HOW TO KEEP THE KIDS BUSY IN WILMSLOW THIS SUMMER HOLIDAYS 2026
The school holidays are nearly here and if you are already wondering how you are going to fill the weeks without hearing the words “I’m bored” every five minutes, Wilmslow has plenty going on. From free climbing walls and multisport sessions to football camps, creative workshops, cinema trips, pizza making and even the chance to get up close with some unusual animals, there are activities for children of all ages taking place across Wilmslow this summer.
We have brought together some of the best summer holiday activities for children in Wilmslow to help you start planning.
⚽ SPEND THE SUMMER PLAYING FOOTBALL WITH WILMSLOW FOOTBALL ACADEMY
If your child would happily spend the entire summer with a football at their feet, Wilmslow Football Academy is running its Summer Holiday Football Camp at Lacey Green Pavilion throughout the school holidays.
The camp runs from Monday 20th July to Tuesday 1st September and is open to boys and girls aged 5 to 12.
📍 Where: Lacey Green Pavilion, Clough Avenue, Lacey Green, SK9 4BU
🕘 Full day: 9am – 3.30pm – £24
🕘 Morning: 9am – 12.30pm – £12
🕧 Afternoon: 12.30pm – 3.30pm – £12
⏰ Early drop-off: From 8am – £3
⏰ Late pick-up: Until 4.30pm – £3
There is also an indoor facility where children can take breaks and have their snacks.
One of the great things for parents is that there is no need to book in advance. Simply turn up, check in and pay by cash or card on the day.
🛝 FIVE FREE PLAYGROUND FUN DAYS
Sometimes the simplest summer days are the best and Wilmslow Town Council is bringing free Playground Fun Days to local parks during August.
Running from 11am until 3pm, each event will include games, crafts and play sessions
Key dates and locations are:
📅 Thursday 6th August – Little Lindow, Altrincham Road
📅 Monday 17th August – Lacey Green Park
The Fun Days are designed for accompanied young children, so bring a picnic, make a day of it and enjoy some free entertainment close to home.
There is no need to book.
🧗 REACH NEW HEIGHTS WITH FREE CLIMBING WALL DAYS
For children who like a little more adventure, a fully staffed climbing wall is coming to The Carrs for three days during the summer holidays.
The sessions are completely free of charge and suitable for children aged four and over.
📅 Tuesday 28th July
📅 Wednesday 12th August
📅 Wednesday 26th August
⏰ 10.30am – 4.30pm
📍 The Carrs, between the children’s play area and tennis courts
There is no need to pre-book, so simply turn up and have a go. Children should wear suitable shoes or trainers, preferably with laces or Velcro. Sliders and Crocs aren’t suitable for climbing.
🏃 FREE MULTISPORT SESSIONS ALL SUMMER
Children aged 7 to 13 can also get active with free outdoor multisport sessions throughout the summer.
Delivered by qualified coaches, the sessions offer a variety of inclusive sports and activities and are open to children of all abilities.
📅 Mondays: 5.30pm – 7pm at Lacey Green Park, SK9 4BS
The sessions are completely free and there is no need to book. Children just need to turn up with a drink and suitable clothing.
📚 A SUMMER OF ACTIVITIES AT WILMSLOW LIBRARY
Don’t overlook Wilmslow Library when planning the summer holidays. This year’s programme includes everything from comics and animals to dancing, crafts and LEGO coding.
📚 TAKE ON THE SUMMER READING CHALLENGE
Keep the kids reading throughout the school holidays with the free 2026 Summer Reading Challenge, this year themed Read to the Beat.
Open to children aged 4 to 11, the challenge encourages children to set their own reading goal and discover new books throughout the summer. They can take part through their local library, collecting stickers and rewards as they progress, or join the challenge online, where they can log their books and unlock digital badges and a certificate.
It doesn’t matter what they choose to read, so whether they love adventure stories, comics, funny books or fascinating facts, everything counts towards their goal.
The challenge is completely free and a great way to keep children reading while they are away from school.
Find out more and sign up: Summer Reading Challenge
Bookings for the summer events open on 18th July and some of the most popular sessions are likely to fill quickly.
🔍 SUMMER READING CHALLENGE CHARACTER HUNT
Explore the library and see if you can find all the hidden Summer Reading Challenge characters. Find them all and you can enter the competition for a chance to win a prize.
📅 18th July – 12th September
It’s free, suitable for families and no booking is required.
🎨 MUSIC-THEMED CRAFT
A creative music-inspired craft session for children aged four and over.
📅 Monday 27th July
⏰ 2pm – 3pm
Free, but booking is required.
✏️ MARC MAKES COMICS
Young artists and storytellers aged six and over can discover the world of comic illustration in this creative workshop.
📅 Tuesday 4th August
⏰ 10.30am – 11.30am
£2 per child. Booking required.
🦎 ZOOLAB AT THE LIBRARY
Meet some fascinating creatures and discover more about the animal world with expert handlers from ZooLab.
📅 Tuesday 11th August
⏰ 2pm – 3pm
Suitable for children aged four and over.
£2 per child. Booking required.
📣 CHEERLEADING AND STREET DANCE
Sylk Dance Academy is bringing two energetic sessions to the library on Monday 17th August.
Cheerleading: 10.30am – 11.30am
Street Dance: 11.45am – 12.45pm
Both sessions are suitable for children aged seven and over and are free, although booking is required.
🤖 LEGO SPIKE
Children aged six and over can get hands-on with robotics and coding using LEGO SPIKE kits.
📅 Wednesday 26th August: 11am – 12pm
📅 Thursday 27th August: 2pm – 3pm
Both sessions are free, but booking is required.
Children attending library activities must be accompanied by an adult.
For more information and booking details, visit: Lego spike
🎵 A GREAT BIG FAMILY DAY OUT AT THE WILMSLOW MUSIC FESTIVAL
Get ready for a full day of live music and family fun as The Wilmslow Music Festival comes to Wilmslow Rugby Union Football Club this summer.
Taking place on Saturday 15th August, the festival promises a great family day out packed with live music, good vibes and some of the UK’s leading tribute acts, celebrating artists including ABBA, Queen, The Killers, Green Day, The Rolling Stones, Coldplay, Oasis, Dua Lipa, Taylor Swift and Ariana Grande.
📅 Saturday 15th August 2026
⏰ 11.30am – 10pm
📍 Wilmslow Rugby Club, Kings Road, Wilmslow, SK9 5PZ
Bring the family, enjoy a full day of music and make some summer memories right here in Wilmslow.
Tickets are selling quickly, so early booking is recommended.
Book tickets and find out more
🎨 PAINT YOUR OWN PLATE AT PICCOLINO
Fancy doing something creative and coming away with a keepsake?
Piccolino Wilmslow is hosting a Plate Painting Party where children can decorate their own plate using specialist paint pens.
📅 Saturday 1st August
⏰ 12pm – 2pm
💷 £15 per person
Children can create their own design before taking their plate home, with instructions provided for sealing their masterpiece in a domestic oven.
Book online through the Piccolino website.
🍕 BECOME A MINI PIZZA CHEF AT PICCOLINO
Later in August, Piccolino is inviting budding young chefs behind the scenes for its Pizza Making Party.
📅 Saturday 22nd August
⏰ 12pm – 2pm
💷 £15 per person
Children will learn how to stretch their own dough, choose their toppings and create their own pizza in front of Piccolino’s pizza oven before, of course, getting to eat their creation.
Chef hats and aprons are provided for the full mini-chef experience.
Book online through the Piccolino website.
🎬 CATCH A FAMILY FILM AT THE REX
A trip to the cinema is always a useful option for a rainy summer holiday day and The Rex has family films on its programme, including Moana, Minions and Toy Story 5.
With comfortable surroundings right in the heart of Wilmslow, it’s an easy way to turn a quiet afternoon into a family outing.
Families can also take advantage of 15% off kids’ tickets, making a trip to the cinema a little easier on the summer holiday budget.
Family ticket prices:
🎟️ 1 Adult + 1 Child – £18
🎟️ 1 Adult + 2 Children – £26
🎟️ 2 Adults + 1 Child – £28
🎟️ 2 Adults + 2 Children – £36
Check The Rex website for the latest films, screening times and availability.
🏊 MAKE A SPLASH AT WILMSLOW LEISURE CENTRE
Not every summer activity needs to be a special event.
Wilmslow Leisure Centre has a 25-metre swimming pool and learner pool, making it a useful option when you need an activity that isn’t dependent on the weather.
The centre also offers a range of children’s and family activities, so it is worth checking the latest timetable before visiting.
🍕 MAKE EATING OUT PART OF THE FUN
After all that running, climbing, swimming and exploring, you might need somewhere to refuel.
Wood Fire Smoke offers a children’s deal for £8, including a pizza with two toppings, a drink and ice cream, for children under 13.
Families can also take advantage of 15% VAT off kids’ meals.
☀️ MAKE THE MOST OF SUMMER IN WILMSLOW
Keeping children entertained for the whole summer can feel like a challenge, but you don’t necessarily need to travel far or spend a fortune.
This summer, Wilmslow has a fantastic mixture of free activities, sports, creative workshops, cinema trips, family dining and organised holiday camps taking place right on our doorstep.
We’ll be adding more family events and activities in Wilmslow as we hear about them, so keep an eye on the Wilmslow’s Way Better website and social media channels throughout the summer.
Are you a Wilmslow business or organisation running a children’s activity, event or special family offer this summer?
Get in touch with the Wilmslow’s Way Better team and let us know so we can help spread the word.