Midlands
Rollicking Romans – Museum of Cannock Chase, Cannock, Staffordshire (15 May)
Dress as a Roman and enjoy a feast of family friendly fun. Make a mosaic and learn about the food the Romans introduced into our diet, as well as how archaeologists identify it. The Staffordshire Pan will also be on view at this special late night event.
Night with the Nettlefolds – Winterbourne House and Garden, University of Birmingham (14 May)
Join the Nettlefolds at the height of WWI and help them host an evening party for wounded officers from the makeshift hospital at the end of the road. Help print invitations on a printing press, make food in the old kitchen and join costumed servants as they prepare the party. Enjoy a string quartet and lawn games with this family day out that will last until the sun sets.
Open Cockpits Evening – Royal Air Force Museum Cosford, Shifnal, Shropshire (15 to 16 May)
For two exclusive evenings only take a closer look at a wide range of aircraft, including transport aircraft, jet fighters and unique research airframes. Get a feel for what it was really like to fly these much loved machines and enjoy after-hours access to the museum. Any age.
North East
The Late Shows – various, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Tyne and Wear (15 to 16 May)
An inspiring, after dark programme of events and exhibitions centering on cultural venues in Newcastle and Gateshead. Expect anything from interactive art, treasure trails, behind the scenes tours to live music, DJs, discos and artist talks.
Music, Food and Fun at Beamish – Beamish, The Living Museum of the North, Durham (16 May)
Visit the world-famous Beamish Museum for a musical evening featuring music from the King Cole Ceilidh band as well as clog dancer extraordinaire Laura Connolly - join in the dancing if you like! Explore the village and pits after hours and treat yourself to fish and chips from Davy’s Fried Fish Shop.
Yorkshire
DIG After Dark – DIG, York (15 May)
Grab a trowel and explore dig pits to find clues and secrets that will lead you on an adventure through DIG. There will also be games and crafts that will take you into the secret DIG garden for some torch-lit fun! Ages five to ten.
Family Fun by Torchlight – Leeds City Museum, Leeds (14 May)
Join Leeds City Museum after hours for torchlit tours of the galleries, object handling and talks from curators and other experts, as well as family craft activities inspired by the collections.
North West
Engines at Twilight – Anson Engine Museum, Poynton, Cheshire (16 May)
Come see real engines running as they once did along with talks explaining how they work and have developed over time. A scale model of c1900 Poynton that shows all the collieries of the time will also be available to view.
LightNight, Liverpool (15 May)
Lightnight, returns to illuminate the city for the sixth consecutive year. Visitors can expect 100 free events, including interactive light projections, colourful street performances, hands-on art workshops, exclusive science demonstrations, heritage tours, open studios, live music, exhibition launches, and much more from 50 city centre locations. Any Age.
Wales
Museums at Night Science Special – National Waterfront Museum, Swansea (15 May)
Engage the whole family with demonstrations and practical experiments in this fun and interactive Lucky Dip show. Pick out questions such as ‘how do Polar Bears keep warm?’ and ‘how do you launch a tennis ball into space?’ Discover the answer to these questions and many more with this tour of the scientific world!
After Hours at the Castle – Powis Castle and Garden, Welshpool, Powys (15 May)
A chance to see Powis Castle and its world famous gardens sparkle in a different light. Come and see the results of 400 years of collecting paintings, sculpture, furniture and tapestries by successive generations of the Herbert family. All Ages.
Scotland
Dancing in the Streets – Almond Valley Heritage Centre/Museum of the Scottish Shale Oil Industry, Livingston (15 May)
Bring all the family and show off your Scottish dancing skills at this family-friendly ceilidh. Dance a ‘Strip the Willow’ or a ‘Military Two Step’ and then enjoy a delicious traditional supper. Need a wee break from dancing? Practice your singing voice instead as the amazing Mac-A-Story bring to life some Scottish tales through creative performance and song.
Night at the Museum – An Ancient Egyptian Adventure - Aberdeen University, Zoology Museum (16 May)
Join a family friendly Egyptian adventure down at the Zoology Museum, which will be crawling with live animals; scary scorpions, hissing snakes, and those cheeky meerkats are all loose and looking to see who wants to get a little closer! See if you can find all the noble creatures that were immortalised as Egyptian Gods and have your photo taken dressed and made up like an Egyptian. Our storyteller will intrigue you with tales of gruesome practices from the tomb, and give you some tips on how to mummify someone. Plus, there will be lots of fun crafts to try in the new education and events space.
Full listings of all events