Events for Children and Young People

Our 2024 Families programme invites children and young adults to explore their creativity, curiosity and connection with authors, poets, illustrators, performers, scientists and environmentalists. Find all your favourite authors plus some new discoveries.

To find more events and workshops for students visit our Education page

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Event W22

Events taking place live 23 May–2 June 2024

Pizza-making Workshop

Kitchen Garden Pizza

– Family Garden
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Come to the Family Garden for a pizza masterclass with Kitchen Garden Pizza. In this one-hour session your imagination and creativity will be fed along with your belly! You’ll get your hands messy with freshly grown and foraged ingredients, make and top your own dough and observe the pizzaioli at work at the wood-fired oven. And while you wait for your pizza to cook, you can decorate your own pizza box!
Dairy-free and gluten-free options available

4+ years
Parents/carers must attend but do not need a ticket.
This event has taken place

Event F23

Events taking place live 23 May–2 June 2024

Michael Rosen

Poetry Morning

– Discovery Stage
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Settle in for a joyous morning of family entertainment with national treasure and former Children’s Laureate Michael Rosen. He shares stories and poems from his extensive back catalogue, and introduces his latest playful tale The Incredible Adventures of Gaston le Dog. Inspired by stories Michael used to tell his son on holiday in France, this was the book he dreamed of writing while he was recovering from Covid.

Family, 7+ years
This event has taken place

Event F24

Events taking place live 23 May–2 June 2024

Ken Wilson-Max

Aqua Boy

– Spring Stage
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Island boy Aaron loves the sea. But he's a bit scared of going under the water. Then one day Aaron finds an octopus stranded on the beach. And as he helps Dad return it to the water, something amazing happens… Can Aaron lose his fear and go underwater? Maybe now he can help look after the sea creatures and be… Aqua Boy!

Award-winning author and illustrator Ken Wilson-Max (Astro Girl and Eco Girl) reads from Aqua Boy, an empowering story about looking after the ocean and its wildlife. Next he shows you how to draw an octopus yourself, and then – hold your breath! – while you complete your drawing, Ken creates a stunning live painting.

Please bring your own sketchbook and pencils to draw along in this event.

3+ years
This event has taken place

Event W23

Events taking place live 23 May–2 June 2024

Rotoscope Animation Workshop

With MASH Cinema

– Creative Hub
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Rotoscope and remix! Leave your mark – help reanimate, reimagine and remix short films with visual artists MASH Cinema. During the workshop you’ll experiment with techniques pioneered by animator Max Fleischer to produce new moving image artwork in this fun, hands-on collaborative creative project. Completed animations will be available to view online.

9–11 years
Parents/carers may attend (no ticket required), or sign children in/out.
This event has taken place

Event MT8

Events taking place live 23 May–2 June 2024

Make & Take Crafting

Monday Lunchtime Session

– Make & Take Hub
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An opportunity to get crafting! Activities differ every day, including everything from print-making to junk modelling with recycled materials, with today’s sessions focusing on rivers. Get messy and creative: your imagination is the limit.

Book for the session and you can drop in at any point during the 1.5 hour duration. Accompanying adults: please stay in attendance at all times, but you do not require a ticket.

3–11 years
This event has taken place

Event F25

Events taking place live 23 May–2 June 2024

Jessie Yendle

Let’s Talk

– Meadow Stage
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Live your best life with empowering advice from Jessie Yendle, the beauty and self-confidence boosting influencer AKA ‘That Girl with the Stammer on TikTok’. In this empowering event for young adults, Jessie shares her experiences and how she learnt to challenge herself to ‘have a go’. She offers a safe space to help you increase your positivity, let go of the things that bother you and deal with your anxieties. Inspired by her book Let’s Talk, Jessie gives tips to boost confidence and support positive mental health – and she’ll answer your questions too.

Please bring your own notebook and pen or pencil to this event.

BSL Used HereThere will be a BSL interpreter at this event

13+ years
This event has taken place

Event W24

Events taking place live 23 May–2 June 2024

Stories in the Wilds Workshop

With Emma Bettridge

– Meet at Wild Garden
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Come to a fun, story-generating workshop with Emma Bettridge and her dog Nell. During this inspiring outdoor session, you’ll walk to the River Wye where you’ll write, draw and record your stories, inspired by the river and its surrounding area. Emma Bettridge is a theatre producer, nature lover and children’s author whose books include Goodbye Hobbs and Red is Home.

Please come dressed for the weather. We regret that we can’t accommodate dogs at this session.

7–9 years
Parents/carers must attend but do not need a ticket.
This event has taken place

Event W25

Events taking place live 23 May–2 June 2024

Rotoscope Animation Workshop

With MASH Cinema

– Creative Hub
Read more

Rotoscope and remix! Leave your mark – help reanimate, reimagine and remix short films with visual artists MASH Cinema. During the workshop you’ll experiment with techniques pioneered by animator Max Fleischer to produce new moving image artwork in this fun, hands-on collaborative creative project. Completed animations will be available to view online.

12+ years
No parent/carer attendance nor sign in/out is required.
This event has taken place

Event 414

Events taking place live 23 May–2 June 2024

Tim Peake in conversation with Maggie Aderin-Pocock

The Cosmic Diary of our Incredible Universe

– Discovery Stage
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Tim Peake was the first British astronaut to conduct a spacewalk at the International Space Station, and an inspiration for budding young scientists and astronauts everywhere. In this out-of-this-world event, Peake talks about his first non-fiction book for children, The Cosmic Diary of Our Incredible Universe with space scientist, educator, author and presenter Maggie Aderin-Pocock. You'll discover everything from how stars are made, to which fruit can create antimatter. Peake is a former Apache pilot, flight instructor, test pilot and European Space Agency astronaut whose books include his memoir Limitless, and the photography collection Hello, is this Planet Earth?

8+ years
This has replaced event F27 with Robert Winston
This event has taken place

Event F28

Events taking place live 23 May–2 June 2024

Shelina Janmohamed

Story of Now: Let’s Talk about the British Empire

– Spring Stage
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What can tea and pyjamas tell us about Britain today? Carnegie-nominated author Shelina Janmohamed steers an interactive, mind-blowing journey through the centuries and lands of the British Empire, standing in the shoes of kids just like you. Hear the voices of children of the industrial revolution, enslaved children, the Home children and even the teenage match girls who went on strike and inspired a political movement. Understanding what happened during the British Empire helps all of us to make sense of the world we live in today. Not afraid to tackle big issues like racism and inequality, Shelina will ask perhaps the most important question of all: how can you be the author of your own (British Empire) story, and could your story change the course of history?

Please bring your own notebook and pen or pencil to this event.

10+ years
This event has taken place

Event MT9

Events taking place live 23 May–2 June 2024

Make & Take Crafting

Monday Afternoon Session

– Make & Take Hub
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An opportunity to get crafting! Activities differ every day, including everything from print-making to junk modelling with recycled materials, with today’s sessions focusing on rivers. Get messy and creative: your imagination is the limit.

Book for the session and you can drop in at any point during the 1.5 hour duration. Accompanying adults: please stay in attendance at all times, but you do not require a ticket.

3–11 years
This event has taken place

Event W26

Events taking place live 23 May–2 June 2024

Pizza-making Workshop

Kitchen Garden Pizza

– Family Garden
Read more

Come to the Family Garden for a pizza masterclass with Kitchen Garden Pizza. In this one-hour session your imagination and creativity will be fed along with your belly! You’ll get your hands messy with freshly grown and foraged ingredients, make and top your own dough and observe the pizzaioli at work at the wood-fired oven. And while you wait for your pizza to cook, you can decorate your own pizza box!
Dairy-free and gluten-free options available

4+ years
Parents/carers must attend but do not need a ticket.
This event has taken place

Event W27

Events taking place live 23 May–2 June 2024

Rotoscope Animation Workshop

With MASH Cinema

– Creative Hub
Read more

Rotoscope and remix! Leave your mark – help reanimate, reimagine and remix short films with visual artists MASH Cinema. During the workshop you’ll experiment with techniques pioneered by animator Max Fleischer to produce new moving image artwork in this fun, hands-on collaborative creative project. Completed animations will be available to view online.

7–9 years
Parents/carers must attend but do not need a ticket.
This event has taken place

Event F29

Events taking place live 23 May–2 June 2024

Jeffrey Boakye

Musical World

– Meadow Stage
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Tune in to BBC Radio 4 broadcaster Jeffrey Boakye to discover modern world history as you’ve never heard it before! The critically acclaimed author of Musical Truth presents Musical World, a new book and soundtrack charting pivotal historical moments from across the globe. Explore the cultural, political and societal impact of various music genres and musicians, including artists Bob Marley, Aretha Franklin, Lil Nas X and many more.

Family, 11+ years
This event has taken place

Event F30

Events taking place live 23 May–2 June 2024

Katya Balen

Foxlight

– Spring Stage
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Go story mudlarking with Katya Balen, the Carnegie Medal-winning author of October, October, and discover her new heart-warming tale Foxlight. Explore the wild with twin sisters Fen and Rey – different and the same, separate and connected – as they follow a fox in search of answers.

Family, 8+ years
This event has taken place

Event W28

Events taking place live 23 May–2 June 2024

Pizza-making Workshop

Kitchen Garden Pizza

– Family Garden
Read more

Come to the Family Garden for a pizza masterclass with Kitchen Garden Pizza. In this one-hour session your imagination and creativity will be fed along with your belly! You’ll get your hands messy with freshly grown and foraged ingredients, make and top your own dough and observe the pizzaioli at work at the wood-fired oven. And while you wait for your pizza to cook, you can decorate your own pizza box!
Dairy-free and gluten-free options available

4+ years
Parents/carers must attend but do not need a ticket.
This event has taken place

Event F31

Events taking place live 23 May–2 June 2024

Jeffrey Boakye

Kofi and the Secret Radio Station

– Spring Stage
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Travel back in time to the ’90s with author, broadcaster and educator Jeffrey Boakye for Kofi’s latest music-making adventure. After discovering a pirate radio station, Kofi can’t wait to get everyone involved with Clipper FM… but what does it mean when the radio station vanishes overnight? Expect music, mischief and lots of laughs!

9+ years
This event has taken place

Event F32

Events taking place live 23 May–2 June 2024

Simon Mole and Gecko

Dino-show

– Meadow Stage
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Which dinosaur had teeth as big as a banana? Which dinosaur weighed the same as 10,000 cats? And what could a chicken possibly be doing in the Great Big Dinosaur Show?! Join poet Simon Mole and musician Gecko for their family show full of poems, raps and songs about all your favourite prehistoric protagonists – and some you haven’t heard of yet! Come and get your groove on to some Jurassic classics.

Family, 3+ years
This event has taken place

Event W29

Events taking place live 23 May–2 June 2024

Ready, Steady, Music! Workshop

– Creative Hub
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Get your Hay day off to a brilliant start with our daily Ready, Steady, Music workshops! With different activities each day, these interactive, fun-filled sessions for mini musicians will have you tapping sticks, roaring like dinosaurs, flying with unicorns, dancing with scarves, playing with parachutes and much more. Come and meet our puppets, explore our instruments and be accompanied by the beautiful sound of the cello.

0–4 years
Parents/carers must attend but do not need a ticket.
This event has taken place

Event W30

Events taking place live 23 May–2 June 2024

Pizza-making Workshop

Kitchen Garden Pizza

– Family Garden
Read more

Come to the Family Garden for a pizza masterclass with Kitchen Garden Pizza. In this one-hour session your imagination and creativity will be fed along with your belly! You’ll get your hands messy with freshly grown and foraged ingredients, make and top your own dough and observe the pizzaioli at work at the wood-fired oven. And while you wait for your pizza to cook, you can decorate your own pizza box!
Dairy-free and gluten-free options available

4+ years
Parents/carers must attend but do not need a ticket.
This event has taken place

Event MT10

Events taking place live 23 May–2 June 2024

Make & Take Crafting

Tuesday Morning Session

– Make & Take Hub
Read more

An opportunity to get crafting! Activities differ every day, including everything from print-making to junk modelling with recycled materials. Get messy and creative: your imagination is the limit.

Book for the session and you can drop in at any point during the 1.5 hour duration. Accompanying adults: please stay in attendance at all times, but you do not require a ticket.

3–11 years
This event has taken place

Event W31

Events taking place live 23 May–2 June 2024

Pizza-making Workshop

Kitchen Garden Pizza

– Family Garden
Read more

Come to the Family Garden for a pizza masterclass with Kitchen Garden Pizza. In this one-hour session your imagination and creativity will be fed along with your belly! You’ll get your hands messy with freshly grown and foraged ingredients, make and top your own dough and observe the pizzaioli at work at the wood-fired oven. And while you wait for your pizza to cook, you can decorate your own pizza box!
Dairy-free and gluten-free options available

4+ years
Parents/carers must attend but do not need a ticket.
This event has taken place

Event F33

Events taking place live 23 May–2 June 2024

Jenny Pearson

Fascinating Facts and Wondrous World Records

– Meadow Stage
Read more

Enjoy a fast-paced, funny and interactive event with Jenny Pearson, the Laugh Out Loud Book Award-winning author of The Super Miraculous Journey of Freddie Yates, The Incredible Record Smashers, Grandpa Frank’s Great Big Bucket List and The Boy Who Made Monsters. You’ll be amazed at the fascinating facts, wondrous World Records and astonishing achievements that Jenny packs into her stories. Settle in for funny videos, quick quizzes and lots of laughs.

Please bring your own notebook and pen or pencil to this event.

8+ years
This event has taken place

Event F34

Events taking place live 23 May–2 June 2024

Nikita Gill

Animal Tales From India

– Spring Stage
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Journey back in time with author and poet Nikita Gill for an incredible, evocative event and discover the ancient Indian animal fables of the Panchatantra, which have been told and retold for thousands of years. You’ll meet mighty elephants and courageous mice, cunning crocodiles and clever monkeys, talkative tortoises and little lapwing birds – and each one imparts a different message that can inspire you in different ways. An event celebrating friendship, cleverness, love and wisdom.

5+ years
This event has taken place

Event W32

Events taking place live 23 May–2 June 2024

Oops Rabbit Workshop

With Jo Ham

– Creative Hub
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Craft your own original Rabbit artwork in this creative workshop for all the family. Enter the joyful world of Jo Ham’s Rabbit – select your favourite HAM print featuring the iconic character and then let your imagination soar to create your own Yippee!, Uh-Oh! or Oops! moment. You can add landscapes, new characters, colourful props and more using paint, pens, stickers and craft materials, with help on hand from Jo and the HAM team.

3+ years
Parents/carers must attend but do not need a ticket
This event has taken place

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