All schoolchildren aged up to 16 years old from the Cumberland area will be able to go for a swim in a choice of five indoor pools for only 10p over the school summer holidays. 

The discounted scheme will be available from next Monday (21 July) until Sunday 31 August and has been put in place by Cumberland Council, with the support of GLL and Wigton Baths Trust. 

The council scheme will offer discounted swimming opportunities throughout the week, including weekends (at some of the venues). 

It will be available at the following leisure sites at allocated times during the school summer holidays:  

• Cockermouth Leisure Centre: Monday to Friday, 1pm - 1.50pm each day. 

• Copeland Pool and Fitness Centre (Whitehaven): Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday: 1pm - 1.50pm. Saturday: 12pm - 12.50pm. Sunday: 10am - 10.50am. 

• The Sands Centre (Carlisle) - between 21 July and Wednesday 3 September. Monday to Friday and Sunday: 10am - 10.50am. 

• Wigton Baths: Monday: 11am - 12pm and 3pm - 4pm. Tuesday: 11.15am - 12.15pm and 4.15pm - 5.15pm. Wednesday: 11.30am - 12.30pm. Thursday: 11am - 1pm.   

• Workington Leisure Centre: week commencing 21 July, Monday to Saturday: 11am - 11.50am. From week commencing 28 July until 31 August Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday:11am - 11.50am. 

With the excitement of the Summer Holidays just around the corner, now is the perfect time to dust off your racket, step onto the court, and get involved in your local tennis community. 

The Barclays Local Tennis Leagues has just launched a brand-new Beginner League at Bitts Park, giving you the perfect chance to get on court and into the game. 

Whether you’re completely new to the game or looking to improve your skills, this league is designed just for you. By signing up, you will be given an ITF World Tennis Number - this number allows you to be matched with opponents of a similar standard, making each match fair, fun, and rewarding.  

The leagues are volunteer-led and open to adults aged 18 and over, with matches taking place year-round in more than 200 parks and public courts nationwide. The new Bitts Park Beginner League offers a welcoming environment for anyone wanting to ease into the sport while still enjoying a bit of healthy competition. 

By signing up, you’ll also unlock some fantastic benefits: 

• LTA Advantage Play+ membership, giving you access to the Wimbledon Ballot 

• LTL coupon prizes just for playing matches (and winning your group!) 

• An ITF World Tennis Number to track your progress 

• Exclusive discounts on leading sports brands 

Download the Barclays Local Tennis Leagues app, create an account, and search for “Bitts Park”. You’ll be able to join a live round or sign up for the waitlist if a new round is starting soon. 

After the great success of the Teenage Market in Carlisle, Cumberland Council is set to bring the market to Maryport for the first time this summer.  

The council is working in partnership with Taste Cumbria and Maryport Horizons CIC to hold the market in the town and to give more young people an opportunity to take part in this fantastic event.   

The ‘Pop-up’ Teenage Market will be held as part of the Taste of the Sea festival which is being held in Maryport across on Saturday 9 and Sunday 10 August.   

Open to anyone aged between 8 and 25 years the Teenage Market offers young people the opportunity to try a business idea and gain experience of making, selling and marketing their own products in a risk-free environment. A gazebo and table are provided and set up for traders on the day, all they have to do is bring themselves and the products they are selling. 

Photo credit: Joseph Robinson 

Did you know? The HAF Programme offers FREE holiday activities and meals for eligible families. 

Your child qualifies if they receive means-tested free school meals. 

The new booking system is now LIVE – book your child’s space today and give them a summer to remember! 

The Holiday Activity and Food (HAF) programme is funded by the Department of Education (DfE).  In Cumbria, the programme is manged by Cumberland Council and Westmorland and Furness Council. 

The programme provides fully funded activities and meals during the school holidays for eligible children and young people.   

Whitehaven Harbour HAF Sessions 

Suitable for aged 7 to 13 

Get ready for an unforgettable summer with 16 action-packed activity sessions! Dive into creative arts & crafts, including Claymation, and enjoy thrilling sports including archery & climbing. Exciting trips to the Rum Story, Beacon Museum, Lakes Wildlife Park, and Escape Rooms. Outdoor adventures feature orienteering, canoeing, ghyll scrambling, beach days, a scenic walk around Buttermere, and an adventure to Rydal Caves. Each session includes a tasty packed lunch and snacks to keep the energy flowing. 

Fancy something that's fun, free and fabulous for the whole family? 

You can create a work of art, play rugby, feed the kids and get invaluable advice all in the same day this summer, at Cumberland Council’s free Wellbeing Festival. 

The Whitehaven event is hosted by the council’s Social Prescribing team, with support from funders, partners and around 70 organisations who will be there on the day. 

The Whitehaven Rugby League Club’s Recreation Ground, on Coach Road, is the location, and the festival will take place on Friday, August 8, from 10am until 3pm. 

Family-friendly attractions include bouncy castles, a climbing wall, animals to meet, craft activities, face painting, and mini trampolines. 

People can spray paint their own piece of art, meet the emergency services or have a go at rugby with the professionals. Active Cumbria will be running sessions in various fun physical activities throughout the day. 

Or why not bring a blanket, relax on the grass and enjoy the street entertainers? All children will receive free food, with a great choice including vegan. 

There will also be a large number of organisations on hand to offer support with a range of issues including finances, loneliness, mental and physical wellbeing and much more. 

A full timetable of events will be available on the day, and more will be revealed on the council’s social media channels as the event approaches. 

Get ready for a splash of fun this summer at Rosehill Theatre with Splat!, a hilarious outdoor physical comedy and clowning show perfect for young children and the grown-ups who love to giggle alongside them. On Thursday 31 July at 2pm, join the vibrant world of two very different painters — one calm and careful, the other wild and wonderfully chaotic — as they collide in a colourful artist’s studio.  

Full of slapstick humour, playful clowning, and joyful mess-making, Splat! celebrates creativity and collaboration without a single word spoken, making it a delightful experience for deaf and hearing audiences alike. If the weather doesn’t cooperate, don’t worry — the show will move indoors so the fun goes on rain or shine. 

Alongside these lively performances, explore a range of relaxed, family-friendly creative workshops from Handpicked Productions. Led by professional artists, these sessions offer opportunities for all ages to engage in art and theatre, nurturing imagination and creative confidence throughout the summer holidays. 

As the summer holidays roll in, Kirkgate Arts is buzzing with exciting events and creative activities for all ages. This August, to mark its 30th anniversary, Kirkgate presents a special Film Festival from 18 July to 17 August, featuring a handpicked selection of films connected to the local area. From timeless favourites like Swallows and Amazons and Miss Potter to the musical story of The Story of Fleetwood Mac, there’s something for everyone to enjoy. 

Alongside the festival, don’t miss the Kirkgate Monthly Market on 26 July and 23 August, where you can browse crafts, plants, books, and delicious treats—all while supporting local makers and sellers. 

Families can dive into creativity with a Block Printing Workshop on 9 August, exploring colourful patterns and printing techniques in a fun, hands-on session led by Market Place Print Studio. 

And to round off the summer, the Ultimate Bubble Show on 29 August promises dazzling bubble sculptures and high-energy fun with Ray, a Guinness World Record-holding bubble artist, who’ll amaze audiences with incredible bubble feats including a tornado inside a bubble! 

Nestled where the Lake District’s mountains meet the sea, Muncaster Castle offers over 800 years of history and charm, still lovingly cared for by the Pennington family. Wander through enchanting woodland gardens bursting with rare plants and wildlife, and step inside the castle’s ancient walls filled with fascinating stories — and perhaps a ghost or two! 

Visitors can marvel at daily flying displays at the Hawk & Owl Centre, where majestic birds of prey swoop gracefully through the gardens. Muncaster will also be celebrating 10 years of their Hawk & Owl Centre on Saturday 19 July.

For the adventurous, the Weapons Hall invites all ages to try their hand at medieval archery, swordplay, and axe throwing, while younger guests can enjoy playgrounds and family activities. 

They have lots of events taking place over the summer including Three Inch Fools outdoor theatre performance of A Midsummer Nights Dream on Sunday 20 July, Their regular Open Mic night on Friday 8 August and Krankenhaus Festival taking place from 22 to 24 August plus plenty more.

This July, the National Trust is bringing family fun to Whitehaven’s Haig Pit Car Park with two exciting Play Trail events. On the 22 and 23 July, from 12pm to 4.30pm, the seaside fields will be filled with games and sports equipment suitable for all ages. Whether you’ve never picked up a badminton racket or tried volleyball before, friendly helpers will be on hand to get everyone playing. Set against the stunning backdrop of wildflower meadows and the blue sea, it’s the perfect spot to relax on a blanket between games and spot butterflies in the tall grass. 

The following weekend, on the 29 and 30 July from 12pm to 4pm, the National Trust invites families to join local artists for a Creative Play Trail through the wildlife meadows near Haig Pit. Follow the trail, make crafts inspired by nature, and enjoy the summer scenery. Bring a picnic to soak up the views or take a leisurely walk through the vibrant wildflower meadows.

In partnership with TENT from Rosehill Arts on Wednesday 20 August from 12pm to 4pm, join local artists for an afternoon of creativity in the coastal grasslands near Haig Pit with a trail to follow and crafts to make, let your imagination run wild and free this summer.

All events are free to attend with no booking required and form part of the National Trust’s Summer of Play, sponsored by Starling Bank. 

This summer, Carlisle United Community Sports Trust is bringing gymnastics and football camps to locations across Cumbria. Whether your child is in Carlisle, Cockermouth, Keswick, Maryport, Whitehaven, or Wigton, there’s a camp nearby to keep them active and having fun during the holidays. 

Book your child onto the Soccer Schools or Gymnastics and Dance Camps for an unforgettable summer where they will develop their skills in a fun, safe, and supportive environment. 

Plus, families can take advantage of the Kellogg’s Football Camps promotion to claim a free day on selected football camps.  

Get ready for an unforgettable adventure every Tuesday from 22 July to 19 August with the Roman Soldier School at the Roman Army Museum. 

Discover the skills Roman soldiers needed as you gear up with your unit and learn to march like a true legionary. Test your agility by tackling the cavalry obstacle course on your mighty steed and sharpen your aim with archery target practice. Think you have what it takes to join the Roman Army? Enroll as a new recruit and receive a special prize to mark your achievement! 

Before exploring the museum, don’t forget to grab a photo with your regiment and pick up a free museum trail to dive deeper into what life was like for soldiers serving on the ancient frontier. 

Plus, on 24 July from 11am to 4pm, join a family-friendly archery event overlooking the ancient Roman Fort of Magna. Take your best shot and see if you can match the accuracy of Roman soldiers! 

Get ready for a whirlwind of fun as the critically acclaimed Pantaloons Theatre Company brings their anarchic and uproarious style to Talkin Tarn with a frantic rendition of Shakespeare’s greatest tragedy — Hamlet on Thursday 31 July at 7pm. 

When Hamlet discovers his uncle has murdered his father, married his mother, and stolen the throne of Denmark, his only option is to feign madness, deliver plenty of dramatic monologues, and seek swift revenge. But fate — and outrageous fortune — have other plans for the troubled Prince of Denmark! 

This lively performance features live music, audience interaction, cleverly abridged scenes for maximum hilarity, comic turns, and unexpected twists. 

Celebrate 150 years of steam-powered memories with a one-of-a-kind experience on the Ravenglass and Eskdale Railway. As part of the anniversary festivities, families are invited to join the Anniversary Train & Guided Walk on Saturday 24 May—a perfect blend of heritage, scenery, and hands-on discovery. 

Hop aboard a chartered private steam train for a return journey along this stunning seven-mile route—around 40 minutes each way—through the heart of the Lake District. Along the way, enjoy entry to the Ravenglass Railway Museum, where history comes to life for all ages. 

The adventure continues at Dalegarth Station, where you’ll set off on a guided walk to the charming village of Boot. With expert guides leading the way, it’s a fantastic chance for families to explore the landscape, learn local stories, and stretch their legs in a beautiful setting. 

Don’t miss this unforgettable journey through time—ideal for railway enthusiasts, walkers, and families looking for something extra special this May Half Term.