Parents, roll up! We’ve found activities for every age, from toddlers to teens, plus family days out. Read on for our summer holiday guide giving you the best of art, sport, festivals, theatre and days out in Surrey this July and August.

ON STAGE AND SCREEN

The Dream Fairies
■ Kew Gardens, Richmond ■ Fri 19 July – Sun 1 Sept
Follow Tinkerbell and her singing musical ensemble into the magical woods of Kew Gardens. Alongside fairies from Midsummer Night’s Dream, Tink goes on a whole host of adventures. Shows take place at select times so check the site for details on timings and ticket prices.

Buzz
■ Box Hill, Tadworth ■ Wed 11 & Wed 18 August
A series of puppet shows that follow a wacky ride consisting of avoiding scary Shredder the dog and the grouchy Mr Fred. Taking place at 11am and 3pm, the shows last 30 minutes and are free to attend. Normal admission applies. All performances are BSL interpreted.

The 13-Storey Treehouse
■ New Victoria Theatre, Woking ■ Thu 29 August – Sun 1 Sept
Based on the award-winning book by Andy Griffiths and Terry Denton, two little boys live in a tree house of extra-ordinary proportion, with a marshmallow machine and bowling alley! Watch as they get into all kinds of adventures in their mega-home. tickets available from £15, recommended for ages 6-12.

Disney in Concert – Beauty and the Beast
■ Studio at New Wimbledon Theatre ■ Sat 10 August
Enjoy a tale as old as time, with accompaniment of an orchestra. The film, starring Emma Watson is a well-lived live action. The live music adds a new layer to the cinematic experience. Tickets available from £29.98, recommended for children 6+.

The Lion Inside
■ G Live, Guildford ■ Tue 27 – Thu 29 August
Following the meekest of animals, Mouse, as he meets Lion and discovers his much-needed ROAR! The show is one that explores confidence and gaining self-esteem. Suitable for ages 3+, tickets are available from £14.50 with a performance at 11am and 2pm.

Horrible Histories: Rotten Royals
■ G Live, Guildford ■ Mon 19 August
One of the nation’s favourite on screen educational programmes is coming to the stage, with appearances from some of the most notorious royals, like Mary Queen of Scots and Richard the Lion Heart. Tickets are available from £18.50, performances at 1.30pm and 4.30pm.

As You Like It
■ Reigate Castle Grounds ■ Wed 4 Sept
Enjoy a performance of one of Shakespeare’s most exciting plays. Hosted on the grounds of Reigate Castle, the show is perfectly backdropped. The grounds will be open an hour before the show to allow time to get situated. Tickets cost £18.50, with the show starting at 6.30pm.

Charlie Cook’s Favourite Book
■ Rose Theatre, Kingston ■ Tue 20 – Mon 26 August
Based on the beloved book by Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler, this show follows Charlie and his sister as they read a variety of books, that are brought to life on stage. Suitable for ages 3+, the show lasts 60 minutes and tickets are available from £15,

Miss Rachel UK
■ Leatherhead Theatre ■ Fri 30 August
The whirlwind online success Miss Rachel is making an in-person appeared in a UK tribute tour. The show will feature interactive activities and lots of sensory experiences for little ones, and puppetry to bring some furry friends onto the stage. Tickets cost £20.

Plays in the Park
■ Meadowbank Park, Dorking ■ Sat 20 July
Pack a picnic rug (or chairs) and your brolly for Plays in the Park in Dorking this summer. Scoot Theatre bring Quentin Blake’s Mrs Armitage on Wheels to the alfresco stage at 11am. Then at 2pm it’s a double bill of A Midsummer Night’s Dream and Twelfth Night by 440 Theatre who bring all the hilarity of two of the Bard’s best comedies condensed into short, 40-minute side-splitting shows.

GET OUTSIDE

Camping at Godstone Farm in Surrey. — The Big Farm Sleepover at Godstone Farm in Surrey.

Summer of Play
■ Polesden Lacy, Dorking ■ Sat 13 July – Sun 8 Sept
Head down to Polesden this summer for a children’s dream-world. A Fantasy Castle made of straw as well as lots of activities surrounding it will be available, as well as a maze to solve! Normal admission applies.

The Big Farm Sleepover
■ Godstone Farm ■ 16-18 Aug, 20-22 Aug, 23-25 Aug
The camping experience of your farming dreams, you will have access to the farm for the 3 days stay, as well as access to activities before and after opening times. Breakfast and dinner will be provided. So, pitch you tents and take FULL advantage of the kids club!

WORKSHOPS

A life drawing class for young students at Watts Gallery near Guildford, in Surrey.

Watts Creatives: Life Drawing
■ Watts Gallery, Compton ■ Thurs 22 Aug
A life drawing class for teens and young adults in which students will gain skills in sustained observational drawing from the nude model. Run by artist Rachel Mercer, who specialises in introducing life drawing to younger audiences, students will be introduced to techniques to improve fluency, and develop hand-eye coordination and speed. The class will focus on layering and reworking drawings to challenge accuracy while also considering tone. Students will be shown examples of life drawings from old and contemporary artists which will help inform their own approach to drawing. It’s a good opportunity for students who are creating portfolios for applications to art and design courses.

Robot Explorers
■ Yvonne Arnaud Theatre, Guildford ■ Fri 26 July
For any budding engineers wanting to polish up their skills, Yvonne Arnaud is running a working perfectly suited to the needs of a future tech master. The session will help participant build their own robot, software programming and all. For ages 8-11, costing £45 per person.

Wild Craft Wednesdays
■ Winkworth Arboretum, Godalming ■ Wed 24 July – Wed 4 Sept
Throughout the holidays different crafting workshops will take place at Winkworth, leading the creation of Sun Catchers, Lavender bags and more! The session costs £2 for a little one to participate in and they run every Wednesday from 10am-2pm. All equipment is provided.

Theatre Workshop
■ Dorking Halls ■ Tue 20 – Thurs 22 August
Do you have any little drama kings or queens wanting to hone their talents? For ages 7-13, the 3-day workshop will teach all the vital skills in the dramatic arts like dancing, singing, and acting. Costing £98 for the 3 days, the sessions run from 10am-3pm, including a show at 3pm on the last day!

Movie Make Up – Guts & Gore
■ Farnham Maltings ■ Wed 31 July
For those slightly older, recommended ages 12-16, Farnham’s workshop, led by expert Kate Griffiths, teaches the know-how on studio visual FX makeup. Participants will learn how to create fake injuries and experiment with their newfound knowledge. Costing £15, the session runs from 2pm-4pm.

Curious Curators – Time Travellers
■ Farnham Maltings ■ Thu 8 August
Travel through time and visit some of the most important events in human history, discovering all the interesting and sometimes wacky ways children lived. Interactive activities will take place throughout. Costing £8 per child, for ages 7-13, the workshop takes place from 10.30am-12.30pm.

Let’s Make a Show 2024 – Sense and Nonsense!
■ Riverhouse Barn Arts Centre, Walton on Thames ■ Mon 29 July – Fri 2 Aug
For little ones with any experience and confidence level, this 3-day workshop will teach acting, improv as well as giving an insight into some behind the scenes magic. There will be a show at the end of the 3-day stint, showcasing to family and friends all that has been learnt. Cost is £140 per child, for ages 7-13, from 10am-5pm.

CAMPS

Zorbing at Ultimate Activity Camps for children during school holidays. — Zorbing is just one of the activities children can take part in at the Ultimate Activity Camps.

CAMPS: Ultimate Activity Camps
■ Amesbury School, Haslemere, Manor House School, Leatherhead, Prior’s Field School, Godalming, Micklefield School, Reigate, and Halstead St Andrew’s School, Woking ■ from Mon 15 July Fri 23 Aug
These cool day camps offer a mind-blowing array of activities for 4-14 year olds with a strong emphasis on sports and outdoor games plus creative activities. There are 40 activities to choose from each week, everything from dancing to football to inflatables to nature trails, swimming and roller racing, and for the little ones when they’re completely pooped, story time. The camps are held at independent schools throughout the county (so there’s certain to be one nearby) – with fab indoor and outdoor facilities. They’re un by Early Years qualified teachers, educators and sports coaches.

Parent & Child Forest School
■ Painshill, Cobham ■ Thu 18 July – Fri 23 August
For any parents wanting to spend some time with their kiddos in the great outdoors, the parent and child forest school will lead activities that are adaptable to the group and weather conditions. There are morning and afternoon sessions. Cost is £15 per child and sessions take place at 10am and 1pm.

AquaSports
■ Mercers Country Park, Merstham ■ Mon 22 July – Fri 30 Aug
Got a water baby in the family? They’ll love the full day camps offered at AquaSports, set at a huge lake in Merstham. A whole host of activities are on offer including kayaking, windsurfing, canoeing, paddle boarding and dinghy sailing. The camps are from 9.30-1.30pm, and for kids aged 8-13 years.

Wild Summer Camp
■ Painshill, Cobham ■ Tue 23 July – Thu 22 August
Painshill’s forest school summer camp offers an outdoor experience that’ll teach your little ones to enjoy and make fun in nature. With wilderness survival, animal tracking, and bushcraft pursuits. The Forest School ethos lets the children lead in their activities for the day. Cost is £45 day per child, taking place from Tuesdays – Thursdays.

DAYS OUT

Children on the jumping pillows at Bocketts Farm Park in Surrey. — The jumping pillows at Bocketts Farm near Leatherhead.

A Summer of Fun on The Farm
■ Bocketts Farm, Leatherhead ■ until Sun 1 Sept
Bocketts summer fun includes a bubble disco, a craft corner and tractor rides, to keep all little ones entertained all day long in the sunshine. There will also be the usual attractions like indoor/outdoor play and small animal encounters. Check the site for booking information.

Summer holidays family fun
■ Brooklands Museum, Weybridge ■ until Sun 1 Sept
Head to Brooklands Museum for a fun family day out. There’s a range of activities each day, including the pedal planes and cars for under 5s, an activity trail, the McLaren F1 Simulator. Thrilling car rides up Test Hill take place on Tues, Wed and Thurs each week. There are outdoor games and crafts, plus full-scale Lego McLaren bricks to play with. Head to the Aircraft Facotry where you can make your own metal plane, and every Friday from 11am-2pm in the Malcolm Campbell shed kids can try on the historic helmets and goggles. The London Bus Museum will be operating vintage bus rides around the local area. Picnics are welcome, and there’s also a café.

Hullaballoo Summer
■ Hobbledown, Epsom ■ Sat 20 July – Tues 3 Sept
A summer of colour is in-store at Hobbledown, with a Paint Parade sweeping through the park, as well s story times, and a Merrydown Mayhem. Over 2s cost £27 for the day, and under 2s go for free.

A Summer of Fun
■ Godstone Farm ■ Tue 23 July – Sun 1 Sept
Head on down to Godstone for a much-needed summer daytrip, with the summer to-do list including lawn games, a science zone, and daily foam parties. The regular attractions will also be open for enjoyment! Adult entry costs £16.95 and children between 2-16 cost £15.95.

Summer holidays
■ Watts Artists Gallery ■ Mon 22 July – Mon 2 Sept
With Summer family days, drawing and pottery workshops, as well as exhibitions, the Watts Gallery calendar is busting at the seams with activities for all the family during the holidays. Dedicated Summer Family Days are on Tuesdays (6, 13 and 20 Aug) offering a creative programme of activities inspired by the current Edo Pop exhibition. Pottery taster sessions will be held on Thursdays to Sundays from 18 July to 25 Aug where you can learn learn the techniques to craft your your own terracotta tile or decorative pinch pot. The 40 minute sessions are open to children and adults at 10am, 10.45am and 11.30am. See the full programme of events here.

Artbox Summer
■ Farnham Maltings ■ Thu 25 July – Fri 30 August
Let your little ones creative out in free flow, with a plethora of materials at their disposal and the only quota is to create costal themed artwork, perfect in time for summer. The workshop costs £65 and lasts from 10am-12pm. Recommended for ages 7-16.

Quiet Hour
■ Brooklands Museum, Weybridge ■ Tue 30 July
For any children who like a less over-stimulating day-out, Brooklands is hosting an early morning Quiet Hour from 9am-10am that will offer the perfect environment for anyone who would benefit. The Aircraft Factory and other standard exhibitions will all be open! Normal admission applies.

Family Fun Day
■ Meadowbank Park, Dorking ■ Sun 28 July
Head down to Dorking Halls for a day of summer fun, with children’s activities, sports events and even competitions for furry friends happening throughout the day. More details are to be announced!

FOR TEENS

A boy shoots clay targets at Bisley Shooting Ground.

Young Shots Day
■ Bisley Shooting Ground, Woking ■ Mon 19 Aug
For any keen-to-learn youngsters, Bisley is running its ‘Young Shots’ Day to teach the essential skills of clay pigeon shooting. The day includes full tuition with an instructor, all safety equipment, guns, cartridges and food. You can book as individual or in a group, with five teens per instructor. Cost is £115, bookings by 14 Aug)

Escape Room at Tulleys
■ Tullys Farm, Crawley ■ Available for Bookings
Take part in a Tully’s escape room for some much-needed adrenaline inducing excitement. there is a variety of rooms, with different ability levels to suit your required critical thinking skills. See the site for dates and prices.

Driving Experience
■ Mercedes Benz World, Weybridge ■ Available for bookings
For the teen who’s keen to get behind the wheel, there are track driving and off-roading experiences for non-licence holders. More fun than you can shake a gear stick at!

FESTIVALS & FAIRS

WeyFest
■ The Rural Life Museum, Tilford ■ 15 – 18 August
WeyFest is back again in 2024, bringing its boutique style festival with four stages, all set in 10 acres of stunning woodland plus camping, posh loos and plenty to occupy kids and grown ups alike. Lightning Seeds, Incognito, Dreadzone, The Feeling and Turin Brakes are all confirmed artists, along with about 40 others.

Hampton Court Palace Food Festival
■ Hampton Court Palace, Kingston ■ Sat 24 – Mon 26 Aug
For any foodies wanting a treat this summer, Hampton Court’s Food Festival plays host to a variety of stalls serving food and drinks of up to 150 produces selling their wares. Tickets also give you access to the palace. Open from 10am-6pm, tickets cost £30 for adults and £15 for children over 4.

Hosting Henry VIII Festival
■ West Horsley Place, near Leatherhead ■ Sat 27 & Sun 28 July
Immerse yourself in the world of our most famous monarch at this day dedicated to all things Henry. Expect jousting, falconry and Tudor dance sessions. There will also be a kids’ zone in the walled garden where children can ave their face painted, create their own shield, try their hand at archery or go to Jester School! Tickets are £25 adults, children (3-16) £10.

Staycation Live 2023
■ Phillips Memorial Park, Godalming ■ Fri 4 – Sun 6 August
It’s the 11th anniversary of Staycation Live, a festival for the Godalming community. Entry is free – though if you can afford it organisers ask festival goers to donate £10 – and as well as a diverse range of music there’s lots to entertain including a kids’ zone and food.

Cranleigh’s Surrey Hills Artisan Market
■ Cranleigh High Street, Cranleigh ■ Sat 3 August
The Surry Hills Artisan Market is back to provide all your culinary needs once again, with local food, drink, and crafts to keep everyone happy. The market is open from 10am-3pm.

The Egham Royal Show
■ Caddey’s Field, Whitehall Lane, Egham ■ Sat 24 – Sun 25 August
Enjoy a weekend jam-packed with entertainment, with everything from a vintage vehicle display to a dog show, plus well as plenty of family friendly activities. There will be live music throughout both days, and the main arena will host all the stunts and shows across the weekend. There will be food and drink available on site.

EATING OUT

Kids eat free at PizzaExpress. Each child gets a free Piccolo meal when they’re with an adult eating a main course until 11 Aug. The new summer menu includes Buddha bowls, salads and sundaes. The Caterham restaurant is looking spiffy after a recent refurb – so now is a good time to visit. Or head to the PizzaExpress in Woking, not far from the New Victoria Theatre – so perfect for a pre- or post-theatre nibble. Or try the Cheam restaurant, next door to the beautiful green space of Nonsuch Park.

Words by Becky Ward

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