Fill the six weeks with fun school summer holiday events in Winchester
School's out for summer 2026, and that means you've got some serious planning to do. Luckily, Winchester is full of exciting and entertaining things to do for kids and their grown-ups over the school summer break. There's easily enough to fill six weeks of fun, which is a good job really.
In Hampshire, the school summer holidays officially run from Thursday 23 July until Monday 31 August 2026, but you can probably expect an inset day or two tagged on the end too. Whether you're planning a family holiday in Winchester, plotting a summer weekend or day trip, or just looking for lots of ideas to fill the holidays in Winchester, this page is your guide to events, activities and new things to do in Winchester during the school summer holidays 2026.
From silent discos and museum sleepovers, to flower-crown workshops and pirate-themed play trails, keep reading to discover events and things to do with your kids, from toddlers to teens, over the school summer holidays in Winchester.
Looking for great things to do in Winchester that are on all year round? Read our guide to the 45 best things to do with kids in Winchester.
Curated by Ellie Walker-Arnott from the Visit Winchester team (who has two kids to entertain this summer in Winchester!)
Last updated: 17 July 2026.
Family-friendly parties in the school summer holidays
Celebrate the end of school at a Soft Play Disco
Soft Play Disco at Thrive & Wild.
Thursday 23 July.
📍Kings Worthy, near Winchester city.
Party the weekend away at a family-friendly festival
Wickham Festival.
Thursday 30 July - Sunday 2 August.
📍near Wickham
Dance at a Kids v Grown Ups Silent Disco
Kids v Adults Silent Disco at Winchester Science Centre.
Thursday 20 August.
📍Winchester city
Family-friendly trails near Winchester
Have swashbuckling fun on a pirate-themed play trail
Summer of Play at Hinton Ampner.
Saturday 18 July - Sunday 6 September.
📍near Cheriton
Try a nature-inspired summer trail
Timothy’s Summer Nature Trail at Gilbert White's House.
Wednesday 22 July - Sunday 6 September.
📍Selbourne, near Alton
Find traditional family games to play in beautiful gardens
Summer of Play at The Vyne.
Thursday 23 July - Sunday 6 September.
📍near Basingstoke
Discover plants and flowers in Winchester Cathedral
Family Trail at Winchester Cathedral
Saturday 25 July - Tuesday 1 September.
📍Winchester city centre
Summer holiday craft workshops for kids
Learn how to make a bug hotel
Bug Hotel Workshop at Bella Crafts.
Thursday 30 July.
📍Winchester city centre
Paint and create a colourful masterpiece
Kids and Grown Ups Paint & Sip at The Arc.
Friday 7 August.
📍Winchester city centre
Pick and make a flower crown together
Parent and Child Flower Crown Workshop at Stem & Green Flower Farm.
Saturday 15 August.
📍Headbourne Worthy, near Winchester city
Do a giant collaborative painting to music
Summer Holidays: Let's paint to music! at The Arc.
Tuesday 18 August.
📍Winchester city centre
Summer holiday activities for older kids and teens in Winchester
Watch a movie and eat pizza at sunset
Outdoor cinema nights at Lainston House.
Various dates. Ages 12+.
📍 near Winchester city
Play a medieval escape game in a genuine medieval building
The Crusader's Collectible at The Hospital of St Cross.
Various dates.
📍Winchester city
Spend a summer evening at the zoo
Summer Evenings at Marwell Zoo.
Various dates. Ages 8+.
📍 near Winchester city
Children's theatre and music shows during school summer holidays
Dance along to all your favourite K-Pop bands
K-POP LIVE at Theatre Royal Winchester.
Sunday 26 July.
📍Winchester city centre
Watch an interactive story with junk model characters
Crafty Critters at Thrive & Wild.
Monday 27 July.
📍Kings Worthy, near Winchester city
Listen to much-loved tales performed out loud
Storytelling with Merry-Go-Round at Mottisfont.
Various dates from Tuesday 28 July - Wednesday 2 September.
📍near Romsey
Enjoy a play about dinos and rock bands
The Dinosaur That Pooped A Rock Show! at Theatre Royal Winchester.
Tuesday 4 August.
📍Winchester city centre
See all your fave princesses perform in one candlelit concert
Enchanted: The Ultimate Princess Concert at The Guildhall.
Saturday 15 August.
📍Winchester city centre
Educational days out for the school summer holidays in Winchester
Travel back in time at the Time Detective Agency
Time Detective Agency! at Winchester City Museum.
Thursday 23 July - Monday 31 August.
📍Winchester city centre
Dig into archaeology
Festival of Archaeology at Hinton Ampner.
Saturday 25 July - Sunday 2 August.
📍near Cheriton
Learn about medieval sword-fighting
Medieval Sword-Fighting at The Great Hall.
Saturday 22 August.
📍Winchester city centre
New play areas to visit during the school summer holidays
Explore play spaces inspired by the natural world
Play Wild! at Winchester Science Centre.
Opens from Saturday 18 July.
📍Winchester city
Try out a new farmyard play area (there's coffee too!)
Poetry and Play Trail at The Yard.
Open now.
📍Chiltern Candover
Big summer holiday days out near Winchester
Do an assault course in a historic fort
Summer at Fort Nelson.
Tuesday 21 July - Sunday 6 September.
📍near Portsmouth
Go to an Elephant Rave at the zoo
Zoofest at Marwell Zoo.
Thursday 23 July - Monday 31 August.
📍 near Winchester city
Ride on Thomas the Tank Engine
Day Out with Thomas at The Watercress Line.
Tuesday 4 - Sunday 9 August.
📍Alresford
Sleep over at The Science Museum
The Big Family Sleepover at Winchester Science Museum
Saturday 15 - Sunday 16 August.
📍Winchester city
More school summer holiday events in Winchester
CLOSES: 22nd Aug 2026
The Three Musketeers
Royal Armouries: Fort Nelson
CLOSES: 4 September 2026
DATE: 4 Sept 2026 - 4 Sept 2026
CLOSES: 4th Sept 2026
Play Wild this Summer!
Winchester Science Centre
CLOSES: 1 September 2026
DATE: 18 Jul 2026 - 1 Sept 2026
CLOSES: 1st Sept 2026
Parent and Child Flower Crown Workshop
Stem & Green Flower Farm
CLOSES: 15 August 2026
DATE: 15 Aug 2026 - 15 Aug 2026
CLOSES: 15th Aug 2026
The Great Summer Tiger Hunt
Winchester's Military Museums
CLOSES: 2 September 2026
DATE: 21 Jul 2026 - 1 Sept 2026
CLOSES: 2nd Sept 2026
The Magic Faraway Tree Museum Adventure
The Adjutant Generals Corps Museum
CLOSES: 15 August 2026
DATE: 25 Jul 2026 - 15 Aug 2026
CLOSES: 15th Aug 2026
Solar Eclipse: Live at the Science Centre
Winchester Science Centre
CLOSES: 12 August 2026
DATE: 12 Aug 2026 - 12 Aug 2026
CLOSES: 12th Aug 2026
Badge Making Workshops - HorsePower Museum
HorsePower, The Museum of The Kings Royal Hussars
CLOSES: 25 August 2026
DATE: 21 Jul 2026 - 25 Aug 2026
CLOSES: 25th Aug 2026
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Frequently asked questions
- When are the school summer holidays in Winchester?
In Hampshire, the school summer holidays officially run from Thursday 23 July until Monday 31 August 2026, but you can probably expect an inset day or two tagged on the end too.
- What's on in Winchester during the school summer holidays?
From silent discos, medieval escape rooms and museum sleepovers, to flower-crown workshops and pirate-themed play trails, there are so many events and things to do with your kids, from toddlers to teens, over the school summer holidays in Winchester. Discover the full calendar of school summer holiday events.
- What are the best things to do with kids in Winchester?
Winchester is a brilliant place to explore with kids. The city and its surrounding countryside, market towns and villages are full of fab stuff for children to do, from playgrounds and soft plays to kids' theatre, museums and attractions for big family days out. Here are 43 ideas of things to do with kids in Winchester to get you started.