Past Events

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.

Girls only camps for ages 6-12 years.

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.

An opportunity to plant a miniature garden to take home.

An opportunity for young netballers in School Years 8-11 to benefit from expert positional training. Holiday camps are open to players of all experience and coaches will split the players into groups according to age and ability, so that everyone plays and learns at the right level and has an enjoyable day. 28 October - holiday camp for school years 6-8 (10am-3pm); 29, 30 & 31 October - masterclasses for school years 8-11

Football camps run for girls and boys in school years 1-7 with competitions, matches and medals providing organised and safe football whilst promoting good behaviour, teamwork and effort run by a team of enthusiastic and experienced coaches.

Enjoy construction games and make a colourful origami star with a tea-light to take home. Suitable for ages 4+ years. Included in standard admission or free to Discovery Card holders.

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…

Explore the mini pumpkin patch in the paddock with pumpkin carving, crafts and games, and bouncy castle (activities are pay as you go so you).

An opportunity to enjoy some creative halloween pumpkin carving. Pre-book online to avoid disappointment.

Do you dare enter the spooky walk? Make your way around the halloween-themed walk and keep an eye out for ghosts, bats, spiders, zombies and so much more...

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.

A fun, relaxed participatory theatre session with silliness, play-acting, games and music. Join Ratty and her friends for a fun and gentle introduction to theatre with play-along storytelling, original music, puppetry, theatre games, movement, and lots of imaginative play. Ratty has a lot of ideas but sometimes things don’t go according to plan....can you help her by playing along and working together? Suitable for ages 2-6 years and their grown-ups, younger and older siblings welcome.

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…

Arts and crafts activities for ages 3-11 years. Sessions run 1030am-12 and 130-3pm. Pre-booking essential, spaces limited to 12.

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…

Spooky fun with free Halloween inspired drop-in craft activities (activities will be the same on both days).

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

A week of exploration, experimentation and exercises focussing specifically on the art of writing and the complexities of storytelling. Participants will be led by a professional, award winning, writer/director, in a week that will challenge them to develop their ideas and creative vision and hone key skills including constructing structure, plot and narrative,, creating and developing a character, finding your voice as a writer, creating dramatic action and writing affective dialogue. Suitable for ages 12-18 years.

Take part in The Big Draw festival 2024 and get crafty using washi tape and colouring to make a funky abstract art piece. Free, drop-in activity.

When the Great Jaydini is in town, magic things start to happen. Children sit amazed and watch in wonder as handkerchiefs disappear and giant bunnies jump out of thin air, and that’s not to mention the Great Jaydini shoe clean, the Great Jaydini suit jacket escape or the unforgettable card socks prediction. The Great Jaydini is, in fact, Jay Wells, a vastly experienced and hugely popular magician and children’s entertainer who has been amazing and bewildering audiences for years.

Get up close and hands-on with real live animals at a workshop hosted by ZooLab UK.  Meet snakes, giant snails, tarantulas and more in an interactive show. Learn about the creatures, their behaviour, fun facts about them and the opportunity to hold them. Ticket includes one accompanying adult or carer. Sessions run 11-1145am, 12-1245pm and 1-145pm.

For preschool children and their parents or carers. Free for accompanying adults. No adult unaccompanied by a toddler will be admitted. 15, 16 & 17 October: Daniel Tiger's Neighborhood; 22 October: Room on the Broom; 29 October: Tabby McTat; 5 November: Lili & Lolo and ABC with Kenny G; 12 November: Molang the best of season 5; 19 November: Wandering Wenda D, E, F; 26 November: The Highway Rat; 3 December: Sarah & Duck Christmas Collection; 10 December: Stick Man

Escaping on a Kindertransport train, one small Czech-Jewish girl embarks on a mighty adventure. Crossing between the past and present, Babi travels across Europe; from bon bons in Germany to the smell of the sea in Margate, she discovers how tiny acts of kindness can change the course of a person’s life. A joyful, moving and poignant production featuring table top puppetry and cinematic shadow play, as Babi tries to assemble the parts of her broken identity, to find peace…

A variety of activities spooky and autumnal crafts suitable for ages 5-11 years. For further information and booking, please email bernadette@percycentre.org.uk