Family Summer Activities | Drop in | Free
We’re delighted that our summer activities will be taking place outdoors this year, in the grounds with our learning team and special guests. We also have some exciting new outdoor games for families to enjoy together.
Children who take part in any of the activities listed below will receive a complimentary goodie bag to enjoy at home afterwards. Please note that goodie bags are only available to participating children.
Bring along a picnic blanket and spend the morning, afternoon or even the whole day in our beautiful grounds. While we want you to have a fantastic time, please be aware that we are also a very busy wedding venue and the area in front of the manor house is not to be used as a play or picnic area.
If we do have wet weather, these activities (but no picnics, sorry!) will take place in our learning studio. We can’t wait to see you all!
Schedule of Activities
Roman Life | Monday 20 July | 10:30-11:30, 11:30-12:30, 13:30-14:30, 14:30-15:30, 15:30-16:30
Get hands on with exciting activities including mini digs and Roman pot puzzles. Learn about the life of a Roman soldier and make tablets and styli to take home.
Summertime | Monday 27 July | 10:00-12:30 and 13:30-16:00
Join our Learning team for a fun, hands-on session celebrating Summertime in Durham! Families are invited to get creative and explore the county’s summer holiday history together as children design and make their own sundial, inspired by our historic collections.
There will also be a chance to help our very own Rory pack his suitcase for his summer holiday. Guess where he is going and what will he need for his trip?
Farming and Agriculture | Monday 3 August | 10:00-12:30 and 13:30-16:00
Join us this Monday as we celebrate all things farming and agriculture. Discover the fascinating story of the chickens that inspired the Durham Light Infantry, get creative by making your own paper leeks, and step back in time with some good old-fashioned dressing up fun (grown-ups are welcome too!).
Family Activities
Family Activities
Family Activities
Remembering VJ Day | Monday 10 August | 10:00-12:30 and 13:30-16:00
Today we pause to remember those who lost their lives during the Pacific conflict, marking 81 years since Japan’s surrender to the Allied powers and the end of the Second World War (VJ Day) which takes place every year on the 15 August.
Join us as we reflect and create together. Design your own foam prints using paint
Fold a peace crane in origami, a symbol of hope and healing. All are welcome to take part in this creative act of remembrance.
Why Blossom Printing?
Blossoms, especially cherry blossoms (called Sakura), are a powerful symbol in Hiroshima, Japan. They stand for hope, strength, and how life can begin again, even after something terrible happens. After the atomic bombing in 1945, the people of Hiroshima showed incredible courage, and the blossoms remind us of their ability to rebuild and keep going.
In fact, nature started to come back surprisingly quickly. By autumn 1945, small plants and weeds were already growing in the damaged ground. The next summer, bright pink oleander flowers bloomed, these later became Hiroshima’s official flower. Even very old camphor trees, some hundreds of years old, began to grow new branches again. These signs of life gave people hope. They showed that even after great destruction, new life can grow.
A Debt Beyond Words | Monday 24 August | 10:00-12:30 and 13:30-16:00
This Monday, join us for a creative family activity where you’ll make special cards to share with loved ones and people you care about. Our session is inspired by A Debt Beyond Words, the newest temporary exhibition at The Story.
This exhibition explores how wars have shaped the people and places of County Durham. It shares the stories of individuals connected to the Durham Light Infantry (DLI) and looks beyond the battlefield to show what life was like for families and communities at home. Many lived with uncertainty, missing loved ones who were away fighting and not knowing if they would return.
Is there someone in your life you’d like to thank? This is your chance to make something truly meaningful just for them. Create a handmade card and a personalised photo frame to show your appreciation. We’ll have fun dressing up props available so you can take a memorable photo to include with your creation! We look forward to seeing your creativity and celebrating the people who matter most.
Moving Parts! Bank Holiday | Monday 31 August | 10:00-12:30 and 13:30-16:00
Join us for our final Monday of family activities as we welcome the fabulous Moving Parts! Bring Durham’s rich mining heritage and local wildlife to life through a creative exploration of birds. Inspired by the striking giant Kittiwake puppet, families can create their own flapping birds on rods before taking part in a joyful parade through the beautiful grounds at The Story. In the afternoon, watch as your creations come together alongside the spectacular 6-metre-wide bird for a memorable celebration of nature, creativity, and community.
Moving Parts Arts is an award-winning arts and community development organisation founded in 2017. A belief that everyone can be creative is at the core of what we do and that puppetry is a unique way of bringing people together and breaking down barriers. Our work is at its best when it is collaborative, accessible and celebratory.