Swindon’s stunning Lydiard House has a whole host of activities for all the family to enjoy this summer, from historic games to brand new exhibitions.
As part of the great value Kids for a Quid promotion, which is available until Sunday 4 September, up to four children aged 3 to 15 years can visit the historic house for just £1 when accompanied by a full-paying adult. Under 3s go free.
In the beautifully ornate State Rooms of Lydiard House, visitors can see exhibition ‘Look Up! The hidden architectural features of Lydiard House’. An accompanying free family trail encourages families to find surprising details hidden high up around the house.
Visitors can also see a new trail of artworks at Lydiard House Museum this summer. Developed by Swindon Museum and Art Gallery’s Art on Tour programme, ‘Changing Faces’ presents Modern portraits from Swindon Museum and Art Gallery, alongside paintings of the St John Family. The works show the transformation of portraiture in the Twentieth Century, and celebrate its endurance as a genre in British art. The art trail includes portraits from the Swindon Collection by Leslie Cole, Lawrence Gowing, Raymond Mason and Stephen Tomlin.
A variety of activities will be taking place for families over the summer holidays.
On 4 and 11 August, visitors can draw inspiration from Lydiard’s curious painted window to design their very own stained glass window to take away.
On 18 and 25 August, there’s the chance to explore indoor and outdoor toys from the past, including: hoops, dolls, cup and ball games, skittles, Shove Ha’penny Boards, croquet, puppets and spinning tops. During the session, families will also have the chance to make some of their own toys from paper and card.
Activities last 30 minutes and run throughout the day at: 11am, 12pm, 1.30pm and 2.30pm.
Sessions cost £3.50 per person, in addition to the Lydiard House Museum admission. Spaces can be booked by emailing: LydiardLearning@swindon.gov.uk
Lydiard House Museum is open from Wednesday to Sunday from 11am to 4pm (last admission 3.30pm).
Councillor Matty Courtliff, Swindon Borough Council’s Cabinet Member for Culture, Heritage, Leisure and Town Centre Experience, said: “With the Kids for a Quid offer back at Lydiard House Museum, we are hosting a full range of activities for the whole family. Get creative and design your very own stained glass window or perhaps visit the brand new Changing Faces exhibition. There is lots to see and do across the grounds and I hope many families choose to explore Lydiard House Museum this summer.”
To find out more, please visit: www.lydiardpark.org.uk
Follow the Museum on Facebook and Instagram @LydiardHouseMuseum, or Twitter @LydiardMuseum.