Past Events

With five scare mazes, fire show, funfair rides, street entertainment, and a theatrical scare experience known as The Exorcism. Suitable for ages 16+.

Family-friendly firework display. No sparklers, glow stick stall, hotdogs, bar, cash only. All proceeds to Combe Down Primary School. Children go free with an adult ticket.  

Join New Works Ballet Theatre based on the classic Hans Christian Anderson fairy tale, it is a story of friendship, life under the sea, unexpected love, and even a dancing seahorse!

Alyssa Kyria’s one-woman comedy show about the bonkers world of parenting, with jokes and songs about everything from pregnancy to playdates, WhatsApp groups to school runs, if you’re a parent and you need a laugh, then this show is for you! Created with parents in mind, written and performed by Alyssa herself, who is not only a parent, but also the co-founder of Bring Your Own Baby Comedy, the UK’s number one parent and baby comedy company.

An opportunity to see three stand-up acts along with a compere - from familiar faces to rising stars, different performers every week. In addition, tickets include club night entry to The Big Disco after the show.

Meet Santa and enjoy a delicious home cooked breakfast in The Herb Garden Restaurant. Children will be given their own festive gift to take home and enjoy. There is also the opportunity to take your photo with Santa after breakfast. Spaces are limited so early booking recommended. Adults go free (maximum of 4 adults/child). Adults are able to purchase breakfast on the day as well.

There will be clues, facts and activities about our favourite upside-down friends to tie in with the half-term holiday and halloween. Solve the clues and collect your prize at the end.

Trake part in interactive family-friendly fun, themed around the environment. Mini-tank fans can let off steam in the free soft play & outdoor play area.

Stonehenge is famous for its alignments with the sun, but did you know that the ancient monument may have also been carefully designed to align with the movements of the Moon? Visit the pop-up planetarium and embark on a journey through the solar system with an expert astronomer. In addition, learn how to identify celestial objects such as stars, planets, and the Moon and observe the night sky over the ancient stone circle. 2024 is a special year as an…

Free admission for families during half-term (26 October – 3 November) and a ‘Fantastical Tails’ gallery trail inspired by the wonderful creatures and animals in Chila Burman and Paula Rego’s work; suitable for ages 6yrs+.

Take on the apple trail and children's games in The Orchard. Tik off all the items on the trail and you will get a prize to take home. In addition, learn more about Avebury's stone circles and henge by joining a family tour (Wednesdays and Sundays). Normal garden admission applies for the apple trail and games; family tours £2.50 per child, with adults going free.

Experience a classic American halloween atmosphere and exciting outdoor and indoor trails, with fun activities every day including a reading corner, colouring, crafts or puzzles and seasonal treats at the Deli. In addition, on 31 October there will be trick or treating, dog and children's costume competitions and parades in the gardens. There will be a Halloween creature trail in the gardens with clues, and sensory boxes to find the secret letters and unlock the trail code with candy treat…

A celebration of all things autumnal including pumpkin patch Fur, Fangs, and Feathers scavenger hunt (28 Oct–1 Nov) to explore the zoo, hunt for hidden clues whilst learning all about some fascinating animals and native wildlife. Participants will receive a discount pumpkins purchased from the patch and win a family animal adoption of your choice. There will also be displays with a selection of birds of prey.

Celebrating a journey through the diversity of American landscapes, history and culture in this contemporary, immersive experience, where visitors join in and share their own stories. There will be large-scale-travel games, theatrical sets, and an array of American road-trip memorabilia, as well a chance to get up close to an original 1958 Harley Davidson Duo Glide motorcycle, on loan from Haynes Motor Museum. Explore the origins and stories behind the cultural phenomenon, and be transported across thousands of miles on…

Follow a spider trail around the gardens with clues and facts about our favourite eight-legged friends, just in time for Halloween. Complete the trail and get a prize at the end; free with standard admission.

Explore the Museum, answering questions and completing fun tasks along the way; included with standard admission. Adults can test their trivia skills exploring our incredible exhibitions, diving deep into the fascinating world of motoring and cinema in the new History, Hollywood and Horsepower trail. In addition, visit the DriveTribe Exhibition, showcasing TV-famous cars like The Grand Tour’s Aston Martin from the “Sand Job” episode and Richard Hammond’s beloved Oliver from Top Gear.

The Unforgettable Behaviour exhibition showcases 39 photographs from previous Wildlife Photographer of the Year collections, displaying some of the most incredible animal behaviour moments ever captured on camera. The photos show an extraordinary range of surprising, and often deeply moving, acts by animals. They have been chosen to allow visitors to connect with animals they might never otherwise see and to inspire everyone to care about the world around us. The collection includes the works of several American photographers, with…

Graffiti art making and claymation film making workshops suitable for all levels of experience. Each workshop group has three sessions where with the support of an artist we will look at the questions and create some art work to reflect your thoughts and opinions. A friendly, fun and relaxed atmosphere suitable for ages 14-18 years.

See the resident falcons, hawks and owls and enjoy a flying display (11am and 2:30pm), see three different species in the sky with commentary from one of the team. Tickets are valid for the whole day, to allow you to come and go as many times as you like.

With workshop style sessions to make your own ghost ornament using cloth or a spider in a web using pipe cleaners and other freestyle such as origami pumpkins and turnips, make your own 3D haunted paper house, try trick or treat hula and of course spooky themed colouring in. Activities are free and suitable for all ages.

Make a trio of unique decorative baubles to decorate your home or to give as a stunning gift. All materials provided, choose from a huge selection of beautiful dried flowers and ribbons in different colours and styles. Suitable for all abilities, includes a welcome drink.

Featuring four Thomas Gainsborough portraits and 18 contemporary artists, the first in a new programme of contemporary art exhibitions. The paintings will be presented as key components of a group exhibition of portraiture featuring 18 contemporary British artists selected by guest curator Ingrid Swenson MBE. The exhibition is intended for reflection on the experience of artists and their sitters or subject in the act of making the artwork, and to consider what similarities and differences there may be for the…

Follow the Myths and Legends trail around the zoo to discover fun animal myths and your animal personality. Tiptoe through the lemur walkthrough and watch out for the spirited lemurs – will they cross your path or swing above your head? Spot real wolves and enjoy fascinating myth-busting talks led by our animal experts. The interactive biofacts experience in the Lodge of Legends, gives you the chance to see and touch real animal artefacts, from skulls to skins, and learn…

Explore the trail through the grounds picking up clues as you go to claim a prize.

Aa family-focused exhibition, showcasing over 60 dragon-themed objects from the Museum’s collection. Explore the stories and symbolism of dragons across China, Japan, and Korea through our family-friendly activities. Design your own dragon to hang in the ‘Dragon Gallery’; write your own dragon myth; and learn more about their history through the Fun Facts Trail and Family Activity Guide.

The tale of an unlikely encounter between a polar bear and a penguin. This is the story of polar opposite characters meeting for the first time, getting to know one another and learning how to survive in a world that is melting beneath their feet...paws...flippers with humour, friendship and fish. Suitable for ages 5+ years.