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!
Summer events at Polesden Lacey
28th May-30th October 2022
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Venue: Polesden Lacey
Website: www.nationaltrust.org.uk/polesden-lacey
Celebrate the Jubilee this half term at Polesden Lacey
This half term promises to be an extra special one as the nation celebrates the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee. Polesden Lacey is no exception and we’ve lined up a host of events and activities to enjoy over the week-long celebration.
Polesden Lacey’s Jubilee treasure hunt trail
Sat 28 May-Sun 5 Jun
See what treasures you can uncover as you follow the clues around the garden in this special Jubilee treasure hunt. Pick up a clue sheet from visitor reception, complete the trail and claim a prize at the end.
Normal admission applies
Floral crown workshops
Tue 31 May & Thurs 2 Jun
To celebrate the Platinum Jubilee, come and make an exquisite floral crown with instruction from the experienced florists from Kingfisher Flower shop. Using fresh seasonal blooms, you will learn how to arrange them into your own unique design. Suitable for children from 12years, it’s a great half term activity to spend quality time with tweens and teens.
£40 per person, AM & PM Sessions available. Children 16 and under must be accompanied by an adult.
Platinum Jubilee celebration
Thurs 2 – Sun 5 Jun
Over the extended bank holiday weekend, we’ll be turning back the clocks to the era of the Queen’s coronation with a fifties-themed celebration. With live music on the terrace from 1pm, the South Lawn is the perfect place to meet with friends and family and enjoy a picnic whilst soaking in the stunning views across the valley. With a different band each day performing swing, jazz and fifties rock’n’roll, there’ll be something to suit everyone’s taste.
Friday is our extra special day with train rides in the garden courtesy of the Surrey Society of Model Engineers and a chance to meet our ranger team who will be on hand to talk about the amazing work they do on the estate. Children can get up close to their tractor and parents can browse the items for sale made by the woodworking team.
Normal admission applies
Garden-gathered bouquet workshops
Every Thur from 9 Jun – 14 Jul, and Tue 19 Jul
Using 100% British grown flowers (with a few from the Polesden cutting garden too), learn how to create and wrap a lovely hand-tied bouquet in a garden-gathered style. Discover some secrets from Mrs Greville’s cutting garden and acquire sustainable flower arranging techniques that you can use at home.
£70.00 per person + 10% discount in the wonderful Polesden Lacey shop on the day.
Treasured Possessions: Riches of Polesden Lacey exhibition
Mon 25 Apr – Sun 30 Oct
Gain a fascinating insight into Mrs Greville’s life through the stories told behind the artefacts in her collection. Displaying the most significant treasures from the collection, including masterpieces by some of the world’s best-known artists, as well as exquisite objects by Cartier and Fabergé.
Normal admission applies.
Lazy jazz Sundays
5 June – 11 September, 2 - 4pm
Take it easy this summer with the return of Lazy jazz Sundays to Polesden Lacey. Enjoy a relaxing afternoon on the South Lawn listening to the soulful sounds of jazz drifting from the terrace. From 20’s, 30’s, Gershwin, Cole Porter, to more recent easy listening numbers, there’s something for everyone each week. Bring a picnic, and a rug, and simply soak up the atmosphere.
Normal admission applies
Story explorers
Every Wed, 8 Jun – 20 Jul, 10.30am – 12.00pm
Bring your little story explorers for a morning of fun with a story, rhymes and a fun nature-based craft activity. Story Explorers aims to engage your little ones with nature through stories and fun activities. The session begins in our charming old Stable Block with a story with our experienced storyteller.
You and your little explorer will then be led on a trail to Crab Apple Orchard where there will be a craft activity to complete in our beautiful bell tent, using items found in the orchard.
Normal admission applies. Please book in advance.
The Rose Festival
Sat 11 Jun – Fri 22 Jul
Roses hold a special place in the history of Polesden Lacey. The walled garden holds 35 varieties of Hybrid Tea, Floribunda and Hybrid Musk. While over 100 white Rambling Rector roses climb all over the pergola.
Our annual Rose Festival celebrates this beautiful flower, with floral displays throughout the house, café and gift shop. There will also be an installation of beautifully conceived metal roses on the West Lawn, created by the talented team at the Camelia Botnar Foundation. These roses will be for sale, so if you’re quick you can reserve one for when the festival ends. All proceeds will go towards the work carried out by the foundation in helping disadvantaged young people learn a skilled trade.
Join one of our garden tours or just take a quiet stroll in the gardens and find out some interesting facts along the way. You may also like to visit the pot pourri bar in the water tower before you leave so that you can have a fragrant reminder of your visit.
If you have time, you may like to visit the café to sample our very own delicious Rose Festival cake, with a refreshing pot of tea.
Normal Admission applies.
Sights of summer ranger-led walk
Sat 2 Jul & Fri 12 Aug, 11am – 1pm
What better way to celebrate National Meadow Day on Saturday 2 July, than by joining the rangers on these guided walks which take you through our chalk grasslands earn more about this habitat and the restoration project being undertaken in this area and see if you’re lucky enough to spot the butterflies and other wildlife that are benefiting from the restoration of this area.
£8 per person. Booking essential
Come out and play
Sat 23 Jul – Mon 29 Aug
Come and enjoy the summer outdoors at Polesden Lacey. The National Trust has teamed up with Sport England to enjoy the simple pleasure of play. Come and spend the day exploring the pleasure grounds and challenge your friends and family to some fun and games along the way.
Normal admission applies
Meet the rangers
Alternate Sats in Jul and Aug, starting 2 Jul. 10am – 2pm
During the Summer holidays bring your kids to come and meet the rangers to learn more about the amazing work they do to look after the estate.
Normal admission applies
Pop-up Shakespeare
Sat 13 and Sat 21 Aug
Join us for a humorous take on scenes from some of the bard's most celebrated plays, enacted by The Cat's Grin Theatre Company, throughout the gardens. There's no extra charge to see pop-up Shakespeare but normal admission applies.
Normal admission applies
Bat walks
Every Wednesday throughout August: 8.30-10.30pm
Come and join us on a twilight walk around the estate and discover these wonderful creatures. See the bats dart and dive and hear their 'silent' nocturnal calls with special detectors.
£20 per person, children 12yrs and under £10. Booking essential