Are you looking for something to do with the children this summer holiday? There’s lots to do in Andover.
The Time Detective Agency at the Festival of Archaeology
Hands‑on family archaeology adventure at the Andover Museum of the Iron Age
Step into the shoes of a Time Detective and uncover the clues hidden in the past! Join us at Andover Museum for an exciting, interactive family event where young explorers and grown‑ups work together to solve historical mysteries through play, puzzles and discovery. Packed with creative activities and archaeological challenges, The Time Detective Agency invites families to investigate, build and dig their way through history.
📅 Dates: Saturday 18 July to Sunday 2 August
🕙 Time: 10am to 4pm
📍 Location: Andover Museum and Museum of the Iron Age
🎟️ Cost: Free with entry to Museum of the Iron Age
More information: The Time Detective Agency at the Festival of Archaeology | Hampshire Cultural Trust
Wednesday Craft Club: Soap Knapping
Step back into the Stone Age at Craft Club and discover how early humans shaped tools from flint and stone! Using bars of soap instead of sharp flint, children can safely try their hand at “knapping” - carefully carving and shaping their own prehistoric-style tool to take home.
This hands-on activity explores one of the oldest skills in human history and is inspired by real Stone Age artefacts in the collection. Perfect for curious young archaeologists, crafty makers, and anyone who enjoys getting creative with history.
📅 Wednesday 22 July
🕚 Time: 11am to 3pm
📍 Location: Andover Museum and Museum of the Iron Age
🎟️ Cost: £2
More information: Wednesday Craft Club: Soap Knapping | Hampshire Cultural Trust
Step into Summer
Join us for an exciting arts trail of interactive workshops and activities at different venues across Andover, organised by the Andover Network of Cultural Organisations. Aimed at children, you are invited to work your way along the trail, where you can take part in a variety of activities and collect a stamp at each venue. Can you work out the secret word? Solve it and win a prize!
📅Date: Saturday 25 July
🕚 Time: 11am to 3pm
📍 Various venues across the town centre
🎟️ Cost: Free
More information: Step into Summer
Princesses Unite!
Head down to The Lights for the ultimate children's pop princess party. Featuring a cast of dazzling princesses, this enchanting spectacle brings all your favourite hit songs and party dances to life in a vibrant, high-energy performance that will leave audiences of all ages spellbound.
After the show, don't miss the free meet and greet! This is your chance to meet the Princesses in person. Share a hug, get an autograph, and snap a photo with your favourite princesses.
📅 Date: Saturday 25 July
🕐 Time: 1pm
📍 Location: The Lights theatre
🎟️ Cost: £15.50
More information: Princesses Unite
Wednesday Craft Club Stratigraphy Jars
Become an archaeologist for the day and discover how layers of soil can reveal clues about the past! At this week’s Craft Club, children will create their own colourful ‘stratigraphy jar’ using different layers of sand, soil, and materials to explore how archaeologists read the ground like a history book.
Inspired by real archaeological digs, this hands-on activity introduces the fascinating idea of stratigraphy - the study of layers that helps archaeologists understand what happened long ago and when.
📅 Date: Wednesday 29 July
🕚 Time: 11am to 3pm
📍 Location: Andover Museum and Museum of the Iron Age
🎟️ Cost: £2
More information: Wednesday Craft Club: Stratigraphy Jars | Hampshire Cultural Trust
Tall Tales and Seasonal Stories - The Very Hungry Caterpillar
Amanda Kane-Smith from Merry-go-Round Storytelling will bring the much-loved classic ‘The Very Hungry Caterpillar’ to life with interactive storytelling. After the story, children will get creative and make their very own butterfly puppet! After crafts and refreshments, you will then head out for a gentle woodland walk as you search for butterflies together. This event is the perfect way to kick off the school holidays and make the most of the beautiful woodland that’s been created in the Diamond Wood! All of Andover Trees United’s events book up quickly, so please reserve your spaces.
Suitable for ages 4+
📅 Date: Thursday 30 July
🕥 Times: 10.30am and 12.30pm
📍 Location: The Diamond Wood - Harmony Woods
🎟️ Cost: £10 per child with accompanying adult - £2 per additional sibling (refreshments included)
More information: Storytelling & Craft Event (Tall Tales & Seasonal Stories) - The Very Hungry Caterpillar
Four Fun Fridays: Reduce, Reuse, Recycle - ‘Guardians of the Planet’
Join us on Andover High Street for free family fun on Fridays 7, 14, 21 and 28 August.
This year’s theme is ‘Eco-explorers’ and we will be celebrating the incredible diversity of life on Earth and our role in protecting it.
📅 Date: Friday 7 August
🕥 Time: 10.30am to 3pm
📍 Location: Andover High Street
🎟️ Cost: Free
More information: Four Fun Fridays
Tall Tales and Seasonal Stories - The Dancing Trees of Harmony Woods
What if the trees at Harmony Woods came alive and danced together on Midsummer’s Eve?
Join Amanda from Merry-Go-Round Storytelling as she brings a magical folktale to life - where the trees do just that! This is interactive storytelling where children become part of the story.
After the storytelling, children will create their own magical stick person to take home using natural materials collected from the enchanted woods.
With storytelling, crafts, games and refreshments, it’s a workshop full of magic, creativity and fun.
Suitable for ages 4+
📅 Date: Tuesday 11 August
🕥 Times: 10.30am and 12.30pm
📍 Location: The Diamond Wood - Harmony Woods
🎟️ Cost: Cost: £10 per child with accompanying adult - £2 per additional sibling (refreshments included)
More information: Tall Tales & Seasonal Stories - The Dancing Trees of Harmony Woods
Four Fun Fridays: Beetles, Bugs and Butterflies - ‘Mini Marvels’
Join us on Andover High Street for free family fun on Fridays 7, 14, 21 and 28 August.
This year’s theme is ‘Eco-explorers’ and we will be celebrating the incredible diversity of life on Earth and our role in protecting it.
📅 Date: Friday 14 August
🕥 Time: 10.30am to 3pm
📍 Location: Andover High Street
🎟️ Cost: Free
More information: Four Fun Fridays
Tall Tales and Seasonal Stories - The Clever Crow
Join Amanda from Merry-Go-Round Storytelling as we celebrate the clever crows who live at Harmony Woods with a fun retelling of the much-loved fable The Crow and the Pitcher. This exciting workshop brings science and storytelling together with puppets and plenty of audience participation.
After the story, children will make their own clever crow puppet and get creative with stone painting inspired by the tale.
With storytelling, crafts, games and refreshments, it’s a workshop full of magic, creativity and fun.
Suitable for ages 4+
📅 Date: Thursday 20 August
🕥 Times: 10.30am and 12.30pm
📍 The Diamond Wood - Harmony Woods
🎟️ Cost: £10 per child with accompanying adult - £2 per additional sibling (refreshments included)
More information: Tall Tales & Seasonal Stories - The Clever Crow
Four Fun Fridays: In the Sea - ‘Ocean Explorers’
Join us on Andover High Street for free family fun on Fridays 7, 14, 21 and 28 August.
This year’s theme is ‘Eco-explorers’ and we will be celebrating the incredible diversity of life on Earth and our role in protecting it.
📅 Date: Friday 21 August
🕥 Time: 10.30am to 3pm
📍 Location: Andover High Street
🎟️ Cost: Free
More information: Four Fun Fridays
Four Fun Fridays: In the River - ‘Freshwater Adventures’
Join us on Andover High Street for free family fun on Fridays 7, 14, 21 and 28 August.
This year’s theme is ‘Eco-explorers’ and we will be celebrating the incredible diversity of life on Earth and our role in protecting it.
📅 Date: Friday 28 August
🕥 Time: 10.30am to 3pm
📍 Location: Andover High Street
🎟️ Cost: Free
More information: Four Fun Fridays
Andover World Street Party
Head to Andover's multi-cultural street party on August bank holiday Monday for live music, dance, food and fun for all the family.
📅 Date: Monday 31 August
🕛 Time: Midday to 5pm
📍 Location: Andover High Street
🎟️ Cost: Free
More information: Andover World Street Party