Find great ideas for days out with kids in Berkshire and the best family friendly events happening summer 2024. The Berkshire summer holiday activities guide is packed full with big family days out or smaller, local ideas.  From Newbury to Reading and Slough to Bracknell, we’ve got it all.  If you’re working and need childcare, then check out the summer holiday camps in Berkshire or check out our Oxfordshire summer holiday activities guide or what’s on for summer Bucks guide or head over to Surrey for the summer events there.

SPOTLIGHT EVENT

It’s all out fun this summer at Norden Farm Arts Centre in Maidenhead.  As always they have a jam packed line up with something for all ages and interests.  There are lively theatre performances, movie screenings and workshops.  Don’t forget to book your place at a kite making workshop in advance of the big summer finale.  The free Kite Festival takes place at Boyn Park on Saturday 1st September with kite flying, live music and local food vendors.

What’s On In Berkshire Summer 2024

Family Theatre, Live Music and Puppets

• Giffords Circus at Stonor Park & Gardens (Stonor, near Henley) 11th – 22nd July
• Cillian O’Connor My World of Magic at the Kenton Theatre (Henley) 26th July
• The Gondaliers outdoor theatre at South Hill Park (Ringmead, Bracknell) 26th July
• The Tale of Jemima Puddle Duck at South Hill Park (Ringmead, Bracknell) 2nd August
• Midsummers Night Dream open air theatre at Shaw House (Newbury) 4th August

Jack and The Beans Talk at Norden Farm (Maidenhead) 8th August

A fresh and funny retelling of the traditional story and an ideal gentle introduction to theatre.  Charming and inventive with plenty of interaction, an enormous beanstalk, bags of gold and a smelly old giant.  Brought to Norden Farm from Garlic Theatre

The Ultimate Swift & Styles Tribute at Norden Farm (Maidenhead) 8th August

Get ready for a show like no other with The Ultimate SWIFT & STYLES Tribute Experience at Norden Farm Arts Centre.  Prepare for an unforgettable evening dedicated to and based around the music of pop icons Taylor Swift and Harry Styles!

This is not your average tribute night – it’s a fully immersive experience that goes beyond a live performance.

• Peter Pan open air theatre at Shaw House (Newbury) 12th August
• The Railway Children at South Hill Park (Ringmead, Bracknell) 16th August

Berkshire Indoor Summer Events

Bringing Stories to Life Chill Out Space at Norden Farm (Maidenhead) Tues to Sat 26th July – 17th August FREE

Relax in this interactive chill out space where stories come to life at Norden Farm. This SEND friendly exhibition is a magical space where characters jump from the pages of the book through animation, projection, storytelling and music.

Baby Sensory Summer Sessions (Windsor) Mondays 8th July – 5th August

Do you want to join Baby Sensory for some wonderful sessions in July/ August? They have a magical 5 week term planned for the cost of £52.50.  Maidenhead and Windsor now open for Autumn bookings with Maidenhead on a Monday and Windsor on Tuesdays from September

James’ Peachy Summer at the Roald Dahl Museum and Story Centre (Great Missenden) 20th July – 1st September

Get ready James’ Peachy Summer at the Roald Dahl Museum & Story Centre in Great Missenden.  The summer will be packed with family events and activities, all with a peachy twist.  Dive into storytelling, crafts, walks & hands on science.

• Family Activity Day at Shaw House (Newbury) 31st July, 7th, 14th, 21st, 28th August
• Half day & full day camps at The Little Gym (Windsor)

Arts & Crafts Sessions at Norden Farm (Maidenhead) 1st, 2nd, 6th, 7th, 15th, 16th August

Come along to Norden Farm for 45 minutes of Arts and Crafts.  Different everyday from decorating a cushion to creating a pop up lantern,

• Messy Museum Day at West Berkshire Museum (Newbury) 2nd August
• Kite Making Workshop at the Nicholson Centre (Maidenhead) 3rd August
• Kite Making Workshop at Maidenhead Library (Maidenhead) 3rd August

Master Builders Brick Building Workshop perfect for Lego fans (Caversham) 5th + 13th August

Join Master Builders Club for a two hour creative adventure with 1000’s of LEGO bricks, Minifigures and LEGO components. Immersive brick building experience for LEGO fans aged 5+.

• Lego Workshop at Beale Park 15th, 20th & 27th August

Kite Making Workshops at Norden Farm (Maidenhead) select dates 16th, 17th, 31st August

Get involved at Kite Making Workshops this summer, then see your creation take to the sky! Make and decorate your kite to stand out in the sky at the Kite Festival which takes place in Boyn Grove Park on Sunday 1 September.

OTTOPIA at The Base Greenham (Thatcham) until 29th August

Step inside the wonderful monochrome world of OTTOPIA a family-friendly immersive experience that will enchant visitors of all ages and inspire curious minds.

Outdoor Summer Adventures in Berkshire

Tuff Nutterz giant inflatable obstacle course (Caversham, Reaing) 1st – 6th August

Experience Tuff Nutterz, the biggest inflatable obstacle courseat 300m long. Conquer towering walls, navigate tricky mazes, and take the plunge down the epic 6m ‘Tuff’ slide.

Adventure Days at Tumblestone Hollow (Stonor, near Henley)

Step into a storybook and discover the treetop adventure playground, Tumblestone Hollow at Stonor Park (near Henley on Thames). For those with an adventurous spirit you can climb up a spiral of steps  to the top look-out deck, crawl through tunnels, scramble along a netted tube or along bridges and there’s plenty for little kids too.

• Marvellous Festival at Dinton Pastures (near Reading) 19th -20th  July
• Silent Disco at Beale Park every Fri, Sat & Sun
• Maidenhead Festival 2024 (Maidenhead)  20th – 21st July FREE
• Bracknell Forest Pride (Bracknell) 20th July
• Newbury Summer Fest (Newbury) 20th July
• Pinewood Miniature Railway (Wokingham) 21st July + 18th August
• Shaw House Summer Fair (Newbury) 21st July
• Summer Sizzler at Odds Farm Park – 24th July – 3rd September
• Sunmmer Fun at Wellington Country Park (near Reading) 29th July – 1st September
• Warfield Summer of Fun Day (Warfield) 31st July
• Basingstoke & District miniature locomotive railway public running (Basingstoke) 4th August
• Summer Family Fun Day at Dinton Pastures 18th August FREE
• Wokingham Festival (Wokingham) 24th – 26th August
• Henley Summerfest (Henley) 24th August

Maidenhead Kite Festival (Maidenhead) 1st September FREE

Finish of the summer holidays on a high at the Maidenhead Kite Festival.

This year’s line up includes:

•  Kite decorating and flying (of course!)
•  High Tea (with a Twist) from Levantes Dance Theatre – expect glittery cakes, outrageous costumes and theatrical high jinx in an explosion of bright colour and silliness from this dance and acrobatic duo!
• Mariachi las Adelitas – the only female Mariachi band in Europe will be regaling visitors around the festival
• Euphoria will be performing high energy rock / indie covers
• Plus storytelling from Simon Mole

• Bucklebury Farm tbc

Summer Days Out With Kids in Berkshire

If you’re looking for inspiration for a great family day out in Berkshire, we have lots of mum reviews.

California Country Park is a favourite with it’s sensory garden, fantastic play park and woodland adventure trail.

Close to California Country Park, Dinton Pastures makes a great place to explore with kids.  Not only does it have a fantastic play park but a little cycle paths around the lake and lots of water sports.

If the weather heats up this summer then find all the best splash parks, paddling pools and outdoor pools in Berkshire.

Grab your bike and head out to discover Berkshire in the most wonderful way on a family bike ride.

For more inspiration why not try our A to Z challenge and see how many you can tick off this summer.

Opening just in time for the summer holidays is Adventure Play next to Savill Garden at Windsor Great Park.  The brand new adventure playground certainly has the wow factor.  Check out the Windsor Great Park Adventure Play Review.

Step into a storybook and discover the treetop adventure playground, Tumblestone Hollow at Stonor Park (near Henley on Thames). For those with an adventurous spirit you can climb up a spiral of steps  to the top look-out deck, crawl through tunnels, scramble along a netted tube or along bridges and there’s plenty for little kids too.