Lots to do this summer for families in our local area. See our guide to days out, family activities, summer camps and some great seasonal recipes to enjoy.
(Please click the blue text below for further information)
Events & Days Out
Visit Cobbs Farm free “beach area” and double decker bus café for milkshakes, ice creams, toasties, drinks and snacks until Sun 4 Sept.
The World of Peter Rabbit Storytime Trail until 25 September.
Vale & Downland Museum in Wantage offers fun summer activities.
Crofton Beam Engines
Enjoy a fascinating day out at this historic site on the Kennet & Avon Canal just south of Marlborough. The engines will be in steam 28/29 August. Plan your visit here.
Superhero Adventure Trail until 27 August.
Didcot Railway Centre living museum and activity centre.
STEAM Museum, Swindon – kids for a quid with a paying adult.
Treasure Trails help you explore a town or village near you.
Parthian Climbing Centre, Reading & Rockstar Climbing Centre, Swindon.
Local Holiday Destinations – Savernake Forest, Cotswold Water Park, Pewsey Vale.
Family Fun & Staycations in Oxfordshire
PP Guide to Places to Visit – Our personal list of the best local places to visit all year round (check their current availability).
Summer Camps & Kids Activities
Summer Drama Week for 7 to 14 year olds 30 Aug – 2 Sept, Kintbury. Book with Laura on laurap@act1to1.co.uk 07766 141226
Free Activites for Thatcham Youth until 19 August.
Free Play in the Park Thursdays July/Aug, Thatcham area.
Big Arts Days & Chalk Fest with City Arts Newbury.
Needlefelt & craft workshops at Brown Paper Loves, Newbury.
Year-round & summer camps at Code Ninjas for kids to have fun learning to code video games, cartoons, arcades and much more. Special summer offer for new students.
Zen of Happiness (scroll down link to find poster) yoga & mindfulness for 12 to18 years from 2 to 3pm on Mon 8 and 22 Aug.
Kids Cooking Classes Fri 5 and 12 Aug, Wantage.
Free Summer Kids Gardening 27 July, 15 & 30 Aug. Aldbourne.
Free kids coding for 9 to 11 years on Fri 19 Aug at Newbury Library. Spaces must be pre-booked with library@westberks.gov.uk
Summer Music Courses include drumming, hip-hop, Newbury.
Summer Football Camp for boys and girls 6 to 14 years. 2 days tbd between 15 & 20 Aug. Hungerford.
Explore Arts Award for 7 to 12 years at West Berkshire Museum.
Free gaming & lego play time at The Toy Planet in Wantage – plus a Pokémon scavenger hunt around the store until 4 September (which costs £2).
Girls rugby summer training, free at Hungerford RFC on Sunday mornings in August from 10:30am to noon for girls who will be in Years 6-9 from Sep 2022. Total beginners to experienced players are welcome. For more information please contact Rob Cox at memsec.hrfc@gmail.com
Lego Club at Vale & Downland Museum.
Every Monday and Wednesday throughout the summer holidays 10am to 11am and 11.30am to 12.30pm. Tickets must be booked in advance (£2 per child, per season).
Round up of all the fun to be had in West Berkshire this summer! Scroll through all your choices here.
Free summer holiday club in Newbury ages 8 to 11 years from 1 to 23 August. To register interest, email waterside@berkshireyouth.co.uk with the subject ‘summer sign up’.
AC Gymnastics Summer Camp Thatcham.
Trowbridge basketball club summer camps for 12 to 16 years from 1 to 5 August.
Litter bug’s detective trails in south Oxfordshire and Vale of White Horse districts.
Summer Recipes
Fun For Free
Free summer holiday club in Newbury 8 to 11 years until 23 August. To register interest, email waterside@berkshireyouth.co.uk with the subject ‘summer sign up’.
Free Activites for Thatcham Youth until 19 August.
Free drop-in history & craft kids fun at Vale & Downland Museum, Wantage.
Free Holiday Craft Fun at Hungerford Library: free Tuesday craft session from 10.30am to noon where children under 8 must be accompanied by an adult, and Wednesday Rhymetime from 10am to 11am, for pre-schoolers and their parents (older siblings welcome too).
Free gaming & lego play time at The Toy Planet in Wantage free Pokémon swap shops every Friday throughout August from 4pm to 6pm for fans to swap cards or newbies to learn how to play. See their facebook page here for more fun they offer for all the family. They also have a Pokémon scavenger hunt around the store until 4 September (which costs £2).
Free kids coding for 9 to 11 years on Fri 19 Aug at Newbury Library. Spaces must be pre-booked with library@westberks.gov.u
Gadgeteers Summer Reading Challenge – pick up the books from your local library.
Free Play in the Park sessions in Thatcham, Compton & Cold Ash.
Five Free Ways to Entertain Your Kids – local stand-up comic Toni Kent shares her top tips on low budget parenting…
Savernake Forest – fab trails to walk and cycle, near Marlborough.
YouMove free (or low cost) family activities across Oxfordshire
Geocaching fun for all the family
Turn a walk into an adventure for kids (even ones who don’t normally like going for walks!). What treasure will you find?
Nature Discovery Centre in Thatcham.
Splash Park in Victoria Park, Newbury – open till mid-Sept.
Wantage splash pad is open every day in the summer from 10.30am and 7pm.
Wilton Windmill – lovely site to vist & have a picnic.
Visit Pewsey Vale – beautiful countryside to explore on foot or bike.
Cook up a storm – have fun taking ofver the kitchen!
Science Fun at Home – 5 easy experiments to do (that don’t require any specialist equipment!) from Ruth at Mini Professors.
Slacklining – it’s not completely free as you need to buy your slackline but that investment will last for months as the whole family gets addicted to learning how to balance, walk and do tricks on the 10cm wide strap racheted between two trees.
