Six weeks may not seem like much, but those school summer holidays can have a real impact on children’s lives. It’s a time when new interests are unearthed, new passions nurtured, friendships are formed and families bonded. Some of us are fortunate enough to be able to take the summer off work or even whisk the whole family off abroad, but many of us will be looking at things to do with the kids in Cheltenham this summer. Preferably things that don’t take too much forward planning and don’t cost the earth. Many of us will also be juggling work with taking care of the kids and will need to find them some stimulating activity days or summer camps in Cheltenham. Or perhaps you’re looking for a weekend festival near Cheltenham where you can all be big kids for a few days?
Whether you’re looking to respectfully offload the kids or are seeking ways to spend time with them without being driven crazy, we’ve got a few ideas for what to do with the kids in Cheltenham this summer.
Summer Family-Friendly Festivals In Cheltenham
No place has anything on Cheltenham when it comes to festivals. With over 40 festivals in the town every year, there is something for everyone.
Big Feastival
What better place is there for a family-friendly festival but on this beautiful Cotswolds farm where, from 26th-28th August, The Big Feastival is returning for a fun-packed weekend of music, food and family activities.
With great cuisine at the heart of the weekend, there are supper clubs, pop-ups and live demonstrations from celebrated chefs so they’ll be a huge choice of foods to keep even the fussiest of stomachs happy. 2022 also sees a suburb music line-up featuring The Human League, Anne-Marie and Stereophonics.
As usual, The Big Feastival presents an array of entertainment for children of all ages including CBeebies favourites, Cosmic Kids Yoga, all-ages silent discos and, of course, an exploration of the farm itself, as well as a funfair, circus and much more. This truly is a weekend for the whole family and, since it’s only an hour’s drive from Cheltenham, if camping’s not your idea of a good time you can return home to sleep comfortably in your own beds.
Lakefest
With the Manic Street Preachers, Supergrass, Republica and Louise Redknapp taking to the stage at Lakefest 2022, this is a THE festival for those who grew up in the 90s. Introduce the kids to the soundtrack of your childhood and teens in the beautiful Herefordshire countryside where Lakefest will be hosting families for another unforgettable festival from 11th-14th August. Again, being just circa 40 minutes from Cheltenham, you can just enjoy a day of the festival, although all tickets include camping.
The festival takes place amongst the grounds of the breathtaking Eastnor Castle in 5000 acres of parkland and this year there is a BMX show, parachute display, craft area, wellness area, circus, fairground and much more. There are also many workshops for kids of all ages and they’re all free! So they can try their hand at willow craft, enjoy the Silly Science Show or make art with clay, as well as much more. This is a great festival for children to try something new and discover their inner artist against the backdrop of the Malvern Hills and the amongst the sounds of some timeless live 90s anthems.
Cheltenham 7s Sports and Music Festival
Get active at Cheltenham’s sports and music festival where families can enjoy 2 days of experiences. On Friday 22nd and Saturday 23rd July at Newlands Park in Cheltenham, they’ll be food stands, live bands, DJs, entertainment and lots of sports activities taking place on their rugby pitches, netball courts, dodgeball and fitness arena. Get out and celebrate at this family-friendly festival which offers something a bit different and will introduce children to a wide range of sports activities and games.
Summer Holiday Days Out In Cheltenham
As always, Cheltenham offers a variety of entertainment and days out for families in the summer and this year is no exception. Here are a few highlights:
Outdoor Cinema Screenings & Picnic – Enjoy watching your favourite films outdoors on the big screen at Dowty Sports Club. This year The Outdoor Cinema is screening Harry Potter And The Prisoner Of Azkaban (27th August), The Lion King (28th August) and Mamma Mia (28th August). They’ll be hot food and drinks available but you are also welcome to bring your own picnic and pitch up to watch the big screen in the lovely summer air (hopefully).
Birdland – Birdland will be open throughout the summer holidays with a schedule of events including penguin, flamingo and pelican feedings. As well as over 500 bird species there is also the Jurassic Journey where children can learn all about prehistoric animals. Just a 25-minute drive in Bourton-on–the-water, Birdland is a great summer holiday attraction for Cheltenham families.
The Butterfly Conservation Reserve – For an affordable and local family day out, visit The Butterfly Conservation Reserve on Cleeve Common for The Butterfly Count. Taking place on Friday 29th July, families should meet at 1 pm for a couple of hours’ bug hunting (kit provided), making a willow butterfly and completing a butterfly count, the results of which will be sent to the national survey. Not only is this a lovely day out with the kids, but you’ll all be taking part in a nationwide science survey that will help scientists assess the health of our butterfly and day-flying moth species.
Kid’s Summer Camps In Cheltenham
You can’t do it all during the summer holidays, even if you’re not working. Children need other kids their own age and you can’t be expected to plan a range of activities each day. So, why not book them into a summer camp in Cheltenham where they’ll meet other kids, be entertained, kept active and maybe even discover new interests and passions.
There are many to choose from, but here are three that caught out attention:
East Glos Tennis Camp
East Gloucestershire Club in Cheltenham is running tennis camps over the summer holidays for children 4-8 years (mornings Monday to Friday) and ages 9-16 years (11-4 pm Monday to Friday). Taught according to their age and skill, children will be coached in a fun, friendly environment by fully qualified LTA staff. Available on various dates through July and August, kids will be kept active and learning skills at Tennis Camp from just £20 per day or £90 for the week. Book here.
Camp 4-2-11 at St Edwards Senior School
For real variety in a summer holiday camp, Ofsted registered Camp 4-2-11 is an ideal option. Running for various weeks through the school summer holidays in Cheltenham, the camp takes place at St Edwards Senior School where children can take advantage of its extensive facilities. Kids will be kept busy with a range of sports activities, arts and crafts, baking, water fun and mindfulness activities. Camp 1 is for ages 3-6 years and is run by an NVQ-qualified team and Camp 2 is for ages 7-14 years. Both camps run from 9-4 pm to suit most working parents.
Ultimate Activity Summer Camps
Although not the cheapest summer camp in Cheltenham, Ultimate Activity offers some inspiring experiences at Dean Close Prep School. With tennis courts, trampolines, sports halls and arts and crafts rooms, the location is first class and the Ofsted registered provider has a full timetable of activities for ages 4-5, 6-7, 8-9 and 10+ years including archery, dance challenges, fencing, football, nature trails and much more. Keep your kids stimulated and making new friends at Ultimate Activity Summer Camps.
