What’s on in the summer holidays 2025 at the museums!
Here’s what families can enjoy in the summer holidays at The Commandery, Worcester City Art Gallery and Museum, and Worcestershire County Museum at Hartlebury Castle…
At Worcestershire County Museum, Hartlebury Castle
Be immersed in the Castle’s past! How would you have got along as a historic inhabitant of Hartlebury Castle?
Find out as you handle real objects from history and get dressed up, have a go at rag rugging, try boot cleaning, butter patting and more as the scullery and laundry are brought to life.
What’s on offer will vary on Tuesdays and Thursdays through the summer, so the whole family can come back again!
You can enjoy exploring the Bishop’s Palace, Worcestershire County Museum, the beautiful grounds and historic moat walk, and have fun on the woodland playground.
Drop in, included in whole-site admission. Free parking. Plan your visit and book general admission at hartleburycastle.com.
Delve into the Orchard Sandpit this summer!
Sheltered under the wooden gazebo in the Orchard Area, this sandy cove is the perfect place for children to play and grown-ups to chill out on deckchairs.
Play with sand toys and games and grab yourself an ice cream from Hayley’s Kitchen café – or tuck into your picnic after exploring the museum.
The sandpit is included in whole-site admission to Hartlebury Castle, so just dig in!
You can enjoy also exploring the Bishop’s Palace, Worcestershire County Museum, the beautiful grounds and historic moat walk, and have fun on the woodland playground.
Drop in, included in whole-site admission. Free parking. Plan your visit and book general admission at hartleburycastle.com.
Enjoy a fantastic family day out at Hartlebury Castle.
Follow the summer family trail as you experience Worcestershire’s history in the Bishop’s Palace and the County Museum in the holidays! What will you discover?
You can enjoy also exploring the Bishop’s Palace, Worcestershire County Museum, the beautiful grounds and historic moat walk, and have fun on the woodland playground.
Drop in, £1 + whole-site admission. Free parking. Plan your visit and book general admission at hartleburycastle.com.
At The Commandery
Ahoy there! ⚓ Buccaneer Bootcamp is coming to The Commandery this summer – and we need some brave, sea-faring recruits to learn the ropes!
You’ll get to swab the deck, walk the plank, and climb the rigging on the pirate obstacle course, learn how to talk like a pirate, and even load a cannon ready for battle. Make your very own parrot companion to take home with you too.
Every session ends with a drink, biscuit, and story.
Buccaneer Bootcamp is on the following Wednesdays at both 10.30am – 12noon and 1.30 – 3pm:
- 23 July
- 30 July
- 6 August
- 13 August
- 20 August
- 27 August
The Commandery is open 10am – 4pm on Wednesdays, so there’s plenty of time to explore the historic building and its gardens before or after Buccaneer Bootcamp!
Admission info
£5 per child + general admission.
General admission to The Commandery applies to all visitors and can be either booked online in advance or purchased on the day of your visit.
Enjoy a fantastic August Bank Holiday Monday at The Commandery!
Climb and slide your way through the inflatable pirate fun run in The Commandery’s gardens, and swab the deck, walk the plank, and climb the rigging on the pirate obstacle course too.
Become a pirate yourself as you make your own pirate patch, hat and puppet!
Are you brave enough to take on the special one-day-only pirate trail? It’ll take you all the way around The Commandery through different eras of history…
Admission info
£3 per child + general admission. Advanced booking is not required for this event.
General admission to The Commandery applies to all visitors and can be either booked online in advance or purchased on the day of your visit.
Head to the Plan Your Visit page for further admission options – including discounts for Worcester residents (if you pay Council Tax to Worcester City Council), season passes, and membership. These can be purchased when you visit and aren’t currently available online. Your ticket can be upgraded on the day of your visit.
Go on a quest around one of the oldest buildings in Worcester… Follow your treasure map to see if you can discover all the 3D pirate ships waiting to be found!
Then, take your sheet to the shop to receive your reward.
Admission info
£1 per child + general admission.
The Commandery is open 10am – 4pm Tuesday – Saturday and 10am – 3pm on Sunday.
General admission to The Commandery applies to all visitors and can be either booked online in advance or purchased on the day of your visit.
At Worcester City Art Gallery and Museum
Iconic children’s TV shows Art Attack and Smart kicked off in the 90s – our decade of the summer!
Inspired by them, get creative with fun family workshops at Worcester City Art Gallery and Museum.
Get messy with creating clay sculptures, construct and collage a picture frame, and make your own masterpiece using a whole variety of art materials.
Aimed at children ages 5 – 11 years old; older siblings welcome.
This workshop runs weekly through the summer holidays (from Thursday 24 July to Thursday 28 August).
Tickets are required to visit the exhibition I Grew Up 90s (a variety of ticket types available), but these workshops can be enjoyed without going into the exhibition. Free entry to the rest of Worcester City Art Gallery and Museum. Plan your visit.
Time-travel to the 90s with fun children’s activity bags this summer!
Pick up a bag from the shop and head upstairs to the Activity Space to decorate your own snap band, make a paper fortune teller, and create your own 90s-inspired collage.
Each activity bag has multiple themed activities inside along with colouring and puzzle sheets. The Art Gallery and Museum is fully equipped for young creatives to get going on their making.
Tickets are required to visit the exhibition I Grew Up 90s (a variety of ticket types available), but Bags of Fun activities can be completed without going into the exhibition. Free entry to the rest of Worcester City Art Gallery and Museum. Plan your visit.
Family Trail | What Did They Watch in the 90s? Saturday 5 July – Sunday 7 September (closed Mondays)
Find out about popular TV and film in the 90s by looking for them hidden around the Art Gallery and Museum. Next to each one will be a letter. Collect them all and try and work out what word they spell.
£1; purchase from the shop. Tickets are required to visit the exhibition I Grew Up 90s (a variety of ticket types available), but the family trail can be completed without going into the exhibition. Free entry to the rest of Worcester City Art Gallery and Museum. Plan your visit.
We’re going back to the 90s this summer at Worcester City Art Gallery and Museum with exhibition I Grew Up 90s!
That means it’s time for a party! You’ll be able to show off your best dance moves, make your own 90s-inspired badge, and take part in fun 90s party games. There are prizes to be won for best costume and dance moves. A free drink is included.
There are two parties in the summer holidays:
- Thursday 7 August
- Thursday 28 August
Aimed at under 8s; babies and crawlers are free. All children must be accompanied by an adult.
£7.50 per child (no charge for accompanying adults). Limited spaces; please book online via the link below.
Have fun!
