Warwickshire &amp; West Midlands

<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-activity-camps">ACTIVITY CAMPS</h2>



Have a budding thespian in the family? The RSC is holding a week-long programme from ages 8 to 14-year-olds from 19-23 Aug where they&#8217;ll create a short production of As You Like It culminating with a short performance so you can see what they&#8217;ve been up to. 



Looking for a holiday camp that merges the best in childcare and music? Call off the search and let me introduce you to The Strings Club! Until 30 Aug it’s holding camps at Lillington Primary in Leamington Spa suitable for kids age 4 to 11. Even better? We’ve bagged 10% off for new customers with the code NEWCUS10 if you <a href="https://www.thestringsclub.org">book now</a>.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="667" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/warks/wp-content/uploads/sites/18/2024/07/Untitled-design-16-1000x667.jpg" alt="The Strings Club" class="wp-image-57380" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/warks/wp-content/uploads/sites/18/2024/07/Untitled-design-16-1000x667.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/warks/wp-content/uploads/sites/18/2024/07/Untitled-design-16-800x533.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/warks/wp-content/uploads/sites/18/2024/07/Untitled-design-16-768x512.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/warks/wp-content/uploads/sites/18/2024/07/Untitled-design-16.jpg 1500w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-get-outside">GET OUTSIDE</h2>



Print out an explorer’s sheet and head to Warwick Uni’s <a href="https://warwick.ac.uk/services/art/sculpturepark/sculpture/">Sculpture Park</a>, there’s also a music room at Warwick Arts Centre, and if that’s not enough there’s swimming, climbing and tennis at the Sports and Wellness Hub. Make sure you leave time to head to the beautiful and super family-friendly <a href="https://www.benugo.com/sites/restaurants/benugo-bar-kitchen-at-warwick-arts-centre/">Benugo Bar &amp; Kitchen</a> where there’s board games, toys and colouring, kids eat for £1 during the summer hols too. For more family-friendly dining there&#8217;s the reliable slices at&nbsp;<a href="https://www.pizzaexpress.com">Pizza Express</a>, sure to please the palates of tiny tots and silver foxes alike. There’s pizzas (obvs), dough balls, pastas, and puds, and we’ll let you into a lil secret. Until 11 Aug, kids eat free with any pizza or main – all day, every day.



On 31 Aug <a href="https://www.cobbsfarmshops.co.uk/stratford-events/summer-party-2024">Cobbs Farm Shop</a> in Stratford is holding a summer party &amp; maker&#8217;s market. Think tours of the apple farm, face painting, garden games and heaps of treats to sample from local vendors. If that&#8217;s not enough to tire them out then the outdoor play area and farm animals they can meet should do it. 



Now this is pretty much a guaranteed animal-lover hit! Alpacas, donkeys, meerkats, baby rabbits — all the fuzzy farmyard (and, er, savannah) cuteness you could ask for at&nbsp;<a href="https://www.luckytailsalpacafarm.co.uk/">Lucky Tails Alpaca Farm</a>&nbsp;in Atherstone. It makes for a dreamy family trip: a hint of education and a hefty dose of ahhh, with the thrill of walking a fluffy alpaca (and posing for selfies), or meeting a curious meerkat. Here’s my&nbsp;<a href="https://warks.muddystilettos.co.uk/things-to-do/for-kids/review-lucky-tails-alpaca-farm-atherstone-warwickshire/">review</a>.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="666" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/warks/wp-content/uploads/sites/18/2024/05/Untitled-design-295.jpg" alt="alpaca walking lucky tails" class="wp-image-56897" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/warks/wp-content/uploads/sites/18/2024/05/Untitled-design-295.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/warks/wp-content/uploads/sites/18/2024/05/Untitled-design-295-800x533.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/warks/wp-content/uploads/sites/18/2024/05/Untitled-design-295-768x511.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



Fancy getting lost for a few hours? At Hatton Country World there&#8217;s a maize maze til 2 Sept and then cool off by having a wild time at one of the foam parties. The should tire them (and you) out!



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-adrenaline-junkies">ADRENALINE JUNKIES</h2>



Now isn&#8217;t this perfect &#8211; you can go shopping in <a href="https://www.selfridges.com/GB/en/features/info/stores/events/the-climbing-wall-birmingham/">Selfridges</a>, while the kids tire themselves out traversing a 10 metre climbing wall. It&#8217;s for ages 4 and up (yes, you can go too if you like) and each session lasts 45 minutes. Perfect amount of time to visit the make-up counter, grab some new clothes and stock up on treats in the food hall too. 



For the ultimate scream-a-thon take them to Coventry’s&nbsp;<a href="https://thewavecoventry.com">The Wave</a>&nbsp;for the day. There’s high speed slides, a splash zone, wave pool and don’t worry, a relaxing lazy river for you too (and <a href="https://warks.muddystilettos.co.uk/little-black-book/directory/mana-spa-coventry/">Mana Spa</a> if they’re old enough to leave for a few hours!) 



Listen up science lovers! At <a href="https://www.transport-museum.com/events">Coventry Transport Museum</a> pretty much everyone is covered to learn more about STEM, engineering, coding and making electronic music. Sessions are being held until 29 Aug for 11 to 16 year-olds and booking&#8217;s essential. 



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-family-friendly-festivals">FAMILY-FRIENDLY FESTIVALS</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="666" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/warks/wp-content/uploads/sites/18/2024/04/Untitled-design-295.jpg" alt="Camp Festival Shropshire" class="wp-image-56636" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/warks/wp-content/uploads/sites/18/2024/04/Untitled-design-295.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/warks/wp-content/uploads/sites/18/2024/04/Untitled-design-295-800x533.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/warks/wp-content/uploads/sites/18/2024/04/Untitled-design-295-768x511.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



Over in Alcester there&#8217;s Camper Calling from 23-25 Aug. The fields of stately home Ragley Hall are transformed into a huge <a href="http://www.campercalling.com/">festival site</a> each year for this family-friendly event. There’s music from the likes of Travis, Jessie J and Groove Armada. Make sure you check out the Mindfulness Field for all things zen.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-on-stage">ON STAGE</h2>



<a href="https://www.belgrade.co.uk/events/peppa-pig-fun-day-out/">Peppa Pig</a>&#8216;s at The Belgrade in Cov on 28&amp;29 Aug or if you&#8217;ve got a teenager then take them along to see <a href="https://www.belgrade.co.uk/events/buffy-revamped/">Buffy Revamped</a> on 4 Sept (who are we kidding, that one&#8217;s definitely for you!). Over in Wolverhampton there&#8217;s <a href="https://www.grandtheatre.co.uk/whats-on/101-dalmatians/">101 Dalmatians The Musical</a> from 20-24 Aug. 



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="667" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/warks/wp-content/uploads/sites/18/2024/07/Untitled-design-1437-1-1000x667.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-57349" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/warks/wp-content/uploads/sites/18/2024/07/Untitled-design-1437-1-1000x667.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/warks/wp-content/uploads/sites/18/2024/07/Untitled-design-1437-1-800x533.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/warks/wp-content/uploads/sites/18/2024/07/Untitled-design-1437-1-768x512.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/warks/wp-content/uploads/sites/18/2024/07/Untitled-design-1437-1.jpg 1500w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-heritage">HERITAGE</h2>



Warwick Castle is back with its <a href="https://www.warwick-castle.com/explore-1/events/dragon-slayer/">Dragon Slayer</a> night-time spectacular throughout Aug. If you haven&#8217;t been before it&#8217;s got a bit of everything &#8211; live battles, fire-breathing dragons and awesome special effects along the side of the castle. If you fancy making a night of it book into the Knights Village for glamping or stop in a lodge. 



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="667" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/warks/wp-content/uploads/sites/18/2024/07/Untitled-design-17-1000x667.jpg" alt="Warwick Castle Knights Lodge" class="wp-image-57381" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/warks/wp-content/uploads/sites/18/2024/07/Untitled-design-17-1000x667.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/warks/wp-content/uploads/sites/18/2024/07/Untitled-design-17-800x533.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/warks/wp-content/uploads/sites/18/2024/07/Untitled-design-17-768x512.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/warks/wp-content/uploads/sites/18/2024/07/Untitled-design-17.jpg 1500w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



At the <a href="https://tickets.bclm.com/events?k=events&amp;queueittoken=e_peakprotect1~q_de6ed401-c6ee-4585-80b2-ab2f7f944fac~ts_1721124600~ce_true~rt_safetynet~h_7cecc46e881e034c3f05b1e78698cfe421572f5f8aad90be725d8310bdd941ca">Black Country Living Museum</a><a href="https://tickets.bclm.com/events?k=events&amp;queueittoken=e_peakprotect1~q_bf75c165-c89f-42f7-a59e-e908cc7c1f49~ts_1656496966~ce_true~rt_safetynet~h_ba4a854cfa021d67fd9983665ee714d13befd26d36c1a4cbedd5b1340be6a96f"> </a>there&#8217;s loads of crafty workshops to keep them busy with a focus on learning more about history and making friends. They&#8217;re held every Wednesday over the holidays, and on Fridays the museum is open late with fairground rides and street food with reduced price entry. Bostin!



Head to Brum&#8217;s <a href="https://www.birminghammuseums.org.uk/thinktank/whats-on">Thinktank</a> for a fun day out and find out more about the science behind sport on weekdays throughout the summer holidays and there&#8217;s coding workshops with Lego on Wednesdays. 



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-oops-you-ve-missed-these">Oops, you&#8217;ve missed these!</h2>



For 18 to 25-year-olds there&#8217;s a <a href="https://www.rsc.org.uk/learn/lifelong-learners/rsc-summer-school">summer school</a> from 12-16 Aug with masterclasses, careers talks, and workshops. It&#8217;s perfect for wannabe actors and directors setting out on their journey on the stage and screen. 



For more acting there&#8217;s the Belgrade Theatre&#8217;s summer school for ages 8-12 from 5-9 Aug. There&#8217;s drama sessions led by professional theatre-makers and culminates in a show on the Friday afternoon. For teens there&#8217;s a school from 12-16 Aug for ages 11-16. If your kid&#8217;s a bit shy too then there&#8217;s a familiarisation session ahead of the first day. 



If your kids a crafty type then book them in at Compton Verney&#8217;s <a href="https://www.comptonverney.org.uk/whats-on/big-art-holiday-club-4-day-camp/">Big Art holiday camp</a> of making from 13-16 Aug. Every day focuses on a different material working to create an exhibition, don&#8217;t worry, you&#8217;re invited for a snoop around afterwards!



The RSC’s bringing <a href="https://www.rsc.org.uk/open-stage">free theatre</a> to the great outdoors at The Holloway Garden Theatre with a line-up of student, community and semi-professional productions, performances, workshops and stories. There’s The Tempest on 20 July, Star Crossed Fools on 21 July and The Future Movement on 28 July.



At Compton Verney there&#8217;s chance to let their imaginations run wild at <a href="https://www.comptonverney.org.uk/whats-on/woodland-tribe-2024/">Woodland Tribe</a> – where kids and families work together to create magical structures and play spaces. Between 2-4 Aug children can get hands on with the team using real tools to build a wooden structure on site – think a bridge, tower or even a castle. 



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="667" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/warks/wp-content/uploads/sites/18/2024/07/Untitled-design-1440-1-1000x667.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-57352" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/warks/wp-content/uploads/sites/18/2024/07/Untitled-design-1440-1-1000x667.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/warks/wp-content/uploads/sites/18/2024/07/Untitled-design-1440-1-800x533.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/warks/wp-content/uploads/sites/18/2024/07/Untitled-design-1440-1-768x512.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/warks/wp-content/uploads/sites/18/2024/07/Untitled-design-1440-1.jpg 1500w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



Pull your skates on and head to FarGo Village on 10 Aug for a <a href="https://www.fargovillage.co.uk/events/roller-disco-birthday-party">roller disco</a> to celebrate its 10th birthday. Make time before and after to grab some food for one of the awesome food joints, from delicious handmade noodles to cakes. 



One of the UK’s largest family music festivals, <a href="https://shropshire.campbestival.net">Camp Bestival</a> is being held in Shropshire for the third time this year after proving a huge hit in 2023. Faithless, Rick Astley and The Darkness are among the acts and loads of theatre, activities and talks too from 15-18 Aug. 



No music here but noise aplenty at the <a href="https://www.theherbert.org/whats-on/1817/lunt-roman-festival-2024">Lunt Roman Festival </a>on 3&amp;4 Aug in Cov. Think history reenactments, battle drills, living history and horse displays. Oh, and chance to kit the kids out in replica Roman gear.



Birmingham&#8217;s collection of European art is currently running the Hidden Lives of Plants: Botanical Illustrations from the V&amp;A exhibition, which has inspired it&#8217;s <a href="https://barber.org.uk/events/barber-family-festival/">Barber Family Festival</a> from 3-11 Aug. There&#8217;s some gorgeous exhibitions to explore, and then raid the art trolley for creative supplies so the kids can create their own.



Physical performance sessions for the whole family? Sounds like you’ll be sleeping well! The RSC is hosting the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.rsc.org.uk/open-stage">workshop</a>&nbsp;with Sprung Youth on&nbsp;27 July. If art is more your thing then there’s&nbsp;<a href="https://www.rsc.org.uk/your-visit/see-for-free/the-glasshouse">The Glasshouse</a>, an interactive project of light, art and sound is on show from&nbsp;8 Aug&nbsp;(get it in your diaries people!). If you fancy being involved then you can&nbsp;<a href="https://www.rsc.org.uk/your-visit/see-for-free/the-glasshouse">make your own</a>&nbsp;Glasshouse on&nbsp;30 &amp; 31 July&nbsp;by upcycling cut-offs from the perspex used in the artwork. It’s suitable for ages 5 up and pieces will form part of the final showcase.



On 20 &amp; 21 July there’s a <a href="https://www.fargovillage.co.uk/events/batik-art-painting-workshop">batik art painting workshop</a> at FarGo Village. It’s being held alongside its <a href="https://www.fargovillage.co.uk/events/summer-makers-market-2024">Summers Markers Market</a>, brimming with local artists and talent from homeware to delicious treats.



Take a big step back in time (175 million years to be exact) at Herbert Art Gallery &amp; Museum and go on a <a href="https://www.theherbert.org/whats-on/1768/dipp-e-vr">virtual tour</a> of Dippy the Diplodocus&#8217;s history. Make sure you leave time to see the dino himself (he&#8217;s currently on loan from the Natural History Museum, or those age 12+ can sign up to <a href="https://www.theherbert.org/whats-on/1814/dippy-yoga">Dippy yoga</a> on 3 Aug or 7 Sept. If that&#8217;s not enough there&#8217;s chance to spend the night in the museum and <a href="https://www.theherbert.org/whats-on/1767/doze-under-dippy">Doze Under Dippy</a> on 17 Aug. 



On 20&amp;21 July there&#8217;s a joust at <a href="https://www.english-heritage.org.uk/visit/places/kenilworth-castle/">Kenilworth Castle</a> which sees four knights charge at each other at full speed. Then from 24-26 Aug there&#8217;s the <a href="https://www.english-heritage.org.uk/visit/whats-on/kenilworth-castle-knights-tournament-24-aug-26-aug-24/?_gl=1*e1t1ek*_up*MQ..*_ga*MTc1OTUxMzk4MS4xNzIxMTI0Mjc0*_ga_QK86RM1N34*MTcyMTEyNDI3NC4xLjAuMTcyMTEyNDI3NC4wLjAuMA..&amp;gclid=CjwKCAjwtNi0BhA1EiwAWZaANGR9xa8XADkYh_v3FvvCRfJRkynUirSrimtGiosYhFU3xWp_Qhs4BRoCrPAQAvD_BwE&amp;gclsrc=aw.ds">Knight&#8217;s Tournament</a> where you can see life in a medieval encampment and see warriors do battle. Shield optional.

The ultimate Warks & West Mids summer holiday guide

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