Families looking for affordable ways to enjoy the October half-term will find plenty going on across Leicester next week, with storytelling, crafts, railway rides and a giant monster hunt amongst the free and low-cost activities taking place. With local schools closed from 19-23 October, parents looking for fun things to do with their children should check out the events taking place at museums, libraries, family centres and other venues across the city. Among the highlights

A weekend of great food, live music and local creativity is coming up, as Leicester's Abbey Pumping Station hosts its popular Food & Craft Fair. Taking place on Saturday 19 September and Sunday 20 September, the event will bring together local food producers, artists and artisan makers in the unique surroundings of the city's former pumping station. Fine foods from local producers will be on sale at Abbey Pumping Station’s Food & Craft Fair. Picture credit: AEW Photography Gu

Young gardeners from across the city have been recognised for their creativity and growing skills in this year’s Grow Your Own Grub mealbarrow competition. The annual competition included a recent public celebration event at Abbey Pumping Station, where around 300 visitors viewed and voted on 15 colourful mealbarrows created by participating schools and community groups. The 2026 theme, ‘Rainbows’, challenged entrants to use a wide range of colourful fruit and vegetables whil

A guide to some of the many free and low-cost family activities taking place in Leicester this summer is now available on the council’s website. The city’s museums have come up with a packed programme of special events, with activities taking place at Newarke Houses Museum every Wednesday – and with the Abbey Pumping Station opening its doors on both Mondays and Tuesdays during the school holidays. Leicester’s historic Guildhall will be hosting regular events too – including

Schoolchildren who have been growing their own grub will be showcasing their efforts at Abbey Pumping Station this weekend. On Saturday (4 July), from 11am to 3pm, the museum will display the imaginative “mealbarrows” created by schools and young people from across Leicester – wheelbarrows planted up with a range of herbs, fruit and vegetables that children have been growing and then using to inspire their own menus. There will be 15 different ‘mealbarrows’ on display, create

There's something for everyone at Leicester’s Abbey Pumping Station this month, with three events coming up that will delight families and real ale fans alike. Flaming June gets under way with the return of the popular Railway Gala Day on Saturday (6 June). There’s free admission to the museum and its grounds – perfect for a picnic – while the café will be open for light refreshments. Rides on the narrow gauge railway with Leonard the steam locomotive are just £1. Railway Gal