Fantastic things to do for the whole family in Coventry, UK City of Culture 2021, this summer

27 July 2021: With school out for the holidays, Coventry, the UK’s City of Culture is set to offer a huge range of events and things to do for all the family to enjoy this summer.

Coventry City of Culture’s festival hub, Assembly Festival Garden continues to host a range of fun and exciting events for the whole family from July through to September. Featuring the world’s largest spiegeltent, the double decker Queen of Flanders, highlights include Circolombia, a trailblazing circus group fresh from Bogota, who will transport audiences to the vibrant streets of Columbia with their eye catching performances, and Dinosaur World Live, a roarsome interactive experience where families can take part in a mind-expanding Jurassic adventure.

There are plenty of shows for children of all ages and their families to enjoy, from Guinness World Record Holder and top bubble artist, The Highland Joker’s The Bubble Show, and Comedy Club 4 Kids, featuring light relief for all the family to enjoy together, to a visit from the iconic Basil Brush in the Basil Brush Family Fun Show. Arrive early to enjoy local food and drink in the open air before the show in the specially created garden space.

With new public art on display around Coventry, there’s never been a better time to explore the city centre. Following a year where we have mainly been gazing out of our windows, The Show Windows, sees artists inviting communities to look in through a series of displays in shop windows across the city centre. FarGo Village, the city’s creative quarter, is also not to be missed.

The immersive experience Observations on Being showcases seven audio-visual artworks exploring our ideas of life, death and nature. This spectacular display will provide older children with a chance to find hidden meanings and connect with nature, as they follow an expansive journey across the beautiful, tree-filled spaces and buildings of the London Road Cemetery.

Small Bells Ring is a unique way to keep kids entertained and stimulated, combining books and storytelling within the great outdoors. This fully-functioning narrowboat will be mooring at three locations along the Coventry canal on Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays. Visitors can indulge in the UK’s largest collection of short stories, whilst taking in the stunning scenery surrounding the Coventry Canal.

For theatre fans, Paines Plough’s Roundabout sees the world’s first ‘pop-up-and-play’ theatre coming to Coventry. Running from Tuesday 27 July to Sunday 8 August, Roundabout takes the theatre out into the world, bringing outstanding new plays by some of the nation’s finest writers in its state-of-the-art performance venue. A particular highlight for families will be Really Big and Really Loud, a story about losing your voice and going on an adventure to find it again, featuring a rageful rhino, a very helpful fly called Stephen and some really good songs about chips!

For the nights parents can get a babysitter, an open air screening of ‘The Italian Job’ will be shown in the beautiful surroundings of Coventry Cathedral ruins. With some of the iconic car chase scenes filmed in Coventry, film lovers can enjoy the screening of this British classic with surprising twists along the way!

Elsewhere, Coventry Transport Museum will be hosting a futuristic showcase of transport technology with Our Future Moves, exploring how future cities may look and examining how pioneering developments in transport and technology could affect the environment and the way we live. Fit for all, the interactive exhibition will highlight the region’s pioneering work in transport innovation, from autonomous vehicles to one person submarines.

For those in search of an adventure The Ballroom Climbing Wall, which boasts 200 bouldering routes across 700sqm of climbing surface and Go Ape Coventry, Go Ape’s newest high ropes adventure are must visits for thrill-seekers of all ages.    

Last but by no means least, city-centre waterpark The Wave will be open every day throughout the summer holidays.

Chenine Bhathena, Creative Director of the Coventry City of Culture Trust, said:  “We are looking forward to welcoming families this summer to the extraordinary, magical, international city that is Coventry.  We have an exciting range of summer activities and events taking place in unexpected locations all over the city, encouraging lots of fun and mischief for all the family. 

“There are some incredible FREE and ticketed circus/dance/music/theatre events in beautiful pop up venues, indoors and outdoors, in green and blue spaces, lots of learning to be had, and heaps of joy as you enjoy the freedom of the summer holidays. 

“As well as plenty of activities and days out in our museums, libraries and leisure facilities. Immerse yourself into the extraordinary heritage of the city or the playful 21st century landscape created for our year as City of Culture – there are fountains everywhere so don’t forget your swimmers!  Be prepared to listen, watch and take part wherever you go… we hope you'll be as excited as we are!’’

The Show Windows

Sat 15 May 2021 – Sun 1 May 2022

Free

Locations across the city including: Apps Living (28-34 Corporation Street); BBC CWR (Priory Place, Hales St); Coventry Building Society (19-20 High St); Transport Museum, Esquires Coffee (Millennium Place); The Yard (11-12 Bull Yard) and New Look (91-101 Lower Precinct)

As part of Coventry UK City of Culture 2021, artists, designers, architects and makers are transforming Coventry city centre, turning shop windows into portals to fantasy worlds and mindscapes.

These site-specific artworks, framed behind the window glazing across city centre shops, by local and international artists, will act as picture book pages and mirrors in which to see new narratives and reflections of the individual and the city. Recently unveiled highlights include Coventry Phoenix Priding by Adam Nathaniel Furman, Infinity Doors by MAMIMU (June Mineyama-Smithson) and Gensler, produced by RIBA West Midlands, at UK City of Culture Shop. Visit the City of Culture website for a full list of artworks and locations.

Visitors will be able to can scan the artwork with the Smartify app and step into The Show Windows portal to find out more.

Assembly Festival Garden:

Circolombia

Fri 2 Jul – Sat 31 Jul

Tickets from £15

Circolumbia transport’s its audience from Coventry to Columbia by showcasing one of the world’s leading circuses. Audiences can expect to be blown away by a succession of snapshots of actions and reactions, dreams and wills and courage and risks. Fresh from Bogotá, one of the world’s leading circus companies brings you extraordinary feats and seamless acts, all performed with breath-taking skill. With women at the forefront, let the power and momentum of this theatrical spectacular sweep you away.

Comedy Club 4 Kids

Sat 03 Jul – Wed 04 Sep

Tickets from £12

The Piccolo will host Comedy Club 4 Kids this summer as light relief for families to enjoy together. Visitors can expect stand-ups and sketches from international acts for audiences aged 6+.

Dinosaur World Live

Thu 15 Jul – 01 Aug

Tickets from £13

Dinosaur World Live is a perfect event for the whole family. Visitors will be able to discover pre-historic lands on stage and view life like the dinosaurs that used to walk the earth. This entertaining and mind-expanding Jurassic adventure comes direct from the West End.

Visitors are able to plan in advance by booking now. With the exception of children aged 18 months and under, each attendee will require their own ticket.

The Bubble Show

14 – 29 Aug

Tickets from £10

Actor, storyteller and Guinness World Record Holder, The Highland Joker, is one of the world's top Bubble artists, coming to Coventry this summer with his international award-winning performance.

The Bubble Show, at The Piccolo, will include extraordinary soap bubbles in all shapes and sizes! Visitors can enjoy a range of experiments with bubbles which include a unique blend of magic and storytelling, for audiences aged 5+.

Basil Brush Family Fun Show

Sat 11 Sep

£13

The Piccolo will host Basil Brush Family Fun Show, which will engage families across the region, targeted towards audiences of ages 5+. Visitors can join Basil Brush through storytelling and song in a show for all the family to enjoy, specially written for the live stage and packed with fun and excitement.

Observations on Being

Fri 16 Jul – Sun 15 Aug 2021

Tickets from £12

London Road Cemetery

Observations on Being invites audiences to follow an expansive journey through the invisible natural world. The ambitious works will be located across the beautiful, tree-filled spaces and buildings of London Road Cemetary. Exploring ideas from science, art and philosophy, this immersive experience is a great way to feed inquiring minds and look at life on earth in a new way, with exciting technology-based installations set in nature.

Observations on Being has been developed by Marshmallow Laser Feast in collaboration with artists James Bulley and Natan Sinigaglia, and some of the extraordinary and influential scientists, writers and musicians who have inspired and informed their work, including: Jon Hopkins, Suzanne Ciani, Merlin Sheldrake, David Abram, Daisy Lafarge and Fraunhofer Institute for Digital Medicine MEVIS, pioneers in medical image computing.

Observations on Being was commissioned by Coventry City of Culture Trust and produced in partnership with York Mediale, working closely with the Friends of London Road Cemetery. It is presented in partnership with Historic Coventry Trust, Warwickshire Wildlife Trust and Coventry City Council.

The production is funded by National Lottery Heritage Fund and supported by the Garfield Weston Foundation. Part of the #GreenFutures programme.

Our Future Moves

Sat 17 Jul – 31 Oct

Museum admission from £7

Coventry Transport Museum

Coventry Transport Museum presents a year-long showcase – which takes place alongside Coventry being UK City of Culture - which launches with the major exhibition Our Future Moves, running from 17 July until 31 October. It will feature a diverse range of exhibits that highlight the region’s pioneering work in transport innovation – from autonomous vehicles to one person submarines. This interactive exhibition will tell the stories of the objects on display by envisioning how future cities may look and exploring how pioneering developments in transport and technology could affect the environment and the way we live. Coventry and Warwickshire’s world-leading transport will be on display with experts at hand to provide answers to any questions. Visitors can also experience demonstrations of the latest technology.

Paines Plough Roundabout

Tues 27 Jul – Sun 8 Aug

Moat House Leisure and Neighbourhood Centre

A Belgrade Theatre Coventry and Paines Plough production - part of the Belgrade Theatre's Coventry UK City of Culture 2021 programme. Situated in the grounds of Moat House Leisure and Neighbourhood Centre in the Wood End area of the city, this unique venue will host a festival of world-class plays plus exciting projects and activities for the local community to enjoy together.

Shows to look forward to include May Queen, Really Big and Really Loud, Hungry and Black Love.

See for further information: https://www.belgrade.co.uk/roundabout-2021/

Really Big and Really Loud

Tickets from £5

This is a story. Charli’s story.

It’s about losing your voice and going on a big adventure to find it again. It features a rageful rhino, a very helpful fly called Stephen and some really good songs about chips.

A show for all the family from award-winning playwright Phoebe Eclair-Powell.

Small Bells Ring

Wed 28 Jul – Sun 12 Sep 2021

Free

Floating Library: Wednesdays at Hawkesbury Junction

Floating Library: Thursdays at Bridge 4, Stoney Stanton Road

Floating Library: Fridays at Coventry Canal Basin

Small Bells Ring will invite visitors to indulge in the UK’s largest collection of short stories, whilst floating along the scenic route of Coventry Canal. Set aboard a fully-functioning narrow boat, the artist-designed floating library will be mooring at three locations along the Coventry canal on Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays. There will be no booking necessary, and it is free to attend.

There will also be bookable activities as part of the event hosted on a Thursday, Saturday and Sunday that will also be free and open to all. These include Thursday library walks, Saturday Salon with families and a Sunday Cruise, with tea and stories for 2 groups of up to 6 people.

Small Bells Ring is a Studio Morrison project, co-commissioned with Super Slow Way in collaboration with Coventry Libraries & Lancashire Libraries supported by Canal & River Trust, BBC CWR & Coventry City Council.

Open Air Screening: The Italian Job

Sat 7 Aug at 19:00

Tickets from £3.50

Coventry Cathedral Ruins

Coventry Cathedral Ruins is the iconic setting for a special opening air screening, bringing The Italian Job back to screen over 50 years later. Key scenes from the film, in particular the legendary car chase, were filmed in the city, and this special event is a great chance to revisit the classic British crime caper, or to see it for the first time.

The screening is presented by CineCov in partnership with MotoFest Coventry. Taking inspiration from the film, they’ll be inviting film-fans and motoring enthusiasts alike to step back in time with a spectacular stunt for visitors.

Go Ape Coventry

Coombe Country Park, Brinklow Road, Binley, Coventry, CV3 2AB

From £15

Opened in Spring 2019, Go Ape Coventry offers the best of high rope antics. With a Treetop Challenge, Treetop Adventure Plus and Treetop Adventure, this location has something for thrill-seeking adults and fun-seeking children.

This is a challenging but sociable course which packs a punch featuring a Tarzan Swing and 200 metre dual zip wires, race your mates to the end to see who's quickest!

The 500-acres of Coombe Country Park set a beautiful backdrop to your treetop experience with stunning gardens, woodland and lake.

The Ballroom Climbing Wall

Ironmonger Row CV1 1LZ

From £6.50

The Ballroom's mission is to introduce as many people of all ages and backgrounds to climbing as we can. We have dedicated our centre to bouldering, a form of low to the ground climbing that tests you mentally as well as physically, all while having fun with your friends!

So if you are getting tired of the same old gym routine, The Ballroom is the place for you!

We take pride in the fact we have over 200 bouldering routes across 700sqm of climbing surface, created by the country's best climbers and setters. Whatever your current level of climbing, from absolute beginner to seasoned pro, we have something for you.

The Wave

New Union Street

From £11

Monday – Sunday 10am – 6pm throughout the school holidays

Open across the whole of summer, The Wave welcomes families and friends to visit their multi-faceted water park. Whether you are a thrill seeker or enjoy relaxing activities, there is something available for everyone to enjoy. Young splash seekers can adventure through The Reef with its jets and mini slides, while the adults can take turns in the luxurious Mana Spa, offering a selection of relaxing treatments.