What’s On In Warwickshire, Summer 2018
Welcome to our guide for everything happening for families in Warwickshire and surrounding areas over the Summer holidays. We constantly add to this listing so please do bookmark this page or check back regularly for inspiration.
Below you will find inspiration for days out locally and we will also have guides for ideas if you’re staying home and a weekly what’s on guide too. If you’re looking for a local bucket list, this is it!
Click here for a breakdown of activities this week
Classes running over the summer.. click on the images…
Keep scrolling for some inspiration…
Looking for Pick Your Own in Warwickshire?
Click here for our guide on where to pick your own from June onwards
Warwickshire Libraries
Every summer, Warwickshire libraries have a Summer Reading Challenge, this years’ is called Mischief Makers. Children are encouraged to read six books over the holidays and after each one, they return to the library and they usually get a sticker or a stamp in their book and at the end of the challenge children receive a medal and certificate. We have done the reading challenge for the last three years and the kids love it.
Just sign up at your local library. Take a look at all events happening at our local libraries here
Olivia receiving her certificate & medal from the Mayor
Redwings Horse Sanctuary
Open on Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays and Mondays only 10 – 4. Redwings is a lovely place to visit with the children where you can see horses and donkeys being looked after by the sanctuary. You can ‘adopt’ a horse and enjoy the small cafe and playground. Redwings is all outside so wait for good weather.
Redwings are running a Summer Club for children which is 45 mins and free Details here
Umberslade Adventure
Roughly 20 minute drive from Leamington, Umberslade adventure offers lots of outdoor fun for those who just need to run, (or climb) off some steam.
Summer 2018 open Monday 23rd July until Sunday 2nd September (Closed on Saturdays throughout this period)
Activities
- Included: Archery, Commando Course, Low Ropes Course, Den Building Area, Bike Trail, Orienteering, Toddlers Area
- Additional: Zip Line (140m) £3.00 Tree Climbing £2.00
Admission Prices
- Adults £5.50 – Children (4 – 16yrs) £6.00 – Under 4’s FREE – Concessions £5.00 – Family Ticket (2 Adults & 2 Children) £20.00
- Address: Chalcot Wood, Cut Throat Lane, Hockley Heath, West Midlands, B94 6SE
- Visit the website here for more info
Foundry Wood
Foundry Wood is a managed access community woodland. Through volunteer work parties the site is fully accessible with paths and facilities for all to use.
If you have small people who like trains, they will love watching the trains zoom past from the top of the wood and you can even take your dog for a walk through the woods or build a den. A lovely little place to visit if you have an hour to spare, we advise parking in Victoria Park and walking across.
The woodland is open usually between 10am – 5pm for adventures.
Herbert Art Gallery & Museum, Coventry
The Herbert Art Gallery & Museum is in the heart of Coventry and always has plenty for the children to do. We usually combine a visit to The Herbert with a visit to nearby Coventry Transport Museum. Entry is FREE.
Summer Holidays: Play Makers 28 July – 1 September 2018
10:30am – 3:30pm – Every day excluding Sundays.
This summer is all about play and we will be offering a different craft activity every day to keep you entertained throughout the holidays. Imaginations will soar as we make monsters, mermaids, jet packs, cup & ball and so much more!
Drop in – Suitable for age 3+, but all are welcome
£2.50, under 2s are free
All our family sessions are very popular, at extremely busy times you may be asked to wait.
Coventry Transport Museum
As we mentioned above, we usually make a day in Coventry and couple a visit to The Coventry Transport Museum with a trip to The Herbert Art Gallery, both have FREE ENTRY and lots to do and see.
Saturday 28 July – Sunday 2 September 2018 Follow the museum with our family trail. £1.50 per trail
The Toys That Go High – 30 Jul 2018 10:30 AM – 3 Aug 2018 3:30 PM
Throughout this week we will be making toys that want to go high. Get involved in making soaring kites, crafting bus towers, fashioning space suits, balancing games and mechanical toys. Drop in £2.50 – under 2’s free.
Toy Factory Summer Saturday Engineer Challenge
Every Saturday through the Summer Holidays – 10:30 – 12:30
Each week we will embark on a different quest to solve an engineering challenge. We are going big during these workshops, working with wood, experimenting like scientists and becoming the engineers of the future. Show us your best inventions! £3 Drop-in
Ryton Pools Country Park
Ryton Pools is a 100 acre park with great facilities including two play areas, toilets and plenty of bike riding paths to explore! My kids love the playgrounds and biking round the paths too.
Ryton Pools have loads of Summer activities from crafts to den building and beyond, click here to see the daily events and please see the website here for more info.
Ryton Pools miniature railway –
Trains run from 1.00 p.m. to 4.00 p.m. on Sundays and Bank Holiday Mondays until Sunday 30th September. Rides are £1.00 and accompanied children under 3’s ride for free!
Visit Ryton Pools’ Website here for more information – Parking charges apply!
Bagots Castle
A little known place in Baginton, the ruins of the castle aren’t all to be seen, a gorgeous woodland walk – with bluebells currently, which leads down to the river and you can wander round the ponds, theres a trail for the children to complete at the cost of 50p and the whole place is run by volunteers. It has a very special feel and costs £10 for a family. Open weekends only 10 – 5 pm.
Brandon Marsh
Image Warwickshire Wildlife Trust
A lovely nature reserve with loads of wildlife, bird watching & stunning views. Nature trails and lovely walks, plus lots of activities too. Theres a gift shop, cafe and under cover picnic area. Here’s the activities for May.. you’ll need to book so click on the link below to do so. Small entry free but Warwickshire Wildlife trust members are free.
Check out all the details and book on to activities on the website here
British Motor Museum
We love visiting the British Motor Museum and once you’ve paid you get the following 12 months free, so you can return as many times as you like. Well worth it & all activities are also included in the admission price. There’s also a cafe and outdoor play area, parking onsite is free. A rainy day must.
This Summer, join a Family Explorer Tour with our costumed guides ‘Adventure Annie’ or ‘Adventure Alex’ and hear about some of the amazing adventures our cars have survived, through wilderness, jungles and deserts. How did they do it? … come and find out!
Tours take place every day at 1.45pm Meet at 1.45pm at the Family activity station in the Welcome Gallery.
Land Rover Craft Activities
- Make a Land Rover – Discover your flair for design and create your very own model Land Rover.
- Land Rover colouring in – get colourful with pens and pencils and colour in a Land Rover from our new colouring book.
ON THE STAGE THIS SUMMER…
David Williams – The Midnight Gang, Heartbreak Productions
Saturday 21st July 3pm & 7pm Coventry Cathedral – Click here for tickets
Thursday 16th August – 7pm – The Midnight Gang Kingsbury Water Park – Book your tickets here
Belgrade Theatre, Coventry
Peppa Pig’s Adventure – Tuesday 28 & Wednesday 29 August 2018 – Click here for tickets
The Royal Spa Centre
David Baddiel’s ANiMALCOLM – 25th July 2018 2pm & 7pm – 26th July 2018, 7pm
A vibrant, energetic and gloriously funny new musical comedy from the award-winning Story Pocket Theatre. Suitable age 5+ Book your tickets here.
Bing Live – Bing goes to the theatre –
8th September 2018, 1pm & 4pm – 9th September 10am & 1pm
Join Bing, Sula, Coco and Pando as they find out how to tell stories by pretending, dressing-up and singing songs. Flop and Amma are there to help, but in this magical world of make-believe things don’t always go according to plan…
Mini Mornings and other films at The Vue Cinema – Leamington Spa
Rainy Day or just need five minutes peace?
Children and adults go from £2.50 at selected viewings at Mini Mornings all year round.
MINI MORNINGS AT VUE IN LEAMINGTON DURING THE HOLIDAYS ARE at 10:00 am
Click here for mini mornings listings
Click here for the Vue website
In need of some fresh air?
Here’s our favourite places to visit to let the children scoot, bike or run, click for more information:
Do you National Trust? There’s loads of local National Trust properties in Warwickshire, Baddesley Clinton, Packwood House, Charlecote Park , Coughton Court.
Thinking of getting a National Trust membership? Here’s a top tip..
A family membership for two adults & up to 10 children is £114.60 a year or £9.55 a month BUT if you buy on the National Trust Scotland site here it will cost £90 a year for two adults and up to four children National Trust Scotland Membership is world wide, so includes all the UK properties, you can see the list here.
Run free at:
St Nicks Park, Warwick – With large playground, cafe, crazy golf, fun fair in summer months, skateboard ramps and a nice measured mile walk St Nicks is a popular choice. – Pay for parking.
Oakley Woods – Yes there’s a cemetery there but park to the left and you can explore beautiful woodland for miles and miles, dog friendly and the seasons are stunning with snowdrops in winter and bluebells around Easter. Build dens, explore & remember your wellies! Free – no parking charge.
Victoria Park, Leamington Spa – Playground, sandpit for small people, skate ramps and a circular path perfect for biking, scooting and running off steam. – Free Parking
If you’re heading to Victoria Park you can head over the road to Foundry Wood where you can spend an hour or so exploring woodland and watching the trains go by.
Ryton Poolsit’s in our guide above but Ryton Pools deserves a special mention aside from the activities they run during the holiday, it’s a beautiful place to visit all year round, again perfect for bike rides, it has two big adventure playgrounds a cafe and gorgeous long walks. Perfect for running off steam. Just pay for parking and enjoy.
Looking to travel for adventure?
You could try one of these:
Go Plane spotting at Sheldon Country Park, right next to Birmingham airport, the planes fly right over your head! Perfect place for a picnic in nicer weather and it also has a children’s play area and cafe.
Salcey Forest – About an hour’s drive from Leamington Spa, Salcey Forest is a Forestry Commission forest which has an adventure playground, cafe, long stunning walks with opportunities to off road, build dens and climb the stunning tree top walk with gorgeous views from the top. We love it because its dog, pushchair, bike and scooter friendly, Just pay for parking £4 all day.
Cannock Chase Forest – Woodland walks, the Midlands best bike trails and adventure playground. Cannock Chase is highly recommended for a fun day out a little further afield. You can even Go Ape if you fancy extra adventure!
Looking for bigger days out, or something to do indoors, just click on the pictures below to visit the websites:
