Our Santa experience will fill you with festive cheer!
Santa will welcome you to his sleigh lodge on level 3 of the shopping centre. He will show you a safety video and then take you through to the Virtual Reality Sleigh Ride…
Once on board, led by our very own D.A.S.H, you’ll be transported across the globe (and even into space!) as we give the sleigh a trial flight before Christmas Eve. Hold on to your hats and antlers everyone, this could be a bumpy ride…
After the ride the children will chat with Santa for a few minutes and each child will receive a advent themed book.
Seating up to 8 people, this virtual reality experience offers a perfect family attraction during the festive period!
Housed in Santa’s sleigh lodge on level three of the shopping centre, once aboard, you’ll be seamlessly transported into the virtual launch bay using our HD VR headsets. Your intrepid journey will soon begin, along with the incredible range of motions our sleigh has to offer; two front fans and surround sound for a fully immersive 4D experience. Tilting forwards, backwards and side to side, the sleigh’s movements have been specially designed to mirror those of the full 360 degree experience, creating a truly festive feast for the eyes!
This will hold up to 8 riders. for example, up to 4 adults and 4 children, or up to 6 adults etc.
Book your tickets now: https://www.westorchards.co.uk/events/meet-santa-magical-vr-sleigh-ride/
Join us for KIDS HALLOWEEN from October 28th to 31st. Choose from two exciting time slots: 5-7pm or 7-9pm. Pre-booking is a must!
Experience:
• Monster Marquee filled with Inflatable Fun
• Ghoulish Games & Prizes hosted by live characters
• Spooky Train Ride through enchanted woods to discover the secret witches’ lair
Hungry? Enjoy onsite food or reserve a table at the Quicken Tree.
Tickets:
• £15 per child
• £5 per adult
Don’t miss out—book your spooky adventure now!
We’re celebrating our 25th Birthday and you’re all invited!
We’ve got party games, face painting and craft activities, plus we’re giving away lots of prizes!
Join us for some FREE family fun and help us to make our birthday one to remember…
19th Oct – 11am till 3pm
Nick Cope has been writing and recording his beautiful and totally unique songs for children and their families for over 10 years, he performs with his guitar and stunning animations to sell-out crowds all over the country. His fanatical following of little and not so little fans has grown immeasurably over the last couple of years due to the phenomenal success of the CBeebies show ‘Nick Cope’s Popcast’, now in its third series.
Nick has a magical way of reaching into people’s hearts, igniting children’s imagination in an organic, unpatronizing, educational and fun way.
With his charming songs and humour Nick engages, entertains, and enthrals all generations of the family.
Nick’s live performances are legendary and appeal to children and adults alike. If you haven’t heard his songs or seen his shows before, come along and find out what you’ve been missing.
Get ready for a spooktacular science adventure at FarGo Village this Halloween half-term! On the 30th of October 2024, join us for a fun-filled STEM workshop where kids can unleash their inner scientists with some Halloween magic. Bought to you by STEM Goes Wild and Sugar and Spice
No tricks just treats at West Orchards this Halloween.
Join on Thursday 31st October for FREE face painting for 10-2pm.
Plus watch out for spooky friends who will handing out treats.
Coventry Start for Life are hosting a special event during Baby Week which will feature a diverse array of activities for babies and their parents.
Drop In | FREE
For ages 0-4, but all are welcome
Coventry Start for Life are hosting Baby Week, bringing together professionals from across a range of different services who will be on hand to give advice and demonstrations across the day to new and expectant parents.
The event looks to celebrate and raise awareness about the importance of early childhood with fun play, baby massage, musical babies, sensory play, infant feeding, and perinatal mental health advice.
Taking place on 16th November, 2024, this event will feature a diverse array of activities designed for babies and their parents and caregivers, underlining the immense importance of the first 1,001 days of a child’s life – from conception to age two. This critical period lays the foundation for emotional and physical well-being, significantly impacting children’s futures.
With health visitors and midwifery present on the day, the event is the place to be if you and or your partner is pregnant or have a baby. Dads are welcome too!
Join us as we look to celebrate giving babies the best start for life and making Coventry the best place for children to grow up in.
Meet Santa, ride his sleigh and make family memories to cherish!
BOOKING COMING SOON
Wander through a magical winter wonderland and snowy scenes before taking a ride on Coventry famous and enchanting vintage sleigh, pulled by two trusty reindeer. Your next stop? Lapland. Write your Christmas wish list, meet Santa in his festive grotto, tell him your Christmas wishes and collect your bespoke gift from a North pole elf.
What to Expect This Year:
Vintage Sleigh Ride
Meet Santa
Visit Santa’s workshop for some fun festive activities
Free admission to the museum for the day
Ticket holders will receive a small gift (excluding babes in arms without a separate ticket and accompanying adults)
Our award-winning Warwick Christmas Lectures return! Join Ally Caldecote and some of our favourite scientists from the University of Warwick who are leaving their labs to entertain, inspire and amaze audiences. Bring your family and friends, pull on your festive jumper and join us for an evening of mind-boggling science and explosive experiments!
We’ll have Live Labs with Warwick Institute of Engagement in our foyer spaces from 6pm, so you can get up close and hands on with real-life science before the Christmas Lectures begin.
A joyful story of star-crossed aliens.A stellar new show based on the book by Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler
Soar into space with this exciting adaptation of the award-winning book by Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler – also seen in the BBC TV animation on Christmas Day 2022.
On a far-off planet, Smeds and Smoos can’t be friends. So when a young Smed and Smoo fall in love and zoom off into space together, how will their families get them back?
Music, laughs and interplanetary adventures for everyone aged 3 and up, from Tall Stories – the company that brought you The Gruffalo and Room on the Broom live on stage.
A joyful story of star-crossed aliens.A stellar new show based on the book by Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler
Soar into space with this exciting adaptation of the award-winning book by Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler – also seen in the BBC TV animation on Christmas Day 2022.
On a far-off planet, Smeds and Smoos can’t be friends. So when a young Smed and Smoo fall in love and zoom off into space together, how will their families get them back?
Music, laughs and interplanetary adventures for everyone aged 3 and up, from Tall Stories – the company that brought you The Gruffalo and Room on the Broom live on stage.
Schools Perfomance Dates:26 – 28 November 20242 – 5 December 20249 – 12 December 202416 – 19 December 2024
A joyful story of star-crossed aliens is coming to Warwick Arts Centre this Christmas!Soar into space for your festive family treat with this exciting adaptation of the award-winning book by Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler – as seen in the popular 2022 BBC TV Christmas animation.
On a far-off planet, Smeds and Smoos can’t be friends. So, when a young Smed and Smoo fall in love and zoom off into space together, how will their families get them back?
Music, laughs and interplanetary adventures for everyone aged 3 and up, from Tall Stories – the company that brought you The Gruffalo and Room on the Broom live on stage.
Schools Performance Dates:26 – 28 November 20242 – 5 December 20249 – 12 December 202416 – 19 December 2024
Coombe Abbey Winter Light Trail 2024
The spectacular, illuminated trail, full of wonder and intrigue, returns in 2024 to delight and enthral your senses.
As darkness descends, join us on our enchanting journey, as we weave a captivating light trail through the stunning, historic grounds of Coombe Abbey Park. Immerse yourself in our mesmerising mile long trail, with stunning lighting elements and fabulous light play, all set to music.
A timeless experience to be enjoyed by all, young and old alike. Re-imagined with new creative designs for 2024.
Tasty hot food and drink will be available at the start & end of the trail. Along the path you will find marshmallow for toasting on our fire pits.
Dates & Times
30th November – 31st December 2024
Entry times: 4.30pm to 8pm
The trail will take approximately 60 – 90 minutes.
Join us for extra special Sensory Stories & Rhymes sessions this December.
Book Online Below | £1.50 per child, including babies | Accompanying adults are free and do not need to book a ticket
Sensory Stories & Rhymes: Christmas Story Special
Tuesday 10 December | 10.30am – 11.00am & 11.30am – 12.00pm & 1pm – 1.30pm | For ages 0-4 | Book Online
Join us for an extra special Sensory Stories & Rhymes session, as we retell the classic story ‘The Night Before Christmas’ for our under 5’s audience. We will be exploring this story with our usual sensory play-based approach, providing an opportunity for our youngest visitors to engage with this festive classic in a way that is meaningful to them.
The hands-on nature of these sessions appeal to their imaginations and above all else is fun. Each child will receive a sensory play box, containing freshly cleaned sensory resources, which helps to keep them engaged for the duration of the session; adds context by using a physical object to give words meaning; extends learning through play and increases their opportunities to develop good listening and language skills.
This session will take place in the Covered Court area of the museum, which is the first space you enter as you visit the museum.
Don’t forget your Christmas jumpers, and we will even treat the grown-ups to 10% off in the café too so you can meet with friends for a pre-Christmas coffee and catch up.
Sensory Stories & Rhymes: Santa Sing-Along Special
Tuesday 17 December | 10.30am – 11.00am & 11.30am – 12.00pm & 1pm – 1.30pm | For ages 0-4 | Book Online
Join us for our favourite Sensory Stories & Rhymes session of the year, as we welcome a very special visitor from the North Pole! That’s right, Santa Claus will be taking time out from his busy schedule to come and sing-along with us to some of our favourite Christmas nursery rhymes. We will be exploring these songs with our usual sensory play-based approach, providing an opportunity for our youngest visitors to engage with this festive classic in a way that is meaningful to them.
The hands-on nature of these sessions appeal to their imaginations and above all else is fun. Each child will receive a sensory play box, containing freshly cleaned sensory resources, which helps to keep them engaged for the duration of the session; adds context by using a physical object to give words meaning; extends learning through play and increases their opportunities to develop good listening and language skills.
This session will take place in the Covered Court area of the museum, which is the first space you enter as you visit the museum.
Don’t forget your Christmas jumpers, and we will even treat the grown-ups to 10% off in the café too so you can meet with friends for a pre-Christmas coffee and catch up.
Create soft snowy paper snowflakes, colourful paper polar bear sculptures, or explore other wintry possibilities.
Drop In | £2.50 Per Child, Under 3s FREE
For ages 3+, but all are welcome.
Spaces are available on a first come, first serve basis.
Join us for a relaxing winter gathering with your family. Create soft snowy paper snowflakes, colourful paper polar bear sculptures, or explore other wintry possibilities. We’ll use various paper types and both classic and modern folding techniques. Bring your creations to life with vibrant colours and embellishments.
Take home these delightful art decorations or share them as keepsakes for loved ones. We provide simple designs for younger children and more challenging options for older children and adults, ensuring there’s something enjoyable for everyone.
A series of workshops that explores use of physical programming in modern vehicles.
Book Via the Form Below | £50 Per Child Per Workshop Series*
*The workshop series includes 6 two hour sessions. Attendees must commit to at least 4 out of 6 sessions.
For Ages 7-11
A series of workshops that explores use of physical programming in modern vehicles. Across the 6 sessions we will develop our programming skills with the use of Microbits and Crumble kits, creating functioning hardware to improve safety in cars and making self-driving cars.
Throughout the course of completing the workshop series, your children will be working towards their CREST award – a scheme that encourages children to think and behave like scientists and future engineers: CREST Awards.
The themes of the workshop series are:
Wednesday 5 February
An introduction to physical programming. In this session we will work through a number of short tasks and games to familiarise ourselves with the use of Microbits and Crumble.
Wednesday 12 February
Explore the use of physical programming to create sensors that can read and calculate distance and speed. In this session we will use Microbits to create a tool that can use the rotation of a wheel to calculate the speed of a moving vehicle and to read the distance it has travelled while moving.
Wednesday 19 February
Explore the use of physical programming to create safety and security features for a car. In this session we will use Microbits to create alarm systems for a car door, product testing each other’s designs to see who can create the most thief proof car alarm.
Wednesday 26 February
Combine your design and programming skills to create your own miniature electric vehicle with automated parking manoeuvres. In this session we will be using Polydron building sets to design and build our own model cars and adding motorised wheels and Crumble boards to develop algorithms that allow the cars to parallel park themselves.
Wednesday 5 March
Further explore the use of physical programming to create safety and security features for a car. In this session we will look at the use of light sensors to create safety features and control car movement.
Wednesday 12 March
Explore the use of physical programming to create a maze solving robot. In this session we will combine our Polydron building sets with the physical programming components of Crumble to attempt to create automated vehicles that can find their way through a maze.
FAQ’s:
Can my child attend the workshop on their own?
Yes. While we are happy for you to attend the workshop with your child, all of our facilitators and workshop leads are DBS checked and your child will be in a safe space throughout the workshop. If you and your child choose to attend the workshop on their own, we kindly ask you to remain in the building for the duration of the workshop.
Can I bring a younger sibling, age 0-5?
Each Wednesday we are running our free Mini Museum Engineers play sessions which would be a perfect space for your youngest to engage with STEM concepts in a playful and explorative way – while your 7-11 year-old attends their own workshop.
What if I think my child of 5-6 or 11+ year old would be interested in the workshop?
We believe that you know your children best and will evaluate whether this workshop is the right fit for them. Our facilitators are specialists in making any content meaningful to each ability but do get in touch if you have questions about the content and resources that are used during the workshops.
(Email our Family Learning Coordinator Anja Keitel-Campsall anja@cvlife.co.uk)
Booking Form:
If you would like to booking a place on our workshop series, please fill out the form below. One of the team will then contact you to arrange a time to make the payment over the phone.
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They’re funny… they’re silly… and they’re really, really bad. Meet the very worst Baddies in the world! Don’t you dare to come too close to a witch, a troll and an ancient ghost!
The Baddies love being bad. They roar, spook and cast wicked spells to try and scare a girl out of her wits…who will succeed? Or perhaps the girl is braver than they think…
With songs by Joe Stilgoe (Zog and Zog and The Flying Doctors), The Baddies is a wickedly hilarious adaptation of Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler’s smash-hit story. A laugh-out-loud riot for all the family.
Enter the world of wickedness and charm at the Villains Afternoon Tea event in the Grand Ballroom at the Grand Hotel Birmingham! Join us for an afternoon filled with dark delights, devious characters, and live entertainment that will send shivers down your spine.
Meet infamous villains, indulge in devilishly delicious afternoon tea treats, and enjoy activities such as eerie dances and sinister photo opportunities that will make your experience truly unforgettable.
Get ready to cackle, dance, and create spine-chilling memories with your loved ones in this one-of-a-kind event!
Don’t miss this unique opportunity to embrace the dark side and have a wickedly good time. Secure your tickets now and prepare for a thrilling adventure at the Grand Hotel Birmingham!
Enter the world of wickedness and charm at the Villains Afternoon Tea event in the Grand Ballroom at the Grand Hotel Birmingham! Join us for an afternoon filled with dark delights, devious characters, and live entertainment that will send shivers down your spine.
Meet infamous villains, indulge in devilishly delicious afternoon tea treats, and enjoy activities such as eerie dances and sinister photo opportunities that will make your experience truly unforgettable.
Get ready to cackle, dance, and create spine-chilling memories with your loved ones in this one-of-a-kind event!
Don’t miss this unique opportunity to embrace the dark side and have a wickedly good time. Secure your tickets now and prepare for a thrilling adventure at the Grand Hotel Birmingham!
Enter the world of wickedness and charm at the Villains Afternoon Tea event in the Grand Ballroom at the Grand Hotel Birmingham! Join us for an afternoon filled with dark delights, devious characters, and live entertainment that will send shivers down your spine.
Meet infamous villains, indulge in devilishly delicious afternoon tea treats, and enjoy activities such as eerie dances and sinister photo opportunities that will make your experience truly unforgettable.
Get ready to cackle, dance, and create spine-chilling memories with your loved ones in this one-of-a-kind event!
Don’t miss this unique opportunity to embrace the dark side and have a wickedly good time. Secure your tickets now and prepare for a thrilling adventure at the Grand Hotel Birmingham!
Enter the world of wickedness and charm at the Villains Afternoon Tea event in the Grand Ballroom at the Grand Hotel Birmingham! Join us for an afternoon filled with dark delights, devious characters, and live entertainment that will send shivers down your spine.
Meet infamous villains, indulge in devilishly delicious afternoon tea treats, and enjoy activities such as eerie dances and sinister photo opportunities that will make your experience truly unforgettable.
Get ready to cackle, dance, and create spine-chilling memories with your loved ones in this one-of-a-kind event!
Don’t miss this unique opportunity to embrace the dark side and have a wickedly good time. Secure your tickets now and prepare for a thrilling adventure at the Grand Hotel Birmingham!
Enjoy Disney’s Coco on our giant screen with a spooktacular children’s disco!
Our DJ will be spinning the best pop hits and spooky tunes for littles one to dance along to. And as they bust their moves, grown-ups can relax in our adjoining bar area with a drink. There will also be a colouring in stations, dance competitions and prizes for the best-dressed!
Then it will be time to experience Coco as never before – on Birmingham’s biggest screen! The enchanting Disney Pixar film follows aspiring musician Miguel, alongside charming trickster Hector, on an extraordinary journey through the Land of the Dead to find his musical hero.
Dedicated to our 11 – 16-year-olds, our MiCLab Holiday Clubs invite those who are curious about STEM and are looking for a whole day-experience of getting hands-on with specially designed STEM activities.
Book Online* | £16.98 Per Child**
*When following the link, you will be directed to our Eventbrite site where you can finalise your booking.
**The price includes booking fees, refreshments and admission to the museum.
Dedicated to our 11 – 16-year-olds, our MiCLab Holiday Club invites those who are curious about STEM subjects and are looking for a whole day-experience of getting hands-on with specially designed STEM activities.
With activities such as coding, making and testing their creative innovations, our MiCLab Holiday Club participants are learning to collaborate and communicate their ideas, consider content, develop critically thinking skills and become more confident with STEM subjects while spending time with likeminded people in a safe and comfortable space.
Children bring their own lunches. However, snacks, water and squash are provided throughout the day.
Parents are not required to stay. All our Learning Team staff carry up to date enhanced DBS checks.
Please make us aware of additional needs, anxieties or concerns you may have on behalf of your children, so we can ensure we are providing the best care and activity suited to their unique traits.
To discuss further, please contact our Family Learning Co-ordinator, Anja: anja@cvlife.co.uk
Cathedral Ruins 1pm & 4pm (25 mins) FREE
Six virtuosic dancers from Stopgap, the renowned integrated dance company joyously celebrate difference and identity in a tour de force performance. Frocks, suits and teacups collide in a celebration of love, relationships and fluidity… to an original punk soundtrack.
Frock is supported by Arts Council England and Without Walls.
Celebrities from the world of sport and TV will take to the fairway when The Farmfoods British Par 3 Championship returns to Nailcote Hall in Warwickshire from 6–9 August 2024.
Tickets to watch the four-day event are free to the general public. To secure your tickets for this year’s event, register at https://britishpar3.com/contact-us/
Two-time major winner and World Golf Hall of Famer Tony Jacklin CBE will once again be hosting the Championship this year, joined by other major winners in Ian Woosnam OBE, Michael Campbell and Paul Lawrie OBE.
Stars from the sporting field and screen will compete alongside the professionals, including Bob Champion CBE, cricketer Matthew Hoggard MBE, athlete Kriss Akabusi MBE, and former Scotland football internationals Alan McInally and Gordon Strachan OBE.
Other familiar faces expecting to appear at the tournament include ex professional footballers Jay Bothroyd, Lee Hendrie and Rob Lee, alongside Eastenders actor Danny Walters, Rugby Union icon Mark Regan and actor and TV farmer Kelvin Fletcher. They will be joined by former Wales and Manchester City manager Mark Hughes, former Team GB athletes Gail Emms MBE and Calum Giles, as well as renowned BBC broadcaster John Inverdale and darts legend Keith Deller.
Dare to experience the dangers and delights of Dinosaur World Live in this roarsome interactive show for all the family!Grab your compass and join our intrepid explorer across uncharted territories to discover a pre-historic world of astonishing (and remarkably life-like) dinosaurs. Meet a host of impressive creatures, including every child’s favourite flesh-eating giant, the Tyrannosaurus Rex, a Triceratops, Giraffatitan, Microraptor and Segnosaurus!
A special meet and greet after the show offers all our brave explorers the chance to make a new dinosaur friend.
Don’t miss this fun, entertaining and mind-expanding Jurassic adventure, live on stage.
Book now before tickets become extinct!
Join us for two days of diverse local live music, featuring classic tunes across a variety of genres, as we celebrate our 10th birthday weekend
Expect all the FarGo Vibes, Street Food, Live Music and Performances.
We are excited to welcome Highly Sprung, Stilt Man, Do Touch Monsters and The Last Baguette Street Theatre Company who will all be bringing entertaining performances and installations for families
What’s going on?
To celebrate our 10th Birthday and as part of our Lets Move weekend, join us for a groovy roller disco partay!
We are partnering with local company Skatehouse for a fun filled family day
So get your skates on and join us!
Join us and our STEM experts for fun filled days of Science, Technology, Engineering and Math that may or may not include exciting activities.
Book Online | £16.98 (including fees) Per Person*
*Price includes lunch and admission to the museum
Aimed at ages 11-16 but all are welcome
Our MiCLab Youth Club days are back. We are inviting your 11–16-year-olds to join us and our STEM experts for fun filled days of Science, Technology, Engineering and Math that may or may not include activities but will most definitely include a friendly atmosphere, huge amounts of knowledge and lunch.
These full day workshops include a hot lunch, snacks and drinks for participants. Parents are not required to stay, but are welcome to should they wish to/their child needs their support.
FULL PROGRAMME:
Tuesday 6 August: Engineering for Speed with Rob Bennett
Uncover the engineering and scientific concepts around the fastest vehicles at Coventry Transport Museum and find out how we got there. Challenge your engineering skills and enjoy the process of designing, constructing, testing and improving your own fast vehicle (model).
Wednesday 7 August: Warwick Manufacturing Group
Join the WMG team to experiment and understand turtlestitch embroidery and take home your own coded piece of embroidery.
Thursday 8 August: Warwick Manufacturing Group
The team are adding even more opportunities to test STEM concepts. Enjoy a day of expert knowledge, experiments and hands-on activities.
Tuesday 13 August: Coventry Transport Museum Learning Team
Combine your design and programming skills to create your own miniature electric vehicle with automated parking maneuvers. In this session we will be using Polydron building sets to design and build our own model cars and adding motorised wheels and Crumble boards to develop algorithms that allow the cars to parallel park themselves.
Wednesday 14 August: Coventry Transport Museum Learning Team
Explore the use of physical programming to create sensors that can read and calculate distance and speed. In this session we will use Micro:bits to create a tool that can use the rotation of a wheel to calculate the speed of a moving vehicle and to read the distance it has travelled while moving.
Thursday 15 August: The City is Full of Noises | Beginner Modular Music Making
Are you interested in creating electronic music using your hands rather than a computer? The City Full of Noises team – in collaboration with Frequency Central – has created a workshop to allow you to learn more about how analogue musical synthesis works and try out a multitude of racks and modules.
Tuesday 20 August: Engineering for Safety with Rob Bennett
Going fast is optional, stopping is compulsory” (Andy Green)Explore the development of safety features through our collection and get hands on with objects from our collection to figure out mechanisms. This workshop will explore how an understanding of physical forces and material science supported safety features and innovation of vehicles. Theory will become practice with a hands-on maker and testing session to conclude the day.
Wednesday 21 August: Coventry Transport Museum Learning Team | Coding Skills and Physical Programming With The Coventry Transport Museum Learning Team
Explore the use of physical programming to create safety and security features for a car. In this session we will use Micro:bits to create alarm systems for a car door, product testing each other’s designs to see who can create the most thief proof car alarm.
Thursday 22 August: The City is Full of Noises | Taking to the Stage- Learn How to Set Up Your Gear and Perform Your Own Music Live
Are you a bedroom music maker who is ready to get on stage or do you want to take your lives streams to the next level. Join the City is Full of Noises and electronic artist and engineer Finlay Shakespeare in a workshop that will help you prepare for your first live gig and learn to improvise during your performances.
Tuesday 27 August: Engineering for the Future with Rob Bennett
Join Rob Bennett to explore our collections through his eyes, learning along the way what it takes to be an engineer of the future. Map out incredible Coventry Transport Museum STEM innovations through time and find out how these have shaped the world we live in now. Then, have a go at creating your own STEM innovation
Wednesday 28 August: Coventry Transport Museum Learning Team | Coding skills and Physical Programming With The Coventry Transport Museum Learning Team
Explore the use of physical programming to create a maze solving robot. In this session we will combine our Polydron building sets with the physical programming components of Crumble to attempt to create automated vehicles that can find their way through a maze.
Thursday 29 August: The City is Full of Noises | Cut, Splice and Loop – Learning How to Make Music from Tape
Rewind time to find out about the history of tape and its pioneers with the City Full of Noises team and Beep Boop Electronics. Learn to splice tape into arrangements and loops and experiment using lots of different tape machines. As well as learning about vintage tape machines and techniques. There will also be chance to find out about Beepboops latest tape machine designs. Come along and play with the new uTAPE SCRUBBER and 1U Tape rack system to find out what the future hold for tape music!
An immersive and interactive artwork for all ages.
Book Online | £3 for all, Under 3’s and Go CV+ FREE
Microworld is an immersive space filled with digital creatures. The creatures communicate with each other and the audience. Sensors in the space create an engaging and intuitive digital ecosystem with cascades of actions and reactions. Each Microworld is a celebration of a new type of living art that encourages experimentation and collaborative play.
Microworld is designed for all ages. The interactive artworks provide the audience with a role and a purpose. It includes: playing, exploring, experimenting, problem-solving, collaborating, creating, learning and storytelling. Microworld is inclusive, requiring no specialist knowledge. As soon as you walk into a Microworld, you start affecting it.
Microworld is designed and programmed by Genetic Moo and produced by Lumen Studios.
Launch Offer:
If you book online between Friday 19 July until Saturday 26 October, you can claim our 2 for 1 ticket offer!
Just use the code Summer2024 at the checkout.
Credits:
Artists: Genetic Moo
Production: Lumen Studios
Sound design: Julia Schauerman
Instagram: @geneticmoo | @lumenstudios.art
Facebook: @geneticmoo2
X: @geneticmoo
Explore how science, technology, engineering and maths can be used in a practical way to promote innovation.
Book Online | £16.98 (including fees) Per Person*
*Price includes lunch and admission to the museum
Aimed at ages 11-16 but all are welcome
Our friends from the Warwick Manufacturing Group (WMG, Warwick University) are joining our summer programme for two days. Bringing in heavy machinery, such as a programmable embroidery machine, participants are welcome to explore hands-on how science, technology, engineering and maths can be used in a practical way and promote innovation.
Lunch will be included in the cost for this day.
Wednesday 7 August:
Join the WMG team to experiment and understand turtlestitch embroidery and take home your own coded piece of embroidery.
Thursday 8 August:
The team are adding even more opportunities to test STEM concepts. Enjoy a day of expert knowledge, experiments and hands-on activities.
Charterhouse will be open on 22/23 June, 27/28 July and 17/18 August from 10am to 4pm
Check our website for details of tours and events on those days.
Join us throughout the summer holidays for family friendly activities such as a children’s trail and summer themed crafts.
We look forward to welcoming you to St Mary’s Guildhall, the hidden historic gem in the heart of Coventry City Centre. Discover 700 years of power, partying and propaganda in a unique historical setting within Coventry’s Cathedral Quarter.
Please note: If you have an eligible and active Go CV or Go CV+ card, you are entitled to discounted or free entry. Please book your tickets in advance in person at St Mary’s Guildhall or purchase in person on your day of visit*.
Celebrate St George’s day this year with free events in Broadgate on Saturday 20 and Tuesday 23 April.
On Saturday 20 April you can expect comedy performances from the Damsels in Distress who will be roaming around Broadgate on the back of their mischievous dragons. Make sure to hold on to your Prince Charmings as they are on the hunt for their own!
A knight and his unfaithful peasants will also be parading the city centre along with music from the Brass Band of Central England throughout the day.
Celebrate St George’s day this year with our free events in Broadgate on Saturday 20 and Tuesday 23 April.
Those in Broadgate on Tuesday 23 April can enjoy a jig with the Coventry Morris Men and ‘Smoked the dragon’ who invites all young knights, warrior maidens, princes and princesses to join them.
Make sure not to miss out on a photo with St George too!
Join the National Trust and Historic Coventry Trust for a day of free family activities which celebrate our new Blossom and Natural play space at the Charterhouse, Coventry. From child friendly yoga and storytelling, to blossom inspired crafts and musical performances, we are encouraging everyone to bring a picnic and celebrate the blossom season as part of the National Trust’s Festival of Blossom.
Artist Tim Mills presents photographic outcomes co-created with communities on The Burges.
Drop In | FREE with admission
Artist Tim Mills presents photographic outcomes co-created with communities on The Burges, during his one year Picturing High Streets Residency. The installation at the Coventry Transport Museum is part of the legacy of a multifaceted project.
A third of the shops on the Burges are occupied by fast-food restaurants and takeaways, with bicycle delivery riders forming a significant community of people that provide food courier services throughout the city. Coventry has a distinguished and unique bicycle manufacturing heritage. From the first velocipedes built in 1868, the city went on to become the home of the British cycle industry and at one time produced the greatest output of cycles in the world.
Tim Mills has explored the history of this industry whilst involving the delivery riders on The Burges to produce a contemporary portrait that highlights their lives and work. The project includes stories of migration and of refugees in relation to Coventry’s role as a city of peace, reconciliation and sanctuary, interpreted in the photographs.
The installation that can be seen at Coventry Transport Museum relates to the themes embedded during Tim’s Picturing High Streets Residency: exploring industries that defined the city of the past and those that shape it today; examining ideas of arrivals, departures and transience; and working with an important community of people that provide goods and services in the area.
Picturing High Streets is a three year project by Historic England and Photoworks to create a contemporary portrait of England’s high streets, part of Historic England’s government-funded High Streets Heritage Action Zone scheme.
GRAIN Projects is the lead regional partner on Picturing High Streets delivering projects in Coventry, Stoke on Trent and Walsall.
Collecting Coventry explores a catalogue of objects managed by Culture Coventry Trust, that reflect 75 years of collecting efforts.
Drop in | FREE
Dating from the founding of the Herbert Art Gallery & Museum in 1949 and Coventry Transport Museum in 1980, to the present day, this exhibition fills four rooms, which showcase the core themes of the collection, including Human History, Visual Art and Natural Sciences.
We explore how the museum collected in the past, how we collect today and how our approach to collecting might change in the future, to better represent the diversity of Coventry and its people.
We hope that you will contribute your views, and tell us what you think we should collect in the future, how we can represent you and your community better.
The Three Inch Fools present an essential guide on how to keep your head in the Tudor Court. Unexpectedly thrust into the limelight, young Henry navigates the ups and downs of courtly life, and all whilst fighting the French (again) and re-writing religion. The Fools hit the road with this brand new comedy – a mad-capped take on Britain’s most epic monarch, and those infamous wives.
“So entertaining…laugh-out-loud funny”
“Riotously fun. Hugely enjoyable”
“The ultimate British theatrical experience” – Hastings Independent Press
“Great fun for the whole family…my kids are still talking about it!”
Bring your own blankets, cushions, and camping-chairs and join us on our outdoor adventure at some of the most beautiful and historic landmarks in the UK. Come prepared for the weather – the performance will continue come rain come shine!
Three Inch Fools
The Three Inch Fools are an innovative touring theatre company acclaimed for their fast-paced and musically driven approach to theatre. They have built a reputation for staging bold and vibrant open-air productions at some of the UK’s most spectacular historic and natural landmarks. This summer The Fools will perform, come rain come shine, in the great British outdoors at over 80 different venues across the UK – castles, gardens, stately homes, historic barns, National Trust properties, village greens, churches, cathedrals, museums and art centres (indeed any place where four actors and an audience can fit!). The Three Inch Fools have been touring since 2015, having so far performed at over 180 venues and to almost 120,000 audience members
Event Details
– Picnics welcome from 6pm.
– 7pm start time
-The performance will last approximately 100 minutes (+ a 20 minute interval).
– This performance is an outdoor performance. We recommend that you bring blankets/chairs/cushions etc. to sit on. Come prepared for the weather with warm coats and waterproofs etc, as the performance will continue come rain come shine!
We recommend booking tickets for this performance online in advance. For further information about this performance please email boxoffice@threeinchfools.com.
Charterhouse will open on May bank holiday weekends, Sundays and Mondays, for family activities, Maypole dancing on Monday 6 May, pop-up cafe from Triumph Brewhouse. Come and enjoy our beautiful house and garden – free annual pass when you buy a ticket for the house and gardens, free parking when you visit the house.
Delve into Coventry’s inspiring and playful past by making our own Victorian playthings.
Drop In | £2.50 Per Child, Under 3s FREE
For ages 3+, but all are welcome
This May half term, we will be taking inspiration from the ‘Collecting Coventry’ exhibition, an eclectic mix of the Herbert Art Gallery and Museums collections of visual art, social history and natural sciences. We will delve into Coventry’s inspiring and playful past by making our own Victorian playthings. Join us and learn how to make spinning animations and fabulous hobby horses.
Daily Activities:
Saturday 25, Monday 27 & Tuesday 28, Wednesday 29 May
Zooming Zoetropes & Spinning Tops: Spin away with your imagination whilst handcrafting mesmerising cylinders and moving images hand-drawn by you. Spin your finished Zoetrope and enjoy watching your very own fantastic animation. Also, try upcycling materials, cork cones and wooden skewers into a collection of colourful spinning tops.
Thursday 30 Friday 31 May & Saturday 1 June
Lady Godiva’s Hobby Horse: Reimagine socks, buttons, a piece of felt, cloth and a stick by turning them into a fabulous Hobby Horse to ride away. What adventures will you go on as you gallop around our galleries and Coventry City?
Celebrate May the Tudor way!
Experience Tudor May Day merriment by joining us to celebrate the end of winter and welcoming the renewal of new life and the return of warmth and sunlight (hopefully!)
May day was an important festival for the Tudors, rooted in tradition, it was seen as the first day of summer and was a time to make merry with much feasting and dancing. Nature was celebrated with flowers collected and garlands made symbolising fertility and rebirth.
Join the Guildhall Tudor’s in our Medieval Kitchen from Monday 27th May- Friday 31st May to find out all about the Tudor May Day celebrations and make your own willow crown to mark the joy of the new season.
Throughout the week there will also be a trail to discover the green men throughout the building, decipher their meaning and collect a prize! There will also be an opportunity to make your own pipe cleaner flower bouquets and green men masks for the perfect family friendly day out.
Enjoy performances and create your own unique Big Gob Puppet with love.
Drop In | FREE
Suitable for all ages.
The Big Gobs Puppet project is a vehicle to forge new friendships and build confidence in our puppeteers while giving them the opportunity to express themselves and speak their truth clearly and without fear.
Each unique Big Gobs Puppet is created with love to be used as an avatar to express, whatever it’s creator wishes…Come Join the Big Gobs and hear what they have to say for themselves.
Come Join the Big Gobs and hear what they have to say for themselves.
PERFORMANCE: Tuesday 11 & Saturday June | 1.30pm
WORKSHOP: Wednesday 12 June | Time TBC
Big Gobs is an Arts Council lottery funded Project which comprises of two groups from the west midlands, teenagers from The Ups of Downs and young adults from ILEAP.
These two groups with some assistance from a crew made up of musicians, actors, film makers, songwriters and puppeteers will be come together to engage with your community and share their journey and experiences through a performance filled with music, laughter and creativity.
Feel the joy at our Summer exhibition.
Drop in | FREE
Acclaimed artists Nicola Richardson and Marianne Taviner of Vortex Creates have transformed the space into an eye-popping wonderland that playfully reconnects us to nature.
Joy transcends individual boundaries, fostering a sense of unity and shared humanity. Nature inspires and connects us to something larger than ourselves, fostering a sense of awe and wonder. JOY…inspired by nature immerses you in the wonder of joyful designs and transformative spaces.
Wander through larger-than-life installations that infuse the gallery with bursts of colour and delight. Marvel at Vortex Creates’ two new works that find joyous connections between creativity and nature. Discover dazzling works by local artists curated by Vortex Creates specifically for the Herbert Museum and Art Gallery.
Giant flowers? Check. Bursts of rainbow colours? You bet. Sounds and smells that awaken inner tranquillity. This show wants to connect you to nature, sparking your joy; and with the duo’s signature bold and beautiful designs infusing every inch, you’re in for a treat.
JOY …inspired by nature features two special commissions, a scentscape by Gemma Costin and a soundscape by Ashley James Brown. Local artist, Abeda Begum joins the team in crafting the final installation.
Exhibiting artists include Aaron Law Photography, Adele Mary Reed & Allan Van Wijgerden, Amanda Randall, Charlie Tophill, Clare Pentlow, Ekin Bozkurt, Gavin Munro, Hannah Rollason, Ian William White, John Simpson, Kim Hackleman, Mandip Singh Seehra, Michala Gyetvai, Petrica Bistran and Polly Merredew.
Exhibition Programme:
COMING SOON: Making Artist Workshops
Tuesday 7 & Wedneday 8 May 2024
JOY…inspired by nature spills outside the Herbert’s walls, spreading its feel-good vibe throughout the community. Need an infusion of joy? Enjoy making as much as Nicola and Marianne? Join us at the making artist workshops on 7 & 8 May to discover the Vortex process and contribute to their final installation.
JOY…inspired by nature has been made possible with funding from Arts Council England Project grant and Culture Coventry.
Discover Vortex Creates:
Since 2008, Vortex Creates has brought big concepts to life through intricate designs and world-class making. Working across the events and arts sector, dynamic duo Nicola Richardson and Marianne Taviner have spent 15 years transforming spaces and igniting the imagination of audiences with their creative design magic.
Their playful style and creative approach has delivered commissions from galleries, theatres, hotels and outdoor events across the UK. With a flair for devising detailed concepts, Nicola and Marianne nurture ideas, inspire, curate and create art for the senses. The results are breathtaking, joyful spectacles and thought-provoking themes.
From a carnival to a city square, an ice rink and a rooftop, Vortex Creates generates engaging, immersive spaces that spark connection with the environment and each other. Experience the wonderment and joy of Vortex Creates – they always bring the sparkle.
Follow Vortex Creates on Instagram | Facebook | X | Website
JOY Artists:
Gemma Costin
Gemma makes work that privileges scent, which engages with and is inspired by mythology, folklore and botany. They embrace the ephemeral materiality of fragrance; exploring how olfaction can evoke powerful memories, affect our emotions, and has the ability to generate visceral responses.
Gemma believes there is more to art than what we can experience visually, and this is what they like to investigate in their creative practice. Visit the exhibition to experience her new scentcape.
Follow Gemma on Instagram
Ashley James Brown
Ashley has been working with Vortex to add a sound dimension to the exhibition inspired by the murmurations of birds. Ashley is an internationally respected artist and developer from Coventry. His immersive digital experiences blend code, electronics, and sound with narrative storytelling. His 15-year career spans cutting-edge software, hardware, arts, gaming, media, education, business, and charitable sectors. Ashley’s interactive and co-creative artworks playfully explore game psychology, human-computer interaction, and nostalgia to engage audiences emotionally. His passion for positive mental health and social interaction drives thoughtful experiences for diverse audiences. An electronic musician under the name Arctic Sunrise, Ashley has scored dance films and performances, released his work internationally, and won the 2009 UK Laptop Battle Championship.
Follow Ashley on Instagram | X
Abeda Begum
Abeda has worked with Vortex over the past couple of years as a freelancer and joins them for the making workshops and in crafting the final installation. A self-taught, passionate Bangladeshi costume designer, they specialise in the design and production of costumes for theatre and dance companies. Abeda delivers textile workshops for various community organisations, focusing on wellbeing and promoting mental health. They have taught a variety of embroidery stitches and craft techniques to students and people in the community, at various organisations. As a British Bangladeshi, Abeda aims to be a positive role model for young women who might not traditionally consider a career in the live arts sector.
The Comedy of Errors
Pedalling from venue to venue with all of their set, props and costumes on the back of their bikes, the HandleBards are a four-strong troupe of actors who are spending the summer bringing environmentally sustainable Shakespeare to venues across the UK.
Join the troupe at Coventry Cathedral for a bicycle-powered production of Shakespeare’s ‘The Comedy of Errors’ like you’ve never seen before. When two sets of estranged twins are brought together on the same island, this classic comedy takes hold, with mistaken identity, music and manic costume changes a plenty.
This is an outdoor production, so please bring a chair or blanket to sit on, a picnic to dig into, and dress for the weather!
“Explodes with energy and is a genuine treat from start to finish” – The Stage, on theHandleBards’ Twelfth Night
Visit www.handlebards.com to find out more!
Notes on Performance
– Doors open at 6pm, so bring a picnic and come and enjoy the beautiful surroundings.
– Chairs, picnics, blankets and any other low level accessories are welcome.
– In case of rain, please don’t bring umbrellas as they block sight-lines for other audience members. Ponchos and raincoats are just as fetching, so please wear these instead.
– This is an outdoors performance and surfaces may be uneven – if you have any access related questions ahead of the performance please get in touch!
Important Ticket Conditions – Please Read
– Under 5’s are free – no ticket needed.
– Tickets will also be available to purchase on the day at the venue for £20 each.
– You can bring your tickets digitally, on a phone or tablet, so save the trees and please don’t print them.
Learn the techniques of lino-cutting, using specialist tools and turning their designs into high-quality prints.
Book Online | £11.55 Per Child
For ages 8-16
Accompanying adults are free, but do not need to book a ticket.
An exciting opportunity for children to learn the techniques of lino-cutting, using specialist tools and turning their designs into professional looking prints. Children will be guided throughout this workshop by an artist from our learning team, with all materials provided.
Finished lino-cut tiles can be taken home on the day so they can be used again if desired. Prints will be completed using block inks onto quality printing card.
Food Union are back at Coventry Cathedral for another all day, family friendly festival celebrating Coventry’s local growers and producers
.Join us in the cathedral ruins for a full day of food & live music, children’s entertainment, interactive nature-based workshops, seed saving lessons, a city wide crop swap, basket weaving, local stalls selling local produce & wares, plus tons more and it’s all free to attend!
Music kicks off at 12:30 and we’ll be joined by;
12:30 The CB Trio
13:45 Goblin Band
14:40 The Wassail Queen March
15:15 Shanghai Hostage
We’ll share more information about the stalls and activities in the coming weeks.
Free to attend
Food Union are back at Coventry Cathedral for another all day, family friendly festival celebrating Coventry’s local growers and producers
.Join us in the cathedral ruins for a full day of food & live music, children’s entertainment, interactive nature-based workshops, seed saving lessons, a city wide crop swap, basket weaving, local stalls selling local produce & wares, plus tons more and it’s all free to attend!
Music kicks off at 12:30 and we’ll be joined by;
12:30 The CB Trio
13:45 Goblin Band
14:40 The Wassail Queen March
15:15 Shanghai Hostage
We’ll share more information about the stalls and activities in the coming weeks.
Free to attend
Bring your children along to our Big Baking Tent, located in the marquee outside the theatre, to join in with some FREE biscuit decorating fun!
With aprons and bunny ears donned, our cotton-tailed crew will be serving up a delicious crafty menu – from squeezing icing to intricate bunny whisker details, every little chef will leave with a Star Baker Sticker!
PLUS!
Pick up a colouring sheet from us on the day to enter our competition for a chance to win a tasty food voucher for one of our restaurants!
Nature Makers Coventry lead a nature art and craft session in the beautiful garden at Charterhouse to celebrate the spring equinox. Come and make nature crowns and bracelets and paint with flower brushes.