My Tunbridge Wells, Your Tunbridge Wells
Every month Clare Lush-Mansell from My Tunbridge Wells is your expert guide to all the fantastic events happening in and around the town. Read on to discover her top picks for the next few weeks from Saturday, July 20 to Sunday, August 11
Mela Festival
Sunday July 21
The much-loved Tunbridge Wells Mela festival is returning to Calverley Grounds on Sunday July 21. Celebrating music, food, and dance from across the globe, this year’s festival promises to provide a day of awesome entertainment and celebration across our society. Enjoy the sights, sounds and tastes from around the world at this free family-friendly event.
Free fun at RVP
Monday July 22 to Wednesday August 28
Launching on Monday July 22 and – taking place every Monday and Wednesday throughout the summer holidays – Royal Victoria Place (RVP) is hosting a super selection of free activities! Across 6 weeks, families can enjoy magical children’s shows with Once Upon a Wish Events, awesome art workshops and super story sessions with some fabulous local authors!
Throughout the summer
Chocolate Workshops
If it involves chocolate, then we are in! Temper Temper, our favourite local chocolate business has a limited number of chocolate-making workshops for kids available in July and August. Aimed at children aged 5+, all equipment and ingredients are provided. The kids’ workshops are two hours long and parents have the option of dropping off and collecting two hours later or they can sit and relax in the viewing room.
Friday July 26
Joy Fest at Squerryes
‘JoyFest’ is a fabulous new event for Squerryes Wine Estate in Westerham, which celebrates great music, food and wine set to the sounds of Ibiza and feelgood summer vibes. Taking place on Friday 26th July from 5 to 11.30pm, visitors get to enjoy music from International DJ, Marcel Mendez and Royal College of Music’s guitarist Will Scott. We can’t wait to see the terrace and lawn area at Squerryes transformed into a summer utopia in this celebration of music, community, and the great outdoors. The event is for over 18’ and tickets can be booked at www.squerryes.co.uk.
July 27-September 1
Circus fun at Scotney
Step into the ring with Big Top-themed games and activities at Scotney Castle this Summer. From July 27 to September 1, why not test your stilt-walking skills, try your hand at plate-spinning and diablo or conquer the ring of fire? Clown around with the juggling balls and balance your way to safety across the tight rope. And the best bit? It’s all free with admission. Big Top, Big Fun is part of the National Trust’s Summer of Play, sponsored by Starling Bank and Scotney Castle and grounds is this promises to be a a fabulous day out. Don’t forget to visit the two natural play areas, mud kitchen, play house, toddler swing and more while there too!
August 10 & 11
SummerFest at The Spa Hotel
Our friends at The Spa Hotel are bringing a brand-new family and foodie-friendly music festival to Tunbridge Wells this August. ‘SummerFest’ will be taking place on August 10 and 11, celebrating all things local and delicious. With music arranged by Paul Dunton and Mint DJs, the sets will offer a vibrant mix of Ibiza chilled beats and club classics from across the decades. Tickets include access to your chosen session as well as access to the luxurious gardens with delicious food options available to purchase, created by the talented chefs at The Spa Hotel.
August 10 & 11
Motors byt he moat
The immensely popular classic cars show, ‘Motors by the Moat’ returns to Leeds Castle on 10th & 11th August. With a programme packed with live stunt shows, parades and hundreds of vintage, high-performance and classic cars on the lawns (all included with your admission ticket) this promises to be a fun day out for all.
Watch Terry Grant, international stunt driver and multiple world record holder, in a jaw dropping stunt routine set against the magnificent backdrop of the Castle. Save time to see the world-class ‘DJR’ freestyle Jet Ski team demonstrate backflips, spins and huge aerial tricks on the Castle’s moat! There’ll be an array of enviable, glamourous and sleek cars too and of course the opportunity to discover the gorgeous grounds of Leeds Castle and the amazing playgrounds.
Selected dates
Discovery Days at The Amelia
Spend an afternoon at The Amelia discovering the Brickosaurs collection of dinosaur brick models that provide a ‘jaw-inspiring’ spectacle for visitors. With amazing models including a large Velociraptor, Pteranodon and Parasaurolophus, this touring show contains some of the most extraordinary toy brick builds ever created. Why not join in the Summer Reading challenge too and look out for Discovery Day dates packed with fun, creativity, and learning for the whole family between July 31 and August 17 at The Amelia – including dinosaur puppets, print-making, fossil and skeleton making and more!
Throughout the summer
Dream days at Dunorlan
If you haven’t gone boating in Dunorlan Park before then you are seriously missing out! It’s such a feel good activity and budget friendly too. No need to book ahead and did you know, you can also take your dog on board (provided it is on a lead and under control). Rowing boats, pedal boats (2 and 4 seaters), kayaks and canoes are available to rent and all ages and experiences are welcome. Make sure you save some time to visit the cafe at the park too and ‘Dragon Playground’!
We are so lucky to have so many wonderful parks and playgrounds to choose from here in Tunbridge Wells and St John’s Recreation Ground is one of our family favourites – with a decent play area with sandpit, zipwire, swings and more. There’s plenty of green space in this park as well as a bike and skate ramp, basketball park and it’s also a good place for kids to take their little bikes too. ‘The Shack’ is new for Summer 2024 and offers lots of coffee, treats, food and puppuccino’ from 8am daily. Time to treat your doggy too?
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