Top picks!
If you're getting yourself tied up in 'Notts' over what to do in the summer holidays, our round up of top picks definitely doesn't disappoint!
Have a go Archery
- Date/Time: 30 - 31 July / 6 - 7, 13 - 14, 20 - 21, 27 - 29 Aug
- Prices: £5 for six arrows
Today, you can find out what it takes to develop the accuracy and power to loose an arrow and hit your target.
These brilliant quickfire have-a-go archery sessions take place under the tuition and coaching of qualified instructors, so you will quickly develop the techniques you would have needed to run with the outlaws and repel the Sheriff’s forces in Sherwood Forest centuries ago.
Not recommended for children aged three and under.
Please note that this event could be cancelled in the event of bad weather.
No booking required.
Myths and legends with the Master at Arms
- Date/Time: 23 & 30 July / 6, 20, 27 Aug / 3 Sept
- 11:00am - 12.30pm
- Prices: Adults: £7.50 (£6 RSPB members) Children: £5 (£4 RSPB members)
Join William De Tankerville, The Sheriff of Nottingham’s Master at Arms, as he takes you on a tour of the majestic Greenwood, sharing stories of medieval life and the villainous Robin Hood.
William has become very familiar with Sherwood while on the hunt for Robin Hood and knows the most beautiful pathways… and the deadliest! Although do not fear good citizens of Nottingham, not even the dastardly Hood would dare take on the Sheriff’s most experienced warrior!
This walk will take you on a journey through the forest, hearing the tales of its most legendary inhabitant and medieval life.
The walk will last approximately 90 minutes, and please bring suitable clothing and footwear.
Sorry, no dogs on this walk.
Notts Day Festival
- Date/Time: 27 August 11:00am - 8:00pm
- Free to view
- Local parking charges apply
A celebration of live, local musical talent and hosted by Nottinghamshire's very own Rob Green.
Totally Roarsome
- Open from 9 July
- 10:00am - 3:00pm
- £8.95 per person (under 2's free)
Come and walk around the roarsome trail in Rufford woodland where you will encounter displays of dinosaurs, superheroes and lots of other roarsome things!
White Post Farm - On Tour
- From 3 Aug - 31 Aug
- £2.50 per person (pay on the day)
The White Post Farm team will be bringing a selection of animals to meet you. From fluffy to scaly, the animals are all very friendly and excited to make some new friends.
Open every day, throughout the summer holidays. Come and enjoy an exciting day out for all the family!
- Sky Trail
- Brand new Lagoon Wipeout
- Kayaking
- Stand up Paddle Boarding
- Mini Golf
- Archery Combat
- Climbing Wall
- Adventure Holiday Club
- White Water Tubing
- White Water Duckying
Adventure Holiday Club
Join us for the ultimate outdoor Adventure Holiday Club. Kids can enjoy whizzing around our Sky Trail and the adventurous Climbing Wall. There's water based fun too with the brand new Lagoon Wipeout and the more traditional Kayaking, Canoeing, Raft Building.
- Child drop-off: 08:30-09:00
- Collection: 17:00-17:30
- 1 August - 26 August
- Packed lunch provided
- Suitable for ages 8-14
- £48 per child, per day
We also have Adventure Day Pass options available.
Summer Events at Your Local Library
Looking for something exciting to do with your children over the summer holidays? We've got loads of events going on at our libraries throughout the week.
Summer Reading Challenge
The Summer Reading Challenge is back in Inspire libraries this summer! This year's challenge has been developed in partnership with The Science Museum Group, the world’s leading alliance of science museums. The challenge features the Gadgeteers – six fictional young innovators who, using creative thinking and teamwork, plan a party for their town’s summer fair celebration. Gadgeteers will be a celebration of reading, science and imagination.
The Clockwork Dragon with author Jonathan Emmett
Join the brave and inventive Max and Lizzie as they devise a cunning plan to scare away Flamethrottle, a greedy, man-eating dragon. Jonathan Emmett visits Sutton-in-Ashfield and Mansfield Central Libraries to talk about his book The Clockwork Dragon. Then create your own Clockwork Creature using a cut-out-and-stick kit of parts.
- For children aged 4-8.
- Date: Thursday 4 August
- Cost: £2 for children and accompanying adults free.
Get Creative at our Library Lab this Summer
Join Inspire’s 2022 author and artist in residence Alice Harmon and Pete Gray for a workshop that’s packed with smart sketches and spectacular science facts.
Pete will reveal some clever tricks that are guaranteed to make drawing super easy and fun, and you can hunt for facts with Alice and turn scientific information into a creative and entertaining double page book spread!
- For children aged 4-11and their families.
- Free.
- Booking essential.
- Various libraries and various dates throughout August.
Storybeats: a family storytelling and music workshop
Join this free, energetic music and storytelling workshop bursting with creativity and a chance to learn new musical skills with Dave “Stickman” Higgins. Together we’ll discover how we tell stories and create whole new worlds using percussion, rhythm and our voices.
- For children aged 5-9 and their grown-ups.
- Free.
- Booking advised.
- Various libraries and dates throughout July and August.
Sherwood Forest Outlaw Day - 10 August
Our exciting Outlaw family experience starts with an adventure through the beautiful Sherwood Forest where you will meet some of the famous outlaws from the stories of old. We will visit the Major Oak, look at some of the weapons from Medieval times and earn about crime and Punishment and what life was really like in the forest!
After lunch you can test your den building skills in our dedicated den build area and see if you can build a den to survive in the forest. You day will end with you making a wooden medallion to remind you of your Outlaw adventure.
Den Building & Orienteering Adventure Day - 16 August
Join the Outlaws this Summer at Sherwood Forest for an exciting family experience. The Outlaws made their home in Sherwood Forest and used natural resources to survive. Have you got what it takes to become one of Robin Hood’s Outlaws and live in Sherwood Forest? Start your morning with a den building session in our dedicated den building area. Can you create a hideaway in the forest and outwit the Sheriff and his men? Have lunch in your newly created Outlaw camp and then spend the afternoon testing your map reading and orienteering skills, as you search for clues out in Sherwood
The Secrets of Sherwood: Outlaw Tour of the Forest - 23 August
Join Robin and Marian on an exciting tour through the greenwood and experience Sherwood Forest like never before. Discover the secrets of Sherwood and how the Outlaws lived in the forest and avoided capture by the Sheriff and his men. Learn about the ancient oaks that line the forest today and hear some of the well-loved stories surrounding the Legend of Nottinghamshire’s greatest outlaw.
Your experience also includes a medieval weaponry talk and take home craft of an Outlaw forest medallion.
Notts Outdoors Holiday Club
- Age range: School Years 3 - 8
- Runs weekdays only - bookings only available in weekly slots
- From £25 per day
Adventure holiday clubs run in February half term, Easter, May half term, Summer holidays and October half term.
Your child will get to try new activities, learn new skills, and make new friends all while having fun!
Activities available during holiday clubs are weather dependent and subject to change.
Adventure Academy
The Adventure Academy is back for 2022 and its bigger and better than last year!
- Date: 1 - 5 August 2022
- Cost: For the week of activities and two overnight stays £225.
- Suitable for young people in school years 8-10.
Academy Adventurers will experience a range of adventurous activities onsite and potentially off site, with two overnight stays.
Adventurers will also have the opportunity to participate and develop skills in a variety of activities (land and water based). Activities include climbing, tunnelling, zip-wire, high ropes, low ropes, kayaking, canoeing, raft building, biking and much more.
The focus of the Academy is to work with young people who have a keen interest in the outdoors and want to learn and develop new skills, whilst increasing confidence, making new friends and having fun!
