James' Peachy Summer at the Roald Dahl Museum

There's a peachy summer promised at the Roald Dahl Museum and Story Centre in Great Missenden, 

The Museum is celebrating one of the author's best-loved books, James and the Giant Peach, with a host of exciting activities lined up from Tuesdays – Sundays throughout the school summer holidays.

The visitor attraction is set over two floors and features artefacts including Dahl’s original writing hut. Younger visitors can look forward to some hands-on workshops inspired by the book including science experiments, making an insect home and creating miniature gardens. There will also be daily storytelling, a themed trail around the museum and a craft room where little ones can get stuck into making their very own Cloud-Men, as featured in the book.

You can see a full list of all the activities planned this summer below.

James and the Giant Peach Storytelling
Saturday 20 July to Sunday 1 September (closed Mondays except 26 Aug)
Enjoy storytelling from James and the Giant Peach, led by our expert storytellers. For all ages.
Free with Museum admission, no need to book just listen out for announcements on the day.

A Garden Fit for a Peach
Tuesday 23 and Wednesday 24 July
11am, 12pm, 2pm and 3pm
Make your own model garden out of natural materials inspired by characters in James and The Giant Peach.  For age 5 and over. £4 per person in addition to Museum entry – please pre-book

Bugs and Critters with Jungle Juniors
Thursday 25 and Friday 26 July
For age 6 and over:10.30am,12pm, 1pm, 1.45pm
For age 4 to 7: 11.15am
For age 10 and over: 2.30pm
Join Jungle Juniors for a 30-minute animal handling session. You‘ll learn about some fascinating bugs and get up close to a range of reptiles, amphibians and invertebrates including some of the creepy crawlies from James and the Giant Peach.  £4 per person in addition to Museum entry – please pre-book

James’ Peachy Walks
Friday 26 July, Friday 9 and Friday 23 August
11.45am and 2.15pm Head off with a Museum guide into the countryside that inspired so many of the books. Use a magnifying glass and see if you can find some of James’ insect friends on your travels. For age 6 and over
£4 per person in addition to Museum entry – please pre-book. Walk is approx. one hour and along country lanes and across fields, and may be muddy.

Treasured Collections: Make and Share
Saturday 27 and Sunday 28 July
Drop-in throughout the day
Explore and create special treasures with us this Bucks Culture Open Weekend. Explore and handle replica objects from Roald Dahl’s Writing Hut and learn more about the stories behind these prized objects, before creating our own something special to add to his treasure table.    

You can also create special insects, inspired by the characters in James and the Giant Peach. You can share your insect with other museum visitors by adding it to our courtyard collection where they will find it as treasure.  Or take it home to share with your friends and families. For all ages. Free to Museum visitors and non-visitors. You don’t need to visit the Museum to enjoy this event.

My Year Walk - July
Sunday 28 July
11.30am and 2pm
Embrace the seasons on a guided Roald Dahl countryside walk; kick up some leaves, ramble through woods and listen to extracts from Roald Dahl’s My Year in the beautiful woods and fields that inspired the book.  This month they'll be reading extracts from the July chapter of My Year, Roald Dahl’s last book. For age 6 and over.
£4 per person in addition to Museum entry – please pre-book

Peachy Under 5s Day
Tuesday 30 July, Wednesday 14 and Thursday 29 August
Drop-in activities throughout the day
All ages are welcome but there will be some extra-special drop-in activities set-up especially for our youngest visitors. Expect lots of hands-on mischief based on James and the Giant Peach including messy play and storytelling. For under 5s. Free with Museum admission

James’ Squiffling Science
Wednesday 31 July, Thursday 1 August and Friday 2 August
10.30am, 12pm, 1.30pm and 3pm
Join in with a hands-on science session inspired by the book James and the Giant Peach! Join in with experiments to make a peach float and find out how things grow. There will be plenty of opportunity for everyone to have a go. For age 5 and over. £4 per person in addition to Museum entry– please pre-book

Explore the Archive
Friday 2, Friday 16 and Friday 30 August
11.45am and 2.15pm
Join Collections Manager, Will, as he shows you some of the highlights of Roald Dahl’s archive. You’ll get to step behind the scenes and peek at the boxes of treasures we look after. Will will tell you about some of the secrets behind the stories and characters that you know and love.For age 8 and over. £4 per person in addition to Museum entry – please pre-book

SEND Explore Your Way Days
Monday 5 August – quiet day
Monday 19 August – loud day
Two special relaxed days when the Museum is open especially for visitors with SEND. Join in with sensory storytelling and an optional peachy craft workshop while you’re here. Monday 5th will be a relaxed day with Museum sounds turned down, Monday 19 will be a relaxed day where you can make as much noise as you like! Visitor numbers will be reduced on both of these days. Enjoy drop-in crafts and sensory storytelling. You can also take part in a craft workshop while you’re here: Peachy Clay Workshops on Monday 5 August and Clay Creepy Crawlies on Monday 19 August. Standard Museum admission applies. Workshops £4 per person in addition to Museum entry – please pre-book
 

Peachy Clay Pots
Tuesday 6 to Friday 9 August
11am, 12pm, 2pm and 3pm
Create your own peach pot made out of clay, decorated with insect friends in and around it. And don’t worry about the mess as the team from the centre will clear up!  5 and over. £4 per person in addition to Museum entry – please pre-book

Pop-up Peach Landscapes
Tuesday 13, Thursday 15 and Friday 16 August
11am, 12pm, 2pm and 3pm. Create a 3D landscape or cityscape out of paper based on the peach’s journey and complete it with a pop-up peach. 5 and over. £4 per person in addition to Museum entry – please pre-book

Clay Creepy Crawlies
Tuesday 20 to Thursday 22 August
11am, 12pm, 2pm and 3pm
Model an insect out of clay, inspired by James’ insect friends.  You’ll be able to give them powers and a stylish outfit.  And don’t worry about the mess as the team will clear up!  5 and over. £4 per person in addition to Museum entry – please pre-book

Walter’s Cabinet of Curiosities with NHM Tring
Friday 23 August
11am, 12pm and 2pm
The team will be joined by their friends from the Natural History Museum in Tring. They will be bringing various specimens from their collection for you to handle and explore. You’ll also learn about collecting for cabinets of curiosity then make your own marvellous cabinet to take home. 5 and over. £4 per person in addition to Museum entry – please pre-book

My Year Walk - August
Sunday 25 August
11.30am and 2pm
Embrace the seasons on a guided Roald Dahl countryside walk; kick up some leaves, ramble through woods and listen to extracts from Roald Dahl’s My Year in the beautiful woods and fields that inspired the book. This month they'll be reading extracts from the August chapter of My Year, Roald Dahl’s last book. For age 6 and over.
£4 per person in addition to Museum entry – please pre-book

Jumbly Junk Insect Homes
Tuesday 27, Wednesday 28 and Friday 30 August
11am, 12pm, 2pm and 3pm
Fashion a new home for James’ insect friends once they’ve moved out of the peach, using a selection of the centre's junk materials. 5 and over. £4 per person in addition to Museum entry – please pre-book

James’ Peachy Summer at the Roald Dahl Museum and Story Centre takes place from 20 July – 1 September 2024 and online pre-booked tickets are £9.95 (concessions available). Children under five years old are free of charge. There is a small additional charge for workshops, special events and guided walks.  It is not essential to pre-book a visit and walk-up admissions are always welcome but pre-booking workshops is recommended as they sell out fast. For more information, call 01494 892 192, visit www.roalddahlmuseum.org, or like and follow @roalddahlmuseum on Facebook and Instagram for all the latest news and updates.

Richard Carr caught up with Roald Dahl's widow, Felicity, back in 2009 in the writers back garden in Great Missenden, where so many of his classics were written.