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 from Fri 21 July to Sun 3 Sept.
The Outdoor Theatre: Twelfth Night laugh-a-minute adaptation of a classic Shakespeare comedy for 10+ yrs Sat 22 July.
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 near Marlborough. The engines will be in steam 29/30 July & 27/28 August.
Newbury Summer Fest Sat 22 July offers families an array of different activities.
Summer Camps & Kids Activities
Summer Kids Club (primary school age) during August at The Waterside Centre, Newbury. £5 per session.
Free HAF holiday camps at Lambourn C of E Primary School
Chalk Fest with City Arts, Mon 7 Aug, Newbury.
Summer Coding Camps at Code Ninjas in Newbury – Roblox, Minecraft, YouTube, 3D printing, stop motion animation and more.
Events available at The Toy Planet gaming shop in Wantage all summer!
Including free Lego play, Pokemon swaps, Mini-figure hunts and many more.
Holiday Music Courses, Newbury.
Letcombe Brook Beasties, Vale & Downland Museum, Wantage.
BBOWT wildlife trust‘s Wild Summer Survival Guide
Girls’ Rugby free taster sessions on Sundays this summer at at Hungerford RFC on Sunday mornings in August from 10:30am to noon for girls who will be in Years 6-9 from Sep 2023. 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).
Days Out
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 Recipes
Saving the Pennies
Where kids can eat free (or for £1) during the summer holidays.
More Fun For Free
Free Summer Holiday Activites with Thatcham Youth in August – places must be pre-booked.
Free Youth Club (for secondary school aged young people) in August at the Waterside Centre, Newbury.
Fun waste and recycling activity pack for children.
Free activities at your local library in West Berkshire:
The All Sorts Club at Lambourn Library, the Pot-luck Club at Hungerford Library and the children’s craft clubs at Burghfield Common, Hungerford and Theale libraries are all continuing, along with Theale Library’s Duplo Play sessions, with extra sessions taking place every Wednesday, 10.45am-2.15pm.
There will LEGO sessions at Burghfield Common, Newbury, Pangbourne, Thatcham and Theale libraries.
- Sports-themed crafts at Theale Library on 2, 9 and 30 August, 1.30-3.30pm: join a skittles tournament, make a hoopla set or design a table-top football pitch.
- Explore Learning workshops at libraries in Burghfield Common on 10 August, Newbury on 18 August and Pangbourne on 22 August, all 11am-12.30pm.
- Summer crafts every Friday in August at Thatcham Library, 10.30-11.30am, and on Saturday mornings throughout the school holidays at Lambourn Library, 10.30am-12pm.
- Board Games Club at Pangbourne Library on 11, 18 and 25 August, plus 1 September, 2-4pm.
A variety of activities at Newbury Library are also happening on 16, 22 and 30 August, 2-4pm, in connection with the town’s Festival of the Moon.
Summer Programme of family fun (many events are free) at Vale & Downland Museum, Wantage.
Ready, Set Read! Summer Reading Challenge – pick up the books from your local library.
Free Play in the Park sessions in Thatcham, Compton & Cold Ash.
Free Sports in the Park, Victoria Park, Newbury.
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.
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.
