you can build a mini castle (Thursday 5 August); or
help create gargoyles (Thursday 26 August) - both
running 1115-1245 and 1400-1530.
Get out into the fresh air. Marston Vale Millennium
Country Park in Marston Moretaine (nr. Bedford) has
fun, facts and crafts (1000-1245) - including Brilliant
Butterflies on Friday 30 July; then Clay Creatures on
Friday 20 August. Go on the hunt for creepy crawlies,
with the Mini Beast Safaris at RSPB The Lodge
(nr. Sandy) on selected dates in late July and August
(1400-1600). Head to the Chilterns Gateway Centre
(nr. Dunstable) for their ‘Wild Child' events every
Wednesday and Friday (1100-1600) throughout the
summer holidays - enjoy nature themed activities.
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Cambridgeshire
Help the Victorian servants with their chores at Wimpole Hall in Arrington
(nr. Royston), every Tuesday - from the 27 July to the 24 August (1330-1600).
There are Thrilling Thursdays in August at Anglesey Abbey in Lode
(nr. Cambridge) - including pond dipping on the 5 (1100-1200 and 1400-1500);
cookery on the 19 (1430-1600); and storytelling on the 26 (1000-1130).
The Farmland Museum and Denny Abbey at Waterbeach (nr. Cambridge)
has Drop-in Events on Thursdays (1200-1600) - including make a monster
(29 July); create a cow decoration (19 August); and painting on grass (26 August).
Discover Medieval Mayhem (crafts and characters) at the Peterborough
Museum, from Saturday 24 July to Wednesday 1 September (1000-1700).
Wicken Fen (nr. Ely) has drop-in 30 minute Pond-Dipping sessions on
Tuesdays in August (1200-1500); or learn about dragonflies and damselflies on
Monday 16 August (1030-1230 and 1400-1600). There are holiday activities at
WWT Welney Wetland Centre (nr. Wisbech), from Saturday 24 July to
Sunday 5 September (0930-1700). Follow the self-led trail and create wildlife
crafts. It's ‘Once Upon a Time' at the Cambridge Botanic Garden on
Thursdays 5 and 19 August (1100-1500), with puppets and story-telling sessions.
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Essex
The museums in Colchester have summer holiday
fun. It's Go Live Week at the Natural History
Museum - from Monday 9 to Friday 13 August
(1130-1600). See owls, snakes and bats. Join the
servants in Hollytrees Museum to learn about their
life on Tuesday 17 and Wednesday 18 August
(sessions at 1100, 1200, 1400 and 1500). Listen to
the Tales of Queen Boudica at Colchester
Castle Museum from Monday 2 to Thursday
5 August (sessions at 1100, 1200, 1400 and 1500).
Uncover the past at Cressing Temple (nr. Braintree)
with Children's Archaeological Digs on Mondays
2, 9, 16 and Tuesdays 3, 10, 17 August (1000-1500).
From Oliver Cromwell to World War II - become a
'Time Traveller' at Audley End House (nr. Saffron
Walden) during August (4-8, 11-15, 18-22
and 25-28), 1000-1700. Roll up, roll up for the
Circus Skills Day in Hylands House at Chelmsford
on Tuesday 24 August (1000-1500) - try your hand
at juggling and plate spinning.
Get out into the fresh air. Join Petunia the pig to
learn all about bugs at the Lee Valley Park Farms in Waltham Abbey on
Wednesday 18 August (1000-1700). There are more Children's Bug Hunts at RHS
Garden Hyde Hall in Rettendon (nr. Chelmsford) on Thursday 5, Wednesday
11 and Tuesday 24 August (1100 and 1500). Take a picnic to the outdoor
performance of the tale of James and the Giant Peach in the Gunpowder Park
at Waltham Abbey on Tuesday 24 August (starting at 1500).
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Hertfordshire
Make some bread at Mill Green Museum and Mill in Welwyn on Fridays 30 July;
6, 13 and 20 August (1030-1200). Also don't miss the Teddy Bear Day on
Wednesday 25 August (1100-1500). Exterminate! - Hitchin Museum and Art
Gallery has lots of Doctor Who related events and activities, including making
a Dalek on Wednesday 11 August (1000-1200 and 1400-1600). There are family
wildlife activities at Shaw's Corner in Ayot St. Lawrence (nr. Welwyn) on
Thursdays 12 and 19 August (1200-1700).
Join in the Celtic Games at Celtic Harmony in Brickendon (nr. Hertford), running
from Sunday 25 July to Saturday 28 August (1000-1700). Have-a-go at archery and
make an Olympic flame.The Herts Young Mariners Base at Cheshunt has a fun
packed programme (Monday 26 July to Wednesday 1 September), including
kayaking and climbing. Two sessions a day - 0930-1200 and 1300-1530. Willows
Farm Village in London Colney (nr. St. Albans) are holding their Summer
Spectacular, from Saturday 24 July to Sunday 5 September (1000-1730) - get
lost in the maize maze and join in the sports day races.
Go on a mini-beast hunt, take your
favourite friend to a Teddy Bears Picnic,
learn the skills of the circus or get crafty
with painting and model making
Norfolk
The museums in the county have a host of holiday
activities. It's Stone Age Day at Cromer Museum
on Thursday 29 July (1030-1600). Handle prehistoric
objects and create a wall painting. Time and Tide in
Great Yarmouth has a Circus Skills Workshop on
Monday 26 July (1100, 1330, 1430 and 1530). View
Victorian scrapbooks at the Ancient House Museum
in Thetford on Wednesday 28 July (1100-1400).
Get out into the fresh air. Sheringham Park has
wildlife tracker packs available every day during the
summer holidays (Saturday 24 July to Tuesday
31 August, 1000-1600). Join in the Big Bug Hunt on
Tuesday 17 and Thursday 19 August (1030-1200
and 1400-1530). Head to the Fairhaven Woodland
and Water Garden in South Walsham for their
Children's Day on Wednesday 25 August
(1100-1500), including crafts and games.
Take your favourite friend to Oxburgh Hall at
Oxborough (nr. Swaffham) for the Teddy Bears
Picnic on Thursday 22 July (1100-1500). RSPB
Titchwell Marsh (nr. Hunstanton) has family friendly
activities from Monday 19 July to Friday 3 September (1000-1600). There is also
pond dipping on Tuesdays and Thursdays in late July and August (1030 and 1115).
Enjoy large garden games and trails at Blickling Hall (nr. Aylsham) with the
Summer Fun Days on Wednesdays 4, 11 and 18 August (1230-1600).
Create your own cakes and biscuits at Felbrigg Hall (nr. Cromer) - with their
Children's Baking Days on Thursdays 29 July; 11 and 26 August (1030-1330).
For something special, head to the Norwich Puppet Theatre for a performance of
the Billy Goats Gruff (Wednesday 18, Thursday 19 and Friday 27 August at 1430).
There are also Puppet Workshops too - make a dinosaur on Monday 2 August; or
a robot on Thursday 19 August (both starting at 1100). Staying in this historic
city - KidZones run every Wednesday, from the 28 July to the 25 August
(1100-1600), featuring games, sports and activities.
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Suffolk
Go wild at Ickworth in Horringer (nr. Bury St.
Edmunds). Make clay animals on Tuesday 3 and
Thursday 5 August (1100-1600); or join a Bug
Hunt on Tuesday 17 and Thursday 19 August
(1100, 1300 and 1430). See what creatures live in
the lake at Brandon Country Park - with some
Pond Dipping on Thursday 29 July (1130, 1330
and 1400). More outdoor fun at Needham Lake
in Needham Market (1200-1530). Create musical
instruments on Wednesday 11 August; or launch
amazing water rockets on Wednesday 25 August.
RSPB Lakenheath Fen have outdoor summer
nature activities running from Saturday 24 July to
Tuesday 31 August (1000-1600).
Take a Gruesome Graves Tour (if you dare) at
Sutton Hoo (nr. Woodbridge) - every Monday,
Wednesday and Friday in August (1200 and 1400).
You can also make your own Anglo-Saxon helmet,
every Tuesday and Thursday in August (1100-1300
and 1400-1600). Melford Hall in Long Melford
(nr. Sudbury) has a Beatrix Potter Fun Day on
Friday 30 July (1330-1700) - see the original Jemima
Puddleduck toy, and help plant seeds in Mr McGregor's garden. Turn back the clock
at Framlingham Castle (nr. Woodbridge). During August (2-6, 9-13, 16-20 and
23-27), they have a series of fun ‘Time Traveller' events (1000-1700).
Complete the five challenges set by Agatha in the Guardians to the Museum
‘Relic Trail' in Christchurch Mansion at Ipswich, from Friday 23 July to Tuesday
31 August (1000-1700). Join in the activities at Ipswich Museum - learn about
woolly mammoths from Tuesday 27 to Friday 30 July; excellent Egyptians from
Tuesday 3 to Friday 6 August; and amazing animals from Tuesday 24 to Friday
27 August. Sessions at 1030, 1130, 1230, 1400 and 1500.
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Enjoy a great family fun day out or longer adventure holiday in the East of
England. With lots of child friendly, exciting attractions, activities and
events - you'll be sure to find something to entertain the whole family.
Click here for our Family Fun section.
Click here for our Events section.
