Primary Times - the definitive what’s on and where to go family guide of activities and events for children of primary school age. Things to do with your kids during the school holidays including arts and craft activities, music and theatre for children, parties, competitions, days out, and family attractions along with term time drama schools, dance classes, after school clubs and sports activities. Things to do at a place near you!
What's On in Sussex
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Elmer and Friends: The Colourful World of David McKee
18th April-13th September 2026
Venue: The Novium Museum
Website: www.thenovium.org.uk
Celebrate and explore David McKee's iconic stories through original artworks in this multi-sensory, interactive exhibition. Quiet sessions, plus a packed programme of activities, workshops and special...
How to Train Your Dragon: How to be a Pirate trail
23rd May-5th September 2026
Venue: Bodiam Castle
Website: www.nationaltrust.org.uk
Grab a treasure map, rally your crew, pick your dragon, and set sail on an action-packed adventure trail bursting with pirate themed challenges and mischief. Along the way, hunt for hidden treasure, crack...
Monkey Puzzle trail at Bateman’s
23rd May-1st November 2026
Venue: Bateman's
Website: www.nationaltrust.org.uk
As you explore the house and garden, you’ll step into the world of Monkey Puzzle, meeting friendly jungle characters and taking on interactive games and challenges along the way, from hook a bat and...
The Lunar Experience
23rd May-31st August 2026
Venue: The Observatory Science Centre
Website: www.the-observatory.org
This out-of-this-world immersive experience brings the mysteries of the moon to life through captivating stories, stunning visuals, demonstrations and fascinating space facts. Lunar is available daily...
Summer Fun at Leonardslee Lakes and Gardens
10th June-19th September 2026
Venue: Leonardslee Lakes and Gardens
Website: www.leonardsleegardens.co.uk
From live entertainment and hands-on workshops to outdoor exploring and imaginative play, every visit offers something new. Discover family-friendly activities across the gardens, keep little ones entertained,...
Crazy Fun at Hastings Adventure Golf
29th June-23rd August 2026
Venue: Hastings Adventure Golf
Website: www.hastingsadventuregolf.com
Home to the World Crazy Golf Championships, Hastings Adventure Golf boasts three imaginatively designed 18-hole courses - Pirate, Adventure and Crazy. They have delicious fish and chips, homemade gelato,...
Daily Tour
29th June-23rd August 2026
Venue: Raystede Centre for Animal Welfare
Website: www.raystede.org
Hear more about the lives of furry and feathered friends and have the opportunity to enjoy this beautiful and tranquil animal sanctuary. All you need to do is book a free visitor ticket. When you arrive,...
Family Learning Days
29th June-23rd August 2026
Venue: Raystede Centre for Animal Welfare
Website: www.raystede.org/family-learning-days
Visit Raystede every Wednesday and Thursday during the school summer holidays for a fun-filled family trail, where you can discover more about some of the animals in the charity's care. Complete the trail...
Half-price entry at Amberley Museum
29th June-30th August 2026
Venue: Amberley Museum
Website: www.amberleymuseum.co.uk
Set across 36 acres in the heart of the South Downs, the museum offers a packed programme of summer holiday activities, including hands-on crafts,and family-friendly trails. Use code 100YEARS when booking...
Harbour Park Parties
29th June-23rd August 2026
Venue: Harbour Park
Website: www.harbourpark.com
They love a celebration at Harbour Park and their party package includes your very own party host, a whole range of hot and cold food choices and an ice cream treat. They even print your party invitations...
Hove Park Junior Parkrun
29th June-23rd August 2026
Venue: Hove Park
Website: www.parkrun.org.uk/hovepark-juniors
A free, fun, and friendly weekly 2k event for juniors (4 to 14 year olds) every Sunday at 9am. Free to join but register before you first go along.
I Spy Trail
29th June-23rd August 2026
Venue: Chichester Cathedral
Website: www.chichestercathedral.org.uk
Take the family to Chichester Cathedral for the new I Spy Tail with Wilfrid the Seal. With three fun levels of challenge, children and adults can explore the Cathedral together, spotting everything from...
Out of Bounds Birthday Parties
29th June-23rd August 2026
Venue: Golfers Ln, Angmering
Website: https://out-of-bounds.co.uk
Out Of Bounds offers action-packed birthday and celebration parties featuring activities like laser tag, adventure golf, soft play and more. From thrilling outdoor challenges to indoor classics like Bowling...
Read to the Beat - Summer Reading Challenge
29th June-23rd August 2026
Venue: East Sussex Libraries
Website: www.eastsussex.gov.uk/libraryevents
This summer celebrate the Read to the Beat Summer Reading Challenge in East Sussex Libraries and have fun exploring music, rhythm and song. They have lots of free events from drumming workshops to the...
Summer at Paradise Park
29th June-23rd August 2026
Venue: Paradise Park
Website: www.paradisepark.co.uk
From plants to play, Paradise Park has something for all generations to enjoy across its 10-acre site. Children can enjoy exciting indoor and outdoor adventure play. Follow their free Dragon Detectives...
Summer Fun at Middle Farm
29th June-23rd August 2026
Venue: Middle Farm, Lewes
Website: www.middlefarm.com
Go and say hello to the rabbits, rare breed chickens, pigs and tiny harvest mice. Plus, Highland cows, goats, fluffy alpacas, sheep, donkeys, and Nellie the Shire horse. Includes picnic areas, a farm trail...
Summer Starts at Sharnfold Farm
29th June-23rd August 2026
Venue: Sharnfold Farm
Website: www.thefamilyparksgroup.co.uk/days-out/sharnfold-farm/
Enjoy unlimited visits to the farm this summer with their Summer Pass for just £12.95pp. Families can wander through Sharnfold Farm’s stunning sunflower field, perfect for capturing those picture-perfect...
Summer of Play at Standen
4th July-6th September 2026
Venue: Standen House and Garden
Website: www.nationaltrust.org.uk
Michael Whitmore’s charming adaptation will have you spellbound so why not grab the kids, a blanket and a picnic and join Peter and Benjamin on their hair-raising adventures - a magical afternoon of...
Kids Trail: The Enchanted Garden
11th July-6th September 2026
Venue: Borde Hill
Website: www.bordehill.co.uk
This summer, let your children’s imaginations run wild as they follow a magical daily trail through the Woodland. Along the way, they’ll discover the story of Piccolo, the smallest pixie in the Fairy...
Pokémon joins Nymans' Summer of Play
18th July-4th September 2026
Venue: Nymans
Website: www.nationaltrust.org.uk
Ready to unleash your energy? On top of an already jam-packed Summer of Play, discover all-new Pokémon zones. Get stuck into the Pokémon trading, take part in mega games, flex your skills and collect...
Summer Family Trail: Adventures in Blue
18th July-6th September 2026
Venue: Petworth House and Park
Website: www.nationaltrust.org.uk
Follow Pipkin, a young dragon who feels lost and different because of their brilliant blue colour. Help Pipkin on a journey through landscapes, play spaces, and creative challenges to discover what blue...
Summer of Play: Mythology and Folklore
18th July-6th September 2026
Venue: Sheffield Park and Garden
Website: www.nationaltrust.org.uk
Explore the enchanting garden as it transforms into a magical mythological realm throughout the summer months.Young adventurers can find five play zones, each with its own distinct mythological creature....
Childhood Through Time – Summer Holiday Activities
21st July-31st August 2026
Venue: Weald and Downland Living Museum
Website: www.wealddown.co.uk
From medieval entertainment to Tudor pastimes and Victorian inventions, there’s something to captivate visitors of all ages with a programme filled with storytelling, puppet shows, crafts, trails, games,...
Summer Family Days
23rd July-27th August 2026
Venue: Hastings Contemporary
Website: www.hastingscontemporary.org
Explore, create and play your way around the gallery every Thursday, with different activities and workshops each week. Expect to get creative and maybe a little bit messy! 11am–4pm, drop in any time....
Create and Grow Summer
27th July-26th August 2026
Venue: Squires Garden Centre Crawley
Website: www.squiresgardencentres.co.uk
Keep the children entertained with fun children’s craft and planting activities, Mon–Wed mornings, 9.30am – 12pm. Book online or pop in. Activities include Paint a Pair of Pebble Animals £3, Paint...
Summer Children’s Activity Camps
27th July-28th August 2026
Venue: University of Sussex
Website: onlineshop.sussex.ac.uk/product-catalogue/sussexsport/summer-sports-activities-for-kids
Sussex Sport offers a great range of activity camps for children aged 7-17 including basketball, circus skills, badminton, netball and multi-sport camps, led by nationally renowned and DBS-certified coaches...
Tuesday Kids’ Party Nights!
28th July-25th August 2026
Venue: Eastbourne Bandstand
Website: https://purchase.eastbournebandstand.co.uk/Events
Join DJ Neil Povey as he spins the biggest party tunes to keep feet moving and big smiles shining all summer long. It's the ultimate seaside party for kids in the summer holidays, perfect for ages 5-12....
Kwik Cricket
29th July-26th August 2026
Venue: Sheffield Park and Garden
Website: www.nationaltrust.org.uk
Practise your skills this summer with Kwik Cricket sessions on Sheffield Park and Garden's famous and historic cricket pitch every Wednesday during the holidays. This is a great chance to get your under-12s...
Cowdray’s Maize Maze
31st July-23rd August 2026
Venue: Cowdray Estate
Website: www.cowdray.co.uk
Set against stunning views over the Lawns Polo fields towards Cowdray Ruins, the Maize Maze promises a fantastic summer day out for all ages. At the start of the trail, young maze-goers are given a Maize...
East Sussex Libraries Summer Events
1st-31st August 2026
Venue: East Sussex Libraries
Website: www.eastsussex.gov.uk/libraryevents
Animation and musical craft workshops with Tiger Monkey UK, African Drumming Workshop with Primary Workshops for Schools, Musical Story Hunts with John Kirk and Ensonglopedia: songs and music with a science...
Summer High Street Event
5th-26th August 2026
Venue: High Street, Littlehampton
Website: www.visitlittlehampton.co.uk
Littlehampton’s Love Local events are returning once again this summer. Head down to Littlehampton High Street each Wednesday in August 11am-3pm for a FREE fun-filled day out with local vendors, market...
Littlehampton Miniature Railway Anniversary Steam Gala
15th-23rd August 2026
Venue: Mewsbrook Park
Website: www.visitlittlehampton.co.uk
Enjoy a ride on one of 3 steam engines taking part in this anniversary gala. They have 2 visiting steam trains one from Exbury Gardens and another from Statfold Barn Railway in Tamworth. Plus their very...
Living History: War of the Three Kingdoms
22nd-23rd August 2026
Venue: Weald and Downland Living Museum
Website: www.wealddown.co.uk
Join this War of the Three Kingdoms weekend, where you can discover what life was like in the 17th Century as depicted by an English Civil Wars Royalist Garrison. Younger visitors may take part in a sword...
Family Fun Day
23rd August 2026
Venue: Brighton Racecourse
Website: www.brighton-racecourse.co.uk
Get ready for a day full of surprises and fun — from face painting and bouncy castles to interactive games and crafts that will keep the kids entertained throughout the afternoon. All U18s go free at...
Treasure Island
23rd August 2026
Venue: Bodiam Castle
Website: www.quantumtheatre.co.uk
Presented by Quantum Theatre, this swashbuckling, action packed adventure is bursting with high drama, swordfights, sea shanties and of course Long John Silver and his parrot Cap’n Flint in a brand new...
Space Explorers Academy
26th August 2026
Venue: The Hawth
Website: www.parkwoodtheatres.co.uk
Created especially for 6-12-year-olds this high-energy show is packed with big visuals, brilliant storytelling and plenty of cosmic surprises. Whether you’re a future astronaut, a stargazing super-fan...
Kids Workshop - Making History
27th August 2026
Venue: Worthing Museum and Art Gallery
Website: https://wtm.uk
Step into the past and get creative in this hands-on Making History workshop for children aged 7–11. Inspired by artefacts from the Museum’s collection, this fun session invites young makers to design...
The Revel Puck Circus - The Glimmer Daze Gambit
27th-6th August 2026
Venue: Victoria Gardens
Website: www.tixr.com/groups/revelpuckcircus
A show about hope and community. Join the Pucks in a wild ride of finding joy in the journey, not the destination. This family show from The Revel Puck Circus brings together a collective of grassroots...
Astronomy Festival
28th-30th August 2026
Venue: The Observatory Science Centre
Website: www.the-observatory.org
For their 22nd Festival, the Observatory is excited to share all it has to offer, from day to night. With camping, kid’s activities, planetarium shows, astronomy societies, trade stalls, guest speakers...
Crawley Brick Festival
30th August 2026
Venue: K2 Crawley
Website: www.brickfestivalevents.com
This will be a great day for families, collectors, adult builders and every other kind of LEGO fan. With lots to see and do including speed building competitions, large scale displays, activities, traders...
Tom Gates
30th August 2026
Venue: Theatre Royal Brighton
Website: www.atgtickets.com
Based on the bestselling books by Liz Pichon, and brand new for 2026, Tom Gates EPIC Stage Show comes to Theatre Royal Brighton bringing alive the illustrations and music that makes Tom Gates hugely popular...
Pinocchio - Outdoor Theatre
31st August 2026
Venue: Brighton Open Air Theatre
Website: www.illyria.co.uk
A wooden puppet runs away, hoping to find fun and adventure, but instead finds demanding bosses, con-artists and peer-pressure. How can Pinocchio ever become a real boy when even lies told to cover up...