Activity Quest: Days out and crafts for kids

Adam is standing outside a public toilet next to the Monument in the City of London. Except it isn't a toilet any more... It's the Monument Micro Museum, a brand new museum all about the Great Fire of London, and it might just be the smallest museum in the world.

Will, who spent three years making it, shows Adam round. Inside there's a flame exhibition and a giant map where a tiny spark grows and spreads across the city, telling the story of the three days in 1666 when most of the City of London burnt down. City...

Adam climbs a narrow spiral staircase, fifty-two steps of it, into the roof of an old church by London Bridge. Up there is the oldest surviving operating theatre in Europe...

It was built in 1822, in the attic where the hospital apothecaries had been drying their herbs, because the space sat right next to the women's ward and had a big skylight to operate under. It closed in 1862 when the hospital moved, was boarded up, and nobody set foot in it again until a researcher found it in 1956. Adam meets Dr Monica Walker for a look at how...

Adam is in Bloomsbury this week, at the Grant Museum of Zoology. It is part of University College London, it is one room, and that room is packed floor to ceiling with skeletons, jars and glass cases...

It is one of the few university zoology museums left in the country, which means the collection was put together to teach with rather than to show off, and it still feels like that. There is a famous jar of moles, which is exactly what it sounds like. There is a free audio tour with ten stops if you want...

Bex heads to the Postal Museum in Clerkenwell, and then underneath it. Mail Rail is a tiny railway built to carry post across London, running in tunnels below the streets since the 1920s, and you get to ride through the original tunnels on a train that runs on the same track...

Up above, the museum tells the story of the post itself, and there is Sorted!, an indoor play space for children aged one to eight. A ticket covers the Mail Rail ride and a full year of entry to the museum. It is open Tuesday to...

Adam is in Notting Hill this week, at a museum made almost entirely of the things most people throw away. The Museum of Brands has kept the packaging: cereal boxes, sweet wrappers, toys, comics and adverts going back to the Victorians...

The heart of it is the Time Tunnel, a corridor that starts in the 1800s and walks you forward decade by decade, so you can watch the same products change shape as you go. Grown-ups tend to stop dead in front of whichever decade they grew up in, which is half the fun. There are family...

Adam visits Oxford Castle and Prison to step back in time and explore the city's past.

There has been something standing on this spot for a thousand years, and a costumed guide walks you through the lot, from Viking raids and the Norman conquest to the beginnings of education in Oxford and the city's long history of crime and punishment. The buildings were still a working prison until 1996, so the cells are the real thing rather than a reconstruction... There is a climb up St George's Tower for a view out across the rooftops, and the castle...

Adam is off to Forest Hill in south London for the Horniman Museum and Gardens, and the curious tale of a very overstuffed walrus...

The walrus arrived in London in Victorian times, and the story goes that the taxidermist who prepared it had never seen a live one, so he filled out every last wrinkle until it ended up smooth, round and enormous. It has been a south London favourite ever since. There is far more to the Horniman than the walrus though. The World Gallery is packed with objects from across the globe, there is a...

This week Adam is wandering around the Ashmolean Museum in Oxford, finding out what is on offer for visitors of every age.

The Ashmolean opened its doors in 1683, which makes it the first public museum in Britain, and what is inside now covers half a million years of art and archaeology. Egyptian mummies, Greek and Roman sculpture, treasures from Asia and paintings from the last hundred years all sit under one roof, arranged so you can wander from the ancient world right up to the present day...

Entry is free and it is open every...

Adam heads into the City of London and then goes down, well below the modern pavements, to investigate the capital's Roman past at the London Mithraeum Bloomberg SPACE.

Underneath the building is the temple of Mithras, put up by Roman Londoners around 1,800 years ago and dug up again in the 1950s. It has been rebuilt on the spot where it was found, and it is brought to life with light, haze and sound so you get a sense of what it might have felt like to step inside all those centuries ago... Upstairs there is a wall...

Adam is off to Bedfordshire for a day at Woburn Safari Park, and he has landed one of the park's very special VIP experiences. That means getting far closer to the animals than most visitors ever manage, including the moment he gets to feed the giraffes...

Woburn comes in two halves. On the Road Safari you stay in the car and drive slowly through the reserves, with rhino, bears, tigers, lions, zebra, monkeys and elephants on the other side of the window, and you can go round as many times as you like. Then you park up...

Adam heads to Filton on the northern edge of Bristol, where a First World War airfield has become Aerospace Bristol, a museum telling the story of more than a hundred years of flying. This is a place where aeroplanes were designed and built for a century, and the galleries take you from the flimsy wood and canvas machines of the early 1900s right through to helicopters, rockets and missiles.

The star of the show sits in a hangar all of her own: Concorde Alpha Foxtrot, the very last Concorde ever built and the very last one to...

Adam heads to Topgolf, a driving range with a twist, where golf gets mixed up with a bit of darts and a bit of bowling. You don’t need to have played before and you don’t need your own clubs, because everyone gets a bay, a set of clubs to borrow and a screen keeping score.

The clever bit is the golf balls. Every single one has a tiny microchip inside it, so when you whack it out into the outfield the giant targets know exactly which ball was yours and where it landed. Your points pop...

Bex sends Dan to Greenwich for a face your fears challenge, and he turns up on the riverside with no idea what is coming. Inside his envelope is the mission: climb to the top of the Cutty Sark, the famous tea clipper that once raced tea leaves from Asia to Europe and now sits in dry dock in south London. The problem is that Dan is terrified of heights, and so is producer Paul!

Strapped into harnesses, safety lines and heart rate monitors, they head up the ratlines, the rope ladders that sailors once climbed with nothing...

Bex sends Adam back to the 15th century as he visits the Loxwood Joust, an entire medieval fantasy kingdom hidden away in an ancient woodland at Loxwood, right on the West Sussex and Surrey border.

You park your car in the 21st century, walk through a marquee, and come out somewhere completely different!

Adam meets founder Morris Bacon, who runs the event with his son Danny, to hear how a small family medieval festival grew over 14 years into one of the biggest events of its kind in the UK, with an artistic director, actors as...

Bex gets a rare peek inside the London Transport Museum's depot in Acton, usually open only a few weekends a year.

She rides a 1938 underground train, explores six zones of transport history from old horse drawn omnibuses to trams, and gets the full scoop from Steph on what families can expect from the depot's special open days this August.

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Adam swaps the studio for the galleries as he heads to the National Portrait Gallery, right in the heart of London — just around the corner from Trafalgar Square and Leicester Square. It's a place that tells the story of Britain through portraits, and Adam's there to find out exactly what's on offer for families.

He's joined by Juno, the gallery's Families and Young People's Programme Manager, who takes him from the Tudors all the way through to the present day. Along the way they puzzle over the beautifully ornate frame around Sir Anthony van Dyck's self-portrait (see if...

ex sends Adam to the Royal Society in the heart of London for the Royal Society Summer Science Exhibition, where the very best of British science is on show.

The room is bursting with things to discover, from telescopes hunting for invisible dark matter to Oxford robots learning to stack cups and whole universes being built inside a computer. Adam meets cosmologist Sir Carlos Frenk, a scientist who studies the entire universe — galaxies, planets, stars and everything in between. Carlos shows off his exhibit, Galaxy Makers, which reveals how you build a galaxy like our own Milky Wa...

Dan visits the iconic Lawn Tennis Association (LTA), a Wimbledon fan’s dream, for a one-on-one coaching session with top tennis pro Sam at the National Tennis Centre. Find out what it’s like to train where the pros play, learn about the new LTA Youth programme designed to help kids fall in love with tennis, and get some simple drills to try at home, even in your living room!

PLUS: It’s Craft Corner! Get ready for some glow-in-the-dark fun as we show you how to make your very own water bottle bowling set using recycled bottle...

Bex visits Tate Modern’s new Julio Le Parc exhibition, discovering art you can touch, play with, and experience in surprising ways.

Curator Francis shares behind-the-scenes secrets and inspiration. 

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Adam heads to one of England's oldest and most mysterious historical monuments — the world-famous Stonehenge.

Joined by Stonehenge volunteer manager Sue Martindale, Adam explores the 4,500-year-old stone circle, discovering secrets of its prehistoric builders, ancient engineering feats, and the natural phenomenon that draws crowds every year: the solstice alignment.

PLUS: Get creative! Georgia visits to lead you through a craft activity where you’ll make your very own Stonehenge miniature at home.

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Host Bex takes us along with Adam for a magical trip to the Stratford-upon-Avon Butterfly Farm.

Experience what it’s like to step into the tropics even in the middle of a British winter, where it’s always warm and hundreds of butterflies flutter all around.

Adam chats to William Gorst, horticulturist and tour guide, who shares how the butterflies live, feed, and transform from caterpillars to magnificent adults.

Plus, we learn fascinating facts like how the Mayans saw butterflies as ancestors visiting us, and why you should always handle these delicate insects with...

Adam and Dan head to Sandbox VR in London.

There, they take on the “Davy Jones’s Locket Quest” – an amazing, fully immersive virtual reality experience that transports them onto a pirate ship, complete with flaming swords, battling skeletons, strange tar-filled creatures, and a not-so-helpful talking parrot! 

PLUS: Don’t live near London? We’ve got a creative at-home activity for you to try. Get crafty and make your own VR headset using just a cardboard box, some markers, and your smartphone, bringing the excitement of virtual reality right to your living room.

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Adam is off to Reading in Berkshire to visit the Museum of English Rural Life. He meets Philippa, the Learning and Engagement Manager, for a fascinating tour.

Step inside the education studio, try on countryside costumes, and find out what it was like to work in the fields—did you know children used to scare birds away for up to 10 hours a day?

Adam explores the museum’s hands-on galleries, from old shepherding games to steam engines and Land Rovers, and discovers how life in the countryside evolved over the years.

Plus, we get...

Adam heads to Harcourt Arboretum near Oxford.

Joined by Catherine and Roger from the Arboretum’s education team, discover what an arboretum really is and why it’s sometimes called a living library of trees.

Explore wildflower meadows bursting with colour, spot butterflies like the red admiral and marbled white, and gaze up at an enormous California redwood.

Learn why connecting with nature is great for your wellbeing, try some bark-hugging, and find out about willow weaving activities and special family days at Harcourt.

Then, get creative at home with Georgia's craf...

Adam heads to the stunning landscapes of Wales to ride the legendary Snowdon Mountain Railway – the highest railway ascent in England and Wales!

Discover fascinating facts about this Victorian marvel, from its challenging construction in the 1890s to how it still chugs adventurers nearly five miles up Mount Snowdon. Experience a ride through Snowdonia’s breathtaking scenery, find out how the railway makes the summit accessible for all, and learn about the mountain’s mythical ties to King Arthur.

Back at home, Bex introduces a fun and creative craft activity—a make-your-own mountain railway model! With sim...

Adam visits the Walthamstow Pump House Museum in East London, a hidden gem bursting with engines, model trains, and family fun!

Volunteer Victoria gives us a behind-the-scenes look at the museum's impressive Marshall steam engine, which once helped pump sewage uphill and kept Victorian London running. We also pop into the model train room, where volunteers are recreating the historic Weaver Line, complete with old-fashioned trains, a WWII bunker, and bustling high streets.

The museum even has real 1967 Victoria Line tube carriages repurposed as a unique Supper Club, where diners enjoy a mashup of history...

Adam heads to 270 Climbing Park in Gloucestershire, home to one of Europe's highest and most exciting ropes courses!

He makes his way through a series of unique, high-flying challenges, finishing off with an adrenaline-fueled freefall from the 18-meter activity tower. 

Afterwards, we check out a home craft project: creating your very own miniature climbing wall for toy climbers.

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Adam explores the British Library's brand new Fairy Tales Exhibition, where stories, myths, and legends leap off the page and into real life.

He discovers storyteller cottages, a gingerbread house, magical pop-ups, and more, plus over 54 tales from around the world, including re-imagined classics and bold new adventures.

Find out which fairy tales are really for heroes, which ones might have a twist, and why these stories still matter today.

Whether you’re a fan of Goldilocks, Cinderella, Anansi, or brave new characters, this family-friendly journey will inspire you to create your own fa...

Dan is hitting the running track for some action-packed fitness fun at Hyrox Young Stars.

He heads to London’s Olympia, where Hyrox Young Stars is turning fitness into a challenge for thousands of kids aged 8 to 15. It’s the junior version of a real-deal adult fitness race, with all the buzz, competition, and camaraderie you could want.

Run laps, push and pull sleds, lunge, burpee, and take on wall balls! Listen as the team explain how the event scales challenges for all ages and builds young athletes – and all-around strong, healthy kids.

Want a...

We meet Mark Day, a collections access facilitator, for an exclusive behind-the-scenes tour of the Science Museum Group’s vast storage facility – a building so big it could fit three football pitches inside!

Discover how this top-secret former military airfield became home to over 80% of the Science Museum’s artefacts, and learn about the fascinating process of caring for, cataloguing, and moving tens of thousands of important historical objects.

Walk with us amongst rare vehicles, vintage aircraft, bizarre scientific instruments, and even robots! Hear the story behind some of Mark’s favourite objects, including a magical...

Bex goes behind the scenes at the Lush Factory in Pool to discover exactly how your favourite bath bombs are made.

We hear from Annabelle and Ben from Lush about the company’s history, their commitment to inventing eco-friendly, package-free products, and their ongoing fight against animal testing.

Then – Bex has a go! We find out what a "compounder" is and listen as Bex joins the team to hand-make some "Toby’s Magic Cow" bath bombs.

Discover why they use natural, fresh ingredients, how weather can affect the bomb-making process, and why every bath b...

Explore Edinburgh Zoo like never before. Adam chats with Morris, a Discovery Ranger, to uncover what makes this iconic, hilltop zoo such a special place. From giant African land snails and sassy baby hippos to rare armadillos and a mischievous monkey with a taste for Yorkshire puddings, discover the stories behind some of the zoo’s most incredible residents and learn how conservation is at the heart of everything they do.

Plus, join Jon Carter from the British Trust for Ornithology for a journey into the great outdoors as they reveal the wonders of the great spotted wo...

Adam visits Volcano Falls Mini Golf in Milton Keynes! Joe, the General Manager, talks about the different courses they have – including Volcano Valley, Tropicana Beach, and the Island Carnival.

Georgia's also providing instructions on how to create a homemade mini golf course!

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Bex heads to the Story Centre where she meets Jess who explains their mission and the amazing three floors packed with story worlds, immersive exhibitions, and a beautiful garden!

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Bex explores the UK’s most iconic movies and TV shows with a behind-the-scenes look at Aardman, the legendary animation studio behind classics like Wallace and Gromit, Shaun the Sheep, Chicken Run, and more! With a brand-new exhibition opening at the Young V&A in Bethnal Green, London, we take you inside the creative wonderland of Aardman’s world.

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Bex embarks on a magical exploration of the brand new Jolly Postman exhibition at The Postal Museum!

Step inside the world of Janet and Allan Ahlberg’s iconic story as Bex joins Sally Bruce, exhibition curator, for a tour packed with hands-on fun, fairy tale deliveries, and behind-the-scenes secrets about the beloved children’s books.

Discover how the classic book series inspired a fully interactive exhibition where visitors can literally step right into the story, starting with possibly the biggest book you’ve ever seen!

Find out how Janet and Allan Ahlberg’s home lif...

Adam heads off (sort of) into the wilderness – North London, to be exact – to explore the Green Tree Badge, an exciting new badge programme all about trees that you can take part in no matter where you live in the UK.

Find out what the Green Tree Badge is, who created it, and how you can earn your very own badge by completing fun tree-related activities.

Adam chats with Smrithy, co-founder of Green Tree Badge, from Bags of Ethics along with charity partners the Royal Forestry Society. They share how the programme encourages YOU to disc...

Adam steps inside the television to visit CBeebies Rainbow Adventures at Westfield, White City. He chats with producer Emma about how this interactive, immersive experience brings children’s favourite shows like Hey Duggee, Bluey, and JoJo & Gran Gran to life.

CBeebies Rainbow Adventures is the UK’s first immersive, interactive theatre experience designed just for preschoolers. You're led by the Rainbow Gardener on a colourful quest to restore the missing colours of the rainbow through familiar locations from CBeebies shows!

The experience is perfect for preschoolers with sessions for under-3s and small group sizes. Don’t...

ClueQuest is set up as a secret spy agency led by Mr. Q, offering immersive escape room experiences that are fun for families, friends, and teams! This week, we're trying an escape room. We get locked in and work together to solve a series of puzzles to gain our freedom.

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Magician, inventor, and master of robo-fueled slapstick, Mario the Maker Magician pops into the Fun Kids studio during his London run – and we’re seriously starstruck.

Fresh from his performances at venues like the Sydney Opera House and Broadway, Mario brings us into a world of handmade robots, modern slapstick comedy, and magic that’s for everyone – whether you’re three or 103.

George sits down with Mario to explore why every show should be for every person, and how Mario creates magic for YOU.

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