What’s on in the summer holidays 2026 at the museums!

54321… LAUNCH! Here’s what families can enjoy in the summer holidays at The Commandery and Worcester City Art Gallery and Museum. 🌞

At Worcester City Art Gallery and Museum

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Saturday 4 July – Sunday 6 September.

Thunderbirds and friends are coming to Worcester!

Nostalgia for the 1960s has never been stronger than in this incredible display of original puppets, models, art and memorabilia from the much-loved 1960s TV shows of Gerry and Sylvia Anderson. Relive childhood favourites Thunderbirds, Captain Scarlet, Joe 90, Stingray and more, with this unprecedented opportunity to see original puppets from the shows.

The exhibition is open Tuesday to Saturday, 10am – 4pm, and Sunday, 10am – 3pm. Last entry is one hour before closing.

Free entry, donations welcome.

Every one of your kind donations supports the Art Gallery and Museum to bring fabulous art and exhibitions to your doorstep.

This exhibition has been made possible with the support of Fanderson, The official Gerry and Sylvia Anderson Appreciation Society.

Every Thursday 23 July – 27 August, 10.30 – 11.30am | Worcester City Art Gallery and Museum

Get creative this summer at Worcester City Art Gallery and Museum with Get Arty: 3…2…1…Make!

In these fun hands-on sessions, children can design and build their own puppet characters before turning their imagination to junk modelling, creating incredible secret bases just like Tracy Island. From hidden launch pads to daring rescue HQs, every creation is unique! Perfect for young makers and storytellers.

Get Arty is on every Thursday through the summer holidays (from 23 July to 27 August), 10.30 – 11.30am.

£5.50 per child; please book via the link below. A parent or carer must stay during the session. Free entry to the Art Gallery and Museum, including summer exhibition 53421FAB!

Every Friday from 24 July to 28 August 2026, 10 – 11.30am.

FAB Fridays are here for the summer holidays!

Every week, join a hands-on creative session inspired by the world of Thunderbirds! Children will get to design and make their own puppet character before stepping into the role of director to film an action-packed mini adventure using tablets. From daring rescue missions to out-of-this-world explorations, imaginations can run wild as young creators bring their stories to life.

Perfect for budding artists, storytellers and future filmmakers, this exciting workshop is a fantastic way to make something truly FAB!

Sessions are from 10 – 11.30am every Friday in the holidays.

£5.50 per child; please book via the link below. A parent or carer must stay during the session. Free entry to the Art Gallery and Museum.

Saturday 4 July to Sunday 6 September (closed Mondays)

54321… Bags of Fun are here for the summer holidays! They’re filled with brilliant activities inspired by the summer show 54321FAB!… what will you create?

  • Make a moving robot craft with split pins to create its moving arms and legs!
  • Create a FAB solar system spinner paper plate
  • Build a rescue vehicle with moving wheels

The Art Gallery and Museum is fully equipped for young creatives to get going on their making. Each activity bag has multiple themed activities inside along with colouring and puzzle sheets.

£2.50, purchase your activity bags from the Art Gallery and Museum shop.

Open Tuesday to Saturday 10am – 4pm, and Sunday 10am – 3pm.

Free entry to the Art Gallery and Museum (closed Mondays). Plan your visit.

Saturday 4 July to Sunday 6 September (closed Mondays).

Come in, junior cadet! Follow the trail around the Art Gallery and Museum to complete the mission inspired by summer exhibition 54321FAB!, and don’t forget to collect your reward at the end…

Enjoy different activities in a countdown from 10 to take off!

You’ll fill in your ID badge, prepare the rocket, reveal a hidden message, and more.

For children under 5 years old, ask for an adapted trail so they can take part too!

£1, purchase your trail from the Art Gallery and Museum shop.

Open Tuesday to Saturday 10am – 4pm, and Sunday 10am – 3pm.

Free entry to the Art Gallery and Museum (closed Mondays and bank holidays). Plan your visit.

Thursdays 9 July, 16 July, 3 September | Worcester City Art Gallery and Museum

Introduce your little ones to creativity with smARTies – Mini Makers, especially designed for under 5s and their grown-ups.

Inspired by the summer exhibition 54321FAB!, these playful, hands-on sessions invite families to explore textures, colours and sounds as they create their own sensory control panel and mesmerising sensory bottles. ✨

Alongside the making, there’ll be a range of engaging activities to spark curiosity and imaginative play. It’s a relaxed, friendly space where little makers can discover, explore and get arty in their own unique way.

​smARTies – Mini Makers is on Thursdays 9 July, 16 July, 3 September.

£5.50 per child; please book via the link below. A parent or carer must stay during the session. Free entry to the Art Gallery and Museum.

At The Commandery

August bank holiday 26

Bank Holiday Monday 31 August 2026, 10am – 4pm.

Enjoy a fantastic Bank Holiday Monday at The Commandery!

In this fun-filled family day, see if you have what it takes in Knight School, decorate your very own shield, and explore The Commandery with the Knight’s Quest trail.

With a magnificent medieval Great Hall and original medieval wall paintings, The Commandery is the perfect setting for Worcester’s young knights to gather!

General admission applies to all visitors + £3.50 for family activities (general admission can be pre-booked; pay for activities in the shop). Last entry 3pm. Free general admission to Season and Worcester Residents’ Pass holders – ask in the shop or plan your visit to The Commandery here.

Tuesday 14 July – Sunday 30 August 2026 (closed Mondays).

Delve into a summer of medieval fun at The Commandery!

Take part in the Knight’s Quest trail, where you’ll explore the building to find all of the knight’s symbols and complete the mini challenges you find along the way.

A great family day out in Worcester – don’t forget to refuel at Little Al’s Kitchen at The Commandery, the lovely canal-side café on site.

Open Tuesday to Saturday 10am – 4pm, and Sunday 10am – 3pm.

General admission applies to all visitors + £1 per family trail (purchase trails in the shop). Free general admission to Season and Worcester Residents’ Pass holders – ask in the shop or plan your visit to The Commandery here.

Tuesday 14 July – Sunday 30 August 2026 (closed Mondays).

In the summer holidays, The Commandery is all about medieval times!

Pick up one of the Medieval Summer activity bags and head up to the craft room to get creative.

Choose from:

  • Decorate your own noble crown and sceptre
  • Create your own majestic castle
  • Decorate your own valiant 3D knight and horse

Get some inspiration from The Commandery’s magnificent medieval Great Hall and original wall paintings as you explore the museum.

Don’t forget to refuel at Little Al’s Kitchen at The Commandery, the lovely canal-side café on site.

Open Tuesday to Saturday 10am – 4pm, and Sunday 10am – 3pm.

General admission applies to all visitors + £2.50 per activity bag (purchase in the shop). Free general admission to Season and Worcester Residents’ Pass holders – ask in the shop or plan your visit to The Commandery here.

Wednesdays in term time, 10.15 – 11.30am | The Commandery

Pikelets: Tots Through Time is The Commandery’s first early years programme designed to encourage little ones to explore, play and learn.

Each week, the session will take place in a new area of the museum and gardens, with the activities tailored to the space. Be a shape detective in the Great Hall, join in a tea party in the Georgian rooms, take part in sensory scavenger hunts in the beautiful walled gardens and much more. 🌻

Pikelets: Tots Through Time has been carefully designed for crawlers to pre-school children, with fun activities each week to help develop fine motor skills, counting, play-based learning and creative thinking – all within The Commandery’s unique museum setting.

Sessions end with drink, biscuit and a story.

Facilities include a baby change, lift access, and onsite café Little Al’s at The Commandery, all in a convenient city centre location (WR1 2HU) with parking nearby. Pikelets takes place in term time only, so there is no session in the school holidays.

£5 per child (£2.50 per additional sibling).

If you wish to visit the museum after the session, you can enjoy a 50% discount on day admission (£4.50 for adult day ticket instead of £9).

Or call the telephone box office on 0333 666 3366.

Commandery Quest escape rooms

Commandery Quest escape room

The Commandery is home to two original escape rooms, here in one of Worcester’s most historic buildings…

The Commandery has centuries of history – it’s been a monastic hospital, family home, and a printworks. In this game, step into the shoes of the servants of the house in the Victorian era.

A precious vase has disappeared, and the mystery is turning the inhabitants of the house upside down as accusations fly.

The servants must catch the porcelain thief before one of them is wrongly held responsible – but is the thief a fellow servant, or could the villain be the cold, commanding housekeeper, Miss Crow?

You’ll head up to the servants’ attic rooms to complete the game – can your team solve the mystery?

Ages 12+

The Commandery is home to two original escape rooms, here in one of Worcester’s most historic buildings…

Once the Royalist headquarters during the English Civil War, The Commandery is rumoured to be where an important object was hidden on the eve of the Battle of Worcester…

Now the museum curators need to find the artefact before infamous thief Arty Snitch, who is determined to find the treasure for himself.

Recently, Arty has struck at some of the most high-profile museums and galleries across Europe and we believe he’s now after the famous Great Seal of King Charles II, said to have been hidden right here in 1651.

Climb up to the museum attic with your team to solve challenges from different periods of history and complete the escape room game.

Ages 12+

Have fun! 

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