Carve chalk art! -- hands-on activity
Explore ancient art and make your own with this drop-in chalk carving activity! Take inspiration from ancient designs and use flint tools to carve your own ancient artwork.
This hands-on activity is running every day during May half term on a drop-in drop-out basis, ending at 3pm. Suitable for all ages!
Money, Money, Money! -- Roman coins talk
Discover the hidden stories of Roman coins! From emperors and gods to battles and beasts, these ancient treasures reveal the secrets of a mighty empire. Join us for a fun and interactive dive into the world of Roman coinage from numismatist Tony Parry.
Learn to make ancient rope! -- hands on activity
Learn how to make a key tool used in everyday ancient life, from farming and building to sailing and hunting. We’ll be using natural plant fibres to create a simple cord you can use as a bracelet, bookmark, or keyring!
This hands-on activity is running on a drop-in drop-out basis until 3pm. Suitable for all ages!
Become an archaeologist -- hands-on activity
Have a go digging in our archaeology pits with this guided session and see what you can find! Did you know that most of what archaeologists find was once ancient rubbish? From bones to pottery, discover the artefacts left behind from the past, and see what archaeologists can learn from them.
Check the board by the visitor centre for session times.
Romans in Residence
Discover ancient Roman coins this May half term with our free children’s trail around the farm! Can you find all the different types of coins used by the Romans, and work out how much they were worth?
Follow the clues around the farm as you explore our ancient buildings, and find out all about the money that ruled the Roman Empire!
Making pinch pots -- hands-on activity
Have a go making ancient pottery! Get hands-on with clay and learn to make a mini pinch pot while you learn all about how important pottery was to our ancestors.
This hands-on activity is running on a drop-in drop-out basis until 3pm. Suitable for all ages!
Alea iacta est -- win a Roman soldier!
Join us this Monday for the chance to win a prize! We’re celebrating the Roman Empire with our coins trail, so why not add a little Roman soldier too? Roll double sixes to win this little fella, and bring a bit of the Roman Empire home with you.
One roll per group, prizes given on a roll of two sixes (while stocks last).
Storytelling round the fire
Cosy up by the fire in an ancient building to hear tales of adventure, magic, and wisdom from the ancient past. A mix of folktales and original stories, expertly told and suitable for all audiences.
Check the board by the visitor centre for performance times.
Little Legionaries Coin Quest -- free children's trail!
Discover ancient Roman coins this May half term with our free children’s trail around the farm! Can you find all the different types of coins used by the Romans, and work out how much they were worth?
Follow the clues around the farm as you explore our ancient buildings, and find out all about the money that ruled the Roman Empire!
Easter with the Anglo Saxons
Honour the ancient celebration of Ēostre with your ancestors this Easter weekend and welcome back the spring at Butser Ancient Farm. The Anglo-Saxons of Herigeas Hundas will be greeting the new season in honour of the ancient goddess, Ēostre as this special time of year.
Step back in time and meet a Saxon warband! Witness battles and archery displays, try on their armour, see Saxon crafts and creators, explore a living history encampment, and much more...
Explore authentic Saxon halls recreated from real Hampshire archaeology, brought to life by the Saxons of Herigeas Hundas. The weekend will be filled with living history displays from weaving and authentic cooking to wood and leather crafting.
There will also be exciting combat displays throughout the weekend, visitors can come face to face with terrifying warriors as they do battle in the shield wall and come under fire from skilled archers.
All included in regular admission to Butser Ancient Farm. Book online for up to 10% off your tickets!
Have-a-go archery
Come and have a go at archery! Learn this ancient skill used by our ancestors to hunt and fight, and test your mettle with different levels of difficulty!
Overseen by a qualified archery instructor, this is a great opportunity to try out archery.
Minimum age 6+, and weather dependent.
Price: £4 for 5 arrows, payment by card only
Mammoth Monday
Join us on Mondays over Easter for the chance to win a prize! We’re celebrating the Stone Age with our pottery trail, so why not add a little Stone Age mammoth too? Roll double sixes to win this little fella, and bring a bit of the Stone Age home with you.
One roll per group, prizes given on a roll of two sixes (while stocks last).
Meet the Vikings!
The Vikings are here! Explore their encampment as they bring our early medieval meadhalls to life. Discover their weapons, their crafts, and their way of life. Join the Vikings as they march to battle, see them in combat, and get stuck into a craft to make your own mini Viking shield inspired by real designs!
Connect with our past through living history demonstrations and displays with BjarnarFolk, a late 9th Century Viking reenactment group. See the Vikings at work and play, and witness their warriors in combat first hand!
Meet Polly the lamb!
Meet a week-old lamb! Did you know we raise rare breeds of sheep and goats at Butser? You’ll see most of this year’s lambs frolicking in the field, but Polly was sadly rejected by the flock and is being hand-reared until she can be reintroduced safely. Join us weekdays for her lunchtime bottle feed around 12:30 and hear more about the animals at Butser!
Please note timings, location, etc, may be subject to change or cancellation without warning. Polly is a baby animal and her care comes first!
Go Potty for Pottery! -- free children's trail & activities
We’re going potty for pottery this Easter, with a free children’s trail and hands-on clay activity! Discover the intricate designs of prehistoric pottery, come up with your very own, and have a go making it yourself!
Did you know, pottery is one of the most important human inventions in history? They may not seem flashy, but they were crucial in helping us to cook and store food as we turned from hunter-gatherers into farmers. Not only that, but they were works of art, giving us a glimpse into the style of Stone Age artists… Can you design your own pot in a prehistoric style?
Have-a-go archery
Come and have a go at archery! Learn this ancient skill used by our ancestors to hunt and fight, and test your mettle with different levels of difficulty!
Overseen by a qualified archery instructor, this is a great opportunity to try out archery.
Minimum age 6+, and weather dependent. The range will close for lunch between 12pm and 1pm.
Price: £4 for 5 arrows, payment by card only
Storytelling round the fire
Cosy up by the fire in our Great Roundhouse to hear tales of adventure, magic, and wisdom from our ancestors.
A mix of folktales and original stories, expertly told and suitable for all audiences.
Performances at 10:30am and 2:30pm, and last approx 30 mins.
Have-a-go archery
Come and have a go at archery! Learn this ancient skill used by our ancestors to hunt and fight, and test your mettle with different levels of difficulty!
Overseen by a qualified archery instructor, this is a great opportunity to try out archery.
Minimum age 6+, and weather dependent. The range will close for lunch between 12pm and 1pm.
Price: £4 for 5 arrows, payment by card only
Have-a-go archery
Come and have a go at archery! Learn this ancient skill used by our ancestors to hunt and fight, and test your mettle with different levels of difficulty!
Overseen by a qualified archery instructor, this is a great opportunity to try out archery.
Minimum age 6+, and weather dependent. The range will close for lunch between 12pm and 1pm.
Price: £4 for 5 arrows, payment by card only
Storytelling round the fire
Cosy up by the fire in our Great Roundhouse to hear tales of adventure, magic, and wisdom from our ancestors.
A mix of folktales and original stories, expertly told and suitable for all audiences.
Performances at 10:30am and 2:30pm, and last approx 30 mins.
Storytelling round the fire
Cosy up by the fire in our Great Roundhouse to hear tales of adventure, magic, and wisdom from our ancestors.
A mix of folktales and original stories, expertly told and suitable for all audiences.
Performances at 10:30am and 2:30pm, and last approx 30 mins.
Willow star drop-in craft (all week)
Make a decorative star out of willow! Drop-in at any time to learn how to bend and weave willow to create a five-pointed star, and take a pocket out of your day to get hands-on and creative!
Suitable for any and all ages, and included in the price of your admission.
Ancient sun disc pendant drop-in craft (all week)
Get inspired by artefacts found throughout the ancient world, and make your very own sun disc pendant on this drop-in workshop!
Suitable for any and all ages, and included in the price of your admission.
Searching the Skies - family fun trail (all week)
Discover the secrets of the stars as we celebrate the Dark Skies Festival 2025!
Learn all about the stars throughout ancient history as you explore our ancient buildings on this fun family trail.
Follow a starry map to find all seven secret constellations hidden around the farm, and uncover the ancient origins of these patterns in the sky!
Aimed at ages 5 to 12 and included in your admission.