Summer holidays

Families –
Book now

About Summer holidays

Wednesday 23 July - Sunday 31 August

Join us for a sensational summer of fun at Watts Gallery.

We have lots on offer for families to explore Watts Gallery. You can bring the whole family for a full day of art, exploring and creativity. Don't forget to have an adventure in the Verey Playwood on your visit!

Join us for a summer bursting with creativity, imagination, scent and sensory delight for the whole family. Get crafty and creative during The Make Space and extra Clay Club workshops. On top of that, every day that the gallery is open, enjoy a fantastic range of free activities included with admission – and completely free for members!

What's on this summer

Daily, free with admission, highlights include:

  • Drop-in sketching studio – get creative in our Clore Studio
  • Giant games – Enjoy oversized fun on the Gallery lawn
  • Sensory play – Explore textures and sensations at Tent
  • Dress up – Step into the past with costumes inspired by our Victorian collection
  • Bubble station – Have floaty, bubbly fun on the Limnerslease Lawn
  • Collaborative installation – Add your mark in the Artist in Residence Studio
  • Verey Playwood – Climb, swing, and play outdoors in our woodland play area
  • Visit our collections and current exhibitions

Even more to explore:

Scent trails –

  • Follow your nose in the gallery to identify smells inspired by our collection and solve a crossword to earn a special badge
  • Discover natural aromas in the landscape with our outdoor scent trail

Artist-led workshops –

  • Make Space Wednesdays: A new hands-on creative activity each week
  • Clay Club: Shape and sculpt with terracotta on Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Sundays

Teashop, canvas room and visitor centre shop –

  • Why not stop in at our teashop or new canvas room at Limnerslease for delicious cakes, lunches and refreshments or visit our beautifully stocked shop for a special treat or gift.

Come for a day, stay for the summer. There’s something to spark every imagination at Watts Gallery!

A photograph of children running through the woods laughing and smiling with daffodils blooming in the foreground

Scent trails

Pick up your trail from the Visitor Centre on arrival
Two girls rolling out pink paint with rollers in a printmaking workshop

Make Space

Wednesdays

Clay Club

Wednesdays, Thursdays and Sundays
Three people sitting outside at a table, drinking hot drinks and chatting.

Canvas room

While out in the sun, stop off at the Canvas room to get a quick drink and a bite to eat
A mother and daughter play on a rope swing in the Verey Playwood

Verey Playwood

If you go down to the woods today... you'll find swings, stepping stones and more!

What to expect on your day out

Explore our site

With free entry for under 5s.

Two children eating cake on a picnic table

Tea Shop

Head to our family-friendly pop-up café for sandwiches, cakes and salads. We have a kid's menu available and colouring in activities.
Two children jump from wooden stepping stones in woodland

Grounds

Surrounding our site are 18 acres of grounds and gardens to explore.
Nude figure statue in gallery

Watts Gallery

Built to display the work of Victorian artist George Frederic Watts, Watts Gallery first opened in 1904.
Black and white panelled building with trees

Limnerslease: Artists' Home

Limnerslease is the historic home and studios of our founders, George and Mary Watts.
The Chapel interior with the sun shining through a window, casting the interior into gloom in comparison

Watts Cemetery Chapel

A labour of love and the final resting place of George and Mary Watts.
Visitor browses cards in Shop

Shop

Stop by our shop to browse and buy unique gifts, artisan crafts and seasonal treats.

Important Information

Large plaster sculpture of a man riding a horse, located in the Sculpture Gallery.

Opening times and admission

Two woman look up at the Chapel ceiling

Getting here

A guide dog looks to the camera in the sculpture gallery, surrounded by people

Access

Make the most of your family visit

Explore more with interactive touch points, book baskets and trails and resources, pick them up for free. You can also check out our family facilities.

Visiting as a family

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