More Days Out News
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The return of Heritage Open Days in the Midlands
Posted on Thu 21 Aug
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The Return of Acid Beats
Posted on Wed 20 Aug
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
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, until Sunday 31 August
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
TRIALGP OF GREAT BRITAIN
The world’s most prestigious trials motorcycle championship returns at a brand-new UK venue this month, promising a weekend of elite motorsport, the chance to see world-class riders, and an opportunity to enjoy a selection of immersive fan experiences.
Highlights include demos, meet & greets and thrilling feats of balance, control, and nerve.
Boughton House Estate, Northamptonshire, Friday 5 - Sunday 7 September
THE IRONBRIDGE GORGE WORLD HERITAGE FESTIVAL
Head to the West Midlands’ very own UNESCO World Heritage Site mid-month for the 2025 edition of The Ironbridge Gorge World Heritage Festival.
Celebrating the history and culture of the town, the event features walks, art, music, poetry, walkabouts and activities for youngsters. The festival also features the return of the popular Coracle Regatta on Sunday the 14th.
Ironbridge, Shropshire, Friday 12 - Sunday 14 September
COVENTRY BRICK FESTIVAL
Coventry Brick Festival features a whole host of Lego activities for visitors to enjoy, with highlights including lightning-fast speed building competitions, inventive mosaic making, and a special minifigure hunt.
The festival also features traders selling bricks, minifigures and accessories, and new and retired Lego sets.
A unique selection of display builds and a dedicated building area - in which visitors can unleash their creativity - further add to the fun.
Coventry Building Society Arena, Saturday 13 September
WALSALL MAKERFEST
MakerFest this month returns to the heart of Walsall for a second year.
A vibrant celebration of creativity and community spirit, the event features showcases, performances, storytelling, and a full day of hands-on, family-friendly, creative workshops. An artisanal Makers’ Market and the chance for youngsters to check out a ‘magical mythical garden’ also feature.
Across Walsall Town Centre, Saturday 13 September
MEDIEVAL EXPERIENCE WEEKEND
Hear the clash of swords at Avoncroft Museum, as faction fights faction for the crown! Demonstration battles take place throughout the weekend - courtesy of The Beaufort Companye re-enactment group - while living history camps around the site offer visitors a glimpse into life as it would have been lived during the medieval period.
Avoncroft Museum, Bromsgrove, Saturday 13 & Sunday 14 September
AUTUMN STEAM GALA
A highlight of Severn Valley Railway’s 60th anniversary year is the hotly anticipated Autumn Steam Gala. Following repairs to the northern section of the line earlier in the year, guest and home locomotives will be undertaking their full journey once again.
There will be an overnight service running on the Friday and Saturday evenings, and locomotives BR Standard Class 5 73082 ‘Camelot’ and Merchant Navy 35006 ‘Peninsular and Oriental S N & Co’ will both make their inaugural visit to the railway.
Severn Valley Railway, Bewdley, Nr Kidderminster, Thursday 18 - Sunday 21 September
A PLACE IN THE SUN LIVE
If you’ve ever dreamed of relocating to sunnier climes, or maybe just owning a property overseas, that dream could well be turned into reality courtesy of A Place In The Sun Live. The UK’s largest overseas property exhibition features inspirational seminars, expert advice, appearances by the stars of the long-running Channel Four television programme, and information about a wide range of international properties.
NEC, Birmingham, Friday 19 - Sunday 21 September
BATTLE OF BRITAIN BIG WEEKEND
Remembrance and reflection come together at RAF Museum Midlands this month, as the Cosford venue marks the 85th anniversary of the Battle of Britain. Attractions across the weekend include a selection of live entertainment, a showcase of Shropshire’s makers and producers, and a range of activities for the whole family to enjoy.
Royal Air Force Museum Midlands, Cosford, Saturday 20 & Sunday 21 September
MALVERN AUTUMN SHOW
Malvern Autumn Show returns this month, offering veteran gardeners and new growers alike the chance to immerse themselves in the UK’s largest harvest-season celebration.
The show boasts supersized veg at the Guinness World Record-busting CANNA UK National Giant Vegetables Championship, floral displays from the RHS Flower Show, and guest speakers including Monty Don and Adam Frost, of Gardeners’ World fame.
New for 2025 is the inaugural Three Counties International Perry Competition, and Incredible Edibles, a vibrant and inventive installation to inspire home-grown living.
Three Counties Showground, Friday 26 - Saturday 28 September
PEAKY BLINDERS NIGHT
Peaky Blinders fans can travel back in time to the gritty industrial landscape of the 1920s at the Black Country Living Museum (BCLM) this month. Visitors are invited to don their finest threads and frocks for a night of revelry and entertainment on the popular venue’s historic cobblestone streets.
The evening includes the chance to explore ‘Charlie’s Yard’ and other BCLM locations which featured in the hit television series.
Black Country Living Museum, Dudley, Saturday 27 September and Saturday 15 November