Tuesday, July 16, 2019

Summer Holiday Activities 2019

Visit The Higgins Bedford throughout the summer holidays and enjoy activities and workshops for both children aged 5 and above and teenagers aged 12 to 16 years old.

Places are limited and should be booked in advance by purchasing a ticket at The Higgins Bedford reception desk. We are currently unable to take bookings online or over the phone. Unfilled places will be offered on a first-come, first served basis on the day.

Stories from the Wynding Wixam Tree
Every Wednesday 24th July - 28th August
11am & 2pm, £5 per child (free for accompanying adults)

Step into the world of spectacular stories performed by the Theatre of Widdershins. Gather at the Wynding Wixam Tree in the Round and Round the Garden exhibition, and join in fantastical adventures and traditional fairy tales that are guaranteed to captivate families. Different stories are performed each week including, The Princess & The Pea, Granny Dumpling and The King with Stinky Feet.



Teen Creativity Workshops
Every Wednesday 24th July - 28th August
12:30pm, £3 per person (no parents required)

Enjoy creative writing and arts and crafts workshops for teenagers aged 12 to 16 years old. Teens will be able to meet local artists Lisa Tilley and Kemi Onabuleand, professional author Derek Niemann and Christiana Payne, Professor of History of Art at Oxford Brookes University and have the opportunity to explore different art and media styles and gain insights into the professional arts world.


Sponsored by Oxford Brookes University


Horrible Higgins Histories
Every Friday 26th July - 30th August
11am, 12:30pm & 2pm, £3 per child (free for accompanying adults)

Travel through time and space with Kevin the Platypus, explore the museum’s collections and get creative in horribly historical creative workshops. From Stone Age to Space Age, there is sure to be an activity to delight families. Design and make Stone Age necklaces, Viking brooches, Victorian hats, moon rockets with Little Science Labs and more.

Wednesday, July 10, 2019

Talks & Tours Coming Soon...



© The Mutual Security Agency
Thursday 18th July, 2:30pm
£5.90, (£4.70 Concessions)

As part of the exhibition, The Journey from Bunyan to the Brickworks, join author of ‘Brickmaking: A History and Gazeteer (Survey of Bedfordshire)’, Alan Cox, as he discusses the development of the brickmaking industries and the impact they have made in Bedfordshire.

Cecil Higgins Anniversary Tours
Thursday 25th July, 11.30am & 2pm
£5.90 (£4.70 Concessions)

Explore the internationally renowned Cecil Higgins Art Gallery Collection and celebrate 70 years since it first opened to the public.

What makes this collection so special is that, unlike other benefactors who have supported institutions with a lifetime of collecting, Cecil Higgins collected with the specific intention of opening a museum.

With mesmerising works by Picasso, JMW Turner and Edward Bawden, amazing pieces by William Burges and William Morris and porcelain by Meissen and Chelsea, this is a unique opportunity to find out more about Bedford’s benefactor, Cecil Higgins, and the wonderful collection he gave to his town.


Garden Tours - Transforming the Gardens at The Higgins Bedford 
Thursday 25th July
11:15am, Free

Explore the Castle Gardens in a free, half an hour tour, discover the history of the grounds and find out more about the volunteer-led project to rejuvenate the gardens.

Supported by SDC Community Fund, established by SDC Builders Ltd



Booking is essential for these talks and tours. To book your place, please telephone 01234 718618 or email thehiggins@bedford.gov.uk.