Durham School Holidays 2024 and 2025

Some popular outdoor activities for children in Durham during school holidays include:

• Outdoor Fun at Various Locations: Durham offers a range of outdoor activities for kids, such as visiting Raby Castle, Hall Hill Farm, Diggerland, Adventure Valley, and exploring parks and gardens.
• Schoolhouse of Wonder Programs: Schoolhouse of Wonder in Durham provides outdoor day camps, field trips, and leadership training for children and teens. They offer various activities like games, storytelling, music, arts & crafts, water-play, wilderness skills, adventurous play, projects, animal encounters, and team-building exercises.
• Exploring Parks: Durham has over 65 parks where children can enjoy activities like spraygrounds, performances, community gardens, and more. Some favorite parks include Forest Hills Park, Trinity Park, and Cornwallis Road Park.
• Holidays in the Park: During December evenings, families can enjoy Holidays in the Park at the Museum of Life and Science. This event includes a stroll through outdoor and indoor spaces with shimmering pathways, glowing trees, light displays, train rides, holiday music, and winter-related activities.

Some free activities for children during Durham school holidays include:

• Free Days Out: There are numerous free activities available during school holidays in Durham, such as creative play at Theatre Hullabaloo, workshops at local museums, Easter egg rolls at parks, and various craft activities at different locations.
• Visit Free Attractions: Durham offers several free attractions like the Great North Museum, Stephenson Railway Museum, Sunderland Museum & Winter Gardens, and South Shields Museum. These places provide educational and entertaining experiences for children without any cost.
• Outdoor Adventures: Children can enjoy outdoor activities like rockpooling, crabbing, coastal walks, and visits to parks in Durham. Locations such as Eno River State Park, American Tobacco Campus with giant chess games and hammocks, and the Discovery Low Ropes Course offer opportunities for outdoor fun at no cost.
• Educational Visits: Kids can explore educational sites like Duke Chapel, Bennett Place Historic Site, and Hadrian’s Wall areas for free. These visits provide historical insights and engaging experiences for children during their school holidays.

Some popular educational activities during Durham school holidays include:

• STEAM Ahead: This program offers skills-focused activities for children, such as building ride-on hovercrafts, coding drones, launching compressed air rockets, archery, bushcraft, and more. It provides an engaging way for kids to learn through hands-on experiences.
• Stomping Grounds Forest School: Children can engage in outdoor activities like splashing in puddles, wandering through trees, and cooking on a campfire. This experience allows kids to connect with nature and learn outdoor skills in a fun and educational setting.
• Carnivals of the Animals Theatrical Adventure: This activity is designed for children aged between three and 10. It takes them on a magical and musical theatrical adventure to spark their imagination and creativity.
• Educational Visits to Museums: Durham offers various museums like Beamish, The Living Museum of the North, and The Bowes Museum where children can travel back in time and learn about history through interactive exhibits. These visits provide educational experiences for kids during their school holidays.

Some indoor activities for children during Durham school holidays include:

• Angel Island Fun Park: This indoor play space in Durham offers activities like go-karts, bumper cars, an arcade, slides, a ball pit, crawl-through tunnels, and interactive games for kids to enjoy.
• Museum of Life + Science: Children can explore hands-on displays, meet live animals, and engage with interactive exhibits at this indoor treasure trove of scientific wonders in Durham.
• Notasium: An indoor music-based play space with a climbing wall, interactive music exhibits, a bounce house, and a small coffee bar for parents. It provides a fun and educational experience for children.
• Scrap Exchange: Children can get crafty and eco-friendly at The Scrap Exchange by making colorful sculptures, unique crafts, and imaginative play structures using recycled materials available at this creative reuse center.
• Durham County Library: Families can explore a world of stories, adventures, and learning at the Durham County Library. With multiple branches across the city, children can enjoy storytime sessions, arts and crafts workshops, and educational programs indoors.