The Egham Royal Show takes place on Saturday 26th and Sunday 27th August at the showground in Whitehall Lane.
Last year for the first time, the show provided children’s rides free of charge. This was a huge success so again this year, these rides will be free – including go-karts.
Egham Royal Show has a reputation for offering something for everyone. As well as the traditional rare breeds animals and horticulture/crafts competitions, there will be live music, trade stands, a model marquee, dog show, flight simulator, vintage and classic car display, archery, Morris dancers and a community marquee with real ales. The main arena will feature a variety of entertainments including birds of prey and motor bike stunt riding. There is free parking on-site.
Entry costs £12 for adults and £10 for concessions. Children under 15 accompanied by an adult come in free of charge. Advance tickets can be bought via the Show website at a discount.
Summer holidays and longer warmer days are just begging to be filled with fun and with so many attractions and events to enjoy, you’re spoilt for choice
Bracing yourself for cries of “I’m bored, what can I do?” Don’t fret, there are so many activities and events on offer to entertain the little ones and not so little ones this summer, they’ll soon be wanting time to just do nothing!
Hatchlands Park is bringing everything but the sea to Surrey this summer. Children will love dressing up and captaining the straw bale boat in the Walled Garden complete with ship’s wheel and bell! There’ll also be games and sports on the lawn and early years play by the new donkeys’ stables. Inside the house, discover extracts from the letters between Admiral Boscawen and his wife, Frances and explore the fascinating stories of some of the sailors who sailed with the Admiral. Plus outdoor theatre in the evening! www.nationaltrust.org.uk/visit/surrey/hatchlands-park
Journey back through British motorsport and take a trip in a vintage-style car up the infamous Test Hill or along the Members’ Banking of the old race track at Brooklands Museum near Weybridge.
There are animals to view and pet at Godstone Farm, hop on-board the popular tractor ride, explore the indoor and outdoor play areas or simply enjoy the cute farm animals. Want more animals? Merrist Wood near Guildford has recently been granted a zoo license, so this summer you can get up close to an amazing array of animals.
Here’s a different but charming way to spend a day during the hols. Meet The Llamas at Merry Harriers where every Saturday you can dine and meet the furry creatures. The trekker will take you to the field where you can feed them, stroke and learn a little about the lovely herd of 12 llamas. Book at enquiries@merryharriers.com
Bucks
For a more relaxed day out explore the woods at National Trust property Hughenden during the school holidays with geocaching. Compete against each other in garden games or croquet on the lawn. Dress up in costumes for the performance stage area and get creating in crafting workshops. Booking not necessary for the Summer of Play which runs from July 22nd to September 4th.
Buckinghamshire’s much-loved family arts and literature festival, WhizzFizzFest, is back for 2023 and this year it’s going on tour over three weekends in July sharing the creative activities and memorable experiences all on the theme of friendship. Sunday 2nd, WhizzFizzFest @Aylesbury on Sea with Aylesbury Town Council lands in Vale Park bringing a vibrant celebration of children’s creativity alongside plenty of beach-based fun at Aylesbury on Sea. Saturday 8th WhizzFizzFest @Desborough Carnival with High Wycombe BIDCo for a celebration of music and culture, free creative workshops, circus performances, street entertainment and more. WhizzFizzFest at Hats Off Chesham with Chesham Connect celebrates Chesham’s High Street, with added creative fun for all the family. Music, magic shows, crafting, climbing walls, giant bubbles and more on Saturday 15th – just don’t forget your hat!
Zip wires, Tarzan swings, rope ladders and a variety of obstacles and crossings are the challenges in store at Go Ape Wendover Woods. High up in the Chilterns, the leafy hideout is a hidden gem in the county and includes an ‘extreme’ site where you can take on the thrills and spills of the Chilterns Crossing and the Monkey Shuffle among other feats. Tree Top Adventure gives younger adventurers a chance to battle through obstacles and fly down zipwires with over 30 different crossings and two 80m zipwires for your little monkeys to try out.
Oxfordshire
Experience the thrill of being a medieval falconer and get up close and personal with magnificent birds of prey. Witness these graceful creatures soaring through the air, diving for their prey, and showing off their incredible hunting skills in Oxford Castle & Prison’s Castleyard on July 22nd. Join Knight School this summer there too. Don your armour, sharpen your sword and prepare to set out on a quest. Join in the Castleyard for medieval weapons training, jousting and archery – all under the supervision of the Castle’s knights. Once you’ve been trained, you will be knighted and presented with your own sword to take home. Select dates between July 24th and August 14th.
Abingdon’s Abbey Meadows is the scene for The Puppet Theatre Barge, one of the UK’s most unique venues, a 50-seat puppet theatre inside a converted Thames barge. The theatre will visit Abbey Meadows this summer with their new show The Selfish Giant, a puppetry production for all the family from July 22nd to August 13th.
Cogges Manor Farm‘s legendary Beer and Cider Festival is back with a bang on August 5th. Join them for a celebration in the Barns, for the 10th annual festival. Try over 40 different craft beers and 15 ciders, with live music to get the crowd dancing if the beer doesn’t help to loosen your inhibitions. The historic farm is also the location to enjoy summer theatre in the barn with Wind in the Willows on July 9th while Illyria bring Pride and Prejudice to the lawn on July 11th and Robin Hood on August 23rd.
Keep younger members of the family amused with Oxford Playhouse shows during the holidays including Zog, July 18th to 23rd, with his adventures through dragon school; go on an interactive adventure around the brain with Mind the Monsters at BT Studio, July 19th to 30th for 5-11 year olds. Blippi: The Wonderful World Tour is the ultimate curiosity adventure with monster trucks, excavators, and garbage trucks galore. Shake your wiggles out and OJ Twist your way through this brand-new musical party from August 15th to 26th for 2-7 years.
West Berks & Wiltshire
Wildfest 2023 on July 15th is BBOWT’s summer celebration at the Nature Discovery Centre in Thatcham. Guided walks, talks, music and family activities will fill the day, with local food and drink to enjoy. The newly-refurbished visitor centre offers a fun day out while the lakeside location is a haven for wildlife, woodland and trails to explore. bbowt.org.uk
The beautiful surroundings of Shaw House are the setting for a Summer Fair on July 16th where you can browse over 45 craft stalls from local makers with hot food and drinks from local caterers. Live music, craft activities with Ugly Duckling Pottery, performances from Mr Muddle the Magician and children’s rides will add to the fun and don’t forget your four-legged friend to enter into the dog show.
A monster truck display and rides, a motorcross display team, skydiving and aerobatic flying displays, hot air balloons, arena displays, live music and fireworks are all part of the attraction at Newbury Summer Fest on July 22nd, new for 2023. This big family day out is the way to start your summer holiday.
Top Gun: Maverick screams across the open air big screen at Cobbs Farm, Hungerford on July 22nd and there’s Shakespeare in the Garden the same night at The Hinds Head, Aldermaston when four actors will play numerous parts in Open Bar’s production of Twelfth Night.
Berkshire
All summer long you’re invited to come and play at Basildon Park. From July 1st to August 31st, take part in a variety of outdoor play activities. Test your skills on the wild play trail, where you can balance on logs, create your own ball run, and explore the great outdoors. Or try your hand at some lawn games, perfect for a family friendly competition. For the more active family members, there are a range of outdoor games to keep you moving. Don’t forget to take a picnic and enjoy a break in the beautiful grounds. Go along and join an adventure-filled summer at Basildon Park.
Building Royal Connections: Three women of Greys Court is a new exhibition running at the charming Henley property from July 20th until the end of October. Learn about the exceptional lives of three women, and how their influence contributed to the shifting landscape of Greys Court. Enter the worlds of Lettice Pennyston (c.1485-1558), Katherine Carey (1523-69) and Lettice Knollys (1543-1634).
Silent Summer Screenings are your go-to outdoor cinema for an unforgettable movie experience this summer. Whether you’re looking for a romantic night out, a family-friendly activity, or just fun with friends there are a variety of movies to choose from including at Henley’s Mill Meadows where you can enjoy Notting Hill on July 13th and Cool Runnings on July 14th.
Hants
Here’s a great way to get the summer off to a spectacular start. The Vyne Music Festival runs at the popular National Trust site from July 7th to 9th with three nights of music featuring Feel Good Friday when The FB Pocket Orchestra come complete with all of their electronic gadgets and the Still Moving DJ’s with their upbeat vibes, live percussion, ships’ lanterns, original vinyl records, gramophones, tankards and…dinosaurs! Absolutely Elton John takes to the stage on Saturday with a Gin & Jazz Party rounding off the weekend when you can grab your pearls and party like it’s 1929! Booking essential, https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/visit/hampshire/the-vyne/events
The Vyne is also the setting for some fabulous outdoor cinema in July. Watch Elvis, 28th; Dirty Dancing, 29th; Top Gun, 30th and Mamma Mia, 31st. On August 5th join the star-crossed young lovers Romeo and Juliet as the Lord Chamberlain’s Men invite you to take your seat under the night sky. Bring your picnics, blankets, camping chairs and torches to the north lawn for an evening of lively entertainment. Book at https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/visit/hampshire/the-vyne/events/d865e0b2-8794-48f2-a1b1-38f149970531?origin=search
This summer, join young Mary Lennox on a journey of discovery as she is sent to her uncle’s house in the countryside, where mysteries and secrets lurk around every corner in The Secret Garden… As she makes new friends and encounters magical creatures, Mary has one burning question: where is the location of her uncle’s secret garden, and where has he hidden the key? This enchanting story, loved by children and adults alike, is presented in the historic surroundings of Winchester Cathedral’s Lower Deanery Garden. Relive this tale of secrecy and curiosity in what will be one of the highlights of the summer on July 29th. Book at winchester-cathedral.org.uk/event/the-secret-garden-by-chapterhouse-theatre-company/
Easter is the perfect occasion for family adventures and spending time together, as well as offering the chance to find more eggs than you could possibly eat, there are a variety of other fun activities to entertain you too
How about following an egg trail at a National Trust property near you? Trails cost just £3 plus normal National Trust entry and all end with a chocolate egg, or vegan and free from egg, made in the UK using cocoa responsibly sourced from Rainforest Alliance Certified farms. To find out more including whether booking is required (in many cases it’s not), visit Easter trails and Easter egg hunts | National Trust
Hop along to the Walled Garden at Blenheim Palace to enjoy a whole host of egg-citing activities including circus skills, balloon modelling, bubble performances, bungee trampolines and a travelling vintage variety show, not to mention appearances from the Easter Bunny, 7th to 10th and don’t forget the Easter egg hunt to win a tasty chocolate treat. Tickets Easter Eggstravaganza | Blenheim Palace
Adopt a dragon this Easter at Oxford Castle & Prison from 1st to 16th. Join the Dragon Masters and paint and decorate a dragon egg, build your own nest for your dragon and then adopt your dragon to take home. Each child will take home their egg, nest and soft toy dragon as well as a certificate of adoption and fact sheet for them and their fiery friend. Spaces limited, book at Oxford Castle & Prison
Myths and legends swirl around the neolithic landscape at White Horse Hill. With burial mounds, hillforts, Giants Steps and a Dragon Hill to discover at this unique site in Uffington from April 7th to 10th. Complete all the activities and take home a chocolate egg.
Travel back in time to the golden age of Great Western Railway and savour the sights, sounds and smells of steam at the 21-acre living museum at Didcot Railway Centre with trains dating from Victorian times. April bank holiday steam days run from 7th to 10th, 29th and 30th with May bank holiday steam days 27th to 29th. You won’t want to miss that lovable bear Paddington on May 1st. More details and tickets at Didcot Railway Centre.
Image: National Trust / John Millar
Image: National Trust / John Millar
Thame Country Fair comes to Thames Showground on Easter Sunday and Monday, with country sports and pursuits and arena entertainment. Watch falconry, gundogs, horse boarding, scurry driving and a stunt display team. Enjoy demonstrations and have-a-go events while a visit to the World of Dogs is a must for any dog lover. The Food Glorious Food Section offers street food and drink vendors, chef demonstrations and music and stop by the craft village. Plenty of amusements for children too. Tickets at Thame Country Fair | Living Heritage Country Shows.
Join the Family Easter Trail: Easter Bunny’s Egg Hunt at Sutton Courtenay Environmental Education Centre, follow the trail and help the Easter bunny discover who has laid all the different eggs to earn your Easter treat, 3rd to 6th! More at Berks, Bucks & Oxon Wildlife Trust.
Leap into a new era of bouncing at Oxfordshire’s largest inflatable park! The Bounce Park is now open weekends at Willowbrook Leisure Centre, Didcot offering fun for all ages. Looking for the ultimate birthday party? Let The Bounce Park host with all the fun with no stress. Open bounce, Tots and SEN sessions available online at The Bounce Park are offering all Round & About customers an exclusive discount when booking open sessions, please use Rabout10 code when checking out!
If you’ve over indulged on choccy at Easter how about walking it off in a good cause? Challenge yourself to a 10 or 20-mile Pink Ribbon Walk at Blenheim Palace on Saturday, 13th May and soak up the sights on the ramble-ready routes. Starting and finishing in the stunning grounds of Blenheim Palace, the walk will showcase the best of the Cotswolds’ spectacular rural scenery. Whether you’re a newbie walker or a seasoned hiker, the Pink Ribbon Walk is for you. Sign up now www.breastcancernow.org/pinkribbon
West Berkshire
What are the differences between rabbits and hares? How fast can a hare run? Discover more about this wonderful, elusive creature at Where’s The Hare? Family Easter Trail at the Nature Discovery Centre, Thatcham 4th and 5th, includes a take-home craft and a small chocolate treat, more at Berks, Bucks & Oxon Wildlife Trust.
Spring into Newbury and enjoy the great Newbury Easter egg hunt from April 1st to 16th along with the Easter Farm and Family Fun Day on 6th when you can meet rabbits, guinea pigs, goats, lambs and donkeys in the Market Place. Details at visitnewbury.org
Go on a journey of discovery at the Living Rainforest, Thatcham this month and take part in the latest in a new series of monthly Children’s Rainforest Activity Trails. Discover Rainforest Foods – find out how the rainforest is linked to your kitchen cupboard in this latest adventure in the warm tropical glasshouses. Pre-order a children’s Activity Pack when booking at The Living Rainforest or buy onsite.
Join the fun at Avebury this spring for an Easter adventure. Explore the garden and have a go at lots of exciting activities to claim your Easter egg. Make your way along the trail and find nature-inspired activities for the whole family between Saturday 1st and Sunday 16th.
Image: National Trust / James Dobson
Berkshire
If you’re looking for some motivation to get outdoors (especially after all the chocolate) why not join the Goring Gap walk, a ramble along the Thames and through the riverside villages of the Chiltern Hills. Choose from half marathon or marathon distance routes (13 or 26 miles) starting at Mapledurham House, Saturday 13th May. Fully signposted, friendly marshals, village hall refreshments/ facilities on route, medals, massage and more at the finish. Dogs welcome! Find out more at Goring Gap Walk.
Follow the trail and find nature-inspired activities leading to a secret garden at Basildon Park. Find blossom-inspired activities for the whole family as you make your way along the Easter trail through the spring parkland at Greys Court, Henley. Both trails run April 1st to 16th and include a trail map, pencil, bunny ears, and a chocolate egg at the end.
Image: National Trust / Chris Lacey
Wellington Country Park has a cracking assortment of Easter events planned from 1st to 16th with Junk Jodie and her Easter crafts and singing and dancing with Canary Mary and her friends Custard the Chick, Lolli the Lamb and the Easter Bunny. There’s Big Top show tent entertainment too from PeteZa, Big Foot and Friends and Circus Wellingtonia. Don’t miss the Mega Egg Hunt on Sunday 9th – solve the clues and find the missing eggs to claim your prize. More info and to book visit Wellington Country Park.
Plant a wicker basket decorated with a bow to create a charming Easter gift at Squires Garden Centre, Wokingham, April 3rd to 14th (booking required) and join the bunny hunt – same dates – and follow the clues in the centre to help find the magic word.
The Berkshire Egg Run is a Motorcycle Ride across Reading which takes place annually on Good Friday, April 7th this year. Riders converge at Stadium Way in Tilehurst from 11.30am, for a 12.30 departure, riding through Reading ending up at The Abbey Rugby Club in Emmer Green where the Easter Eggs are donated to the Rotary Club and Southcote Children’s Centre who distribute them across Berkshire. The Ride is marshalled and slow so all types and size of bike/scooter/trike and quad can join in. More at www.tvvultures.co.uk/the-berkshire-egg-run
Dive into a world of adventure with Secret Adventures in the Berkshire countryside. Tuck into a four-course woodland feast at Goring Heath on April 29th. Walk through the woods, enjoy a botanical cocktail on arrival and chef’s mouthwatering fare. Find out more at secretadventures.org
Image: National Trust / Chris Lacey
Add a twist to your egg hunt this Easter, by looking for dinosaur eggs at Savill Gardens, Windsor, on April 5th and 6th. Follow the footprints to find dinosaur nests and evidence of other egg-laying creatures. Discover how plants, animals and dinosaurs evolved on Earth along the way, and help solve a mystery to win a chocolate egg. Suitable for children aged four to 11 years, but all children are welcome. All children must be accompanied by an adult. Book at Dinosaur Egg Hunt.
Binfield Easter Egg Hunt is back for the eighth year, 2nd – 10th, and it’s all set to be another eggsellent hunt! There will be 30+ eggs to find around the village, simply buy a map for £3 from either Binfield Village Stores, Daphne’s Coffee Shop or Foxes Den Community Cafe, and have some fun. With cafes, shops and playgrounds enroute, come and have a great day out, www.binfieldevents.com/easteregghunt
Buckinghamshire
Sports day comes to Stowe with an Easter-themed twist from April 1st to 16th, so hop, jump, throw, run, stretch and race your way around each of the activities. As you play and have fun on your family adventure in nature, there’s plenty of new life to spot along the way.
The Easter trail at Waddesdon is jam-packed with fun games and creative activities. Follow your map, get involved in 10 activities to claim your chocolate egg at the end. Starting at the back of the Manor, it makes its way around the grounds before ending at the Woodland Takeaway and Toyshop. Visit the newly-refurbished playground and refuel with delicious food and drink. Tickets must be pre-booked for the Easter trail which runs from March 29th to April 9th, excluding April 3rd and 4th.
Make your way along the trail and find nature-inspired activities for the whole family in the grounds at Cliveden from March 31st to April 16th. Families and dogs are all welcome on this seasonal adventure. After picking up an activity pack, there are 10 activities to find around the estate. Make your own Easter discoveries, have fun and head back to the Easter Trail tent to collect your treat.
Surrey
The flowers herald the arrival of spring at Polesden Lacey with nearly 200,000 planted creating a floral fiesta of daffodils, irises and anemones (to name a few). This year’s Easter adventure trail (until April 19th) will get your family running wild through time, journeying back to when wolves and lynx roamed free. Check out the new natural play area too.
Limber up this Easter on the activity trail at Claremont Landscape Garden until April 10th. Join in with games in the garden whilst taking in the picturesque views. Spring offers the chance to stroll through swathes of daffodils, feed tiny goslings, and make the most of bright days in this historic royal pleasure ground.
Image: National Trust / John Millar
Waxy magnolia blooms and swathes of daffodils line the paths in the upper arboretum at Winkworth, take a voyage of discovery through the arboretum on an activity-filled nature trail – 1st-16th – while taking in the landscape springing into life and colour. Kids can make their own masterpiece with items found on the woodland floor, search for wildflowers or predict the weather. Booking advisable.
On the Long Walk at Hatchlands Park, the delicate cream flowers of blackthorn blossom are a welcome sight of spring, followed closely by the hawthorn blossom. Be on the lookout for some giant eggs hiding around the grounds on an adventure trail from 1st to 16th.
Games and challenges abound on the adventure trail at Hindhead Commons and the Devil’s Punch Bowl from 1st-16th. Try birdwatching, den building and bug hunting as you take in views across the Weald or explore heath, streams and woodland.
A walk along the towpath at Dapdune Wharf will reveal lots of new life this Easter – ducklings, baby coots and moorhens and green shoots from the waterside vegetation. Kids can spring into action too on a fun-filled Easter trail, 7th-10th, before trying some relaxing creative crafts at the wharf.
Image: National Trust / Trevor Ray Hart
Image: National Trust / John Millar
Haslemere Museum celebrates British wildlife this spring. The Museum’s amazing collection of wildlife specimens means it has been chosen as lead museum for the Surrey consortium in the national Wild Escape project. There’s a lively programme of wildlife-related events and activities for all the family, including talks, workshops and fun sessions for children. Why not combine a scheduled event with a browse around the Museum’s displays and woodland grounds? More at HaslemereMuseum.co.uk
Children can do an Easter Egg Hunt with a difference 1st-16th April at Gilbert White’s House & Gardens. Find 10 eggs hidden in the garden and use clues to work out which creature laid them, (hint, it’s not only birds that lay eggs!). Complete the trail and claim a prize. Easter Egg Hunt With A Difference!
Farnham’s Rural Life Centre invites you to follow the trail of eggs left by the Easter bunny on April 9th and 10th. Collect a trail sheet, spot them all and claim your treat.
Surrey Artists feature strongly in AppArt’s Art Exhibition & Sculpture Trail. Soroya French, President of the Society of Women Artists will open AppArt’s exhibition at Prior’s Field School, Godalming GU7 2RH, on Saturday, 1st April. With over 700 artworks this is one of the largest exhibitions in Surrey and an ideal free outing for families over the Easter holidays. AppArt will open from 1st to 16th, 10am to 4pm.
Image: National Trust / James Dobson
In spring the Painshill landscape comes alive with beautiful daffodil displays and goslings around the lake. Enjoy soaking up the season with a walk around the stunning 18th century garden. Over Easter, magical beasts have come to the landscape to lay their eggs. Can you spot all the dragon statues and match them to their eggs? Find them all with this fun family walking trail over the school holiday, April 1st-16th.
From dragons to witches with Room on the Broom at Guildford’s Yvonne Arnaud Theatre this Easter holiday. Hop aboard from 7th to 9th and join the witch and her cat along with some unexpected hitchhikers – a friendly dog, a green bird and frantic frog – but is there room on the broom for everyone or will the hungry dragon snap them up? Tickets at Room On The Broom.
Dive into the world of science with the Ministry of Science Live at G Live on April 11th. Expect 20ft liquid nitrogen clouds, exploding oxygen and hydrogen balloons, fire tornados, hydrogen bottle rockets, ignited methane and a self-built hovercraft! Book at G Live | Guildford.
With thoughts turning to summer activities, how about tennis? Godalming Lawn Tennis Club is a friendly club open to players or all ages and abilities in Farncombe, whether you have never held a racket before or are looking to perfect your serve and volley. There’s everything from five floodlit hardcourts to a variety of club playing and training options and a social calendar to get involved with. All you need to bring is a desire to play, find out more at www.godalmingtennis.co.uk
West Sussex
Celebrate spring by taking in blossom trees and bug hotels, and spotting butterflies and bluebells on the Springfest Easter trail at Nymans. The fun continues in the Play Glade where games, musical instruments and a play tent can all be found. There’ll be plenty of photo-ops around the garden too, and don’t forget to pick up your prize until April 16th.
Image: National Trust / John Millar
Take a spring adventure through Petworth House’s glorious 18th-century Pleasure Garden. Collect your map and get cracking to find 10 fun activities to complete from 1st to 10th. There are winding paths and spring flowers, old stone monuments to explore and amazing views to discover as you track down animal- and flower-themed games, crafts and puzzles.
Hampshire
Come out and play this spring as you journey through the gardens at The Vyne. Among other activities, look for wellies hiding in trees, spot nature in bingo and hopscotch your way alongside the lake. Easter trail sheets and chocolate egg prizes will be available to purchase at Visitor Reception from 1st to 16th. Booking essential Easter adventures at The Vyne | National Trust.
It’s ‘ready, set, hop’ at Hinton Ampner with their Spring into Nature Easter egg hunt. Explore and play in the grounds and complete a set of Easter-fuelled tasks to win a chocolate prize! You’ll leap like a rabbit and jump like a spring chicken as you spot the dazzling array of spring colour in the beautiful gardens.
Image: National Trust / John Millar
Explore woods, gardens and meadows at the beautiful Uppark House and Gardens near Petersfield, high up on the South Downs. Uppark’s Easter trail, 1st-16th, is jam-packed with fun family challenges. Can you jump as far as a deer on the lawn, or hula hoop for 30 seconds in the scented garden? Who’s best at racing just like a rabbit, or playing Bug Bingo in the woods?
Waxy magnolia blooms and swathes of daffodils line the sides of the main paths in the upper arboretum at Winkworth so this Easter – 1st-16th – take a voyage of discovery winding your way through the arboretum on an activity-filled nature trail while taking in the landscape springing into life and colour. Kids can have a go at making their own masterpiece with items found across the woodland floor, search for wildflowers or predicting the weather. Booking advisable.
Explore Petersfield Museum and Art Gallery in a new light with fun, self-guided trails for the family. Follow the clues, find the hidden objects and take part in a series of challenges in exchange for a mystery prize from April 1st to 15th. The 15th is also the date for an Easter Family Fun Day with an Easter Hop Disco and seasonal crafts through to the Easter hunt trail. Can you find the eggs and treats the Easter rabbit has dropped throughout the museum and gallery before it’s too late? Book at School Holiday Trail: Spring Forward | Petersfield Museum.
Image: National Trust / John Millar
Image: National Trust / James Dobson
Boom & Bloom runs on weekends through the Easter holidays until April 17th at Winchester Science Museum. As well as all the usual science centre fun with two floors of hands-on exhibits and the out-of-this-world Planetarium, families can join an eggs-travaganza Easter hunt and search for eggs laid by animals that hatch. If they find them all, children will be in for a delicious Easter treat. Help plant the Boom & Bloom garden when visitors can discover more about flowers and plants and plant their own. There’s also hands-on bubble fun in Science Live and a pollination exploration live show in the Science Theatre called Flower Power, www.winchestersciencecentre.org
Here’s a great way to feel better about all that chocolate you’ve eaten (and help a fabulous cause) – walk it off by getting in training for the brand new Breast Walk Ever coming to a town near you in 2023! Raise funds for vital breast cancer research. Take part at IBM Hursley near Winchester on Sunday 7th May, with a choice of three distances on signposted routes. Medal, massage and a glass of fizz at the finish. Discounts available for teams of four and dogs welcome. Sign up at www.againstbreastcancer.org.uk/events
Explore
Get away for the day with Barnes Coaches with a wide range of day trips on the schedule for spring including great family days out by coach for over the Easter holidays and May Half Term. Join them going to exciting attractions such as Longleat, Bletchley Park, Buckingham Palace, Windsor Castle, Kew Gardens and more! Request a free day trip leaflet on 01793 821303 or view at www.barnescoaches.co.uk
Get ahead and prepare for the festive season with 15 per cent off
Squire’s invites shoppers to get ahead and prepare for the festive season with an exclusive early Christmas Shopping Evening taking place in November. While taking advantage of 15% off (see conditions) *.
Guests are invited to enjoy a complimentary glass of prosecco or a soft drink; live music as well as a curry meal** and lots more. Along with a very warm welcome from the team at Squire’s Garden Centres.
Shop at Long Ditton and Frensham on Tuesday, 1st November. And at Badshot Lea, Crawley, Hersham, Reigate, West Horsley, Shepperton, Stanmore, Twickenham, Woking, Milford, Wokingham on Thursday, 3rd November.
It’s the perfect setting to choose a Christmas tree, quality decorations and seasonal lights for both indoors and out. There’s gift inspiration in abundance for family and friends – browse the extensive and carefully created ranges including homeware and tableware, candles and fragrances, gifts for gardeners, cards, wrap and stationary, calendars and diaries through to toys, games and puzzles. There’s certainly something for everyone. With an extensive range available, Squire’s is the local destination for families to ‘complete your Christmas’.
Squire’s is pleased to offer customers the chance to enjoy a delicious special curry meal on the night in their welcoming Café Bars available from 5-7pm. With a choice of Chicken Mangalor (GFA) or Penang Curry (VG, GFA) accompanied by basmati rice, onion bhaji (VG) and naan bread (VG). Priced at £12 adults / £8 children.
Sarah Squire, Chairman of Squire’s Garden Centres, said: “We are very much looking forward to giving Christmas shoppers a very warm welcome at our exclusive early Shopping Evenings. This is the lead-up to a wonderful time for families. I’m delighted to be able to share with guests our special Squire’s Christmas. Our garden centres are looking magical, I hope it excites everyone and gets them in the spirit of Christmas.”
*15% discount. NOTE: excludes stamps, gift card, gas, concessions and Café Bar
**Curry meal is available in Squire’s Café Bars exclusively for the Shopping Evening priced at £12 for adults / £8 for children.
It may feel as if the children have only just gone back to school but already it’s time for half term. So, if you’re in need of some ideas to amuse them and save your own sanity, read on…
This time of year may be the season of mists and mellow fruitfulness, but it’s also the time for ghostly goings-on when things go bump in the night and you can’t help bumping into a pumpkin or two!
There’s a whole week full of pumpkins at Secretts at Hurst Farm, Milford from October 22nd to 29th. Pop along and pick your own to take home. They’re priced by the diameter so bear that in mind when tempted to go for the biggest. Pick up an activity sheet and join in a scavenger hunt. If the fleshy orange squash is to your taste, then tuck into the pumpkin menu of soup, curry or a slice of spicy pumpkin cake.
In the lead up to Halloween, RHS Wisley invites you to delve into the world of deadly plants and bugs. With fun family activities from Saturday 22nd to Sunday 30th. Follow the trail around the garden to explore how everything from cacti to centipedes defend themselves and their habitats. Meet all kinds of bugs and get stuck in with craft and planting workshops. Design a deadly bug or start growing your own carnivorous plant at a workshop and find out more about the wicked plants and wildlife who make Wisley their home.
Magic and mischief abound on The Watercress Line this Halloween with spooky fun galore to keep the kids entertained. Travel on the Wizard Express steam train, walk in Harry Potter’s footsteps over the railway footbridge and explore the Harry Potter style coaches in the siding at Alresford. Get up close to hairy, scary creatures, take part in a broom making demo and much more. As well as unlimited train travel between stations. And why not dress up as a spooky character for the chance to win a prize?
There’s a week of spooky make and take craft activities at the Rural Life Centre, Farnham from Monday 24th to Sunday 30th. With the popular pumpkin carving on Saturday and Sunday. Pre-booking essential for this.
If you’ve ever accused your children of being air heads let them revel in this at Brooklands Museum this October half term, at their Air Heads extravaganza where you’ll find all manner of activities to keep them entertained. Join in the Build a Paper Aircraft Family Workshop and watch it fly. Pedal planes will run from the paddock for under 5s. Become a detective and solve clues, decode messages and search for hidden objects to claim a prize.
Fairy Doors will be in the Painshill landscape from Saturday 22nd until November 13th. Discover the secret series of doors hidden around the woodlands and lake. As you wander the route you will see the best spots for autumn colour. Enjoy some stunning trees, collect autumn leaves and celebrate the season. Keep your eyes open for the fairies!
A new after dark trail awaits visitors to Polesden Lacey from October 20th to November 6th with IGNITE. Visitors can enjoy a walk through the gardens at night guided by flickering flames and glowing tunnels of trees, with magical illuminated installations along the way. Nestled in the Surrey Hills, the Edwardian gardens of the estate are the perfect setting for this exceptional after-dark experience.
An autumn stroll through the ancient woodlands and parkland at Hatchlands Park is a joy at this time year. The beech woodland creates a delightful haze of gold and yellow and the native wild service tree, with its vibrant red leaves glows against the sky. There are various way-marked routes to follow and if you need a little help to get around, book an all-terrain Tramper personal mobility vehicle.
There’s a weird, wacky, and wicked Halloween trail to follow at Winkworth Arboretum in Godalming. From Saturday 22nd to Monday 31st where you can uncover the spookier side of trees on a haunted trail around the arboretum. Did you know fungi is closer to an animal than a plant? There’s a tree that smells like candyfloss? Or that some trees can grow fingers? Discover all this and more…
Take part in an autumn colour hunt throughout the month at The Vyne. Search for reds, golden yellows and rusty browns hidden in the grounds using the autumn colour hunt key. Intrigue and curious conundrums are part of the Halloween riddle trail from Saturday 22nd to Sunday 30th when little ones can also hunt for witches, wizards, cats and toads exploring the gardens with the aid of trail sheets. A chocolate treat awaits at the end.
Spot the pumpkins hidden across the Pleasure Garden and have fun strolling through crunchy leaves at Petworth from Saturday 22nd to Sunday 30th. Search out seasonal colours and different leaf shapes at Petworth that are marked on the colour catcher chart. Collect what you find, then help create deer shaped wild art installations by attaching your leafy collections to the animal models.
Gin lovers listen up! Did you know there’s an award-winning distillery in the beautiful village of Ripley? Distillers Of Surrey are a family run business on the picturesque Papercourt Lake, Polesden Lane. If you’re yet to discover this hidden treasure, check out their opening times at www.distillersofsurrey.com or book one of their popular distillery tours where you’ll be welcomed with a G&T and enjoy an interesting tour. Younger ones aren’t forgotten with spooky Halloween craft to enjoy on Saturday 29th.
Newbury Business Improvement District are launching a new Dog-Friendly Trail Map in time for National Dog Day
The handy pocket Dog-Friendly Trail Map has launched online in advance of National Dog Day on Friday, 26th August, to help raise awareness of Newbury’s dog-friendly venues in the town centre.
The guide also supports the national and independently owned cafes, coffee shops, pubs, and eateries.
Copies of the map are due to be distributed in matching display boxes to all 20 independent businesses and some of the national brands featured, as well as at the 48 independent businesses included on the Independent Retail Map, launched in July.
There will be a further map in late summer / early autumn, this time sporting a vegan-friendly theme
The Dog-Friendly map includes a brief description of each venue and is set to become a useful resource for dog owners to discover the best dog-walking routes within walking distance of the town centre, while signposting to dog-waste bins in and around the area to encourage keeping Newbury clean and tidy. View the map online at: visitnewbury.org.uk/maps.
The themed maps produced by the BID are the second in a series of town centre maps for Newbury under the umbrella term ‘Newbury Town Trail Maps’.
Newbury BID, the not-for-profit organisation behind the Visit Newbury brand will also be releasing a further map in late summer / early autumn, this time sporting a vegan-friendly theme. This map will promote 59 vegan-friendly businesses extending from hospitality to retail and hair and beauty venues across the town centre.
The aim of our beautifully illustrated pocket guides and online interactive Town Trails is to help support our local businesses and raise the profile of our wonderful town centre
Kirsty Lemberger, Marketing Manager at Newbury BID, says: “We’re so pleased with our dog-friendly trail maps and hope the handy pocket-sized format will encourage dog-walkers to use the map on a regular basis to locate dog waste bins in the town centre and enjoy exploring new dog-walking routes in the area.
“The aim of our beautifully illustrated pocket guides and online interactive Town Trails is to help support our local businesses and raise the profile of our wonderful town centre. Launching our dog friendly map in line with the nationally recognised National Dog Day will help to increase awareness further while supporting a cause important to dog-lovers in West Berkshire and beyond!”
Maps are available to collect across the town centre at most businesses featured on the map, and from Newbury Library, West Berkshire Museum, and in the Old Town Hall.
If you run a business in Newbury Town Centre and would like to be included on an upcoming map, please email: support@newburybid.com.
Bracknell’s fabulous shopping centre is celebrating and you’re invited to join them
Celebrate The Lexicon’s fifth birthday with forest giants, seedling sprites, night forest theatre and a special birthday proms taking place in the town centre from August 24th to September 4th.
The Bracknell Giants, so popular last year, will return with two new friends. Bracknell Forest Guardian Elderma and the adventurous Will Wildwood, boasting an integral slide.
Also new for this year is The Night Forest theatre show, where younger visitors and their families will meet five fabulous forest creatures. Using holographic technology, these characters will appear to come to life as part of this interactive show. Places to attend The Night Forest Show can be pre-booked, with all proceeds going to The Lexicon Charity Fund.
Younger visitors and their families will meet five fabulous forest creatures
There’s also a Seedling Sprite Trail to follow, pick up a trail sheet and unlock the secrets for the chance to win some wonderful prizes, a host of fun entertainers, giveaways, a special birthday Proms taking place on Saturday, 3rd September and much much more.
The birthday proms will feature performers giving away birthday badges, tote bags and cupcakes.
From Monday, 5th September The Lexicon will be giving away five fabulous prizes donated by Beaverbrooks, Pandora, Marks & Spencer, Wagamma and Primark so keep your eyes on their Facebook page!
They will also reveal which local community groups have been awarded £5,000 each from The Lexicon Charity Fund.
Bracknell Forest Council and The Lexicon have teamed up to create the Bracknell Forest Festival so make sure that you put a note in your diary now.
Love Parks Week runs from today until Friday 5th August, organised by Keep Britain Tidy.
The charity wants us all to enjoy our green spaces, whether it’s walking the dog, picnicking with friends, or pushing our little ones on a playground swing.
There are lots of events going on and the week is also set up to celebrate and support the efforts of the volunteers who maintain and protect our green spaces.
Buckinghamshire has so many wonderful parks to enjoy, including Guildford’s Loseley Park, Frimley Lodge Park in Camberley, Lightwater Country Park and Gostrey Meadow in Farnham… Which is your favourite? Make sure to share it on social media #LoveParks
We’ve also teamed up with Keep Britain Tidy to call for dog-owners to bag and bin their pooch’s poop!
Love Parks Week runs from today until Friday 5th August, organised by Keep Britain Tidy.
The charity wants us all to enjoy our green spaces, whether it’s walking the dog, picnicking with friends, or pushing our little ones on a playground swing.
There are lots of events going on and the week is also set up to celebrate and support the efforts of the volunteers who maintain and protect our green spaces.
Surrey has so many wonderful parks to enjoy, including Guildford’s Loseley Park, Frimley Lodge Park in Camberley, Lightwater Country Park and Gostrey Meadow in Farnham… Which is your favourite? Make sure to share it on social media #LoveParks
We’ve also teamed up with Keep Britain Tidy to call for dog-owners to bag and bin their pooch’s poop!
