Families heading outdoors this half-term will find plenty to explore at Avebury, with a packed programme of free and low-cost activities running from 14 to 22 February.
From wildlife trails and creative workshops to guided tours and digital experiences, the World Heritage Site is offering a mix of hands-on learning and open-air exploration designed to suit younger visitors and their grown-ups alike.
One of the highlights is the Wild Spotter Trail, which invites visitors to slow down and tune into nature. Families can pick up a free trail sheet and tick off birds, plants, animals and seasonal sights and sounds while exploring the stone circles or wandering through Avebury Manor Garden. Trail sheets are available from the barn in the farmyard or at the garden gate, with dogs welcome on leads in the garden.
Entry to the stone circles and henge remains free throughout the half-term period, while admission charges apply to Avebury Manor Garden, with free entry for National Trust members.
Inside the barn, children can get creative by designing their own Avebury postcard. Finished creations can be displayed in a small pop-up gallery for other visitors to enjoy. Younger children can also build their own Neolithic-style palisades using a magnetic play table, or settle in with puzzles, jigsaws and books provided in the family area. These activities are free to take part in.
For those keen to learn more about Avebury’s ancient past, family henge tours will be running on selected dates. Led by volunteer guides, the tours bring the story of the stone circles to life in an engaging and accessible way. Tours take place on Sunday 14 February at 1pm, Wednesday 18 February at 11.30am and 1pm, and Sunday 22 February at 1pm. Tickets cost £3 per child, with accompanying adults going free, and can be booked at visitor reception in the barn.
Visitors can also step back in time through technology with Ages of Avebury, a mixed-reality experience that blends history with digital exploration. The free app allows users to uncover hidden stones, solve the mystery of a missing archaeologist and view an augmented reality version of Avebury. The app can be downloaded from the barn.
Nature-loving families visiting Avebury Manor Garden can borrow an explorer backpack from the garden gate. Each pack includes binoculars or magnifying glasses, spotter sheets and bug bingo cards to help identify plants, insects and wildlife around the garden.
Over at the Alexander Keiller Museum, young visitors can take on a spotting challenge, searching for hidden robins tucked among the displays. Once they think they have found them all, they can let a member of staff know at the desk. Museum admission charges apply, with free entry for National Trust members.
With activities spread across the site and designed to suit different ages and interests, Avebury’s half-term programme offers a relaxed way for families to explore history, nature and creativity at their own pace.
