Looking for things to do with the kids over the summer holidays? From July to September, drop in for self-led activities at the Gallery, which you’ll find on our first floor Landing and at our Front Desk.

The Landing – themed around Art Without Heroes: Mingei

Paper cup weaving – Weaving is one of the many crafts associated with Mingei. Collect a cup and twine from one of our baskets and follow the instructions provided to weave your own cup.

Make a sashiko bookmark – Use simple running and back stitch to embroider your own bookmark using traditional Japanese sashiko patterns. All materials provided, along with some patterns ideas to inspire you.

Colouring and drawing activities – Colour your own Kokeshi doll or turn an everyday object into a tsukumogami by adding human or animal features!

Morris Explorers Satchels – Sensory bags

Designed with SEND families in mind, these sensory bags has been created to help provide fun and interactive ways to explore William Morris Gallery. Inspired by William Morris’s satchel (which you can see on display at the Gallery), they include a sensory map, a visual story, and Visual Vocabulary cards (for people with non-verbal communication systems) that you can also download from our Access page before your arrival. All of these are designed to help build confidence in families before and during your visit.  

Free to use. 6 bags available at a time from our Front Desk. No age limit.

Family Trails

To help guide you around our permanent collection ask at the Front Desk for our Family Trails. Start by exploring the galleries with Indigo the Bird, who’ll help teach you all about the life and work of William Morris. Indigo can also take you on a trip around our special exhibition, Art Without Heroes: Mingei, before following the trail on an adventure around the garden with Fafnir the Dragon. When you’ve completed the trails, claim your prize!