Maidenhead Beach at Norden Farm

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Travel to Norden-on-Sea for a journey of discovery this Summer

The train is pulling into the station at Norden-by-Sea. All aboard the Norden Express this summer at Norden Farm Centre for the Arts as a vintage inspired beach sets the scene for the timeless joy of playing on the sand at the great British seaside.

The Maidenhead Beach opens on Friday 25 July. It is then open from 11am on Tuesdays - Saturdays until Saturday 6 September (exc Tues 19 - Wed 27 Aug). Free entry.

In Norden Farm’s 25th anniversary year, the venue nods to the 200th anniversary of the railway. Travel to Norden-on-Sea for a journey of discovery. The beach is designed to encourage children and families to come together in real time, relax, play and exercise their imaginations.

During the day there are lots of activities for children and families. Free activities include a treasure hunt around the building and making mandala feathers which will form wings for the Kite Festival on Sunday 31 August. There are also board games, books and colouring sheets in the Café Bar to keep little ones entertained.

Dive into Colour! is a free sensory chill out space in the Gallery. The interactive installation has been created with local schools and community groups. It is a calming counterpoint to the excitement of the rest of The Beach.

Throughout the summer, Beach Crafts are a fun and easy way to get creative. Crafts include Wooden Train Decorations, Sand Art, Bubble Wrap Painting and Mini Peg Puppets. Beach Crafts are £6 per participant.

For families looking for something more immersive, creative summer camps are the perfect opportunity for youngsters try something new. Circus Camp from Tuesday 29 July - Friday 1 August is led by And Circus. It’s the chance to enjoy four days of learning incredible circus skills.

Art Camp is an art adventure led by artist Lucy Carpenter from Tuesday 5 August - Friday 8 August. And make a play in 4 days at Theatre Camp, led by Sideways Drama from Tuesday 12 August - Friday 15 August

All family films are Relaxed and include screenings of Lilo & Stitch (U), A Minecraft Movie (PG), How To Train Your Dragon (PG), Elio (U), Peppa Meets the Baby Cinema Experience (U), Smurfs (U) and The Bad Guys 2 (PG).

Family shows include Professor Slug’s House of Bugs on Tuesday 29 July and Wednesday 30 July at 11.30am. Professor Slug is an eccentric expert on invertebrates who helps bugs out with their buggy problems – can you help too?

Garlic Theatre bring 3 Little Pig Tails on Friday 1 August and Saturday 2 August. This fresh and funny version of the classic story of the three little pigs is set in Paris, where a grumpy old wolf is a chef who wants some pigs' tails for his soup.

And Percy is a puffling who loves his burrow a little too much in Puffling Percy on Tuesday 5 August, Wednesday 6 August and Thursday 7 August. Map and Pap want him to venture outside and flap his wings, but Percy has other ideas.

For the adults, there are free Summer Beach Gigs in the evening.

In the evening, there are free live music gigs. The line up includes Fifi la Mer and Oliver Wilby on Saturday 26 July, with a selection of French music including works from Edith Piaf, Charles Trennet, Django Reinhardt and Serge Gainsbourg. The Windsor Ukulele Band perform on Friday 1 August, with Alex Hutton on Saturday 6 August and Retini Dunleavy on Saturday 9 August.

Bracknell’s indie rock rebel Abi Powell performs on Thursday 28 August. She has been rocking stages big and small for over 13 years, with her husky, soulful sound. Alfie Paradise is an 18 year old musician bringing his energetic mix of acoustic pop and rock on Friday 29 August.

Finally on Saturday 30 August Jazz Deluxe bring swing, ballads and Latin standards. Featuring renditions of Fly Me to the Moon, Lullaby of Birdland and Old Devil Moon. All Beach gigs are 6pm – 9pm.

Find out more about the Maidenhead Beach at Norden Farm here.