A Summer of Free Family Events, Westminster Abbey
Keep the kids from boredom this summer holiday with a season of events at Westminster Abbey
A Summer of Free Family Events, Westminster Abbey
Hoping to coax your kids out of the house this summer holiday? Look no further than Westminster’s Abbey’s agenda of family events for a wealth of creative and educational fun all the way through to August. Events are free but do require booking via the Abbey website.
Summer Fete
8 July 2017
11:00 – 15:00
Westminster’s summer of events kicks off on Saturday 8 July with a traditional summer fete for all the family. A host of traditional games stalls are to be installed on the lawn of Dean’s Yard, surrounded on all sides by the Abbey’s iconic architecture. A giant slide will be inflated alongside birds of prey displays, Morris dancing and live music. Food is very much in the cards, with barbeque or strawberries and cream to choose from, all washed down with a Pimm’s (for the older generation, of course).
Medieval Mayhem
25 – 27 July
11:30 – 13:00
Calling all budding knights in shining armour: the Abbey’s Knight School returns for another year to teach kids everything they need to know about jousting and defeating dragons. Make your own sword and shield, complete with personalised coat of arms - and that's just task number one on the list of traditional medieval crafts to give your kids a taste of life in the Middle Ages.
Arty Abbey
1 – 3 August
11:30 – 13:00
The arts and crafts madness continues as Arty Abbey arrives later in the month, but this time with more paint, more glue and more ideas to coax out your kids’ creative side. Find inspiration from 1,000 years of historical architecture that surrounds the Abbey's beautiful College Garden. Prepare for a messy morning!
Poets Cornered
8 – 10 August
11:30 – 13:00
If you have young poets, the Abbey has you covered. Poets Cornered is a day dedicated to all things literary. With greats like Chaucer, C. S. Lewis, and the Brontë sisters commemorated just around the corner (if you’ll pardon the pun), your kids can have their shot at filling some serious boots. Plenty of pens and paper will be provided alongside storytelling performances, so no need to choose between listening or writing. Avid bookworms and budding novelists welcome.
Explorers
15 – 17 August
11:30 – 13:00
Walk in the shoes of Sir Francis Drake and Christopher Columbus: Explorers is a day celebrating all intrepid travels abroad. There will be games and crafts to commemorate an era of Tudor Exploration, and the appropriately named Bosun Bill will run the day, leading a treasure trail around the College Garden.
Beyond the Grave
22 – 24 August
11:30 – 13:30
Beyond the Grave is the spookiest event on the agenda. Since the birth of Horrible Histories we’ve known that there’s nothing kids love better than a dose of blood, guts and gore... just as long as it’s educational. The Gravediggers’ Academy ticks both of those boxes in an interactive explanation of the Abbey’s creepiest and most crumbling history.
Summer Fete
8 July 2017
11:00 – 15:00
Westminster’s summer of events kicks off on Saturday 8 July with a traditional summer fete for all the family. A host of traditional games stalls are to be installed on the lawn of Dean’s Yard, surrounded on all sides by the Abbey’s iconic architecture. A giant slide will be inflated alongside birds of prey displays, Morris dancing and live music. Food is very much in the cards, with barbeque or strawberries and cream to choose from, all washed down with a Pimm’s (for the older generation, of course).
Medieval Mayhem
25 – 27 July
11:30 – 13:00
Calling all budding knights in shining armour: the Abbey’s Knight School returns for another year to teach kids everything they need to know about jousting and defeating dragons. Make your own sword and shield, complete with personalised coat of arms - and that's just task number one on the list of traditional medieval crafts to give your kids a taste of life in the Middle Ages.
Arty Abbey
1 – 3 August
11:30 – 13:00
The arts and crafts madness continues as Arty Abbey arrives later in the month, but this time with more paint, more glue and more ideas to coax out your kids’ creative side. Find inspiration from 1,000 years of historical architecture that surrounds the Abbey's beautiful College Garden. Prepare for a messy morning!
Poets Cornered
8 – 10 August
11:30 – 13:00
If you have young poets, the Abbey has you covered. Poets Cornered is a day dedicated to all things literary. With greats like Chaucer, C. S. Lewis, and the Brontë sisters commemorated just around the corner (if you’ll pardon the pun), your kids can have their shot at filling some serious boots. Plenty of pens and paper will be provided alongside storytelling performances, so no need to choose between listening or writing. Avid bookworms and budding novelists welcome.
Explorers
15 – 17 August
11:30 – 13:00
Walk in the shoes of Sir Francis Drake and Christopher Columbus: Explorers is a day celebrating all intrepid travels abroad. There will be games and crafts to commemorate an era of Tudor Exploration, and the appropriately named Bosun Bill will run the day, leading a treasure trail around the College Garden.
Beyond the Grave
22 – 24 August
11:30 – 13:30
Beyond the Grave is the spookiest event on the agenda. Since the birth of Horrible Histories we’ve known that there’s nothing kids love better than a dose of blood, guts and gore... just as long as it’s educational. The Gravediggers’ Academy ticks both of those boxes in an interactive explanation of the Abbey’s creepiest and most crumbling history.
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| What | A Summer of Free Family Events, Westminster Abbey |
| Where | Westminster Abbey, 20 Deans Yd,, London , SW1P 3PA | MAP |
| Nearest tube | Westminster (underground) |
| When |
08 Jul 17 – 22 Aug 17, Mostly 11:00 – 15:00 |
| Price | £all events are free but should be booked in advance |
| Website | Click here for more information |