Shakespeare Birthplace Trust is celebrating summer at Mary Arden’s Farm with two Community Open Days on Saturday 18 July and Saturday 15 August, 10am - 4pm. The Community Open Days offer an opportunity to visit the farm and historic property as well as participate in Tudor games and have fun in the playground. 

These Community Open Days have this year been supported by NFU Mutual, helping the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust ensure these affordable family events remain accessible to local communities.

Mary Arden's Farm is currently a hugely popular and successful learning centre run by the Trust, a leading education charity, ensuring thousands of Primary Schoolchildren from across the UK have meaningful first encounters with Shakespeare. Over 6,000 early years, primary and Home Educator families experienced the writer's work and life at this historic and protected site in 2025.

Shakespeare Birthplace Trust is however keen to ensure continued community access to the Farm, building on the success of the Community Days offered in 2025 which saw more than 4000 people visit, the Trust have confirmed the two dates this summer, Saturday 18 July and Saturday15 August.

On each of the Community Days, visitors will be able to enjoy hands-on craft activities, take a tour of Palmer’s Farmhouse, try Tudor games, have a go at archery, meet Shakespeare Birthplace Trust’s rare-breed farm animals throughout the day.

Mary Arden’s Farm is the childhood home of Shakespeare’s mother. Today the property is home to Shakespeare Birthplace Trust’s learning centre for primary school children bringing Shakespeare to life through award-winning programmes across the school year. 

Built by Mary’s father, Robert Arden around 1514, Mary Arden’s House has been significantly altered over time. Today, visitors to Mary Arden’s Farm can peek inside the chimney and the walls, discover how the house was built and imagine what life must have been like for Mary when she lived here with her seven sisters.

To find out more about Community Open Days at Mary Arden’s Farm and to book your place visit the website. Tickets cost £5 for adults and £1 for children.