Cotswolds 4 Kids

21st July 2016

Hooray, the Summer holidays are finally here! The long weeks of summer are stretching out ahead and you may be wondering how to fill up the days and keep the kids entertained. Luckily, the Cotswolds is packed with fun things to do for families, and we’ll be giving you lots of ideas over the next few weeks, starting with these events and activities.

Roll up, roll up… spectacular live events
The fantastic Giffords Circus bring their latest show, The Painted Wagon, to the Cotswolds this Summer. This wild west extravaganza is pitching up at The Fox Inn, Barrington (21 July – 1 Aug), Frampton on Severn (4-8 Aug), Minchinhampton Common (11-22 Aug) and Cirencester (8-19 Sept).

Batsford Arboretum becomes Sherwood Forest in an open air performance of Robin Hood from Jenny Wren Productions (27 July).

A spectacular battle will take place at Blenheim Palace this Summer with a mighty jousting tournament on the South Lawn, along with falconry displays, archery and dragon themed puppet shows (19-21 Aug).

Get your tickets for an epic Treefest at Westonbirt Arboretum (17-29 July). Over 100 exhibitors, an array of delicious food and tantalising new music, fabulous woodcarving in the heart of the Old Arboretum, fantastic activities for families and the spectacular Timbersports show from STIHL.

Fun and play!
Children’s Wednesdays are back at Sudeley Castle during the school holidays (27 July – 31 Aug), with lots of history themed fun and adventure play.

There are daily children’s activities at Cogges Manor Farm this Summer including story-telling, cooking sessions, bushcraft, treasure hunts, nature walks, den building and wormery-making.

A great day out for children and their teddies awaits on Gloucestershire Warwickshire Steam Railway’s Teddy Bear Tuesdays (every Tuesday in Aug).

Get back to nature
See an impressive collection of owls, falcons, kestrels and hawks during Falconry Week at Cotswold Farm Park (30 July – 5 Aug).

August is Rhino month at Cotswold Wildlife Park and there are daily talks about these magnificent animals and the conservation work to protect them.

Search for the creepy crawlies hidden around the Arboretum on the Big Batsford Bug Hunt

At Westonbirt Arboretum, kids go free from 22 July to 31 August and there are crafts and activities based around a different plant hunter every week.

Walk with alpacas at Fairytale Farm – enjoy walking with these gentle creatures along a special trail on selected dates during the school holidays.

Get creative
Learn Circus Skills at Cotswold Farm Park with a week of laughter and stunts, with drop-in workshops for juggling, plate-spinning, stilt walking and hula-hooping (23-29 July).

New Brewery Arts are running five Kids Create weeks during the summer holidays with the chance to learn new craft techniques and improve artistic skills.  They are also offering one off craft and clay play days during the summer.

Learn to make a mini mosaic and try printmaking at special children’s workshops at the Corinium Museum. Throughout the Summer there are also family drop in sessions with different creative activities, including making masks, decorating  shields and making a woolly mammoth.