Today

1 Alton Arts presents David Jacques speaking on Mesolithic Blick Mead, from 7.30pm, today in the Coronation Hall, Alton Barnes, Pewsey. Professor David Jacques, winner of the 2018 most prestigious archaeology award in this country for his pioneering work at Stonehenge, will chat about the Stonehenge landscape which is one of the most famous prehistoric places in the world, but he will explain how much about its origins still remains a mystery. Now, the discovery of a uniquely long-lived Mesolithic occupation site at Blick Mead addresses new questions at a time when the Stonehenge Tunnel project threatens to cause immense damage to the area. Tickets are £8.50 for each talk, or £20 for all three. www.altonsandhoneystreet.org.uk £8.50 each talk, or £20 for all three of the Alton Arts presentations. For more details call 01672 852265.

2 The World Premiere of a brand-new stage adaptation of the classic thriller Dracula, takes place today at 7.30pm, in the Everyman Theatre, Regent Street, Cheltenham. Completely re- imagined by a world-class creative team from London's West End and Broadway, Dracula, the iconic Vampire thriller that started them all is a new multi-sensory stage adaptation of Bram Stoker's book. Dracula is brought to irresistible life in a contemporary and boundary pushing interpretation that includes all the definitive characters and spine-chilling fear as well as breathtaking illusions. Emotionally fulfilling, utterly terrifying, spell-bindingly addictive. Tickets are £22 - £33 from 01242 572573.

3 Lydiard Park is a beautiful historic estate on the western edge of Swindon, with the Palladian House, Church and Walled Garden, set in 260 acres of parkland. Open today and all weekend is the children's play area at Lydiard Park, one of Swindon's favourite family destinations. With colourful, state-of-the-art play and climbing equipment suitable for children of all ages, there's lots of fun to be had climbing, swinging and sliding. Explore the Triaction Special - a huge climbing frame with masses of slides and poles to go down and climb the Giant Octonet with its intricate maze of rope ladders. We have installed sensory panels to add a different experience for all children using the play area. These include a woodland finger maze, ladder rattle and rain wheel. There is a dedicated play area for toddlers, with special equipment to enjoy swinging, climbing and sliding. Both play areas are located next to the Forest Cafe and park toilets. The aerial adventure play area next door is managed by Jungle Parc. While we endeavour to provide a fully working and safe play area for our visitors, a small portion of the equipment is unavailable due to regular and ongoing maintenance. Please bear with us during these repairs. We apologise for any inconveniences. https://www.lydiardpark.org.uk

Saturday

4 The UK's first Computer Museum, showing games consoles, computers, calculators, robots and toys is based in the Swindon town centre with lots of hands-on machines to have fun tomorrow. The Museum of Computing The Museum of Computing is devoted to the history of computing and digital development. It was the first physical museum of its kind in the UK dedicated to the history of computing. Items on display range from vintage handheld video games and antique typewriters through to Robots Revolution exhibits with state of the art technology involved.The Museum is not simply a repository of artefacts but has active displays, as well as providing a forum for the provision of lectures. There is a mixture of permanent and temporary displays, many exhibits of which have been loaned by companies and other collectors. Please note the limited opening hours to check on https://www.museumofcomputing.org.uk/

5 Pots and Paintings 2018, 10.30am, Westonbirt The National Arboretum, (A433 three miles south east of Tetbury), Tetbury. After a year’s absence, the Eeles family of potters return for another exciting show of their wide range of handmade ceramics. All pots are individually decorated with a variety of slips, glazes and colours that are prepared by themselves, with extensive testing and firing, to produce the complete range of textures and patterns that makes the Eeles’ pottery so sought after. They are joined by two local artists, Gill Ashley and Jenny Riley. Gill works in acrylics, oil and watercolour, taking the subject matter as her inspiration for the style of representation. She has work in Canada, USA, Australia and Europe. Jenny paints mainly landscapes in a variety of media and also takes commissions for these and for animal portraits. and for the young ones pick up a James and the Giant Peach Adventure Kit, based on Roald Dahl's best selling book James and the Giant Peach, from the Westonbirt Shop and set out on your very own quest through the arboretum to discover your own insect friends, and learn all about their amazing habitats! The kit contains everything a budding human bean needs for an adventure, including: Natural cotton drawstring bag, Activity book and pencil, Cardboard folding binoculars, A collecting tray and measuring grid, Magnifying glass, Sticker sheet and ID card. For more details call 01842 814612.

6 Bollynaach student presentation of Bollywood dance and drama takes place tomorrow from 5.30pm, in MECA, Regent Circus, Swindon. BollyNaach offers dance classes for children and adults in Indian Dance, Bollywood Dance, Indian Classical Dances, Bharatnatyam, Odissi, Kathak, Belly Dance, Bhangra, Belly Dance, Kuthu Dance, South Indian style dance, Garba, Folk, Ballroom Dance, Yoga, Bollywood Dance Fitness, and more. The dancers and performances showcase the culture and heritage of India as well as infuse positive energy into dance and drama. Bollywood dancing, a synonym of modern Indian dancing is a combination of classical Indian dance, folk dancing sometimes has a Latino,Salsa and Arabic influence.Learning Hindi dance steps giving students tremendous fun and it is very expressive. All ages and levels welcome to the classes. Tickets to the Swindon Bollynaach showcase are £6. Under 10s free from 0844 579 3322

7 Meet the Railway Workers takes place fortnightly on Saturdays at Steam Railway Museum,, Firefly Avenue, Rodbourne, Swindon. Whatever your age, our friendly team of volunteers will add to the Steam experience as you tour the museum. They will welcome families aboard three famous locomotives: No. 4073 Caerphilly Castle, No. 3717 City of Truro, and No. 6000 King George V! You'll even get to find out how the controls worked on the great engines! Expect to hear some fascinating anecdotes of what it was like to be a GWR engine driver, fireman or labourer; or an engineer, craftsman or office worker at one of the 'Shops' inside GWR's Swindon Works. Our volunteers are happy to help with any questions you may have about the GWR locomotives and artefacts we have on display at Steam. This great experience is free with standard admission and for Steam Season Ticket holders.

8 The ATBShop Skate Warehouseis a fun place to take the kids on a wet or dry day. There are sessions for all ages and abilities on Saturday. The park based at Unit 1 Newcombe Drive, Hawksworth Ind Estate, is ideal for anyone wanting to scoot, skateboard or use inline skates. You can either use your own equipment or hire out kit here in the park. We also have a large garden with another ramp out the back and also a slacklining facility. We have fantastic facility's here. We have clean toilets, free parking, a cafe serving teas, lattes and cappuccinos and hot and cold snacks. Parents can stay and watch their children on the ramps or if they are 8 years and above they can be left with our child friendly team. The indoor park has a fantastic shop full of parts for skateboards, scooters and slacklining equipment. We are open 7 days a week but please check times and opening hours before travelling. Suitable for ages: Older Children (9-12) and Teenagers (13-18) 01793 523244

Sunday

9 On Sunday the Coate Water Railway chuffs into action from 11am at Coate Water Country Park, off Marlborough Road A4259, in Swindon. The miniature railway tootles through the woods of Coate Water Country Park on nearly a mile of dual gauge track at ground level. You can ride on coaches suitable for all the family and there is a special coach that will take a wheelchair or mobility scooter and carer. Tickets are £2 per ride no age limit. For more details call 07710 515 507. Other interests at Coate Water Country Park is the fact that the area has Mesolithic, Neolithic, Bronze Age, Iron Age, Romano-British and Medieval history that spans a period of 7000 years or more. The oldest known ancient monuments at Coate are the undated stone circle and the Bronze Age burial mounds along Day House Lane. Further Middle Bronze Age cremations, a possible pond barrow, and two large ring ditches have been found on the opposite side of the small Day Brook valley. A large, regionally significant Mesolithic flint scatter, with some topologically late artifacts, is also present c.150m south west of Coate Stone Circle. Six stone circles were recorded in the 18th/19th and early 20th centuries, all in the Coate area, and possibly linked, at least in part, by avenues of large sarsen stones. The remains of one of the stone circles probably still lies at the bottom of the lake at Coate Water.

10 A family day out to the Wilts & Berks Canal is a both a fun day out in the fresh air and informative as the canal that runs through the historic counties of Wiltshire and Berkshire, England, linking the Kennet and Avon Canal at Semington, near Melksham, to the River Thames at Abingdon, has a font of historical knowledge and enthralling stories in its past. The North Wilts Canal merged with the Kennet and Avon to become a branch to the Thames and Severn Canal at Latton near Cricklade. Among professional trades boatmen, the canal was nicknamed the Ippey Cut, possibly short for Chippenham. The 52-mile (84 km) canal was opened in 1810, but abandoned in 1914 – a fate hastened by the collapse of Stanley aqueduct in 1901. Much of the canal subsequently became unnavigable: many of the structures were deliberately damaged by army demolition exercises; parts of the route were filled in and in some cases built over. In 1977 the Wilts & Berks Canal Amenity Group was formed with a view to full restoration of the canal. Several locks and bridges have since been restored, and over 8 miles (13 km) of the canal have been rewatered. There are also public trips on the restored canal about Dragon Fly on Saturdays, Sundays & Bank Holidays until the end of the summer. Trips depart from Kingshill at 10.30, 11.45, 13.30 & 14.45. Trips cost £5 for adults and £2 for children over 2 years old. 07401 220076 or preferably e-mail the team at boat.bookings@wbct.org.uk