Photo: get to grips with science at Techniquest this Summer. Courtesy Techniquest.

Wales

The ultimate contest between humans and animals will take place at Techniquest this summer, as the Cardiff Bay science centre launches its brand new theme Animalympics.

Be the first to experience the new Freeze Frame exhibit that uses 16 video cameras to get a 360-degree view of your superhuman image in mid-air as you leap like a kangaroo or jump like a frog – Matrix-style!

Little humans can also discover how it feels to be a fly on the wall and why different animals have different fur.

Whodunnit? is the question at the Roman Legionary Museum from July 26 to 31. Children can become a Roman detective and solve the case here at Caerleon.

At the Welsh Slate Museum in Llanberis, children accompanied by an adult can take part in crafts from slate painting to making mosaics and soap.

The Midlands

History is coming alive all over the midlands this summer, starting with a Victorian visit to Tamworth Castle in Staffordshire on July 31 and August 1, which will include a fashion show and a military drill.

Medieval entertainment is on the menu at Stokesay Castle, Shropshire where you can learn about knights’ armour and crafts on August 11 and 18 or try being a 14th century archer at Ashby de la Zouch Castle on August 29 and 30.

Down in the Black Country there will be rainbow making at Wolverhampton Art Gallery on August 10, 11 and 16.

Photo: Colour Shards by Hilary Smallwood on show at Wolverhampton Art Gallery as part of the Rainbow exhibition. © The Artist.

How do you make a rainbow? Inspired by their current exhibition of colourful art, the workshops will help you find out. Other arty activities include glitzy giftwrap making on July 28 and filmmaking for 11 to 14-year-olds on August 16 to 20.

Two workshops, A Load of Hot Air and Science Busking, at Birmingham’s Thinktank will let children in on the workings of steam technology, hot air balloons, rockets, canals and much more every day during the holidays.

Daily workshops at Shropshire’s Ironbridge Gorge Museums will also keep families busy. Practise old-fashioned crafts including printing and engraving, traditional bread-making, felt-making, peg-doll making, candle dipping and brick-making at Blist’s Hill Victorian Town.

Photo: fancy trying your hand at a bit of Victorian bread baking. Courtesy Ironbridge Gorge Museums.

There’ll also be a hands-on archaeology weekend on August 14 –15 when inquisitive minds can join in a genuine excavation to uncover the secrets underneath the time-warp town.

If you’re looking for archaeology in Leicester, look no further than Belgrave Hall where kids can join the Young Curators’ Club on Mondays between 12th July and 23rd August. Activities will range from building medieval siege engines to creating your own museum exhibition.

South West of England

Have the kids still got energy to burn after that hard year at school? Let them join in the under-sevens Sports Day and the 60-second Circus at Sportastic! on show at Explore-at-Bristol.

Photo: heads up! Get Sportastic in Bristol. © Bristol Evening Post.

Heading down into Cornwall, storytelling will educate children in the folklore of the area. Go to Launceston Castle on July 24 and August 21 or Tintagel Castle on July 28, August 4, 11, 18 and 25 for fables, folktales music and fun.

If your precious ones love art and sunshine, Tate St Ives has got just the thing: outdoor workshops in August, run by artists.

On Mondays and Wednesdays all the family can combine art with sitting on Porthmeor Beach, while on the other weekdays, work on masterpieces will be carried out on the gallery roof.

London and the South East of England

The Horniman Museum has got a sizzling summer season with Park Life Capers aplenty every Tuesday in August.

Photo: come face to face with a Xiphactinus sea monster at the Horniman Museum. Courtesy Horniman Museum.

Children’s street theatre, fun acts and hilarious puppet shows on the Horniman’s historic Bandstand will keep all ages amused.

Inside the museum children can get up close to tortoises, toads, lizards and snakes at the Dino Relative sessions on July 29 and August 5 and 19. If they really want to see through the eyes of a prehistoric creature, let them make their own dino-mask at the drop-in art and craft workshops.

Or, try the Geffrye Museum for a mixture of Bugs and Blooms activities, for children aged 6 to 15. On July 28, dare you let your little magicians make herbal concoctions from flowers and leaves? They might prefer to make a spider and fly magnetic game (July 29) or a bugged-out book bag (July 27).

Over-10s can try modelling centipedes, beetles and bugs from clay on July 29 or make a nice aromatherapy soap for mum on July 27.

Photo: as well as a stunning collection, the V&A has lots of interesting activities planned for the Summer.

The Victoria & Albert Museum is holding a range of workshops inspired by its numerous collections. Until August 1, young ones can make their own musical instruments and discover the sounds of history.

From August 2 to 8, perception will be challenged with optical illusions, inspired by Victorian photography and moving images.

Outside the sticky city summer, there will be creative fun each Wednesday at the Weald and Downland Open Air Museum near Chichester.

Try your hand at making Tudor sweetmeats, learn about apothecary, have a go at making corn-dollies or lacemaking or even take a Victorian school lesson.

Photo: traditional crafts are the order of the day at the Weald and Downland Open Air Museum. Courtesy Weald and Downland Open Air Museum.

Along the coast, there will be a fun opportunity for all the family to dress up as Victorians and pose for a family photograph to take home as a lasting memento. Flash, Bang, Wallop! will take place at Brighton History Centre in Brighton Museum & Art Gallery, on Friday August 6.

The event is part of Brighton History Centre’s Victorian Studio Photographers in Brighton exhibition, where you can view original studio portraits and follow a trail to discover more about our Victorian forefathers.

East of England

Bedford Museum’s programme of summer fun starts with Fabulous Fossils for children over 10 on July 30, where they can handle real fossils.

Over-fives can make a colourful shaker in the Maraca Mania workshop on August 6, while seven to 10-year-olds can learn something about historic Britain by making Anglo Saxon clay pottery on August 20.

Photo: there's plenty to do as well as admire the view at Wrest Park. © English Heritage.

At Wrest Park in Silsoe, Bedfordshire, children can become part of the Robin Hood legend with theatre fun on August 14 and 15.

And keep the children by your side at a vivid re-enactment of the Battle of Naseby to be held at Audley End House in Saffron Walden, Essex, on August 4 and 5.

Pow! On August 4, little artists can create comic books inspired by stories of giants, monsters and epic Viking journeys at Norwich Castle Museum and Art Gallery with the help of storyteller and illustrator Ian Nettleton.

Of course this is just a selection of some of the many events taking place all over the country. To find out what else is going in your area, contact your local museum or gallery.