Events

Explore our programme of events, activities and exhibitions taking place throughout the year. From family activities and walking tours to talks and special events, there’s always something happening at the National Civil War Centre.

Check back regularly for updates, and follow us on Facebook and Instagram for the latest news.

Threads of Time Trail

A self‑guided heritage trail exploring Newark’s past

Threads of Time is a town‑wide trail that brings local history to life through seven remarkable objects from Newark Museum’s collection, revealing stories of everyday life, industry and the places we call home.

Date: Available during opening hours
Suitable for: Everyone!

Toys Through Time Trail

A playful, hands‑on trail exploring childhood through the ages

Toys Through Time is an interactive trail that invites visitors to discover how children have played in the past, from traditional skipping ropes and spinning tops to tin robots and early technology.

When: Available during opening hours
Suitable for: All ages, especially families

From Poland: Spirit and Strength

A community‑led exhibition celebrating Polish culture and heritage

From Poland: Spirit and Strength explores the rich culture, creativity and history of Poland, celebrating the strong connections between Polish communities and Newark and Sherwood through personal stories, objects and traditions.

When: 24 March – October 2026
Suitable for: All ages

Newark Through Time - Walking Tour

A guided walking tour exploring Newark’s story across the centuries

Crammed full of intriguing stories and historic sites, the Newark Town Tour explores the town’s journey from Anglo‑Saxon roots through medieval, Georgian and Victorian Newark, led by a knowledgeable guide.

Date: Select Saturdays, from 1pm (View dates)

Suitable for: Adults

Besieged but Never Beaten - Walking Tour

A guided Civil War walking tour of Newark under siege

Explore Newark’s crucial role in the English Civil Wars on this powerful walking tour, uncovering stories of siege, survival and resistance told through the town’s seventeenth‑century streets and landmarks.

Date: Selected Saturdays, May - October, from 1pm (View dates)

Suitable for: Adults and older children

Family Saturday

Artwork on a cloth banner of kings and queens

Monthly hands‑on activities and creative fun for families
Drop‑in family activity days filled with hands‑on creativity, playful challenges and shared exploration of history.

Date: First Saturday of every month, from 10am

Suitable for: Families, all ages

Mini Museum

Weekly museum sessions for under 5s
Mini Museum is a relaxed, playful session designed for families, offering discovery, creativity and fun through simple hands-on activities.
Date: Thursdays in term time, 10.30am to 11.30am
Suitable for: Under 5s

Playhem! 28 July - 1 September

A smiling boy rides a creation which he has made from bright blue building blocks which resembles a steam train engine or tractor

Tuesday - Thursday throughout the summer holidays!

Join us for a summer of Playhem! as we fill the museum with fun ways to get creative and make a marvellous mess!

Magic Faraway Tree Trail: 28 July - 1 September

Promo for magic faraway tree trail with image of the book on a teal background

You loved our LEGO® trail so much we decided to bring it back!

Can you complete the trail and discover the hidden cards throughout the galleries? Inspired by one of the best-loved children's stories, The Faraway Tree, you'll be taken on a museum adventure with the chance to win an incredible LEGO® treehouse set worth over £200, and family tickets to see the Palace Theatre's pantomime, Jack and the Beanstalk!

Family Saturday EXTRA! - School Holiday Special

boy holding up a magnifying glass and looking at the camera

A special Family Saturday celebrating archaeology!

Enjoy a Family Saturday EXTRA! this August as we host a special archaeological themed day, with all the usual Family Saturday favourites alongside archaeological digs and creative activities.

Date: Saturday 1 August 2026, 10am–4pm.
Suitable for: Families, ages 0 - 99

Civil War Deep Dive - Walking Tour

A man in Civil War costume holds a pike over his arm in front of some timber-framed Newark buildings

An extended walking tour exploring Newark’s Civil War past

Take a deeper look at Newark during the British Civil Wars on this extended walking tour, exploring key seventeenth‑century sites including Millgate and the Queen’s Sconce, led by an expert guide.

Date: Selected Saturdays, May - October, from 1pm (View dates)

Suitable for: Adults and confident walkers

Evening Talk: Wines and Crimes

brown background with wine and crimes written on and a wine glass and dagger underneath

Friday 11 September | 7pm–9pm

Love true crime? Love wine? Uncover shocking historic crimes, enjoy expertly paired wines and put your detective skills to the test at this unique evening of mystery, murder and intrigue. With quizzes, prizes and plenty of twists along the way, it's the perfect night out for crime fans and wine lovers (alcoholic and non-alcoholic) alike.

Family Saturday EXTRA! - Festival of Creativity

A special Family Saturday celebrating creativity and making

Enjoy a Family Saturday EXTRA! this October as we host the Festival of Creativity, with all the usual Family Saturday favourites alongside additional creative activities... to be announced.

Date: Saturday 3 October 2026, 10am–4pm
Suitable for: Families, ages 0 - 99

Evening Talk: Tinker Fox and The Fight for the Midlands

Portrait of gentleman in navy suit with blue shirt and tie, smiling.

Friday 9 October | 7pm–9pm

Tradesman, rebel, military commander. Discover the extraordinary story of John 'Tinker' Fox with Oxford historian Professor Andrew Hopper. Including the premiere of a new documentary film, this fascinating talk explores the brutal raids, sieges and skirmishes that shaped the Civil Wars in the Midlands.

Evening Talk: Newark Castle - Past, Present and Future

Thursday 22 October 7pm - 9pm
Wednesday 25 November 7pm - 9pm

Discover the story of Newark Castle through the centuries. From Norman beginnings and royal intrigue to Civil War conflict, Victorian leisure and exciting future plans, this fascinating free talk from the Newark Castle Research Group brings the history of one of Newark's most iconic landmarks to life.

Monster Mayhem! by The Fighting Nightingales

two men on a stage playing instruments and reading from a book

Friday 23 October | 7pm–9pm

Water dragons, the Loch Ness Monster and a terrifying 17th-century poodle? Join the outrageous Professor Edvard von Goosechaser and his musical companion Marco for an evening of monsters, myths, folklore and comedy in this wildly entertaining lecture from The Fighting Nightingales.

Evening Talk: Cromwell's Nemesis

Friday 6 November | 7pm–9pm

Was Cromwell's greatest rival actually Parliament's secret weapon? Join historian Edward Davis for a fascinating and myth-busting exploration of Edward Montagu, Earl of Manchester, whose campaigns, leadership and political influence helped shape the course of the Civil War.

Family Saturday EXTRA! - St Nicholas Christmas

A festive Family Saturday with special seasonal activities

Celebrate the season with a Family Saturday EXTRA! as we host our St Nicholas Christmas event, featuring all the usual Family Saturday favourites plus additional festive activities to be announced.

When: Saturday 5 December 2026, 10am–4pm
Suitable for: Families, ages 0 - 99

Evening Talk: A Merry Noyse at Christmas

3 people in tudor costume holding instruments

Tuesday 8 December | 7pm–9pm

Celebrate Christmas the historical way! Back by popular demand, A Merry Noyse returns with a captivating evening of festive music from centuries past. Discover the sounds, songs and traditions of Christmas through live performance and fascinating historical insight.

Evening Talk: Elizabethan Revels with The Grantham Danserye

Friday 29 January | 7pm–9pm

Banish the winter blues with an Elizabethan knees-up! Join The Grantham Danserye for an evening of historic music, festive merriment and Twelfth Night-inspired revelry as the sights and sounds of the Tudor age come to life.

Evening Talk: James I and the Love Affair that Killed

Friday 5 February | 7pm–9pm

A royal romance, a blackmail scandal and a murder. Historian Gareth Russell explores the extraordinary true story of King James I and the relationship that became embroiled in one of the seventeenth century's most sensational scandals. A gripping tale of passion, power and revenge.

Evening Talk: How to be a Doctor in AD 1000

Saturday 6 February | 4.30pm–6pm

Forget everything you think you know about medieval medicine. Join Dr Christina Lee for a fascinating exploration of healthcare in AD 1000, uncovering the remedies, treatments and medical knowledge that helped people navigate life, illness and injury a thousand years ago. This event follows the Family Saturday EXTRA event.

Evening Talk: From Fields to Factories

close up of beige smock sleeve with brown and beige buttons

Friday 4 March | 7pm–9pm

A simple garment with an extraordinary story. Join textile expert Alison Topliss to explore Newark's role in the manufacture of the smock frock and discover how these iconic working clothes reveal the changing lives of people in nineteenth-century Britain. Original historic smocks will be on display.

Evening Talk: Step Through Time

Illustration of people dancing from the 17th century

Saturday 15 May | 7pm

Travel through centuries of music and dance in one unforgettable evening. Back by popular demand, The Grantham Danserye returns with a lively celebration of historic dances, bringing the sounds, styles and traditions of the past to life.