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.
Join us for some Easter fun throughout the holidays!
FREE Face Painting – 27th March 2024
Ghostbusters WANTED this Easter at Skydome! 👻
Join us for some FREE family fun Friday 29th March 11am till 3pm as we celebrate the release of Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire. With slime making & spooky balloon modelling workshops, glitter tattooist & free candy floss! 💚
Who you gonna call?
Join us for some Easter fun!
Come along and visit the Easter Bunny and get an Easter egg.
Perfect for the whole family!
An informative talk from a palaeontologist, detailing her career and inspirations.
Drop In | FREE
Part of International Women’s Day.
Emma Bernard is a palaeontologist at the Natural History Museum.
Reclaiming the nickname given to her at university, meet the real life Palaeo-Barbie and find out some of her experiences in the field and the female palaeontologists that inspired her!
Please note that Emma Bernard will be hosting two versions of her talk; one for children aged under 13, and one for older children and adults.
Times:
Under 13’s Talk: 11.30am – 12.00pm
Aged 13+ & Adults Talk: 1.00pm – 1.45pm
Enjoy some family time over a special three-course Sunday lunch this Mother’s Day.
Create a heart warming family moment by coming together to savour a meticulously crafted three-course meal, thoughtfully designed by our chefs.
A day for home educated children to develop their science, engineering and local history learning with activities led by experienced STEM educators.
From £4 | Book Online
Join us for our Home Educators Day at the Coventry Museum. We will be running a variety of workshops and activities across the day with a focus on developing skills and knowledge within the areas of science, technology, engineering and local history.
Supported by local STEM experts from the University of Warwick WMG department and STEM Ambassador, Rob Bennett, your children will experience unique resources and workshops. Opportunities for early years activities will also be included within the day, including Sensory Stories and Rhymes sessions and open-ended play experiences with Mini Museum Engineers activities. Included in all tickets is a go on the Thrust SSC simulator ride*.
Schedule:
Bloodhound Education Team – 10am-12pm and 2pm-4pm
Explore the principles of energy and forces with STEM Ambassador Rob Bennett from the Bloodhound Education team. Build a slingshot car to investigate the conversion of potential energy into kinetic energy and the impact of friction on the success of your vehicle. Designed for ages 7 and up.
Building and programming a self-driving car – 10am-12pm and 2pm-4pm
Develop and combine your design, engineering and programming skills as you look to build and program a self-driving model car. You will use Polydron 3D Construction Pieces alongside a Crumble Controller and Robotics parts to put together a battery powered vehicle that can be programmed to follow commands and instructions. This workshop is a brilliant exploration of design and physical programming. Designed for ages 9 and up.
Victorian Cycles – 10am-11am and 1pm-2pm
Our Victorian Cycles workshop explores real cycles, by combining History with STEM subjects. Children will investigate materials, create cycle frame models, and examine cycles up close to gain an understanding in why cycles changed in appearance so quickly in the Victorian Era. Designed for ages 5 – 9.
Cars and Forces – 11am-12pm and 2pm-3pm
Use a variety of toy cars and ramps to explore the forces acting on a moving vehicle. How fast can you get your car to go? What happens if you change the surface material of the ramp? Set up your own investigations to test the impact of gravity, friction and air resistance, and see if you can change the design of your toy car to get the quickest speed travelling down the ramp. Suitable for all ages.
Sensory Storytelling – 10am and 1pm
Join us for an enriched sensory story telling within our museum galleries. Explore our collections through songs, stories, movement and sensory play. These sessions provide an opportunity for our youngest visitors to engage with our collections in a way that is meaningful to them.
Mini Museum Engineers – Drop in 10am-12pm and 1pm-3pm
Get playful with loose parts in our museum galleries to create things that go, tall towers, marvellous marble runs, ‘robots’ and more! This popular child-led play space will be available to drop into throughout the day. Suitable for all ages.
WMG Drop in – Drop in 10am-12pm and 1pm-3pm
Join Dr Phil Jemmett and other STEM experts from the University of Warwick WMG department to get hands on with Science.
4d Land Speed Record Simulator – Drop in 10am-4pm
Experience the thrill of breaking the World Land Speed Record on our 4D Land Speed Record Simulator! Take your seat*, buckle up, and discover for yourself what it’s like to drive faster than the speed of sound, across the Black Rock Desert in America.
PLUS! Activity Trail
Choose from a variety of self-led trails for deeper engagement when exploring the museum galleries.
Based on the original book Charlie Cook’s Favourite Book – written by Julia Donaldson and illustrated by Axel Scheffler
Charlie loves reading. Especially books about pirates. But his sister hates it – it’s boring! Can Charlie convince her that reading is fun? Perhaps if she read a book about a pirate, who is reading a book about Goldilocks, who is reading a book about a knight…
Come and delve into a range of books with Charlie Cook, brought to life with puppetry and enchanting songs, and perhaps you will be able to help his sister discover the wonderful world inside a book…
NHM Head of Conservation, Lorraine Cornish, shares the story of Dippy and gives tips on how to look after such a large dinosaur skeleton.
Book Online* | FREE
Suitable for ages 11+
Dippy, a life-size replica of a Diplodocus skeleton first arrived at the Natural History Museum in 1905 and became an instant celebrity.
After spending 112 years on display in London, Dippy went on a UK tour for 3 years and was seen by over 2 million people! Dippy is now enjoying a 3 year stay in Coventry and has become a firm favourite with visitors. What does it take to move a dinosaur around the UK and how do you make sure Dippy stays in great shape?
Natural History Museum’s Head of Conservation, Lorriane Cornish, shares the story of Dippy and gives tips on how to look after such a large dinosaur skeleton.
*Due to the popularity of this event, if you have booked tickets and can no longer attend, please let us know through Eventbrite so we can free up the tickets for another guest.
Charlie loves reading. Especially books about pirates. But his sister hates it – it’s boring! Can Charlie convince her that reading is fun?Perhaps if she read a book about a pirate, who is reading a book about Goldilocks, who is reading a book about a knight…
Come and delve into a range of books with Charlie Cook, brought to life with puppetry and enchanting songs, and perhaps you will be able to help his sister discover the wonderful world inside a book…
Based on the original book Charlie Cook’s Favourite Book – written by Julia Donaldson and illustrated by Axel Scheffler.
Creative Team:Adapted by Barb Jungr and Samantha LaneDirector – Samantha LaneComposer/Lyrics – Barb JungrSet/Costume Design – Ellie MillsPuppet Designer – Maia Kirkman-RichardsLighting Designer – Sherry Coenen
Text © Julia Donaldson 2005
Illustrations © Axel Scheffler 2005
Published by Macmillan Children’s Books © 2005
Face eggstreme challenges with curiosity, exploration and playful solutions.
FREE with admission | Drop in
Tinker | Make | Play Engineers are embracing eggy puns (and eggtivities) this Easter holiday and will find themselves faced with eggstreme challenges: Will they be able to transport a variety of fake eggs safely up and down, forwards and backwards? Will their eggs survive a drop? How many eggs will fit on their vehicle? Tinkering with STEM concepts showcased in some of our museum objects, join us to make eggcellent transport and find out how many eggs your machine can hold and move.
Did you ever wonder what engineering is all about?
At Coventry Transport Museum, we believe it all starts with curiosity, perseverance, and creativity. In proper engineering style, we have come up with the perfect formula for a workshop that will help develop those engineering skills.
Here it goes:
Tinker (To tinker at Coventry Transport Museum means hands-on exploring what real stuff is made of and how it works. Take a precision screwdriver and pliers to open up a laptop, vacuum cleaner, or any other everyday item. Find out what parts are hidden behind the covers and see what they do. We will provide a how to with the tools, the safety gear and the reference books because we are also always learning.)
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Make (To make at Coventry Transport Museum means letting your imagination run wild, digging through our huge variety of resources and getting into the flow of making. Whether your project needs hardware, cardboard, electronics, timber, needlework or paint, our workshop will always be stocked with a broad selection of random stuff for you to work with. We will support wherever possible – as we are proud to be some of the biggest cheerleaders for great inventions.)
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Play (To play at Coventry Transport Museum means to embrace PlayHEM which involves the nonsensical, the playful, the chaos, the unknown, the uncertainty, the process to make accidental learning happen. Get stuck playing in an open-ended play environment that offers a choice of wonderfully weird, yet also engineering-related, playthings and we will simply enjoy noticing how your whole family unknowingly plays about with engineering concepts.)
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Tinker | Make | Play Engineers
You will need to bring:
• At least one very supportive grown-up to be with you throughout this workshop. We know from experience that all mums, dads, uncles, aunties, older siblings, grandparents, carers are perfectly qualified for this role as no previous engineering experience is needed (they are indeed very useful and really, really good at handing you tools)
We offer:
• A safe and relaxed space.
• Engineering Skills! You will use real tools to take apart or make things. So, you will build up your engineering skills no matter what.
• Permission to destroy! So you can fully explore some things, we let you break them AND you will not be told off*.
• Fun! We are prepared to throw one or two surprise maker challenges at you just to keep you on your toes.
• Expertise! Our amazing experts from the Learning Team will encourage you throughout. They are experts in playful engineering. That means they are curious, they persevere, are imaginative, love solving problems and teamwork. They will happily offer their expertise and support you when needed.
*Please note we take no responsibility for the inspiration we evoke in your children to destroy and create their own inventions with your household gadgets.
Join us to explore Coventry through creative arts and immersive experiences this Easter.
£2.50 per child, under 3s FREE | Pay on the day | Drop in
Ages 3+, but all are welcome
Join us to explore Coventry through creative arts and immersive experiences this Easter. Taking inspiration from our permanent exhibitions, ‘History Gallery’ and ‘Godiva Gallery,’ we will be crafting through two weeks of exciting activities, learning new skills as we reimagine Coventry street scenes and people of Coventry from the past, present and future.
You may also choose to explore the galleries further for more inspiration and take some time to do some sketching or photography around the gallery spaces to help your children engage with our collections further. We are also an Arts Award venue, where your children can gain their Arts Award Discover or Explore, a nationally recognised qualification from Trinity College London. To find out more visit our Arts Award at Home page.
Daily Activities:
Saturday 23, Monday 25 & Tuesday 26, Wednesday 27 March
Posca Wooden Eggs – Spring has filled Coventry’s urban streets; The trees bloom with life and green leaves, and birds are busy constructing their nests and laying eggs. Taking inspiration from nature, decorate natural wooden eggs this spring with playful patterns, using Posca pens and other embellishments like glitter, sequence wool and more!
Thursday 28, Friday 29, Saturday 30 March
Posca Jar Lanterns – Light up the streets of Coventry by making fun lantern jars! During World War II, people in Coventry had to keep the streetlights and the lights in their homes turned off in the evening, and they used candles to see in the dark. Make your own colourful candle holders out of glass jars. Decorate your glass jar with posca pens and adorn it with embellishments to play with a colourful array of light illuminations. A battery-operated tealight will also be provided to go inside your wonderful creation.
Monday 1, Tuesday 2, Wednesday 3 April
Posca Totes – Young artists will reimagine characters from the past, present or future that have ridden or walked the streets of Coventry. Using Posca pens to illustrate and customise their canvas tote bags and add embellishments like pom poms, sequence and more. Take home and wear your creations in the streets of Coventry or anywhere else.
Thursday 4, Friday 5, Saturday 6 April
Posca White Stones – Get creative with stone art! Design illustrations on white stones using a colourful array of posca pens. Will your illustration be nature inspired, your favourite person, or creature, or a meaningful affirmation? Or something else? Experiment with background colours and add embellishments to enhance your designs. Take home and display on your front doorstep or a community street garden.
Charlie loves reading. Especially books about pirates.
But his sister hates it – it’s boring! Can Charlie convince her that reading is fun? Perhaps if she read a book about a pirate, who is reading a book about Goldilocks, who is reading a book about a knight…
Come and delve into a range of books with Charlie Cook , brought to life with puppetry and enchanting songs, and perhaps you will be able to help his sister discover the wonderful world inside a book…
Based on the original book Charlie Cook Favourite Book – written by Julia Donaldson and illustrated by Axel Scheffler.
Produced by The Lowry and Little Angel Theatre.
February fun awaits families this half term at award-winning The Belfry Hotel & Resort in North Warwickshire, which is offering an exciting lineup of activities.
The Green at The Belfry will be offering a variety of activities including thrilling go karts, where families can get competitive and zoom around The Green as fast as they can, as well as Sand Bunkers and Diggers. Alternatively, families can head to the Lichfield Lawn for outdoor games including badminton, football and Connect4. Afterwards, little ones can relax and watch a film on a bean bag while eating popcorn, with a selection of family-friendly movies being shown indoors daily at 1.30pm, 4pm and 7.30pm.
Enjoy The Belfry’s Woodland Adventure Zone, which is fully equipped with swings – including a group swing, a climbing obstacle course, slide, balance beams, zip wire, tree house, and climber and net, or follow the Belfry Trail to find the hidden letters across the resort to reveal a secret message. Once the message is found, pick up your prize and a certificate from Reception.
Families can practice their swing at The Belfry’s Toptracer range, a fun interactive game for guests of all ages and any level of golfing experience, with GoFish! as a firm family favourite. Children receive a free bucket of balls with a paying adult. Alternatively, play a game on the Ryder Legends Mini Golf or head to the Woodland Walk for Foot Golf where children go free with a paying adult, and for wildlife and bug hotel spotting.
The resort is also home to plenty of complimentary indoor activities including splash time, a games room, colouring station, sweet cart, and a kids’ library. Find a variety of toys, including bouncy balls and playground favourites, available to purchase at reception.
After an action-packed day, families can retreat to one of the resort’s several restaurants, including family-friendly Rocca’s which has a casual environment and a menu packed with Italian classics, or opt to dine a la carte in the 2AA Rosette Ryder Grill where kids can enjoy a delicious buffet.
Join us to welcome in Spring this February half term. Join in our enchanting daily ‘Power to the Flower’ family-friendly trail at St Mary’s Guildhall and embark on a delightful quest to uncover the beauty of spring flowers scattered throughout the venue.
Engage in daily children’s craft activities and immerse yourself in the world of Tudors in the medieval kitchen, helping to prepare for the upcoming Spring festivities. (Tudors are available daily during the first seven days of half term (10th to 16th Feb), from 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM.)
Activities include:
Cleaning the Tudor Way: Experience Tudor spring cleaning first hand. Dive into the past and help us clean pewter with ground eggshells and dust with goose wings.
Tudor Food Traditions: Step into the midst of Lent with the Tudors and discover their unique traditions around food. As they utilize the last of their winter resources, join in the countdown to their Easter feast. Participate in candying primroses and decorating eggs as they eagerly prepare for their Easter celebrations.
Don’t miss this opportunity to connect with history and embrace the spirit of spring. See you there!
Join us throughout 2024 for our popular Craft Markets featuring our resident makers, bakers and crafters.
Find seasonal gifts, home decorations, freshly baked goods and more!
February 3rd-4th – Valentine’s Day Market
March 2nd-3rd – Mothers Day Market
March 23rd-24th – Easter Market
April 6th-7th – Spring Market
Join us throughout 2024 for our popular Craft Markets featuring our resident makers, bakers and crafters.
Find seasonal gifts, home decorations, freshly baked goods and more!
March 2nd-3rd – Mothers Day Market
March 23rd-24th – Easter Market
April 6th-7th – Spring Market
Join us throughout 2024 for our popular Craft Markets featuring our resident makers, bakers and crafters.
Find seasonal gifts, home decorations, freshly baked goods and more!
March 23rd-24th – Easter Market
April 6th-7th – Spring Market
Join us throughout 2024 for our popular Craft Markets featuring our resident makers, bakers and crafters.
Find seasonal gifts, home decorations, freshly baked goods and more!
April 6th-7th – Spring Market
Crafting Streets Of Coventry
• Saturday 23 March – Saturday 6 April (excluding Sundays)
• 10.30am – 3:30pm
• £2.50 per child, under 3s FREE | Pay on the day | Drop in
• Ages 3+, but all are welcome
Join us to explore Coventry through creative arts and immersive experiences this Easter. Taking inspiration from our permanent exhibitions, ‘History Gallery’ and ‘Godiva Gallery,’ we will be crafting through two weeks of exciting activities, learning new skills as we reimagine Coventry street scenes and people of Coventry from the past, present and future.
Saturday 23, Monday 25 & Tuesday 26, Wednesday 27 March
Posca Wooden Eggs – Spring has filled Coventry’s urban streets; The trees bloom with life and green leaves, and birds are busy constructing their nests and laying eggs. Taking inspiration from nature, decorate natural wooden eggs this spring with playful patterns, using Posca pens and other embellishments like glitter, sequence wool and more!
Thursday 28, Friday 29, Saturday 30 March
Posca Jar Lanterns – Light up the streets of Coventry by making fun lantern jars! During World War II, people in Coventry had to keep the streetlights and the lights in their homes turned off in the evening, and they used candles to see in the dark. Make your own colourful candle holders out of glass jars. Decorate your glass jar with posca pens and adorn it with embellishments to play with a colourful array of light illuminations. A battery-operated tealight will also be provided to go inside your wonderful creation.
Monday 1, Tuesday 2, Wednesday 3 April
Posca Totes – Young artists will reimagine characters from the past, present or future that have ridden or walked the streets of Coventry. Using Posca pens to illustrate and customise their canvas tote bags and add embellishments like pom poms, sequence and more. Take home and wear your creations in the streets of Coventry or anywhere else.
Thursday 4, Friday 5, Saturday 6 April
Posca White Stones – Get creative with stone art! Design illustrations on white stones using a colourful array of posca pens. Will your illustration be nature inspired, your favourite person, or creature, or a meaningful affirmation? Or something else? Experiment with background colours and add embellishments to enhance your designs. Take home and display on your front doorstep or a community street garden.
https://www.theherbert.org/whats-on/1790/crafting-streets-of-coventry
Tinker | Make | Play: Eggcelent Experiments
• 23, 25, 28, 30 March and 1, 4, 6 April 2024
• 10am – 3pm
• FREE with admission | Drop in
• Suitable for ALL AGES!
Tinker | Make | Play Engineers are embracing eggy puns (and eggtivities) this Easter holiday and will find themselves faced with eggstreme challenges: Will they be able to transport a variety of fake eggs safely up and down, forwards, and backwards? Will their eggs survive a drop? How many eggs will fit on their vehicle? Tinkering with STEM concepts showcased in some of our museum objects, join us to make eggcellent transport and find out how many eggs your machine can hold and move.
https://www.transport-museum.com/events/1584/tinker-make-play-eggcelent-experiments
Play and Make Zone
• Saturday 10 – Sunday 18 February (half term break), Saturday 23 March – Sunday 7 April (Easter break), Saturday 25 May – Sunday 2 June (summer break)
• 10.00am – 4.30pm
• FREE with admission | Drop in
• Suitable for ALL AGES!
Take a break from exploring the largest collection of British vehicles and relax in our Play and Make Zone. Located in our Future Technology Gallery, discover the wonderful world of Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths (STEM) in a playful way through big play and a variety of crafts to enjoy at your own pace.
https://www.transport-museum.com/events/1583/play-and-make-zone
MiCLab Youth Club
• 26 & 27 March, 2 & 3 April 2024 |
• 10.00am – 4.00pm
• £16.98 (including fees) | Book Online
• For ages 11-16
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 eggciting activities but will most definitely include a friendly atmosphere, huge amounts of knowledge and lunch.
Tuesday 23rd March and Tuesday 2nd April – This session will see academics from the University of Warwick’s, WMG Academy, host a variety of engineering inspired activities that will get our young people discovering new ways of inventing, engineering and manufacturing concepts and prototypes to inspire future technology.
Wednesday 24th March and Wednesday 3rd April – This session will see STEM expert, Rob Bennet, support participants with coding skills, power sources and motor functions of prototypes to discover the possibilities of rocket cars!
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.
HAF spaces are available, for those who are eligible through the Coventry City Council scheme. Please visit www.coventry.gov.uk/HAF for further details
https://www.transport-museum.com/events/1585/miclab-youth-club
Spot is having a very special birthday party and you’re invited!
With party hats, songs, dancing and lots of interactive party games, this is going to be the best birthday party ever!
Join Steve the Monkey, Tom the Crocodile and Helen the Hippo to say a big HAPPY BIRTHDAY SPOT!
Based on the beloved Eric Hill classic Happy Birthday Spot, this brand-new adaptation brings your favourite pup and his friends to life in an interactive and accessible show suitable for ages 2 plus and their grown ups.
Spot has been an integral part of childhood for over 40 years and with his inquisitive nature, sense of curiosity, boundless energy, and simple shapes and colours, Spot helps families, babies and toddlers explore the world around them.
Following the show there will be a meet and greet with Spot!
Copyright © The Eric and Gillian Hill Family Trust / Salspot Ltd. 20XX
FUN WITH SPOT is a trademark of Salspot Ltd. Used under license from Salspot Ltd. All rights reserved
Calling all brave heroes! Enter into a magical world of myths and legends in this fantastical show for all the family.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. 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…
This award-winning show is back on tour direct from the West End, from the creators of the international smash hit Dinosaur World Live, who bring spectacular puppets to life.
Don’t miss this spell-binding adventure, live on stage!
Calling all revolting children and their parents – come and be a little a bit naughty at Sing-a-Long-a Matilda the Musical.
From the producers of Sing-a-Long-a Sound of Music and Sing-a-Long-a Frozen.
Now is your chance to interact with this incredible tale of a little girl making her great escape! Find the “magic” inside of you and join our gang at the latest film to get the singalong treatment, the Tony and Olivier Award-winning Matilda the Musical based on Roald Dahl’s novel.
Matilda is an extraordinary girl, who armed with a sharp mind and a vivid imagination, dares to take a stand to change her story with miraculous results.
Our host will help you have “a holiday in your head” as they teach you some dance moves, show you how to use your free props bags and have you booing the villains and championing the heroes. YOU the audience are the stars!
It couldn’t be easier or more fun! The first rule of Sing-a-Long-a is THERE ARE NO RULES! Fancy dress is strongly encouraged and full audience participation essential.
Do you want to change your story and be a little bit naughty? Well, this is your chance.
Please note this is a screening of the movie not a live stage show.
Peppa Pig is back in her oinktastic brand new live show, Fun Day Out!
Join Peppa, along with her family and friends as they go to the zoo and also the beach for a special party- it’s going to be an exciting and fun packed day.
Prepare to sing and dance with colourful scarecrows, feed the penguins, build big sandcastles, and even swim in the sea!
Packed full of songs, dance and muddy puddles, Peppa’s Fun Day Out guarantees giggles and snorts for all Peppa fans, and a perfect introduction to theatre.
Tinker | Make | Play: Brilliantly Bricky Cars
• Saturday 10 February, Monday 12 February, Thursday 15 February, Saturday 17 February
• 10.00am – 3.30pm
• FREE with admission | Drop in
• Suitable for ALL AGES!
Make brilliantly bricky cars and add a little extra bling to your vehicles to play about on our Coventry city map.
https://www.transport-museum.com/events/1578/tinker-make-play-brilliantly-bricky-cars
The Big Dippy Birthday Bash!
• Wednesday 14 February
• 10.00am – 4.00pm
• Varied with some FREE activities | More information coming soon
To celebrate Dippy, the Nation’s Favourite Dinosaurs, being at the Herbert for 1 year, we are throwing a BIG Dippy Birthday Bash.
There will be multiple activities available throughout the day to join in with, plus special guests from the world of wild learning! Fossil handling, curator talks, craft activities and exciting performances, there will be plenty to keep your whole family entertained!
Oh… and did we mention there will be cake?!
https://www.theherbert.org/whats-on/1789/the-big-dippy-birthday-bash
Art Masterclasses: Spring Programme
15 February, 28 March, 4 April | 10.30am – 12.30pm & 2.00pm – 4.00pm
£10 Per Child | Book Online
Art Masterclass: Clay Heads
• Thursday 15 February
• 10.30am – 12.30pm & 2.00pm – 4.00pm
• Book online | £10 per child | Accompanying adults are free, no booking required |
• For ages 8-16
Our latest Art Masterclass allows children to get hands-on with clay by making their own self-portrait-inspired clay head. A member of our Learning Team will support your budding artist using various techniques and tools to bring their portrait to life.
Art Masterclass: Figure Drawing
Thursday 28 March
Our latest Art Masterclass instalment will enable participants to learn the techniques of drawing from a costumed life model. Creative minds will feel like true artists as they work with easels and use a range of art materials while being guided by our learning team to improve their technique.
Art Masterclass: Screen-printing
Thursday 4 April
Continuing with our programme of exciting Art Masterclasses for children 8-14-year-olds, we will be discovering the techniques for screen printing using Coventry’s Street Scene & Art as inspiration. Children will design their own stencil to use for printing with fabric paints onto a cotton canvas material they can take home and frame.
https://www.theherbert.org/whats-on/1782/art-masterclasses-spring-programme
Portrait Heads
• Saturday 10 –17 February (excluding Sunday)
• 10.30am – 3.30pm
• Drop in | £2.50 per child, under 3s free | Pay on the day
The ‘Coventry Art Societies Exhibition 2024’ will be on display at the Herbert Art Gallery and Museum from February 2024. The exhibition features beautiful 3D & 2D art, ranging from creative portraits to bronze and wooden figures. We invite you to take inspiration from this impressive exhibition as we focus on sculpting portraiture from playdough and Modroc.
Daily Activities:
Saturday 10, Monday 12 & Tuesday 13 February
Portrait Playful Heads – Experiment with various techniques and tools to form portraiture play dough heads and bring your sculptures to life.
Wednesday 14 & Thursday 15, Friday 16 & Saturday 17 February
Marvelous Modroc Sculptures – Get messy with Modroc! Use this versatile material with newspaper, tape, wire and foil to sculpt your favourite person’s head and shoulders. Who will you decide to sculpt? Perhaps a personal hero? Or a friend? Or even a self-portrait. Take home and admire your fantastic artwork; if desired, you can paint when dry.
https://www.theherbert.org/whats-on/1787/portrait-heads
Fairytale Afternoon Tea with Frozen, Moana, Beauty & The Beast, Mary Poppins & More!
Embark on a family-friendly enchantment with our Fairytale Afternoon Tea! Join us for an unforgettable experience where cherished fairytale characters come alive, creating a whimsical atmosphere for both young and old. Delight in a singalong adventure as you and your loved ones indulge in a delectable spread of enchanted treats. The Fairy Tale Afternoon Tea is the perfect way to create magical memories and share the joy of storytelling over a delightful family feast.
Our Fairytale Afternoon Tea Includes:
Afternoon Tea in the Marquee
Entertainment