YES FAM! SUMMER HOLIDAYS – MEGA EDITION
Want to see what’s in store for the fam this summer in Surrey? From holiday camps and workshops to outdoor theatre and fun in the sun – we’ve got the goods. So get in the mood and find out some of the best days out for the family this August.
PAINSHILL ART TRAIL / JULY 22 – SEPTEMBER 9 / PAINSHILL PARK, COBHAM
This summer, artwork, old and new, featuring Painshill will be displayed around the landscape. Stroll around the art trail and discover giant gold frames positioned in front of famous Painshill views. Take a selfie and immerse yourself in a ‘living work of art’. Activity sheets will be available for families to pick up from the visitor centre, with some fun ideas for kids to get involved.
For more information, visit painshill.co.uk
MARVELLOUS INVENTIONS / JULY 22 – SEPTEMBER 2 / BROOKLANDS MUSEUM, WEYBRIDGE
Get your motors running and head for the home of British Motorsport, Brooklands Museum, for a summer of marvellous inventions. Take part in family craft workshops and wander the Discovery Trail to learn about fantastic machines.
For more information, visit brooklandsmuseum.com
SUMMER OF PLAY / JULY 22 – 31 / POLESDEN LACEY, HATCHLANDS PARK, CLAREMONT LANDSCAPE GARDENS
Beginning this July, select National Trust sites throughout Surrey will play host to a Summer of Play. Enjoy bowling, archery, boating and much more. The perfect day out for the whole family.
For more information, visit nationaltrust.org.uk
WILD LEARNING / JULY 26 – AUGUST 30 / CLAREMONT, WINKWORTH, ALICE HOLT, WIMBLEDON
Get wild and enjoy a summer of wild learning. Think den building, rope swings, pirate rafts, hills to run up and down, and much fun. Limited spaces are available; book online pronto.
For more information, visit wild-learning.net
SUMMER YOUTH PROJECT – BUGSY MALONE / JULY 31 – AUGUST 12 / G LIVE, GUILDFORD
Ready for summer fun? This two-week summer project provides young performers aged 8-17 years old with the chance to tread the boards at a venue that’s hosted the biggest stars in show business. With THREE full-scale performances in G Live’s main auditorium with the help of a professional creative team, enjoy a creative summer holiday performing a classic.
For more information, visit glive.co.uk
CHILDREN’S YOGA CLASSES / JULY 31 – AUGUST 21 / SHP HEALTH, DORKING
Bend, and stretch this summer with these awesome Yoga Classes for kids courtesy of the fine folk at SHP Health in Dorking. For kids aged 6 – 10, enjoy a 45-minute session where you’ll gently playfully explore yoga. With songs, games and themes to bring the practice of yoga to life – book online.
For more information, visit shphealth.co.uk
PLAY IN A WEEK HOLIDAY CLUB / JULY 31 – AUGUST 4 / GREEN ARK, GUILDFORD
For aspiring actors and young Thespians, lay your part in this Play In A Week! Hosted by the highly acclaimed Guildford Shakespeare Company, kids aged 7 – 13 can sign up for this five-day course, whereby you’ll learn and perform a classic in the form of A Midsummer Night’s Dream.
For more information, visit Guildford-shakespeare-company.co.uk
SUMMER SCHOOLS: PLAY IN A WEEK / JULY 31 – SEPTEMBER 3 / ROSE THEATRE, KINGSTON
Rose Theatre in Kingston welcomes back young creatives for their hugely popular Youth Theatre Summer Schools. Choose from Three-Day Courses for 7-10-year-olds for an action-packed time with drama-based games and activities, culminating in a short piece of theatre for families. For 11-18 year olds, choose from five Plays in a Week which will see you take an entire play from page to stage in just six days. Wowzers.
For more information, visit rosetheatre.org
SUNFLOWER SUMMER SCHOOL HOLIDAYS / AUGUST 1 – 25 / WEST HORSLEY PLACE
Fancy a sunflower kind of summer? The historic setting of West Horsley Place will be providing little ones with oodles of creative play this month. With different themes and activities available every week, spend time creating, exploring the great outdoors, discovering new stories and getting lost (hopefully not) in the giant sunflower maze.
For more information, visit westhorsleyplace.org
SUMMER FAMILY FUN FESTIVAL / AUGUST 1 – 6 / THE LIGHTBOX, WOKING
The popular Summer Family Fun Festival returns to The Lightbox with a week of creative activities to spark imaginations during the summer holidays, including National Play Day. The Café will be serving family-friendly options for appetites of all sizes with ice creams to keep cool. Expect free drop-in sessions and creative play aplenty.
For more information, visit thelightbox.org.uk
SUMMER HOLIDAY WORKSHOPS + FREE FAMILY FUN DAY / AUGUST 1 – 10 / YVONNE ARNAUD THEATRE, GUILDFORD
Guildford’s Yvonne Arnaud has plenty of things to do for the kids this summer. With a range of creative workshops to sign up to, this is your chance to earn all about the wonderful world of theatre. From puppetry and directing to drama camp and sound design, get tips from those in the know and take your stage skills to the next level. Fancy some Free Family fun? Taking place on August 3, drop in and enjoy some summer family fun. With free craft activities, dressing up, a summer-themed scavenger hunt, outdoor chalk art, face painting* and cooling refreshments available from the Riverbank Kitchen – this is one oasis of fun you won’t want to miss! This is a free drop-in event, so there is no need to book.
For more information, visit yvonne-arnaud.co.uk
HENRY VIII’S JOUST / AUGUST 2 – 6 / HAMPTON COURT PALACE
History’s most thrilling sport returns to its celebrated home of Hampton Court Palace this summer holiday. Be dazzled by a real Tudor joust at the home of Henry VIII – a famous jouster himself. You may even glimpse him participating in the event! Pick your favourite knight and cheer, jeer and follow all the fun of an epic face-off until one knight reigns supreme.
For more information, visit hrp.org.uk
BAD DAD / AUGUST 2 + 26 / WEST HORSLEY PLACE
Join Heartbreak Productions for this warm-hearted tale that follows the highs and lows of a father-son relationship. An open-air adaptation of David Walliams’s Bad Dad is the perfect summer family entertainment. So, pack your picnics, grab your wet weather gear or sun-cream (or both), something to sit on, and join Frank and Gilbert as they navigate their way through car chases and convicts in the struggle to escape the clutches of the local crime lord and clear Gilbert’s name.
For more information, visit westhorsleyplace.org
SUNSET SKYWALK / AUGUST 3 / SKYWALK ADVENTURE, ESHER
Enjoy a family treetop adventure with this sunset skywalk in Esher. Climb across cargo nets high in the sky, steady yourself on the swinging logs and zip-line at speed through the surrounding trees for an adrenaline-packed afternoon.
For more information, visit skywalkadventure.co.uk
FUN TIME THURSDAY / 10, 17, 24 + AUGUST 31 / URBAN PARKLET, PHOENIX COURT, GUILDFORD
Fancy some freemium entertainment? Head for Phoenix Court in Guildford’s Town Centre for this Free Fun Time Thursday event hosted by Experience Guildford. Get creative with the make-and-take session, where you’ll make crystal bracelets and do some rock painting. just pop down from 11am – 3pm for some free fun with the little ones.
For more information, visit experienceguildford.com
DISNEY’S WINNIE THE POOH / AUGUST 11 – 13 / YVONNE ARNAUD THEATRE, GUILDFORD
Disney’s iconic Winnie the Pooh, Christopher Robin and their best friends Piglet, Eeyore, Kanga, Roo, Rabbit, and Owl (oh… and don’t forget Tigger too!) have come to life in a beautifully crafted musical stage adaptation. Featuring the Sherman Brothers’ classic Grammy Award-winning music with further songs by A.A. Milne, this beautiful fresh stage adaptation is told with stunning life-sized puppetry through the eyes of the characters we all know and love in a new story from the Hundred Acre Wood.
For more information, visit yvonne-arnaud.co.uk
OUTDOOR THEATRE: ARBOR / AUGUST 20 + 27 / THE OLD FORT, BOX HILL
Enjoy free theatre performances set against the backdrop of the Surrey Hills. Created by award-winning puppetry and theatre company Smoking Apples, Arbor tells the story of a tree pushed from his home and his fight to preserve his future. A visually stunning show with lots of loveable puppets.
For more information, visit nationaltrust.org.uk
FIREMAN SAM SAVES THE CIRCUS / AUGUST 21 – 28 / ROSE THEATRE, KINGSTON
Everyone’s favourite firefighter, Firman Sam, arrives live at Kingston’s Rose Theatre this month, read for action and ready to save the day! Expect naughty Norman Price to be causing mischief once more as he decides to become the star of the show when the circus comes to town. Safe to say, Norman may not get his way. Join Sam, Penny, Elvis, Station Officer Steele and Norman in this all-singing, all-dancing action-packed show for the whole family.
For more information, visit rosetheatre.org
WIND IN THE WILLOWS / AUGUST 22 / WEST HORSLEY PLACE
Fancy a spot of open-air theatre with the family this summer? Set in the sumptuous environs of West Horsley Place, sit back and enjoy the classic tale of Wind in the Willows. Join Mole, Ratty and Badger on their mad-cap adventures in this heart-warming tale of friendship, mishap and mayhem in Quantum Theatre’s brand new adaptation of Kenneth Grahame’s family favourite.
For more information, visit westhorsleyplace.org
HORRIBLE HISTORIES: BARMY BRITAIN / AUGUST 22 / G LIVE, GUILDFORD
We all want to meet people from history. The trouble is everyone is dead! So Barmy Britain is back with the hit West End show, full of crazy new characters and rude new rulers from Britain’s barmy past! Will you be conquered by William? Will you sink or swim with King Henry I? Go house hunting with Henry VIII! Join the gorgeous Georgians as they take over England! Break into Buckingham Palace and hide from Queen Victoria! Britain’s favourite history show is back! It’s history with the nasty bits left in!
For more information, visit glive.co.uk
DRAGONS & MYTHICAL BEASTS / AUGUST 22 – 24 / NEW VICTORIA THEATRE, WOKING
Calling all brave heroes! Unveil a myriad of dark secrets and come face to face with some of the most magnificent monsters and terrifying beasts ever to walk the earth at Woking’s New Victoria Theatre this month. Discover the colossal Stone Troll, the mysterious Indrik and Japanese Baku, the Tooth Fairy (not as sweet as you’d think), an adorable Unicorn and majestic Griffin. Take your place among legendary heroes; just don’t wake the Dragon…
For more information, visit atgtickets.com/woking
MILKSHAKE / AUGUST 23 / G LIVE, GUILDFORD
Get a ticket quick for a mega day with the Milkshake gang at Guildord’s G Live this month. Milkshake Monkey is back and can’t wait to put on a spectacular new Show for you all, joined by some of his favourite Milkshake friends plus two Milkshake Presenters creating the most dazzling show you have ever seen! Join Paddington Bear, Daisy and Ollie, Milo, Noddy, Pip & Posy, Blues Clues & You and of course Milkshake Monkey for an unforgettable family time at Milkshake Monkey’s Musical!
For more information, visit glive.co.uk
OUTDOOR THEATRE: THE UGLY DUCKLING / AUGUST 26 / PAINSHILL PARK, COBHAM
When a mother duck’s eggs hatch and one duckling looks different from all the rest, the other ducklings laugh and make fun of him. The awkward little bird sets off on his own and is met with hecklers, hunters, and bad weather. Come and help him along on his journey, filled with live music, puppetry and colourful characters. Will the ugly duckling find his place in the world and discover true happiness? Bring along your picnics, folding chairs and friends and family to enjoy this wonderful open-air, family musical!
For more information, visit painshill.co.uk
BLIPPI – THE WONDERFUL WORLD TOUR / AUGUST 29 – SEPTEMBER 9 / ROSE THEATRE, KINGSTON
B L I P P I – It’s Blippi! The hugely popular character Blippi is coming to Kingston’s Rose Theatre as part of his world tour this summer, and you’re invited. So get in your excavator and make your way to meet Blippi and all his friends for a magical afternoon of song, dance, learning and playing.
For more information, visit rosetheatre.org
TALES FROM ACORN WOOD / AUGUST 31 / G LIVE, GUILDFORD
Based on the favourite stories by Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler. Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler’s beloved Tales from Acorn Wood stories are brought to life on stage for the first time in an enchanting lift-the-flap experience. Packed full of toe-tapping songs, puppetry, and all the friends from Acorn Wood, this beautiful show from the team that brought you Dear Zoo Live and Dear Santa promises to be the perfect end-of-summer holiday treat for children of all ages.
For more information, visit glive.co.uk
XTREME ACTIVATE HOLIDAY CAMP / SPECTRUM LEISURE COMPLEX, GUILDFORD
From family days out to week-long holiday camps, let the kids loose at Guildford Spectrum. Enjoy early drop-off and late pick-up times with the Extreme Activate Xtra Camp, where kids get to try out a range of activities, including arts and crafts, swimming, ice skating, bowling and more – or simply spend a day out as a family and enjoy the wealth of leisure facilities all under one roof.
For more information, visit guildfordspectrum.co.uk