Check out our selection of things to do in the Midlands during the next few weeks.

KNIGHT SCHOOL

On Wednesdays and Thursdays throughout the summer holiday, little visitors to Sudeley Castle can enroll in Knight School.

Children of all ages are invited to dress up and take part in knight-themed activities, including sword-fighting, archery and jousting. Successful knights will leave the castle grounds both knighted and certified.

Sudeley Castle, Cheltenham, until Thursday 28 August

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THE SPACE VAULT

Showcasing one of the UK’s largest private collections of artefacts from human space exploration, The Space Vault is just one of a number of space-related activities and attractions available to enjoy at Thinktank across the summer holiday. 

Highlights of the exhibition include: the mission checklists that saved the crew of Apollo 13 when its oxygen tank exploded; Commander Dave Scott’s spacesuit umbilical, through which he communicated his first words as he stepped onto the surface of the Moon; Lunar dust from the Hadley Rille landing site of Apollo 15; and material from the Apollo 11 command module...

As well as The Space Vault, summertime visitors to Thinktank can check out Lunar Lego Lab, Stargazers’ Storytime, Rocket Lab and the Moonbase Construction Zone. 

The popular visitor attraction is also hosting a special Stellar Space Day on Thursday 21 August, inviting families ‘to blast off into a world of cosmic adventure’ courtesy of ‘a day filled with space-themed fun’. 

Thinktank, Millennium Point, Birmingham, until end of August

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BRICK DINOS

This ongoing exhibition provides families with the opportunity to step back in time to the prehistoric world. 
The show’s attractions include a range of Lego dinosaur sculptures - created in collaboration with palaeontologists - behind-the-scenes videos, photo opportunities, and the chance to uncover fossils at an interactive ‘dino dig’. 

Visitors can also get creative with hands-on Lego and Duplo play, design their own dinosaurs on a graffiti wall, and take home dinosaur-themed colouring sheets...

As well as the Brick Dinos exhibition, the Herbert is also hosting a craft programme called Lego Bricks & Creative Superheroes (running daily throughout the summer holiday, excluding Sundays and Mondays). 

Herbert Art Gallery & Museum, Coventry, until Sunday 7 September

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SUMMER OF FUN'N'FLIGHT

Royal Airforce Museum Midlands is certainly flying high in the entertainment stakes this school summer holiday. 

Attractions to enjoy at the Cosford-located visitor attraction include mini golf, a summer sleuth trail, the chance to play giant garden games like Jenga and Connect 4, birds-of-prey displays, 'epic' laser tag battles and a 'wild and wacky' game show.
 
For kids who really like to keep on top of their education during the school holiday, the venue is running a special STEM Camp (Monday 28 July - Friday 1 August), inviting youngsters aged 10 to 14 'to dive into the exciting worlds of science, technology, engineering and mathematics'. 

Royal Air Force Museum Midlands, Cosford, until Monday 1 September 

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40 YEARS OF STRATFORD-UPON-AVON BUTTERFLY FARM

Stratford-upon-Avon Butterfly Farm is celebrating its 40th anniversary this year - and to mark the milestone, the much-loved visitor attraction is hosting a number of special activities. 

Throughout the summer holidays visitors can enjoy competitions, write a birthday wish in the Discovery Zone, and take part in butterfly life cycle, mini-beast, ‘beetle mania’ and pupae demonstrations... A new exhibition within Rainforest Realm, housing a pair of Sumatran pit vipers, has also opened.  

Stratford-upon-Avon Butterfly Farm, until Monday 1 September

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WHERE'S WALLABY?

Staffordshire Moorlands is this month playing host to a collection of colourful and larger-than-life wallaby sculptures. 

Inspired by the local history of wallabies in the Moorlands, Where’s Wallaby? - organised by OUTSIDE and Peak Wildlife Park - features 10 hand-painted sculptures co-designed by local artists with community groups and schools.

Anyone who visits all the sculptures and collects their names can enjoy discounted entry to visit real wallabies at Peak Wildlife Park.

Anyone who visits all the wallaby sculptures and collects their names can enjoy discounted entry to visit real wallabies at Peak Wildlife Park.

Photo credit: Jenny Harper

Across the Staffordshire Moorlands, until Friday 5 September

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THE BEACH

The Beach is back at Lichfield Cathedral for a fourth summer - and comes complete with a family-friendly boat-shaped play area called Noah’s Ark. 

August visitors to the cathedral can also check out the Wildlife Photographer Of The Year exhibition and get involved with a variety of animal-themed family activities.

Lichfield Cathedral, Saturday 26 July - Sunday 31 August 

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GREAT BRITISH BEER FESTIVAL

Thousands of ale lovers are set to descend on the NEC this month as the Great British Beer Festival makes its debut at the Birmingham venue.

Visitors to the show can sample hundreds of unique ales, ciders, perries and craft beers from around the world, with interactive tastings and live music also featuring.

NEC, Birmingham, Tuesday 5 - Saturday 9 August

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SUMMER SHAKESPEARE PLAYDAY

To celebrate National Playday, the Royal Shakespeare Company is hosting a day of free family-focused activities inspired by Shakespeare’s imagined Italy.

Attractions include The Two Gentlemen Of Verona outdoor sculptural trail in Swan Gardens, outdoor storytelling for children aged between four and eight, drop-in sensory play sessions for the under-fours, and interactive guided tours of The Play’s The Thing exhibition for youngsters aged seven and older. 

Royal Shakespeare Theatre, Stratford-upon-Avon, Wednesday 6 August

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THE HUNDRED

Much-loved cricket competition The Hundred makes a highly anticipated return this month.
Home team Birmingham Phoenix’s 2025 campaign gets underway on Friday 8 August with a local derby against Trent Rockets. 

As usual, the event will bring together live music, top DJs, street food and world-class cricket... Each matchday in the competition will feature both men’s and women’s games, played back-to-back. 

Edgbaston Stadium, Birmingham, Friday 8, Tuesday 12, Sunday 17 & Friday 22 August

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VINTAGE TRANSPORT EXTRAVAGANZA

Severn Valley Railway’s festival of transport returns this month - bringing together a selection of vintage vehicles from throughout the ages for one bumper weekend across the full length of the line.
Start your journey at any station and check out the wide variety of on-display vehicles whilst travelling on the train and experiencing the golden age of steam.
Cars, tractors, traction engines, buses, motorbikes, and of course steam locomotives and diesel engines, all feature.

Severn Valley Railway, Saturday 9 & Sunday 10 August

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MEDIEVALFEST

Worcester Cathedral steps back in time mid-month to provide fun for all ages from the Middle Ages!
Festival attractions include a series of film screenings, a crafts market, toddler story times, creative workshops and historical talks.

The event concludes with a lavish four-course banquet in The Old Palace, where guests are encouraged to don their finest medieval attire and enjoy live music.

Although many of the activities on offer during MedievalFest are free to experience, a number are chargeable and require pre-booking to secure a place. Check out the cathedral’s website for further details.

Worcester Cathedral, Wednesday 13 - Saturday 16 August

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MINSTERLEY SHOW

Shropshire’s oldest one-day agricultural show is celebrating its 150th anniversary in 2025. From very modest beginnings, Minsterley Show is now a multi-class exhibition of the very best in modern agriculture - and features lots more besides...

This year’s packed programme includes livestock showcases, crafts, and family entertainment, with high-flying daredevils the Stannage Stunt Team topping the bill.

Complimentary car park on site.

Manor Farm, Cruckton, Shropshire, Saturday 16 August

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STELLAR SPACE DAY

Thinktank is this month celebrating the opening of its newest exhibition, Space Vault, with an ‘out-of-this-world’ day filled with ‘intergalactic fun and creativity’.

Families can unleash their inner engineer via Lego Rover building workshops, get crafty with space-themed junk modelling and night-sky finger painting, or explore the cosmos-inspired sensory den.
Highly Sprung Performance will also be making an appearance with ‘The Roswells’ (pictured) - an alien family who are on the holiday of a lifetime in Great Britain, Earth...

Thinktank, Millennium Point, Birmingham, Thursday 21 August

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TELFORD BALLOON FIESTA

A weekend of aerial displays, shows, live music and family fun will be kickstarted by Night Glow on the Friday evening. The event will see a display of hot-air balloons of all shapes and sizes illuminating the night sky, accompanied by a soundtrack of music. 

Telford Town Park, Shropshire, Friday 22 - Sunday 24 August

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BIRMINGHAM WEEKENDER

Free family-friendly festival Birmingham Weekender will once again take over the city centre across the bank holiday weekend.

Produced by Birmingham Hippodrome in partnership with Bullring, this year’s programme celebrates the very best local, national and international artists. 

The festival kicks off on the Saturday with a vibrant carnival presented by ACE Dance & Music. 
Across the weekend, festival-goers can sample a varied and imaginative programme. Highlights include international productions and installations presented in partnership with Global Streets, and new national commissions from Without Walls, bringing together some of the UK’s leading outdoor artists. 

Birmingham City Centre, Saturday 23 - Monday 25 August

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SUMMER FIESTA

Weston Park’s Summer Fiesta returns for a fifth year, bringing with it a line-up of local artisan food & drink producers, unique crafts, street food, fairground rides, and live music from the Dirty Rockin Scoundrels.
The whole estate will be open to explore, offering visitors the chance to take long walks around the parkland, relax in the formal gardens, run wild in the woodland adventure playground or enjoy a journey around Temple Wood on the miniature railway.

Weston Park, Shropshire/Staffordshire border, Sunday 24 & Monday 25 August

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IKON TEXTILE FAIR

Ikon’s free-to-attend celebration of textiles from across the West Midlands offers visitors the opportunity to meet local makers and find out more about their creative practices.

Ikon Gallery, Birmingham, Monday 25 August