04/08/2026
31/08/2026
12:00 PM - 3:00 PM
Free
Event information
Time
12:00 PM - 3:00 PM
Price
Free
What
Summer with the Museums,
Family events
Where
The Fitzwilliam Museum
Who
Families

Image © Lewis Ronald

Images from the 2025 Play Pavilion designed with Play Build Play and using materials from 'Fantastic Play' by Ella McCartney.

Step into the Play Pavilion on the museum's front lawn - an imagination playground inspired by our Frank Bowling exhibition and bursting with creative possibilities. Designed for families and children under 10, explore, invent, and play together – let your imagination run wild all summer long, rain or shine!

Drop in anytime between 12pm and 3pm. Open Tuesday – Sunday & Bank Holiday Monday.

 

This event is part of Summer at the Museums 2026.

Included Events

Cultured Canines: Evolution, Emotion, Imitation. An exhibition by Allison Ksiazkiewicz. 22 July - 18 Oct.
Cultured Canines: Evolution, Emotion, Imitation
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Free

An exhibition by Allison Ksiazkewicz

Find out more >
A cartoon squirrel holds a red magnifying glass, examining a blue leaf. The squirrel wears a light blue coat. Colourful flowers, leaves, and a ladybug surround it against a white background.
Professor Filbert's Plant Heroes
10:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Free with normal Garden admission

Join Professor Filbert on our summer trail and search for some amazing plant discoveries.

Find out more >
Cartoon image of a boy and girl holding hands walking.
Gallery Trail Summer Sticker Book!
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Free

Discover a different gallery trail each week through the summer holidays at The Norris Museum  – complete each week to earn a variety of stickers to fill your summer sticker book!

Find out more >
A child holding a bowl filled with various fresh green leaves, including kale, lettuce, and parsley.
Helpful herbs
10:30 AM - 1:30 PM
Free with normal Garden admission

Join the Botanic Garden this school holiday to find out more about herbs.

Find out more >
Background image shows sandpit and archaeology tools. Foreground reads "archaeology week" with Denny Abbey and the Farmland Museum logo
Archaeology Week at Denny Abbey and the Farmland Museum
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Admission applies

Free archaeology themed children's crafts and archaeological activities - including a mock archaeology dig at the Farmland Museum and Denny Abbey.

Find out more >
A cluster of Venus flytrap plants with open green and red leaves surrounded by various small green plants.
Cool carnivorous
10:30 AM - 1:30 PM
Free with normal Garden admission

Join the Botanic Garden this school holiday to discover some of our carnivorous plants.

Find out more >
Background shows broken roman pottery shards. Foreground reads Roman Week and shows the Denny Abbey and the Farmland Museum logo
Roman Week at the Farmland Museum
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Admission applies

Re-assemble Roman pottery and create your own mosaic design to explore what life may have been like for some of the first settlers on the site of Denny Abbey and Farmland Museum.

Find out more >
Two knights on a blue background. One holds an axe and the other a sword and shield. The text tells the event information.
Knight School
10:30 AM - 4:00 PM
Included with entry

Have you ever wanted to be a knight? Complete the tasks and activities to earn your title at Ely Museum.

Find out more >
Children playing outside
Play Pavilion
12:00 PM - 3:00 PM
Free

Get creative at the Fitzwilliam Museum's free, family-friendly outdoor sensory play experience.

Find out more >
A table displays art supplies and nature-themed prints. There's a red roller, sheets with leaf prints and various dried leaves and twigs.
Plant printing
10:30 AM - 1:30 PM
Free with normal Garden admission

Join the Botanic Garden this school holiday to create prints using leaves and petals.

Find out more >
Image shows colourful bunting
Arts Award Discover SEND
1:00 PM - 3:00 PM, 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM
£15 per participant

We are excited to be running Arts Award Discover SEND across TWO fun and creative sessions at the Norris Museum! 

Find out more >
Image shows Denny Abbey and a walnut tree.
Medieval Week at the Farmland Museum
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Admission applies

Take part in free medieval themed activities - including free crafts! All at the Farmland Museum and Denny Abbey.

Find out more >
Background shows hands working clay. Foreground reads Tudor week and shows the Denny Abbey and the Farmland Museum logo
Tudor Week at the Farmland Museum
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Admission applies. Some activities are free, some have a small charge.

Have you got what it takes to be a Tudor? Make Tudor tiles like those uncovered in the Refectory and have a go at some Tudor themed crafts at the Farmland Museum and Denny Abbey.

Find out more >
Various stylized insects and bugs are illustrated, including butterflies, a caterpillar, an ant, a bee, a ladybug, beetles, and a worm. Green leaves are scattered among them. The colours are vibrant and varied.
Marvellous minibeasts
10:30 AM - 1:30 PM
Free with normal Garden admission

Join the Botanic Garden this school holiday to create craft inspired by insects.

Find out more >
Image shows colourful bunting
Arts Award Discover SEND
1:00 PM - 3:00 PM, 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM
£15 per participant

We are excited to be running Arts Award Discover SEND across TWO fun and creative sessions at the Norris Museum! 

Find out more >
A hand arranges sprigs of lavender and small green leaves on rolled-out clay.
Nature impressions
10:30 AM - 1:30 PM
Free with normal Garden admission

Join the Botanic Garden this school holiday to create impressions of leaves and petals in clay.

Find out more >
Background shows an image of a mangle and a dolly tub and dolly peg. Foreground reads Victorian Week with the Denny Abbey and the Farmland Museum logo
Victorian Week at the Farmland Museum
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Admission applies

Step back in time to explore the lives of the Victorians. Experience Victorian washday using a dolly tub and mangle and create Victorian inspired crafts at the Farmland Museum and Denny Abbey.

Find out more >
A variety of wildflowers and leaves are arranged on a white background. Various green leaves and sprigs add contrast.
Summer nature wand
10:30 AM - 1:30 PM
Free with normal Garden admission

Join the Botanic Garden this school holiday to create a summer wand.

Find out more >
Background shows a spinning top and wooden toys. Foreground reads Toys from the Past week and shows the Denny Abbey and the Farmland Museum logo.
Toys from the Past Week at the Farmland Museum
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Admission applies

Have a go at playing with toys and games from different historical time periods at the Farmland Museum and Denny Abbey.

Find out more >