Wharton Park events

Story Explorers: The Gruffalo's Child (half term event)

Children aged two to six are invited to join our education team this February half term and be taken on an adventure with the Gruffalo's Child. Cozy up in our education room and listed to the story. Afterwards, little ones can join in indoor and outdoor activities linked to the book.

Date: Wednesday 26 February 2025
Time: 10.00am to 11.30am
Price: £7, children must be accompanied by an adult who can attend for free. 

Sustainable crafts (half term event)

Children aged six and above can join us to get creative and try their hand at creating a range of eco-friendly sustainable crafts. Recycle and reuse left over fabric materials to design and make a bag, cushion or hat to take home. All materials are included in the ticket price. Take home what you've made, knowing you've done your bit to help the environment. Younger children are welcome but will require an adult to help with the activities.  

Date: Saturday 1 March 2025
Time: 10.00am to 12 noon
Price: £12 per child, accompanying adult is free

The HandleBards: Shakespeare's 'Much Ado About Nothing' (outdoor theatre)

The HandleBards return to Wharton Park in summer 2025. Make the most of the early bird offer, tickets make a great Christmas gift. Book here for The Handlebards. - make the most of the early bird offer - visit and search for Wharton Park.

Pedalling from venue to venue with their set, props and costumes on the back of their bikes, the HandleBards are a four strong troupe of actors who are spending the summer bringing environmentally sustainable Shakespeare to venues across the UK. Join them for a bicycle-powered production of Shakespeare's 'Much Ado About Nothing' like you've never seen before. In usual HandleBards style, expect riotous amounts of energy, a fair old whack of chaos, and a great deal of laughter.

 A group of soldiers return from the war to a household in Messina, kindling new love interests and re-kindling old rivalries. The parallel love stories of Beatrice, Benedick, Claudio and Hero quickly become entangled with scheming, frivolity and melodrama in Shakespeare's famous comedy

Date: Friday 15 August 2025
Time: doors open at 5.30pm, show starts at 6.30pm.

Please note the performance takes place outdoors in the park amphitheatre with seating on the grassed banks, ticket holders are advised to dress for the weather and bring a blanket or a low backed seat to sit on. Any visitors with accessibility issues can sit on the hard stand of the amphitheatre accessed from the lower level of the park or alternatively from the viewing area around the top of the amphitheatre accessed from the car park.

Self-led Love Exploring trails

Download the love exploring app for free - Download the Love Exploring app. Love Exploring allows you to take part in fun, themed, augmented reality trails including our amazing dinosaur safari and brand new roman game!  It is compatible with most but not all mobile phones. Please check you can access all features of the trails before you visit.

Roman game

Learn more about Hardwick Park's East Park and the unique Roman settlement that was found there. See Roman buildings rise up from the ground and meet Roman characters all in augmented reality. You can also try our games which include shaping a Roman pot, solving a bronze making puzzle, and constructing iron tools, all through your mobile phone. East Park is found by going through the underpass near the Hardwick Park Tower and Dragon. It is a field with rough paths and we recommend sensible footwear.

In partnership with

• Quality Badge awarded by Council for Learning Outside the Classroom