This Summer Holiday, The Bishop’s Palace in Wells is jam-packed with fun family events and activities to keep locals and tourists entertained at the 14-acre attraction.
The fun starts on Saturday 24th July, when the summer family trails will begin – families can collect a trail, which will be different each week of the holidays, leading through the site, from the Ticket Office, or download from the website, and, when they’ve finished, be rewarded with a prize on the way out.
24th July is also the date of Wake Up Wells Community Day and activities will take place all day at the Palace, including special storytelling sessions throughout the day:
At 10.30am & 3.30pm storyteller Beth Webb and singer Neil Eaton will tell you the Tales of Robin Hood. Afterwards, you can have a go at writing or illustrating your own Robin Hood stories.
At 11.30am & 1.30pm the under 6’s can enjoy The Magic Garden storytelling; an enchanting, multi-sensory show with puppets and music, which is sure to delight children of all ages, as the garden beautifully reveals its mystery.
On the same day, there is the once-in-a-lifetime chance to take part in The Big Picnic on the Palace Croquet Lawn! Usually reserved for the beautiful game of croquet, from 11:45am-4pm, visitors will be invited to spread out their picnic blankets and join the local community in a mass picnic in front of the historic palace.
For something totally different, head along to the Palace buildings on 27th July for some Escape Room Family Fun, with the intriguingly entitled “Bishop’s Code”; It’s 1953 and Bishop Bradfield is getting ready to leave for the Coronation of Queen Elizabeth II. He has locked something very important in the Palace’s safe and he cannot remember the code!
Aimed at families with children aged 5-12, The Bishop’s Code is an escape room style activity session where families will solve clues and puzzles together.
Has your family got what it takes to crack the Bishop’s Code?
The sessions are on a drop-in basis from 10:30am-3:30pm.
If your little ones fancy themselves as gardeners, why not head over to the Palace Gardens on 3rdAugust where they can join in with the Trainee Gardener Family Sessions?
Collect a map from the ticket office to help identify plants and trees as they make their way through the gardens. Then join the Palace Gardeners in the community garden where they can have a go at designing their own garden, and plant something special to take home.
If you’re a dragon fan, have you heard the story of the Dinder Dragon and Bishop Jocelyn who once lived at The Bishop’s Palace?
On 17th August 2021 you can learn all about it at the Palace’s Dragon Day which will celebrate this historic local legend through arts and crafts!
To finish the holidays, the Palace will be holding its Medieval Weekend from 28th-30th August when medieval re-enactment troupe Bowlore Medieval will delight visitors with its daring displays of medieval weaponry including sword-fighting, archery, and axe and stick fighting!
All of the above activities are included with any valid admission ticket to the Palace, including the annual People’s Ticket, which at a cost of only £15 for 12 months, represents incredible value for money.
For more information, and for additional ticketed family events, including outdoor theatre and the Silent Disco, visit www.bishopspalace.org.uk
