Stay cool at Swindon’s museums this summer

The three council-operated attractions, STEAM Museum, Lydiard House Museum and Museum & Art Swindon, will all be hosting a variety of drop-in sessions and activities for children throughout August, as well as excellent exhibitions showcasing the Borough’s history and culture.
Cllr Matt Vallender, Swindon Borough Council’s Cabinet Member for Culture, Planning and Regeneration, said: “There are so many amazing activities across all of our museums this summer and it’s set to be a fun-filled month.
“From exploring the history of Swindon at Museum & Art Swindon, to learning about Swindon’s experience in the war and its relationship with the railway at STEAM, there’s something for everyone to enjoy.
“We know parents are always looking for things to do with the little ones so, if they’d like a break from the sun and hot weather, a visit to one of our museums could be the perfect chance to cool down and have some fun.”
At STEAM and Lydiard House Museum, Kids for a Quid returns throughout August. 
Tickets for children, aged between three and 15, will be charged at just £1 when accompanied by a full-paying adult (Kids for a Quid is available between 5 and 30 August at Lydiard and 23 July to 31 August at STEAM).
Also at STEAM is a unique opportunity to visit an Air Raid Shelter on Wednesday, 12 and Wednesday, 26 August as the museum opens its reconstructed war shelter to visitors.
This fascinating space, usually only open to visiting school groups, is crammed full of original Second World War objects and ephemera. 
The Air Raid Warden will sound a genuine air raid siren and usher visitors into the suitably dark and cramped space inside the shelter. While inside, visitors will discover how people kept their morale high and passed the time while the sound effects of the Blitz rumble on in the background.
Entrance to the shelter (suitable for those seven and over) costs £3 per person, in addition to the entrance fee to the museum.
On Wednesday 5 and Wednesday 19 August, STEAM will also host an interactive session, exploring artefacts in its collection linked to working in the railway factory. Visitors can dress up as a factory worker and try their hand at acting out, among other things, using a crucible to pour molten metal into a mould.
Suitable for those aged four and over, the Inside the Works experience is included free with the museum’s admission fee and visitors can sign up at the front desk on the day.
Free art and craft creative drop-in sessions will be taking place at Museum & Art Swindon (MAS) every Wednesday and Saturday between 25 July and 26 August alongside two paid (£5 each) Clay Day activities (Tuesday, 28 July and Tuesday 18 August) where attendees can make a Fairy House from clay, inspired by the MAS’s Beneath the Surface exhibition.
On Tuesday 11 August, visitors will be able to try out a range of art materials and learn some tips for creating their own portrait (for £2 each).
Throughout the summer, MAS will also host a Sharing Stories Trail as part of the National Year of Reading. Visitors will find out about the different ways humans have shared stories and ideas over thousands of years by completing a free trail around the museum before collecting a Story Sticker.
Lydiard House Museum will be open to visitors between Wednesdays and Sundays (10am to 4pm), from 5 to 30 August for those looking for some history along with their Lydiard Park visit.
Families visiting Lydiard’s museum will be able to put their detective skills to the test with a brand-new Mystery at the Museum adventure (£5 per family in addition to museum entry).
Mindful art activities will be running every Thursday in August including a hapa zome workshop on 6 August, the opportunity to create a clay coaster on 13 August, sessions to design a colourful suncatcher on 20 August and the chance to create a woven artwork using natural materials on 27 August. 
Workshops cost £5 per participant and spaces can be booked online.
However, not everyone wants to spend all day inside, and there’s still plenty on offer at Lydiard Park this summer including Romeo & Juliet Outdoor Theatre (25 July), The Great British Food Festival (1 and 2 August), The Jungle Book Outdoor Theatre (2 August), Mayhem of Mad4Animals (8 August) and the Lydiard Garden Party (22 August).
A summer paint and sip is also being held at Lydiard Park Hotel on Wednesday, 5 August.
More information about all the activities can be found on each venue’s website.
 

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