The summer has arrived here in Hampshire with lots going on throughout the season and school holidays (21 July to 31 August 2023) - visitors to Hampshire Cultural Trust’s (HCT) museums, arts centres and galleries will not be disappointed. Events are taking place all over the county, so whether you are visiting summer fun at Milestones, quests in Winchester, nature in Aldershot or sand school in Gosport, there is something for everyone this summer with HCT.
878 AD – Winchester SO23 8QY
Quests at 878 AD – Monday 24 July to Friday 1 September, during venue opening times.
Make your trip back in time to 878 AD even more exciting by joining in on one of our brand new Quests. Mysterious objects have made their way back to Anglo-Saxon Winchester, and it is up to you to retrieve them. However, the town locals won’t make this easy for you! Follow clues, grant favours and convince the town-folk to help you, otherwise history as we know it could change forever.
Free with admission. Suitable for ages 8+. Pre-booking via website recommended.
Milestones Museum – Basingstoke RG22 6PG
Summer fun at Milestones – Friday 22 July to Sunday 3 September, during venue opening times.
Come and enjoy fun for all the family this summer on the immersive streets of Milestones!
Meet the people of the past as you roam our full-sized streets and walk-in stores from eras gone by.
Enjoy a new exhibition for summer 2023 located at the back of the museum and learn all about domestic living through the years. Pick up a Living History Trail during your visit and win a prize!
Included in admission. Trail £3. Please note venue admission is not included with the purchase of a trail only, a valid Milestones ticket is required.
The Arc – Winchester SO23 8SB
Make a giant eco bubble wand – Monday 24 July, Monday 7 and Monday 21 August, 1pm - 2:30pm.
A relaxing and absorbing pastime, create an eco-friendly toy at The Arc this summer. We will start by looking at the science of what makes a great bubble, create bubble mixture and a wand to take home.
£8. Suitable for ages 5+. Pre-booking via website recommended. Parents are asked to stay and supervise their young craftspeople during this session to help them get the best results.
Race pro-paper aeroplanes for 7-11 years – Friday 28 July and Friday 25 August, 1pm - 2:30pm.
If you understand the science behind flying, you can make a paper aeroplane go a long way. And once you’ve made your super-plane, you can test and refine it with everyone in the group. Take the skill home and practice!
£8. Suitable for ages 7+. Pre-booking via website recommended. Parents are asked to stay and supervise their young craftspeople during this session to help them get the best results.
Get active! Dance and movement class for ages 5-8 – Tuesday 1 and Tuesday 15 August, 1pm - 2:15pm.
Join dance tutor Madison Burgess as she teaches some dance moves- great for fun and fitness to
£8. Suitable for ages 5-8. Pre-booking via website required.
Get active! Dance and movement class for ages 9-12 – Tuesday 1 and Tuesday 15 August, 2:30pm - 4pm.
Join dance tutor Madison Burgess as she teaches some dance moves- great for fun and fitness too!
£10. Suitable for ages 9-12. Pre-booking via website required.
Sport meets science: create your own bouncy ball – Thursday 3 August and Monday 28 August, 1pm - 2:30pm.
In this session, sport and science collide as we guide you through the recipe to create a very bouncy ball. As a group, we will discuss and explore the chemistry behind the ingredients and how they form together to create a classic ‘bounce’! Once we have created the gooey bouncy balls, competition will begin to see whose creation has the highest bounce!
£10. Suitable for ages 6+. Pre-booking via website required. Parents are asked to stay and supervise their young scientists during this session. Please note, the recipe involves using diluted borax, if your child has sensitive skin, we encourage the use of protective gloves. We will provide all the ingredients you need, and you can even take home your creation with a copy of the recipe.
Create a winning football kit design – Friday 4 and Friday 18 August, 1pm - 2:30pm.
Did you know football is played by over 250 million players in over 200 countries, making it the world’s most popular sport? In a world of sporting competition, it’s fun to dress to impress- score a goal by designing a winning kit. We will ‘kick off’ by providing you with cardboard cut-outs of football kits- what you add is up to you. Using paint, collage, felt and a range of craft materials, we will help you design your dream look. No offside rules or penalties here- the more creative, the better! Whether it’s your home or away kit, you can take your creations with you to show your family and friends.
£8. Suitable for ages 5+ Pre-booking via website required. Parents are recommended to stay and supervise their young designers during this session.
Winchester City Museum – Winchester SO23 9ES
Alderman Jacob's Time Quest – Monday 24 July to Sunday 3 September, during opening hours.
Join Alderman Jacob on his Quest through time, explore Winchester City Museum, the Westgate Museum and streets of Winchester to complete the Quest.
£1 per trail, with a small prize. Standard admission charges also apply. Suitable for ages 4+.
Games Galore – Monday 24 July to Sunday 3 September, during opening hours.
Come along to City Museum for pop-up games and enjoy activities around the Museum.
Included in standard admission. Suitable for all ages.
Ecstatic Explorers - Life on the ocean waves – Saturday 26 August, during opening hours.
Meet a real Georgian Sailor and find out more about adventures at sea during the 19th century, a journey of survival and discovery.
Included in standard admission. Suitable for all ages.
King Charles returns! – Sunday 23 July, Westgate 11am-12pm, High Street 12:30pm-1pm, City Museum 1:30pm-4pm.
Meet King Charles I as he returns to Winchester for one day. Exploring the Westgate, Winchester High Street and Winchester City Museum. Learn more about the time King Charles spent in Winchester.
Included in standard admission. Suitable for all ages.
Aldershot Military Museum – Aldershot GU11 2LG
Start Summer with a BANG! – Sunday 23 July, 11am-3pm, drop-in.
The 2nd Queens Regiment of Foot join us for their summer Napoleonic-era drill, complete with musket firing!
Included in standard admission, donations welcome. Suitable for all ages.
Pots and plants – Wednesday 26 July, 10:30am-12:30pm and 1:30pm-3pm, drop-in.
Make your own newspaper pot and plant a seed. Perhaps your plant will help our garden bloom?
Included in standard admission, donations welcome. Suitable for ages 5+.
Sending signals – Thursday 3 August, 10:30am-12:30pm and 1:30pm-3pm, drop-in.
Try sending messages with our semaphore flags. See if you can master codes and ciphers to create your own secret messages.
Included in standard admission, donations welcome. Suitable for ages 7+.
Painting with plants – Thursday 17 August, 10:30am-12:30pm and 1:30pm-3pm, drop-in.
Be inspired by the colours and shapes in our garden. Use paint and paper and plants to create your own garden scene.
Included in standard admission, donations welcome. Suitable for all ages.
Nature at the museum – Wednesday 23 August, 11am-3pm, drop-in.
Join us to explore the natural world! Join our bug hunt. You can also make your own plant pot marker to take home.
Included in standard admission, donations welcome. Suitable for ages 3+.
Creative camouflage – Wednesday 30 August, 10:30am-12:30pm and 1:30pm-3pm, drop-in.
Find our camouflage den (if you can!) and create your own camouflage.
Included in standard admission, donations welcome. Suitable for ages 3+.
Allen Gallery – Alton GU34 2BW
Summer display – Monday 24 July to Tuesday 5 September, 10:30am – 4pm, during opening hours.
Drop-in to see our summer display which reveals the first stages of our major National Lottery Heritage Fund project and shares some of the fascinating stories behind the gallery's special collection.
Free, donations welcome. Suitable for all ages.
Gallery and garden trail – Monday 24 July to Sunday 3 September, during opening hours.
The Wild Escape: drop in for a special trail throughout the summer.
Free, donations welcome. Suitable for all ages.
Andover Museum and Museum of the Iron Age – Andover SP10 1DP
Storytelling in the roundhouse – Saturday 12 August, various times.
Join us for immersive family storytelling in our Iron Age roundhouse.
Included in admission to Museum of the Iron Age Museum. Suitable for all ages.
Ashcroft Arts Centre – Fareham PO16 7DX
Multiple perspectives - An afternoon of portraiture – Friday 28 July, 1pm-5pm.
Join us for an afternoon of portraiture inspired by the popular TV series Portrait Artist of the Year. You will have the opportunity to see and talk to visual artists whilst they work to complete a portrait in their own medium and from their perspective. You can either come along and buy a drink from the bar and watch the artists at work or join in with the challenge. Our resident art teacher Julie Tucker will be on hand to help. An exhibition of the artwork will be displayed in our cafe bar after the event.
£30 per person. Suitable for ages 16+, for all abilities. Pre-booking required.
Mrs Blossom Makes- Fairy/Elf doors – Saturday 29 July, various times.
Do you remember your childhood, scouring the woods for Fairies & Elves or searching for them at the bottom of the garden? Does your child share the same passion for all things whimsical? Keep the magic alive and invite the Fairies & Elves into your home by your child making their very own stunning Fairy or Elf Door.
£7 per family (four individuals in total, minimum one adult). Suitable for all ages. Pre-booking required.
Film-making summer project – Wednesday 2 and Thursday 3 August, 10am-3pm.
Join us for a two-day film making workshop, this hands-on class provides an introduction to film making, you will be working with local film maker Paul Gonella from Strong Island Media.
This exciting opportunity gives participants the chance to develop technical skills, confidence and creativity through film.
£50. Suitable for ages 10-14 years. Pre-booking required.
Textiles for Children – Wednesday 2 August and Wednesday 16 August 10am-3pm.
An exciting opportunity to explore texture and colour with a variety of textile art techniques and materials to express their creativity through folk and decorative art and craft.
£25 per day. Suitable for ages 7+. Pre-booking required.
Theatre summer project – Monday 14 August to Friday 18 August, 10am-3pm.
Our Summer Project gives young people aged 7- 11 years the opportunity to work together for a week, taking a show from the first read through to final performances. These rehearsal periods give participants a great opportunity to learn more about the performing arts whilst working to a common goal and making new friends.
£130. Pre-booking required.
Basing House – Basingstoke RG24 8AE
Summer Market – Sunday 27 to Monday 28 August, 11am-4pm.
Browse the stalls for gifts, artisan items and locally made produce in our wonderful historic setting.
Included in admission.
Bursledon Windmill – Southampton SO31 8BG
Sound Bath –Thursday 6 July and Thursday 17 August, 6pm-7pm.
Join us for a unique opportunity to experience a therapeutic outdoor Sound Bath at Bursledon Windmill with David Tipper of Earth Resonance. During a sound bath you are bathed in sounds produced by instruments such as Himalayan, Nepalese and crystal singing bowls, gong, handpan, didgeridoo, drum and percussion. These powerful tools and contact with the earth, can help you feel a sense of inner peace, release stress and offer the opportunity for self-reflection.
£15.00 per person. Suitable for ages 18+. Pre-booking required.
Teddy Bear picnic – Friday 25 August, 11:30am-2pm
Come and join us for our annual Teddy Bear picnic, we have a teddy bear themed make-and-takes, storytelling, a woodland trail and face painting (additional charge). Bring along your own picnic and blankets and sit down on the lawn. We will also be offering drinks and snacks at our on-site Coffee hut.
£4.00 per person plus windmill admission. Pre booking required.
Family fun day - The great outdoors – Friday 11 August, 11am-1pm and 1:30pm-2:30pm.
Come along and join in with our Outdoor Fun Day, a woodland trail, make-and-takes, create a picture and lots of fun games for everyone to join in with. Bring along your picnic and enjoy it in the beautiful surroundings, our Coffee Hut will be open to serve hot and cold drinks and snacks.
£4 per child plus windmill admission. Suitable for all ages. Pre booking required.
Music at the Mill with Ben Dlugokecki – Friday 14 July, 7:30pm-10pm.
Set against the backdrop of the historic site of Bursledon Windmill, this mellow evening is not to be missed. Having been a support act for multi-million selling artists such as Snow Patrol, David Gray, Corinne-Bailey Rae, Lulu and Passenger, Southampton-based singer-songwriter Ben Dlugokecki brings with him a mellow vocal for a relaxed atmosphere. Botley Brewery will have a pop-up bar on site where you can purchase refreshments, including local ales and soft drinks.
£10 per person. Suitable for 16+ years. Pre-booking required. Only alcohol purchased at the onsite bar can be consumed at the event.
Music at the Mill with Caryn Curtis – Friday 1 September, 7:30pm-10pm.
We are delighted to welcome Caryn back to Bursledon Windmill for a relaxed lazy summers evening of quality music. Caryn has become a firm favourite with the customers here at the mill. Caryn works full time as a professional singer, covering all types of music from 1940s to the present day! Botley Brewery will have a pop-up bar on site where you can purchase refreshments, including local ales and soft drinks. This is an outdoor event.
£10 per person. Suitable for 16+ years. Pre-booking required. Only alcohol purchased at the onsite bar can be consumed at the event.
Curtis Museum – Alton GU34 1BA
Dolls house weekend –Saturday 22 and Sunday 23 July, 10:30am-4pm.
The Curtis Museum is opening their doors again to dolls houses large and small to view and play with. There will be a themed trail for everyone to follow as well as miniature items for sale. This year the main event will be on Saturday 22 July and the Museum will be joined again by the North East Hants Miniatures Group. In addition, there will be local exhibitors to support the day’s activities. On Sunday 23 July, the dolls houses will still be out for play along with various activities for children to enjoy.
Free. Suitable for families.
Dolls from around the world trail – Tuesday 4 July to Tuesday 5 September, 10am-4:30pm.
Our dolls have been travelling around the world. Can you spot them in the Curtis Museum and work out where they've been?
Free. Suitable for families.
Forest Arts Centre – New Milton BH25 6DS
Creative Camps: Matilda The Musical – Tuesday 1 August, 9am-3pm.
Join us for a magical day exploring the wonderful world of Matilda through dance and storytelling and admission to the film.
£30. Suitable for ages 7-13. Pre-booking required.
Creative Camps: Post Cards – Wednesday 2 August, 10am-12pm.
Decorate your own fabulous postcards using a range of materials to learn and experiment with different printing methods! Create patterns, try out different tools and textures and find the fun in playing with new techniques. Suitable for all skill levels as your postcard design can be as simple or detailed as you like.
£12. Suitable for ages 5-10. Pre-booking required.
Play! – Friday 4 August, 9am-10am.
Join us for a FREE, fun session purely aimed at encouraging play and playing with other children for ages 7-13. Play is the best way for children to learn and communicate. Through play, children figure out how to interact with one another, problem solve, make decisions, collaborate, and work together as a team.
Free. Suitable for ages 7-13. Pre-booking required.
Playing with paint – Friday 4, Friday 18 and Friday 25 August, 10am-11am.
Play with paint is spontaneous play that leaves traces behind, is free of distraction, pressure, competition and criticism as the traces (pictures) are not photographed, exhibited or taken home.
£6. Suitable for ages 5+. Pre-booking required.
Summer School: To infinity and beyond! – Monday 7 August to Friday 11 August, 9am-4pm.
Calling all trainee space rangers, we have an intergalactic mission, and we need your help! Join us for a week of space themed dance, theatre, and craft with Zest Dance New Milton and Forest Arts Centre.
£170 or £300 for two children. Suitable for ages 7-13. Pre-booking required.
Creative Camps: Puss in Boots! – Tuesday 15 August, 9am-3pm.
Join the adventure with a full day of crafts and dance!
£30. Suitable for ages 7-13. Pre-booking required.
Creative Camps: Temporary tattoos! – Wednesday 16 August, 10am-12pm.
Design and make your own super cool temporary tattoos to wear in the summer holidays! Use colourful felt pens to create your design, learn how to apply them with water and then simply wash them away when you want to. Suitable for all abilities, from doodlers to fine artists – the style of your tattoos will be up to you!
£12. Suitable for ages 5-10. Pre-booking required.
Creative Camps: Photography! – Monday 21 August and Tuesday 22 August, 10am-3pm.
Each session has a theme and a photographic skill to practice. There is an initial input, then the children are then able to practice the photographic skills for that session using a range of creative resources. All creative resources and cameras are provided.
£60. Suitable for ages 7-13. Pre-booking required.
Creative Camps: Super Pets! – Tuesday 29 August, 10am-3pm.
Calling all superheroes! Join us for a day of crafting and dancing and all things heros.
£30. Suitable for ages 7-13. Pre-booking required.
Gosport Museum and Art Gallery – Gosport PO12 1NS
Give it a Go Festival – Saturday 22 July, 11am-3:30pm.
Come and have a go at a new creative activity. No need to book just drop in and give it a go.
Free. Suitable for ages 4+.
Hi!Street Fest – Saturday 22 July, 3pm.
A celebration of the High Street in partnership with Gosport Cultural Consortium, Historic England, and EEA. Follow the procession from Gosport Ferry to Gosport Museum and Art Gallery with music, dance and performance along the way.
Free. Suitable for all ages.
Mini Make - Punch and Judy – Tuesday 25 July, 10:30am-1pm.
Pop in and make your own miniature Punch and Judy puppet theatre and finger puppets .
£1 per maker with accompanying adults free. Suitable for ages 4+.
Sandsculpting Junior Masterclass – Friday 28 July, 2pm-4pm.
Work with internationally renowned sand artist Paul Hoggard & Remy Geerts to learn the skill of sand sculpting to impress your friends on the beach.
£5. Suitable for ages 9+. Pre-booking required.
Sandsculpting Masterclass – Friday 28 July, 6:30pm-8:30pm
Work with internationally renowned sand artist Paul Hoggard & Remy Geerts to learn the skill of sand sculpting to impress your friends on the beach.
£5. Suitable for ages 16+. Pre-booking required.
Mini Make - Sandcastle flags – Tuesday 1 August, 10:30am-1pm.
Pop in and make flags to top your sandcastles.
£1 per maker with accompanying adults free. Suitable for ages 4+.
Mini Make - Paper plate fish – Tuesday 8 August, 10:30am-1pm.
Pop in and create a fish from a paper plate.
£1 per maker with accompanying adults free. Suitable for ages 4+.
Mini Make - Seahorses – Tuesday 15 August, 10:30am-1pm.
Pop in and make a colourful seahorse.
£1 per maker with accompanying adults free. Suitable for ages 4+.
Sand School – Tuesday 1 August, Wednesday 9 August, Thursday 17 August and Friday 25 August, 10:30am-1pm.
Join us for a day of arty fun and sand. Complete all the challenges and achieve your Discover Arts award.
Free with an exhibition ticket. Suitable for ages 8+. Pre-booking required. Bring a packed lunch. Funded by Gosport Cultural Consortium.
Mini Make - Boat building – Tuesday 22 August, 10:30am-1pm.
Pop in and create a mini boat. Will yours float or sink?
£1 per maker with accompanying adults free. Suitable for ages 4+.
Mini Make - Shark pegs – Tuesday 29 August, 10:30am-1pm.
Pop in and make a shark peg puppet.
£1 per maker with accompanying adults free. Suitable for ages 4+.
Underwater worlds workshop – Thursday 31 August, 10:30am-12pm and 1:30pm-3pm.
Make your own underwater world in a box. Be inspired by the seashore science collection.
£5 per child with accompanying adults free. Suitable for ages 6+. Pre-booking required.
Rockbourne Roman Villa – Fordingbridge SP6 3PG
VillaFest! – Saturday 5 August and Sunday 6 August, 10am-4pm.
Rockbourne Roman Villa is building on the success of last year's Living History Event, Rockbourne Rediscovered. VillaFest is a multi-period living history event taking place on two days, celebrating the pre-history of the site. Enjoy living history displays and demonstrations throughout the day, from the Iron Age to the Anglo-Saxons.
£8-£15. Suitable for all ages. Pre-booking required.
An evening with the Anglo-Saxons – Saturday 5 August, gates open at 6.30pm. Show starts at 7pm to 9pm.
Feast, music and storytelling with the Anglo-Saxons. Immerse yourself in history and raise a cup of mead with the Anglo-Saxon reenactors of Herigeas Hundas on a warm summers evening. Enjoy enchanting Saxon stories, listen to the epic deeds and songs of great warriors and join in with a celebratory drum circle to finish the night with a bang!
See website for details.
Rain or Shine presents: A Comedy of Errors – Thursday 10 August, doors open at 6pm, starts at 7pm.
An al fresco farce for all the family! Once upon a time, cruel fate decreed that a family should be torn asunder in a violent shipwreck. The mother lost to the waves, the father and one twin and his bondsman one way, and the other twin and his bondsman another… Years later, in search of their lost family, Antipholus, and his bondsman, Dromio, arrive in the port of Ephesus, a city reputedly full of rogues, cheats, and sorcerers. Although this is their first visit, merchants greet them as acquaintances, women pursue them as lovers, and everybody knows their names! Pack your bubbly, chairs and picnics and witness the comical confusion and chaotic capers of Shakespeare’s hilarious masterpiece!
£8 - £16. Suitable for ages 12+. Pre-booking required. Outdoors, bring your own seating and picnic.
Westbury Manor Museum – Fareham PO16 0JJ
Canvas creations – Monday 7 August and Monday 21 August, 10:30am-11:30am.
A chance for children to create their own painting on a mini canvas which they can take away with them at the end of the session. We will be using our garden at the back of the museum as inspiration to help inspire their work.
£8.00 this includes a babychino at the end of the session. Suitable for ages 6+. Pre-booking required.
Flower power craft session – Thursday 17 August, 10:30am-11:30am.
Design your own flowerpot and then plant seeds to grow later in the summer.
£5.00 per child. Suitable for ages 4+. Pre-booking required.
Red House Museum and Gardens – Christchurch BH23 1BU
Sisata presents: The Tempest – Saturday 29 July, doors 5:45pm, show starts 6:30pm.
A great storm is coming to the Isle of Portland, bringing trouble to its shores. Prospero’s spells wash ashore the ghosts of his past, triggering strange magical consequences for Portlanders; Miranda, Ariel and Caliban. The human lust for power and control have become toxic, causing devastating pollution, endangering lives and the future of the land itself. Can the tempest crisis unite them to live and love and work together with nature to battle the inevitable tide of climate change? Will love win the day?
£12-15. Suitable for ages 12+. Pre booking required.
Willis Museum and Sainsbury Gallery – Basingstoke RG21 7QD
Our Windrush Story – Saturday 22 to Sunday 30 July, during museum opening times.
For the final week of the exhibition join us for trails, make-and-takes and other Caribbean inspired activities.
Free.
Cardboard tube robots – Thursday 10 August, 11am-12pm and 2pm-3pm.
From a simple piece of rolled up cardboard let your imagination run wild designing and decorating your robot.
£3 per child. Suitable for ages 4+. Pre-booking required.
Robot greeting card – Thursday 17 August, 11am-12pm and 2pm-3pm.
Make a robot themed greeting card for someone you love – use our basic design and then add all the cogs and wheels using our stencils and templates.
£3 per child. Suitable for ages 4+. Pre-booking required.
Robot masks – Thursday 24 August, 11am-12pm and 2pm-3pm.
Be inspired by your favourite fictional robot or create your own mask with our stencils and collage materials.
£3 per child. Suitable for ages 5+. Pre-booking required.
Robot puppets – Thursday 31 August, 11am-12pm and 2pm-3pm.
Using a mix of card, splits pins and straws and anything else from our collage materials design a robot puppet.
£3 per child. Suitable for ages 5+. Pre-booking required.
For more information, and to book tickets please visit https://www.hampshireculture.org.uk/events.