It would appear that the year is absolutely flying by and it seems crazy to think that we have already reached the first half term holiday break for 2020! Stuck for ideas with regards to keeping the children busy? Take a look at some wonderful ideas for half-term fun in and around Newmarket.
Grab a torch and get exploring! This free drop-in event on the 19th February gives you the chance to explore the museum after hours and highlights museums as places of entertainment and exploration for families. What sort of wonderful things might you spy in the remains of King Charles II’s sporting palace?
On the 19th and 20th February there will also be free drop-in Family Art Workshops in the Mews at Palace House as part of the launch of the Newmarket Community Art Competition for 2020. Pop along and create a large piece of community art and have fun at the same time.
The foals have started arriving at The National Stud which means it is the perfect time to plan a visit! This is your chance to get the kids outside in the fresh air and meet these wonderful animals. You can also meet the retired legends Lord Windermere and Jack The Giant. Grab a tour sheet and see if you can solve the quiz as you go around with one of the Discover Newmarket Tour Guides. Walk-Ins are welcome but if you’d like to book in advance then click here. Tours will go off every day at 10.30am and on Saturday and Sunday tours will be at 10.30am and 1.30pm.
The on-site Wavertree’s Coffee Shop also offers up delightful cakes, pastries, breakfast and lunches for after your tour.
This is a wonderful way to get out and exploring. A walk around the wonderful estate is the perfect way to get out of the house for a few hours. Grab a map and find your favourite part of the gardens. The Snowdrops have bloomed and created picture perfect scenery for you to enjoy. Find the hidden treasures in each section of the gardens and just get out and enjoying some fresh air. Find out more about the gardens at Chippenham Park here.
The Lord of the Rings themed family challenge is back at West Stow Anglo-Saxon Village and Country Park.
Complete the Ring Quest and find the rings and runes to save Middle Earth! As well as the Ring Quest trail, there are the huge spiders of Mirkwood and a dragon guarding its treasure to see.
See the small exhibition on Ring Quest, visit the Hobbit Hole and Mirkwood, meet Halbarad the Ranger of the North, and try your hand at archery.
Special talk and tour ‘The Real Middle Earth’ is also available to book on Saturday 15 and Sunday 23 February. This can be booked by clicking here.
-This is partly an outdoor event so please wear suitable clothing.
-The event is suitable for adults and children 3+ years.
-Two parts to the Ring Quest trail, each lasts about 45 minutes.
-Parking: Normal parking fees apply (£2 for the day).
Ring Quest packs, essential for The Quest, cost £2 each in addition to the standard admission price.
Milkshake Monkey can’t wait to put on a spectacular new musical for you all!
But when stage fright hits, his favourite Milkshake friends come to help, creating the most dazzling show you have ever seen!
Be part of this fantastic production as you learn amazing songs and dances with your favourite Milkshake friends, and watch as the music, the lights, the costumes and stage come together.
Starring Fireman Sam, Noddy, Shimmer & Shine, Digby Dragon, Wissper, Nella the Princess Knight and the Floogals, alongside two Milkshake presenters, this brand new show has plenty of laughter, audience interaction and great fun to get everyone up on their feet!
It’s a family show not to be missed!
Science meets history at Moyse’s Hall this half term with the Horrible Half term running through until Sunday 23rd February. This activity will be in honour of Horrible Histories author and creator Terry Deary and will include activities like making fake movie blood, “oobleck” goo and take a look at historical poo, yes poo! Visitors will be able to take a look at real Saxon poo, animal remains and witchcraft items under special microscopes. Sure to be a hit with the children! Find out more here.
Just a short drive from Newmarket is WildTracks Activity Park and they have loads of fun activities to take part in. Why not let the kids try their hand at Archery or Quad-Biking, or let them race one another at go-karts or get them playing the ultimate game of hide-and-seek with a session of Battlefield! To book any of the WildTracks activities call 01638 751 918 or click here for more information.
A new interpretation board and commemorative plaque have been unveiled at Newmarket railway station, marking the town’s rich railway heritage as part of the national Railway 200 celebrations.
Ely Cathedral is delighted to announce the return of peregrine falcons to its historic West Tower, marking another exciting chapter in the life of one of the region’s most iconic landmarks.
As generations of fine-limbed thoroughbreds pranced on and off the trains at Newmarket’s original railway station, almost unnoticed, their working class cousins were shifting around the waggons which carried them to racecourses all over the country.
The Ipswich to Cambridge rail line, which includes 11 stations including Newmarket, is to be promoted as St.
Spring has finally arrived, and Easter is looking to be packed with egg-citing adventures for families looking to make magical memories.
Whether your car is temporarily off the road, you are planning a weekend escape, or you simply need flexible access to a second vehicle, Plug in Suffolk Car Clubs are aiming to transform the way residents think about travel.
The tourism body Discover Newmarket is launching a new initiative with Newmarket Racecourses, extending a warm welcome to the first 100 new residents to move into the town this spring by offering an all-access, behind the scenes tour of the town’s historic racing landmarks.
As we celebrate International Women’s Day (8th March 2025), we’re taking the opportunity to look back at a definitive time in history when Ellen Chaloner, a trailblazing trainer became the first woman to be given a permit to train horses by the Jockey Club in 1886.
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