Children & Family Events
Are you looking for something to do with your little ones? Check out the wide range of events in our Children's library - the best part is, most of them are free!
Special Events
The Night Before Christmas Eve: Festive story time
Monday 23 December, 2pm-3pm
Join our wonderful library storytellers for an Elf Induction-themed interactive story time event that will give your little ones a crash course in how to be Santa's best elf. Get involved in a mix of snowball fights, story times, Christmas songs and jokes, as well as games like building a snowman, guess the present, and more!
Biscuits and squash will be available.
This event is free and no booking is required. Come along and join in the festive fun!
Festive Lantern Making
Every Saturday and Sunday until Christmas, 10am-11am and 2pm-3pm
Get into the festive season with our annual lantern making workshops! Little ones can decorate a paper lantern with their favourite Christmas designs and then watch it glow as it lights up. Join us afterwards for a special story time at Rat-a-Tat Tales.
Suitable for ages 5+ due to small parts. Parental supervision is required.
STEAMfest
Saturday 25 January, 10am-3pm
Come along to The Hive where we will be celebrating all things STEAM! We'll have visitors from a range of Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics fields showcasing their area with interesting activities for you to try out.
We have three shows on offer with the fabulous Fizz Pop Science for just £2.50 each - book your family's places here.
Taking inspiration from the traction cities of Philip Reeves' Mortal Engines series, our team will be hosting a drawing workshop for children, looking at perspective in the built environment around them and adding their own cityscape to mount onto wheels, resulting in a community art piece at the end of the day. Book your child's free place here.
Take part in our family Lego challenge - can you build a bridge that can hold up against increasing weights? Book your family's place here.
We will also have a range of activities to get involved in across the Children's library - watch this space!
Regular events
Baby Bounce and Rhyme
Every Friday, 1pm-1:30pm
For ages 0-12 months
A gentle, social music making session aimed at new parents/carers and their babies.
Wacky Wednesdays
Every Wednesday, 1:30pm-3pm
For ages 0-5 years
A fun interactive stay and play session for children aged between 0 - 5 years. The session ends with story time at 2:45pm.
Bounce and Rhyme
Every Tuesday, 10am-10:30am and 2pm-2:30pm
Every Friday, 11am-11:30am
For ages 1-4 years
Fun and friendly Bounce and Rhyme session aimed at pre-school children and their parents and carers.
Pre-school groups/Nurseries please note, these sessions can get very busy. We would be happy to do a separate session for your group.
Rat-a-tat Tales
Every Saturday & Sunday, 11am and 3pm
For ages 4-8
Listen out for the rat-a-tat in the Children's library and get involved in interactive stories for your young family. Storytime is about to begin...
Lego Club
Every Saturday, 10am-11:30am
For ages 4+, fun for all the family
If you and your child love Lego as much as we do, why not come along to our Family Lego and Construction Club?
The club is designed for parents to have fun and engage with their children by building characters and structures from well-known tales. Most construction materials will be suitable for ages 4+. Places are FREE of charge and you don't need to book, just come along and join in the fun!
Little Sprouts
Last Sunday of each month, 1:30pm-2:30pm
For ages 4-8 years
An introductory gardening and nature club for families with children aged 4-8.
Places cost £1 per child and can be booked in advance. Drop-ins on the day are welcome, subject to availability.
Parental supervision is required.
Self-led Activities
Treasure Hunt
Take part in our popular weekly themed treasure hunts across the children’s library. Just ask a library assistant for details!
Sustainability Trail
The Hive is full of sustainable design features and we have developed a self-guided Sustainability Trail so that you can discover them.
Borrow a trail map and supporting notes from the pod in the children's library and find out more about The Hive's sustainable features. There are stickers on the windows/walls at each numbered point around the building. The trail starts in the café on Level 1.
