Our top picks to entertain your family in Gloucestershire this summer

The summer holidays are upon us and parents across the county will be looking for things to do to entertain their families over the next six weeks. We’ve put together an extensive guide of events, activities and attractions that you can visit in Gloucestershire this summer, with lots of free ideas included! Check out our guide below and enjoy exploring our wonderful county.

The Library Challenge FREE
We’re kick-starting our guide with The Library Challenge – an annual program organised by Gloucestershire Libraries to encourage children to discover new books and take part in fun activities. Each year has a theme, and this year it’s all about The Natural World. You can sign up for free at any Gloucestershire library, explore the tasks in the challenge, collect stamps for each task you complete, and enjoy the rewards when you reach each level. Find out more at here.

Summer Holiday Activity and Food (HAF) Programme FREE*
Gloucestershire County Council’s Holiday Activity and Food (HAF) programme offers free activities and food *for children who receive benefits-related free school meals. The programme includes a massive selection of activities including music, crafts, drama, sports, science and more. See the full list of activities here and check to see if your family is eligible here.

Local Trails
Little explorers will have lots of fun on this selection of trails.

Lions at Large Sculpture Trail FREE (until 14^th September)
This family-friendly trail sees 32 large lion sculptures located across Cheltenham and Gloucester, all with a 4-digit code which unlocks a reward in the Lions at Large app. Pick up a trail map for a suggested donation of £1 and enjoy interacting with the trail with the safari sticker book. The trail is raising funds for Cheltenham and Gloucester Hospitals Charity’s Big Space Cancer Appeal. Visit Lions at Large for more information.

The Disgusting Sandwich Trail at Painswick Rococo Garden (until 8^th September)
A brand-new interactive trail at Painswick Rococo Garden, based on the popular book by Gareth Edwards, will have children exploring the beautiful grounds as they collect strange and silly items to create their own Disgusting Sandwich. 

The Big Batsford Hedgehog Hunt (until 31^st August)
The hedgehogs are hiding around Batsford Arboretum – pick up a map, search for the little creatures and mark their locations to win a prize!

Gruffalo Trail at Dean Heritage Centre
Fans of The Gruffalo will love this trail in the beautiful Forest of Dean. See how Julia Donaldson’s famous mouse escapes tricky situations and admire the carvings of the characters as you wander along the woodland trail at the Dean Heritage Centre.

Jurassic Journey Trail at Birdland
Go back in time to more than 65 million years ago when dinosaurs roamed the Cotswolds. Track velociraptors, search for fossils and look out for giant dinosaur eggs at Birdland.



Arts & Crafts Activities
Lots of activities to get the creative juices flowing during the holidays.

Nature in Art
From bird feeders and fairy garden houses to Viking shields and abstract totem sculptures, Nature in Art have lots of crafty activities for kids to enjoy during the holidays. 

Holst Victorian House FREE (optional donation) (13^th August)
Learn to write like a Victorian this summer using pen and ink, and seal your letter with wax like they did in the 19th century at the Holst Victorian House.

GWSR Go Wild at Winchcombe (Activities included in ticket) (9^th-21^st August)
Suitable for ages 2-10, let their creativity soar as they get stuck into activities at the GWSR including face masks, dream catchers, stone painting and natural weaving.



Animal Activities
Our furry friends needn’t miss out on the fun this summer.

The Big Bark (16^th-17^th August)
Taking place on the Bathurst Estate, The Big Bark is a fun festival for dog lovers with ‘have-a-go’ arenas, demonstrations, and lots of experts on hand to help with obedience, training, diet and much more.

Teckels Summer Fair & Dog Show (Optional entry donation) (23^rd-24^th August)
Take your pup along for a fun-filled weekend. Enter the fun dog show, join in the children’s games, have a go on the raffle and enjoy delicious refreshments, all in aid of Teckels Animal Sanctuary.

The Gloucester Old Spot Dog Show (25^th August)
Does your dog have the waggiest tail or the best trick? Why not head along to The Gloucester Old Spot’s annual dog show and join them in celebrating our wonderful pooches. With a charity raffle and lots of classes to enter, they’re raising money for Cheltenham Animal Shelter.

Wild Hogs Hedgehog Rescue Open Weekend (30^th-31^st August)
Meet the residents of Wild Hogs Hedgehog Rescue on a special tour at their open weekend. There will be lots of stalls, a bouncy castle, and hot food provided by Natural Cookery School.

Dog Swim at Cotswold Country Park & Beach FREE (30^th August)
Bring your furry friends for a run, jump and a splash at the beach and in the lake at Cotswold Country Park!

Cotswold Alpacas
Fancy taking a stroll through the beautiful countryside with an alpaca for company? Now’s your chance! Whether as a family activity or a fun alternative for a birthday party, each experience at Cotswold Alpacas is tailored to your requirements.



Outdoor Activities
If the sun continues to shine, there will be plenty of opportunities to get outdoors and get active during the school holidays.

Summer of Play at Newark Park (Activities included in admission) (22^nd July – 31^st August)
Join the summer party at Newark Park and get creative with a wide range of activities. Have a go at lawn games including boules and croquet, or play with the interactive musical wall to create your own tune. Find out more here and check out the other National Trust locations in Gloucestershire for more summer holiday fun.

Visit Gloucestershire Wildlife Trust Nature Reserves FREE
Gloucestershire Wildlife Trust has over 40 nature reserves across the county, many of which have walking trails so you can explore our stunning countryside. Some have bird hides, cafés and picnic areas so you can make a real day of it. Visit their website to find a location near you and to find out about accessibility.

Puzzlewood
An ancient woodland in the Forest of Dean, Puzzlewood is a popular filming location and has featured in Doctor Who, Star Wars and many other productions. Explore the scenery, enjoy the Roman coin treasure hunt, and learn about the woodland’s history, geology and filming connections.



Family Events
These local events offer lots of fun for the whole family.

Gloucestershire Vintage & Country Extravaganza (1^st-3^rd August)
Celebrating its 50^th anniversary this year, the Extravaganza returns with thousands of exhibits, three live arenas and a wonderful variety of countryside attractions.

No Child Left Behind’s (NCLB) Party in the Park FREE (6^th August)
A day full of activities, entertainment at more at Cheltenham’s Pittville Park. There will be lots of free opportunities for young people including live music, circus skills, inflatables, sports and lots more, plus there is a quiet hour at 10am for families with children who have additional needs. Find out more here.

Giffords Circus – Laguna Bay (7^th-18^thAugust)
Set in the sunny era of 1950s America, Laguna Bay combines fun, excitement and charm with poetry, music and performing arts. The show, hosted at Minchinhampton Common, brings together a cast of acrobats, magicians, musicians and clowns from all over the world to deliver an unforgettable performance.

Gloucester Goes Retro FREE (23^rd August)
The Retro festival combines vintage and classic cars, motorbikes and buses with live music, dancing, competitions, food and drink, and so much more, all with the aim of celebrating Gloucester, its history and its local businesses.

Winchcombe Show (under 16s free) (25^th August)
An annual celebration of all things local to Winchcombe. Stall holders, competitions – including the brand new scarecrow competition – flower show, dog show, activities, crafts, refreshments and much more! Profits from the events are donated to great local causes. Find out more on their website. 



Museums
Learning doesn't need to stop in the holidays, but it can easily be integrated with games and play. Check out what our local museums have on offer.

Jet Age Museum FREE (optional donation)
With a wide range of exhibits, displays and accessible cockpits, games, puzzles and refreshments, the Jet Age Museum has something for the whole family.

Corinium Museum
Discover the archaeology of the Cotswolds at the Corinium Museum in CIrencester. Explore the galleries, discover thousands of objects on display and go on a journey through time as you learn about the development of the Cotswolds from prehistoric times to the modern day.

Play Ground at The Wilson Art Gallery FREE (until 21^st September)
The Wilson’s new interactive exhibition offers hands-on activities, games, creative challenges and more to help children play, explore and connect with the town’s rich heritage.

Museum of Gloucester Moomin Exhibition (until 5^th October)
Visit the Museum of Gloucester this summer and join the Moomin 80 celebrations. Immerse your family in Moomin magic and enjoy interactive exhibits, crafts, stories and much more.

Museum in the Park FREE (optional donation)
With lots of family drop-in activities including cutting & sticking, terrific transport, future fossils and delightful dinos, there’s plenty to keep the kids entertained during the summer holidays at Museum in the Park in Stroud. 



Local Attractions
We’re very lucky in Gloucestershire to have so many fantastic attractions to visit throughout the year, with many putting on special family-friendly activities during the school holidays. Check out our highlights below:

Gloucester Cathedral – Medicine and Mayhem FREE (optional donation) (5^th, 6^th, 19^th & 20^th August)
Discover health, history and community – from soothing ‘sleeping lion’ soundbathing to lending a hand with medieval potions and lotions.

Over Farm – Big Summer Blowout (until 1^st September)
Trailer rides, bouncing pillows, barnyard play area, mini golf, woodland walk, jumping pillows, animal trail and much more along with daily themes such as roaming reptiles and bubble and balloon shows.

Berkeley Castle – The Joust (24^th August)
An unforgettable spectacle from the Knights of Nottingham as they display skill, courage and combat. Heroic battles, lots of laughs and medieval merriment.

Sudeley Castle – Knight School (Wednesdays and Thursdays until 28^th August)
Dress up and join the fun of sword-fighting, archery, jousting and other knight-themed activities.

WWT Slimbridge – Dragonfly Dance Party (23^rd-24^th August)
A dazzling line-up of dragonfly-themed activities including silent disco, nature music makers and sound machines.

Cotswold Farm Park – Circus on the Farm (15^th-17^th August)
A circus extravaganza with acrobatics, clowns, trapeze acts and more, plus test your own circus skills and enjoy nostalgic games like hook-a-duck.

Cattle Country – A Summer of Fun
Splash in the pool, conquer the climbing net, meet the residents of the Animal Barn, follow the Farm Trail, go on a tractor and trailer tour, and much more.

Birdland – Summer of Feathered Fun (until 7^th September)
Grab a special season ticket and enjoy a summer of adventure at Birdland, including close encounters with some of the world’s most fascinating birds.

Clearwell Caves
Discover a vast natural cave system underneath the mysterious Forest of Dean at Clearwell Caves.

The Dragonfly Maze
Make your way around the traditional yew hedge maze and find 14 clues dotted around the pathways to crack the rebus puzzle and find the golden dragonfly!

The Model Village at Bourton
This model village, representing its home in 1/9^th scale, accurately reflects life as it was in the 1930s when it was built.



Theatres & Event Venues
Our local theatres and event venues provide even more opportunities for entertainment, with lots of performances, workshops, talks and more throughout the summer holidays. We’ve highlighted some of our favourite events below:

Gloucester Guildhall – Meet, Make, Play FREE (2^nd August) 
A free interactive festival with hands-on workshops, activities, sensory room and fidget cinema.

Roses Theatre – The Wind in the Willows (7^th August)
Join Mole, Ratty, Badger and Toad as they embark on an adventure to blow away the quarantine cobwebs! Paperback Theatre’s open-air adaptation.

Bacon Theatre – Robin Hood (15^th August)
Watch Robin and his gang of merry men battle against the evil Sheriff of Nottingham, with sword fights and archery competitions, silliness and songs. Part of the Tuckwell Amphitheatre programme of events.

The Sub Rooms – Horrible Histories: Gorgeous Georgians & Vile Victorians (30^th August)
Swing with a Georgian King, help detectives find the headless man, and dance the Tyburn jig as you discover the horrible history of Britain!