Our “Summer of Discovery” programme offers a range of free family activities throughout the holidays, including creative crafts, our Little Explorers Trail and family film screenings – all drop-in, all free! In the 5|Quarter, you can enjoy a well-earned break with our summer offers. Ice cream, anyone?
- Little Explorers Trail: Young explorers can follow our brand new Little Explorers Trail, searching the building for hidden clues inspired by our collections before claiming a completion treat and 10% off in 5|Quarter.
- Discovery Corner: There will also be free, drop-in crafts at our Discovery Corner, where busy hands can get creative.
- Heritage & Family Screenings: Take a break in our historic Lecture Theatre with family-friendly films in the mornings and Heritage on Screen screenings (in proud partnership with Amber Online and Side Gallery) in the afternoon.
- Discover our Archives: On film screening days only, you can also drop in from 12:15–13:45 to see incredible images from our archive. The Bell Collection (mid to late 1800s) and Coal Queens (1969 to 1996) will be viewable right here at The Common Room
A dedicated space for Lego, Duplo, colouring, and some hands-on engineering challenges, like bridge building.
Discovery Corner will be open weekdays from Tuesday 28th July, 9am-4pm – with the following exceptions:
- 7th August – Discovery Corner Closed
- 18th August – Discovery Corner Closed (Building closed)
- 21st August – Discovery Corner Closed
- 1st September – Discovery Corner Closed
Grab a map, follow the clues around our historic building, and collect a treat and a 10% café discount upon completion (Café open 8am-3pm)
The little explorers trail will run weekdays from Tuesday 28th July, 9am-4pm – with the following exceptions:
- 7th August – No Little Explorers Trail
- 18th August – No Little Explorers Trail (Building closed)
- 21st August – No Little Explorers Trail
- 1st September – No Little Explorers Trail
FILM SCREENINGS
We have family favourites in the during the mornings, switching over to engineering & heritage documentaries in the afternoons (In proud partnership with Amber Online & Side Gallery)
Films shown:
FAMILY FILM MORININGS
- Marcel the Shell with Shoes On (2021)
- Kensuke’s Kingdom (2023)
- Shrek (2001)
- Shaun the Sheep: Farmageddon (2019)
- The Scarecrow’s Wedding (2025, BSL)
- Shrek 2 (2004)
- The Gruffalo (2009) + The Gruffalo’s Child (2011)
- Tabby McTat (2023) + Highway Rat (2017)
- The Smeds and the Smoos (2022) + The Snail and the Whale (2022)
- Shrek the Third (2007)
- Superworm (2021) + Tiddler (2024)
- Shrek Forever After (2010)
- Zog (2018) + Zog and the Flying Doctors (2020)
- Wallace and Gromit: A Grand Day Out (1992) + Wallace and Gromit: A Matter of Loaf and Death (2008)
- Roahl Dahl’s Revolting Rhymes Part 1 + Part 2 (2016)
- Wallace & Gromit: A Close Shave (1995) + The Wrong Trousers (1993)
- Grampa’s Great Escape (2018)
- Bill (2015)
HERITAGE ON SCREEN AFTERNOONS (In proud partnership with Amber Online & Side Gallery)
On rotation:
- The Filleting Machine (1981)
- Dream On (1991)
- Double Vision (1986)
- Launch (1974)
SCREENING SCHEDULES
Please click/tap the image galleries below to see the full timetables:
FAMILY FILM MORININGS
HERITAGE ON SCREEN AFTERNOONS (In proud partnership with Amber Online & Side Gallery)
Pop into 5|Quarter Café Bar
Or why not pop into our café bar for refreshing iced coffees, freshly baked scones and Peter Rabbit mini ice cream tubs – perfect for a summer’s day!
Whether you’re visiting for an hour or spending the whole day with us, there’s something for everyone to enjoy. Best of all, Summer of Discovery is completely free, making it the perfect family day out during the school holidays.
We can’t wait to welcome you this summer!
