Family Saturdays at the National Civil War Centre
First Saturday of every month from 10am
Come along and visit us for a fantastic family day out filled with fun activities and creative crafting, including:
- Interactive games and activities in our galleries.
- Fun family trails.
- Meeting a civil war soldier.
- Creative family activities with our artist-in-residence*
- Enjoying our interactive galleries, our short film, and playing our Pikes and Ladders board game.
- Playing with our replica objects and enjoying our popular dressing up area with replica costumes and weapons.
- Taking our puppet versions of Prince Rupert's famous dog Boye or Cromwell's horse Blackjack with you to explore our galleries.
- Taking part in the Toys Through Time Trail - giving children toys to play with from bygone eras such as skipping ropes, spinning tops, tin robots and dial-up phones!
- Wandering outside of the museum with the Threads of Time Trail – spot artefacts hidden in locations in Newark Town Centre!
- Seeing jaw-dropping treasures like a giant mammoth tooth, a spooky Roman skeleton, shiny armour and swords, and even a magical bottle once used to keep witches away from the house!
- Treating yourself to a drink, homemade cakes or lunch in the award-winning Kids in Museum Family Standard Café, open daily.
And much more!
Plus, Family Saturday EXTRA!
Family Saturday EXTRA’s include the normal activities but also some special unique fun!
Family Saturday Dates:
| Saturday 7 February 2026 | Family Saturday EXTRA Cardboard Coronation: celebrating Charles I’s coronation 400 years ago on 2 February 1626. Click here to find out more! |
| Saturday 7 March 2026 | |
| Saturday 4 April 2026 | |
| Saturday 2 May 2026 | Family Saturday EXTRA Country Beats and Dancing Feet: find out what it was like to party in 1665 and join The Grantham Danserye to learn some Stuart Steps, make a maypole inspired twirling stick and enjoy other awesome Mayday crafts! |
| Saturday 6 June 2026 | |
| Saturday 4 July 2026 | |
| Saturday 1 August 2026 | |
| Saturday 5 September 2026 | |
| Saturday 3 October 2026 | Family Saturday EXTRA (Festival of Creativity) |
| Saturday 7 November 2026 | |
| Saturday 5 December 2026 | Family Saturday EXTRA (St Nicholas Christmas) |
Free to residents of Newark and Sherwood.
Otherwise entry costs are £8.50 – Adults. £7.50 - Concessions (65+ and Students) Free - Young Person (Under 25s)
Pay and display car parking opposite the Centre. Easily accessible from Newark Northgate and Newark Castle stations and by bus. Find out more about visiting us here. Family Saturdays is just one part of a variety of family friendly activities taking place at the NCWC. For more events, visit our events page.
*Arts and crafts take place every Family Saturday, but our artist-in-residence will be leading these sessions on 7 February, 2 May, 6 June, 4 July, 1 August, 5 September, 7 November and 5 December only.