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 Essex
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Guess How Much I Love You - A Garden Adventure
15th February-31st December 2025
Venue: RHS Garden Hyde Hall
Website: www.rhs.org.uk/gardens/hyde-hall
The Guess How Much I Love You Garden Adventure is a trail inspired by the book of the same name. The trail contains a series of activities that encourage children to learn through play, using the senses...
Mars
20th March-9th May 2025
Venue: Colchester Castle
Website: https://colchester.cimuseums.org.uk/events/mars
This follows Gaia, whose run was extended due to phenomenal demand.This new artwork will allow visitors to the Castle to view Mars from the air, as though they are a satellite mapping and studying the...
Woodland Adventure Days
22nd March-5th October 2025
Venue: Audley End Railway
Website: www.audley-end-railway.co.uk
Enjoy off-peak, great-value days, where you can make use of the adventure playground, explore the fairy walk and ride on one of the trains! The perfect day out for parents and grandparents to take the...
Colchester Leisure World – Leisure Pool
24th March-11th May 2025
Venue: Leisure World Colchester
Website: www.colchesterleisureworld.co.uk
Splash into fun at Leisure World's Leisure Pool. Perfect for families, the pool features thrilling flumes, the exhilarating Crazy River, and bubbling jacuzzis. With shallow areas for little ones and deeper...
Family Activities at Colchester Sports Park
24th March-11th May 2025
Venue: Leisure World Colchester
Website: www.colchesterleisureworld.co.uk
Explore 76 acres of indoor and outdoor sports and leisure activities at Colchester Sports Park. Enjoy cycling on the floodlit track, play cricket, badminton, football, and more in our sports hall, or relax...
Great Notley Country Park Junior Parkrun
24th March-11th May 2025
Venue: Great Notley Country Park
Website: www.explore-essex.com
Join this free, weekly 2k run aimed specifically at juniors aged 4 to 14 years-old. Parkrun organise free, weekly, 2km timed runs around the world for children. They are open to everyone and take place...
Gruffalo Trail
24th March-11th May 2025
Venue: Thorndon Country Park
Website: www.essexwt.org.uk/visit/nature-trail/gruffalo
Discover the magic of the deep dark wood with this self-led trail searching for the amazing hand crafted carvings of the Gruffalo characters. No booking required and the pathways are buggy friendly.
High Ropes Quiet Sessions
24th March-11th May 2025
Venue: Nuclear High Ropes
Website: www.nuclearhighropes.co.uk
Embark on a uniquely tailored adventure where tranquility meets thrilling heights! The exclusive Quiet Sessions have been thoughtfully designed to cater to individuals with Special Educational Needs (SEN),...
Laser Tag Parties
24th March-11th May 2025
Venue: Laser Mayhem
Website: www.laser-mayhem.co.uk
Offering Laser Tag from 7+ years and Mini-Paintball from ages 8-13. Laser Mayhem activities are perfect to keep up those team bonds. The large party rooms are ideal and they also offer food packages. Call...
Leisure World Holiday Camps
24th March-11th May 2025
Venue: Leisure World Colchester, Highwoods and Colchester Sports Park
Website: www.colchesterleisureworld.co.uk/kids-activities/holiday-camp/
Leisure World Holiday Camps deliver action-packed days full of fun, creativity, and learning. OFSTED-rated camps ensure top-quality care and safety with passionate, experienced staff dedicated to making...
Little Monkeys Sessions
24th March-11th May 2025
Venue: Nuclear High Ropes
Website: www.nuclearhighropes.co.uk
The new High Ropes Little Monkeys Sessions are crafted with your comfort in mind, offering access to the lower high ropes levels where you can build confidence at your own pace. Conquer your fears and...
Northlands Junior Parkrun
24th March-11th May 2025
Venue: Northlands Park
Website: www.parkrun.org.uk/northlands-juniors
A free, fun, and friendly weekly 2k event for juniors (4 to 14 year olds) held every Sunday at 9am. Free to join but you must register before you first go along. The aim is to have fun so go along and...
SEN Club
24th March-11th May 2025
Venue: East Hanningfield Village Hall
Address: The Tye, East Hanningfield
Website: www.facebook.com/sen.club.2024
SEN Club is a lively, fun club for children with special needs and their families. There are a variety of activities for children to explore including toys, crafts and biscuit decorating. The children...
Swimming Lessons at Leisure World
24th March-11th May 2025
Venue: Leisure World Colchester
Website: www.colchesterleisureworld.co.uk
Boost your child's confidence and swimming skills with our Swim England qualified instructors at Leisure World. They offer lessons for all ages and abilities, from 4 months to adults. Monitor progress...
Try a free Perform Class
24th March-11th May 2025
Venue: Various venues
Website: www.perform.org.uk/try
Packed with fun drama-based games, singing and dancing, sessions allow reserved children to come out of their shell and give energetic children the perfect outlet to express themselves. Every child is...
Young Farmers Club
24th March-11th May 2025
Venue: Lambourne End
Website: www.lambourne-end.org.uk/youngfarmersclub
The young farmers will be in a group of 12 and led by one member of staff along with additional team leader volunteers. The club aims to provide opportunities for young people to develop and participate...
Home Education Forest School Sessions
28th April-19th May 2025
Venue: Danbury Country Park
Website: www.explore-essex.com
Children have the opportunity to building dens, use tools, cook on a fire, make things from mud and much more. By participating in engaging, motivating and achievable tasks and activities in a woodland...
The Wizard of Oz
30th April-3rd May 2025
Venue: Towngate Theatre
Website: www.towngatetheatre.co.uk
Based on the 1939 film of the same name and L Frank Baum’s classic novel, The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, join Dorothy as she embarks on the adventure of a lifetime when she hits her head during a tornado...
Children’s World Fun Park
3rd-5th May 2025
Venue: Castle Park
Website: www.colchester-events.co.uk
All your children’s favourite rides and attractions in one place. Book tickets online.
Comedy Club 4 Kids
3rd May 2025
Venue: Chelmsford Theatre
Website: www.chelmsfordtheatre.co.uk
The show is family friendly, but without any patronising idiocy. In fact, it's just like a normal comedy club, but it's on in the day, kids are allowed in, and thus there is a higher than usual chance...
Indigo Moon Theatre: Mermarella - Cinderella of the Sea
3rd May 2025
Venue: Colchester Arts Centre
Website: www.colchesterartscentre.com
Puppetry, shadow theatre, enchanting music and a little help from the audience (and some torches!) bring this comic tale to its modern day outcome, aimed at thinking families and the young at heart of...
Stand and Deliver! Tales of Dick Turpin
4th-5th May 2025
Venue: Hedingham Castle
Website: www.hedinghamcastle.co.uk
Relive the fearless escapades of Dick Turpin and his infamous peers through daring stagecoach robberies, heart-stopping trick riding escapes, dancing horses, epic sword fights and pistol duels.This exciting...
The Worst Princess
4th-5th May 2025
Venue: Chelmsford Theatre
Website: www.chelmsfordtheatre.co.uk
The Worst Princess explodes from the page to the stage in Full House Theatre’s new family show based on the picture book by Anna Kemp. The whole family will enjoy a laugh-out-loud comedy, cool puppets,...
Dino Discovery Day
10th May 2025
Venue: Colchester Zoo
Website: www.colchesterzoologicalsociety.com
Discover extinct species from millions of years ago, from gigantic carnivores to the graceful herbivores, as well as the chance to meet and greet the dinosaur friends along with their keeper. Advance booking...
FREE Kidical Mass Colchester family bike ride
10th May 2025
Venue: Meet at Richmond Road Play Park
Address: Colchester
Website: https://www.facebook.com/groups/583946906992805
Children will receive free bike flags, whistles, bike “number plates”, spokey dokeys, handlebar streamers and horns. The ride will be cycling to St. John’s Green School Abbey Field site, where younger...
Milkshake! Live
11th May 2025
Venue: Towngate Theatre
Website: www.towngatetheatre.co.uk
Milkshake! Live is back with a brand-new show. Join your favourite Milkshake! friends on Holiday with Smurfette, Dora, Pip and Posy, Blue from Blues Clues and You!, Milo, Milkshake! Monkey plus two of...
The Essex Young Farmers’ Show 2025
18th May 2025
Venue: EYFC Centre
Website: www.essexyoungfarmers.com
The show offers a diverse range of attractions including stock judging, fascinating forestry displays, and impressive steam engines. This year also introduces a new children's education area, providing...