Explore Humour, History, and Creativity at "The World of Martin Brown: Horrible Histories and Other Dazzling Drawings"

North Herts Museum proudly hosts a major touring exhibition by Seven Stories, The National Centre for Children's Books: "The World of Martin Brown: Horrible Histories and Other Dazzling Drawings".

This exhibition was first created by the South West Heritage Trust in collaboration with Martin Brown and Events of Wonder for display at The Museum of Somerset in Taunton, the exhibition showcases original cartoons, artwork, and exclusive behind-the-scenes insights from acclaimed illustrator Martin Brown. Visitors will enjoy original illustrations from the beloved Horrible Histories series, explore Martin's early cartoon... Read more

How children can take part:

From 5 July, sign up for FREE in branch at your library
Read any six library books. All reading counts including listening to e-audiobooks, and parents or carers reading to younger ones.
After every two books, come back and tell us something about the books to collect stickers.
Once they have read all six books and completed the challenge, children will receive a personalised certificate and a medal, whilst stocks last.

They will also be entered into our prize draw to win a ticket to a creative, interactive workshop with Sean Taylor, an award-winning author.

The challenge finishes on Saturday 6 September (or Sunday 7 September if your local... Read more

Entertain the children this summer with the Secret Society of Hertford Crafters children's trail.

Your admission includes a host of family-friendly activities, such as:

🤝 Character Meet & Greets - including the ROARsome Roary the Dinosaur
🎈 Inflatables to jump, bounce, and play all day
🚌 Soft Play Bus - fun on wheels for little explorers
🕷️ Creepy Crawlies - get up close with fascinating creatures
📚 Children's Library - perfect for winding down with a story
🐐 Animal Talks & Feeds - learn all about our rescue residents
🛝 Children's Play Area - a great place to run wild and make friends
🎨 Arts & Crafts - including:
Sand Art*
Keyring Making*
FREE Colouring Station
🍔 Delicious BBQ to keep you fuelled for fun... Read more

Experience a variety of activities at our themed Activity Camp for children aged 4-12, where each week brings new adventures. From sports and crafts to team games and outdoor fun, every session is designed to inspire joy and discovery.

Let's Leap provides safe, supportive childcare, empowering children to feel confident, active, and excited to return. With a wide range of activities, every child stays engaged and active all week long.

Bubble 'n Bop is back!
Don't miss Marsh Farm's summer children's festival, Bubble 'n Bop! It's bursting with bubbles and exploding with excitement.

There will be so much going on, including our AWESOME Dinosaur Adventure to explore, the much loved foam machine, our popular Beach & Splash Pool, the Train Ride, fairground rides and so much more!

For every fully paid child ticket, get an Activity Book worth £16.99 & FREE festival lanyard!

Program Highlights:
🦕 Dinosaur Adventure: Embark on a prehistoric journey with lifelike dinosaurs and interactive exhibits that will fascinate and educate kids of all ages.

🫧 Foam Party: Get ready to dive into a sea of bubbles with our exhilarating... Read more

Experience summer fun at The Patch MK! Explore the Labyrinth of Illusions, drive Mini Land Rovers, wander flower fields, and discover the inspiring Last Footprint Exhibition - adventure awaits!

The Fun Fields: Made up of three interactive corn mazes, mini golf and endless unique play.
If you're looking for things to do over the summer holidays, we have a whole host of activities for children and adults of all ages to enjoy.

Opening Times:
Friday 25th July - Saturday 30th August 2025

Weekdays (closed Mondays except Bank Holidays)
10am - 4pm, last entry at 2pm.

Weekends (and Bank Holidays)
9:30am-5pm, last entry 3pm.

Battlers Green Farm is thrilled to announce the launch of Moovies on the Farm, a brand-new open-air cinema experience set in the beautiful countryside fields of Battlers Green Farm. Taking place from Wednesday 30th July to Sunday 3rd August 2025, this five-day event of day and evening screenings will feature a curated mix of cult classics, family favourites and modern blockbusters, offering something for everyone.

This exciting outdoor cinema series coincides with the 65th anniversary year of Battlers Green Farm and in celebration, the film line-up spans six decades of cinematic magic. Guests can expect a relaxed and fun atmosphere, complete with tasty food and drink options, plus complimentary deckchair seating and popcorn, all set against a stunning farmland backdrop.... Read more

Are you ready to beat the wall, swing on the mighty monkey bars, take on the quarter pipe, crawl through tyres, climb ramps and wall, slip & slide and get seriously muddy? Ages 10+ also include the Deathslide!
#LOVEMUD guaranteed
• 90 minutes of land and water obstacles finishing in the water zone
• Hosted by highly experienced & qualified staff
• Hot outdoor washdowns & changing rooms available
No Parents are allowed out on course with us, from experience we believe the children gain more from the activities.
Every Tuesday and Thursday during the school holidays.
£22 plus booking fee

Adapted from Quentin Blake's classic tale, Mrs Armitage on Wheels, Scoot Theatre present a 40-minute interactive, energetic show, celebrating the joy of getting outdoors and being active. Scoot Theatre's adaptation is a fun, family show suitable for aged 3+ and particularly enjoyable to primary-aged children, featuring live music, puppetry and physical comedy, Mrs Armitage on Wheels celebrates the power of imagination, the importance of resilience and the joy of embracing the great outdoors.

Join us on Sunday 3rd August on the Sunken Lawn of Knebworth House for an open-air performance of 'Twelfth Night' by The Lord Chamberlain's Men.

Bring a picnic, blanket or chairs to make the evening even more enjoyable.

We will have hot and cold drinks, cakes, ice cream and a selection from our daily menu in the Garden Terrace Tea Room for your to enjoy during the performance.

Timings
Gates open - 5.30pm
Performance begins - 6.30pm

Prices
Adult (16 & over) - £18
Child (under 16) - £11
Family (2 adults + 2 children) - £55

About The Lords Chamberlain's Men
The Lord Chamberlain's Men is the UK's premier all male theatre company -... Read more

Children's Craft Carousel - Get your crafting in at Southern Maltings this Summer.

Younger children can choose from different craft stations set up with a selection of craft activities - going from one to the next like a carousel!

The theme is simply Colour, to tie in with the Colour Rush events that will be taking place across our town during the Ware Festival. Come and get all your holiday crafting in at Southern Maltings.

We will also have playdough and small world play.

Get crafty and have lots of fun and leave the mess for us to clear up!

The craft activities are suitable for ages 3-7; however older children are welcome... Read more

Embark on an enchanting journey through the hidden corners of Stockwood Discovery Centre. Stroll through lush lawns and meander among the trees to find a whimsical garden party that promises joy for the whole family!

This family-friendly event is bursting with puppetry, nature art, suitcase theatre, and garden games. Mark your calendars for Monday 4th, Tuesday 5th, and Wednesday 6th August 2025!

Come and join the woodland adventure, where real fairies tell enchanting stories, magic wishes come true, and the day ends with a grand "Celebration" party. Create, discover, and explore with your loved ones in this enchanting garden party!

A Children's Story in partnership with The Culture Trust presents a programme of free... Read more

Children's Craft Carousel - Get your crafting in at Southern Maltings this Summer.

Younger children can choose from different craft stations set up with a selection of craft activities - going from one to the next like a carousel!

The theme is simply Colour, to tie in with the Colour Rush events that will be taking place across our town during the Ware Festival. Come and get all your holiday crafting in at Southern Maltings.

We will also have playdough and small world play.

Get crafty and have lots of fun and leave the mess for us to clear up!

The craft activities are suitable for ages 3-7; however older children are welcome... Read more

Join us at Capel Manor Gardens this summer, where children can explore their love of nature by designing a miniature garden! Guided by our dedicated activity leader, they will become garden designers for a day and create a beautiful living oasis to cherish and take home.



This engaging, one and a half hour, indoor workshop is suitable for children aged five and over and needs to be booked in advance due to its popularity. All necessary materials will be provided, we only ask that you bring a carrier bag to transport your miniature garden safely home.



Your ticket price includes full access to our beautiful Gardens and mini zoo between 10am and 5.30pm. Children... Read more

Join the fun with Herts Inclusive Theatre on 5th and 6th August and create a world of your own using drama, movement and arts and crafts! The workshops are from 10am-3pm and take place in Social One at BEAM.

Tickets are Pay What You Decide. There is no minimum or maximum- any amount will be considered a donation towards Herts Inclusive Theatre.

Please note that if you are attending both days and you have opted to make a donation, you need only do this once on one day, but you will need to book both 5th and 6th August so you are on our register.

Located in our unique historic Monitorial Schoolroom, join us this August for three weeks of creative children's craft sessions, each one themed around a different world of inspiration.

From outer space to underwater scenes and people from the past and present, there's something to spark every imagination here at the British Schools Museum.

Sessions run from 10am to 12pm on the following dates:

Sky and Space: Tuesday 5 August, Wednesday 6 August and Thursday 7 August
Waterworld: Tuesday 12 August, Wednesday 13 August and Thursday 14 August
People: Tuesday 19 August, Wednesday 20 August and Thursday 21 August

£7.50 per participating child (non-participating younger siblings and accompanying... Read more

Junk Zine Workshop. Join us for this new workshop with tutor Jess Hyde to create your own original Zine from a treasure trove of mixed media 'junk'.

These Zines are a lot of fun, the idea is to use an array of scrap materials like paper, old receipts, sweet wrappers, stickers etc to create something fun and visually interesting. The zines don't need to have a theme or meaning, but of course they can do. Sometimes once a junk zine starts coming together, it develops a theme subconsciously.

The finished result should be a personal mini piece of mixed media art to take home to treasure forever!

Jessica is a painter as well as an independent comic book writer and illustrator, who teaches a regular Comic Book class at Courtyard Arts and hopes to bring... Read more

Join Local artist and art club teacher Keeda, in this magical miniature illustration workshop where you will be taking inspiration from Queen Mary's famous dollhouse.

Illustrating in fine liners and colouring pencils, you will be bringing to life your very own concertina dollhouse design!

And if there's time left over, some teeny tiny characters too!

Keeda says "I absolutely love miniature things and it is one of my dreams to one day design and decorate my very own dollhouse. In the meantime I have come up with this simple and effective concertina dollhouse. Where you can express your own creative side through tiny illustrations.
Come and explore all the magical wonders of a miniature world with me"

Keeda is a new tutor to Southern... Read more

Join local Artist Keeda in this fun and colourful art workshop. Exploring mark making and paper cutting, You will be drawing inspiration from artist David Hockney. Looking at his colourful landscapes, we will use oil pastels and colour papers to create a jungle world, inside a shoebox.

Keeda says "I love paper crafts and collage, It's all about experimentation. While looking at David Hockney's use of bright colours and quick simple mark making, we will create something visually fun and exciting, without being held back by being precise"

Keeda is a new tutor to Southern Maltings, running some delightful fully booked workshops at May Half Term. She has plenty of experience of teaching children art with local group Art Explorers. She... Read more

Urban Sketching in Ware. Join us 'en plein air' for some urban sketching, capturing the beauty of Ware's Architecture with tutor Elena Russu.

This workshop is outside and your teen will be walking around the town and sketching in various locations. Looking at line, detail, composition, perspective, tone and colour they will quickly gain the skills and confidence to start capturing the beauty of their surroundings in Ware.

After a short introduction to herself and each other, Elena will demonstrate different tricks and techniques and how she builds her sketches.

Tutor Elena Russu has plenty of experience in her favourite past time of Urban Sketching. She has taught both adults and children both in person and online,... Read more

Macramé Jam. Join local macramé artist Macramé Mummy Becky, for a fantastic day of of macramé making.

In our afternoon session Becky will be running her first Macramé Jam at Southern Maltings. It is something she does regularly at the Simon Balle, where she runs a regular Macramé Club. Sometimes kids just need the tools and support to get be inspired, get creative and go on their own knotting journey.

This afternoon session will see Becky open her Pandora's Box of knotting goodies for the children to make what they desire, with her guidance and help. It could be keyrings, bag charms, small wall hangings or wreaths or something else we haven't thought of.... the knotting world is their oyster! Many of our macramé kids come back... Read more

Join Local artist and art club teacher Keeda to be a fashion designer. Exploring the world of fashion and taking the seasons as our inspiration, we will be looking through books and magazines to gain ideas for our own dress or dungaree designs.
Using a selection of techniques and mediums, paint, pen, crayon and collage, we will create a final art design to scale.

Keeda says "I love fashion and nature! So what's better than combining the two? This is a super fun workshop, where we will have fun drawing around each other, to create our scale paper bases. With the seasons being our inspiration, you can create anything from floral dresses, to icy dungarees! The ideas are endless and with the added bonus of large scale design!"

Keeda is a new tutor to Southern... Read more

Pop Art Portrait Canvas Workshop - Join Local artist Keeda and art club teacher, in this colourful self-portrait workshop!

We will be looking at how to draw faces in proportion, using the horizontal division method in preparation for painting our final self-portrait on canvas.

Looking at famous pop artist Roy Lichtenstein for inspiration. Famous for his bold and colourful, comic books style portraits.

We will be using an array of bright acrylic paints to create a fun and colourful self-portrait. Along with learning a little bit about colour mixing. Make sure to wear your messy clothes!

Keeda says "I have loved Pop art since a child and was very lucky to see the Roy Lichtenstein exhibition, at the Louisiana museum of art in Denmark.... Read more

Comic Zine Workshop. Join us for another chance to do this popular workshop with tutor Jess Hyde to draw and create your own original Comic Zine.

In this workshop our tutor Jess will demonstrate how to make a simple folded zine, which we will then use to create a short comic on any topic of the child's choice (maybe Summer themed!). The kids can do this however they like, but they will be strongly encouraged to include comic elements such as speech bubbles, thought bubbles and onomatopoeia. She will bring examples!

The finished result should be a personal mini comic with a beginning and end, coloured in and taken home to treasure forever!

Jessica is a painter as well as an independent comic book writer and illustrator, who teaches a regular Comic... Read more

Join us for an all day art camp focussing on Art Journaling!

Our Art Journaling workshop day has been designed to give children a flavour of mixed media art, where they will get to create art in their very own Pink Pig Sketchbook .

Our friendly and popular tutor, ex Chair of Southern Maltings, Fiona Martin from @fizzyflowerdesigns, will guide each child through a journey of turning a blank sketch book into an amazing work of art, using a variety of mediums to include pens, pencils, paint, collage, stencils, die cuts and recycled materials.

Each child will complete at least 5 pages of their journal using a variety of techniques, with the idea that they will be excited to continue their art journey once at home, or maybe... Read more

Come and see the adorable ducks as they get rounded up by an expert sheepdog in this charming, family-friendly demonstration! Watch in awe as the clever sheepdog skilfully herds the playful ducks across the field, showcasing their impressive teamwork and agility. It's a delightful and entertaining display that will have you smiling from start to finish. Perfect for all ages, this is a must-see event for anyone who loves animals and enjoys a bit of countryside charm! Don't miss out on the fun!

Join us for an unforgettable experience at the Standalone Farm event, where Stuart Barnes, the original creator of the renowned Dog and Duck Show, will showcase his extraordinary expertise in dog behaviour and training. With over 100 countries' worth of experience working with wildlife,... Read more

Join us at Capel Manor Gardens this summer, where children can explore their love of nature by designing a miniature garden! Guided by our dedicated activity leader, they will become garden designers for a day and create a beautiful living oasis to cherish and take home.



This engaging, one and a half hour, indoor workshop is suitable for children aged five and over and needs to be booked in advance due to its popularity. All necessary materials will be provided, we only ask that you bring a carrier bag to transport your miniature garden safely home.



Your ticket price includes full access to our beautiful Gardens and mini zoo between 10am and 5.30pm. Children... Read more

Join us for a special Terrific Tuesday as we commemorate 80 years since Victory in Japan Day (VJ Day)-the end of the Second World War. This unique day blends history, music, storytelling and hands-on activities for all ages.
Step back into the 1940s with live performances from The Bluebirds, who will be bringing the spirit of the era to life with vintage vocals at 12pm, 1pm, and 2pm.

Meet the Hitchhiking Historian and friends at their immersive jungle outpost-complete with a bamboo shelter, weaponry, and fascinating insights into life on the front line in the Far East. You'll also encounter members of the WW2 Home Guard, where you can explore their kit and hear about their vital role on the home front.

Take part in meaningful craft activities throughout... Read more

While adults unwind, children are invited to explore our charming garden and discover the 5 ingredients needed to make a healthy vegetable grow! With its intimate setting and enclosed setting, our garden provides the perfect summer sanctuary for families seeking a tranquil experience in nature.

Free with garden entry. Pick up a trail sheet from the kiosk and find five stations dotted around his garden.

Thursday 10 July - Sunday 31 August (Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday only) 10.00am - 5.00pm No booking required

The Vikings have arrived and taken over a Saxon settlement at the museum!

Explore the Viking and Saxon living history camps and watch as the clash between the two forces unfolds before your eyes.
Get involved in games, music, storytelling and fun activities from the Viking Age. Then join us to watch as the raid begins and see who wins in the battle between the Vicious Vikings and the Christian forces of Wessex. There will also be some have-a-go archery, Viking storytelling, drumming workshops and children's warrior drill & sailing a longship.
£16 for Adults and £11 for kids when pre-booked

Whilst enjoying a visit to Knebworth House, Gardens and Park over the August Bank Holiday on Sunday 24th and Monday 25th August, you can attend the Classic Motor Show at no additional charge.

The Classic Motor Show is not to be missed - there will be a static display as well as a show arena hosting parades. Vehicles include saloons, sports, American, commercial, military and classic motorcycles. There will also be children's entertainment, live music, hot food, and shopping stalls.

Tickets will include access to Knebworth Gardens, Park, Adventure Playground, Fort Knebworth and Dinosaur Trail. Tickets including access to the House can also be purchased.

Please be aware that the last admission for this event is 2pm. With... Read more

Experience Yoga in the calm tranquillity of St Albans Cathedral with this family Yoga Workshop. Suitable for children aged 7 plus (as well as their parents!), the session will start in the Lady Chapel before moving to the bright and airy Alban Room. So, bring along your yoga mats (mats can be provided if needed) and enjoy the most relaxing 75 minutes of your holidays.

Age - 7 +; parents are very much encouraged to join in with the activity; all children must be accompanied by an adult

Cost £7.50 per child.

While adults unwind, children are invited to explore our charming garden and discover the 5 ingredients needed to make a healthy vegetable grow! With its intimate setting and enclosed setting, our garden provides the perfect summer sanctuary for families seeking a tranquil experience in nature.

Free with garden entry. Pick up a trail sheet from the kiosk and find five stations dotted around his garden.

Thursday 10 July - Sunday 31 August (Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday only) 10.00am - 5.00pm No booking required

The Little Children's Market is coming to Enfield this September! Shop thousands of preloved toys, clothing, books, equipment and more for your little ones - all under one roof, all at bargain prices!

When: Saturday 13th September
Time: 10.30am-12pm
Where: Enfield Grammar Upper School, EN2 6LN

Entry is £2 per adult, children enter free. No booking necessary for buyers. Cash-only event. FREE onsite parking, pram friendly and baby change available.

RSVP to our Facebook event for more details and updates: www.facebook.com/events/1706330736559437/

SELL WITH US
Want to sell at this Event? Turn your childs' outgrown items into cash! Stalls are just... Read more

Get ready for an unforgettable evening, one night, 5 miles and lots of laughter under the stars as St Clare Hospice proudly launches its brand-new Night Walk in the heart of Epping!

Starting and finishing at Epping St Johns School, our route will take you, your friends and family on an atmospheric walk to remember through one of Essex's historic market towns.

Register in advance:

Individual ticket (children aged 12 and over welcome) - £20

Group ticket (4 walkers) - £72