Dean Heritage Centre

02/11/2026

🎅✨ It’s never too early to book your visit with Father Christmas! 🎄

Make Christmas feel that little bit more magical this year with a special visit to Father Christmas at the Dean Heritage Centre.

Each child’s ticket includes:

🎁 A special gift
🎅 A personal visit with Father Christmas
🎄 Entry to the site
✂️ Christmas crafts in the Craft Hut
🧝 A festive elf scavenger hunt

Visits are booked in 10-minute time slots with a maximum of just two children per slot, making the experience feel much more personal and relaxed.

When you book, you can even tell us your child’s name, age and interests, so Father Christmas can be ready for their visit. ✨

🎟️ £17.25 per child
📍 Dean Heritage Centre, Soudley
📅 Multiple December dates and times available

If meeting Father Christmas is part of your family’s Christmas tradition, booking early means you’ll have the best choice of dates and times.

🎄 Come and make some lovely Christmas memories with us this December.

👉 View all available dates and book here:

All of our upcoming events are listed here - to find out more please select the event you are interested in from the list below.

01/11/2026

Could your experience help shape the future of the Dean Heritage Centre? 🌿

We’re looking for new Trustees to join the Dean Heritage Museum Trust and help guide the future of this much-loved local museum.

You don’t need previous Trustee experience, we provide induction training and welcome people of all ages and backgrounds.

We’re especially keen to hear from people with experience in:
🏗️ Construction Project Management
💷 Fundraising
👥 Human Resources

The role is voluntary and usually involves around eight Board meetings each year.
If you care about the Forest of Dean and would like to use your skills to make a real difference, we’d love to hear from you.

📧 Contact Iain Baird at [email protected]

30/10/2026

🧐 Found something unusual and always wondered what it is?

Maybe it was dug up in the garden.
Picked up on a walk.
Found tucked away in an old box.
Or perhaps it’s just something that’s had you saying, “What on earth is this?” 👀

Bring it along to our Archaeological Finds Day at the Dean Heritage Centre on Saturday 14 November and let an expert take a look.

We’ll be joined by Kurt Adams, Finds Liaison Officer for Gloucestershire, who will help identify your discovery where possible — and, if appropriate, it could even become part of the archaeological record.

The Dean Archaeology Group will also be joining us with a display of some of their latest finds, all excavated here in the Forest of Dean. You’ll even have the chance to get a closer look and handle a selection of items.

📅 Saturday 14 November
⏰ 10am–3pm
📍 Dean Heritage Centre, Soudley

Whether you’re a local history enthusiast, a budding archaeologist or simply have something mysterious sitting at home, come along and discover the stories hiding beneath our feet. 🏺✨

So… what have you found? 👀

More information:
https://www.deanheritagecentre.org/event-details-registration/archaeological-finds-day

Found something unusual in your garden? Picked up an interesting object while out walking and always wondered what it might be?

29/10/2026

🌿 You’re invited to the Dean Heritage Museum Trust AGM
Our Annual General Meeting takes place on Thursday 12th November 2026 at 7:00 pm at the Dean Heritage Centre.
It’s a chance to hear more about what’s been happening at the Centre over the past year, the progress that has been made, and the plans and priorities that will help shape its future.
Whether you’re a Member, supporter, volunteer or simply someone who cares about protecting and celebrating the Forest of Dean’s heritage, we’d love you to join us.
📅 Thursday 12th November 2026
🕖 7:00 pm
📍 Dean Heritage Centre
To help us make sure we have enough seating and refreshments, please let us know if you’re planning to attend.
📞 01594 822170
📧 [email protected]
Come along, hear what’s next and be part of the future of our local heritage. 🌳

29/10/2026

📺 Dean Heritage Centre is on BBC Points West tonight!

We’re very excited to share that BBC Points West will be featuring the Dean Heritage Centre’s Home Guard story tonight at 6.30pm.

It’s wonderful to see an important piece of local history being given a wider audience and a perfect reminder of why preserving documents, memories and stories from the Forest of Dean matters so much.

A huge thank you to Bill Ackland, who donated his Home Guard document to the Centre. Contributions like this help us protect and share the stories of local people for generations to come. 💚

📺 Watch BBC Points West tonight at 6.30pm and keep an eye out for the Dean Heritage Centre!

You can also read more about the story here:
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cr93zjw0q8jjo

We’d love to know if you spot us, let us know in the comments! 👀

The typewritten pages show insight into how Home Guard officers in the Forest of Dean were trained.

28/10/2026

🎃👻 Make a proper Halloween day of it at the Dean Heritage Centre!

If you’re still making plans for Friday 30 or Saturday 31 October, we’ve got TWO brilliantly spooky activities happening at the Centre.

Start with Pumpkin Carving 🎃
Choose your pumpkin, get creative and carve your own spooky, silly or spectacular design to take home ready for Halloween.

🎃 £5 per pumpkin
⏰ 30-minute sessions
👻 Only 4 pumpkins per session

Then head to the Heritage Coffee Shop for our Monster Tea Party. 🧁🧪

Expect a wonderfully creepy spread including:

🥪 Witch’s Finger Sandwiches
🍰 Creepy Cakes
🧁 Scary Scones
🍬 Squeamish Sweet Treats
🧪 Magical Potion Drinks

Fancy dress is definitely encouraged too, so little witches, monsters, ghosts and ghouls can fully embrace the Halloween fun. 👻

📅 Friday 30 & Saturday 31 October
📍 Dean Heritage Centre, Soudley

🎟️ Pumpkin Carving: £5 per pumpkin
🎟️ Monster Tea Party: £25 per family of four or £8 per person

Why choose between getting creative and having a spooky treat when you can do both? 🎃🍰

Book Via What's On Page on the website

24/10/2026

🎃 TOMORROW = PUMPKIN CARVING DAY! 👻

If you’re still looking for something fun to do with the kids this Sunday, come and get creative at the Dean Heritage Centre.

Choose your pumpkin, roll up your sleeves and carve your own spooky, silly or spectacular design to take home ready for Halloween. 🎃✨

Will you go for…

👻 A classic scary face?
😂 Something completely ridiculous?
🎨 Or a pumpkin masterpiece worthy of the mantelpiece?

Sessions run in 30-minute slots from 10.30am–1pm, with a maximum of just 4 pumpkins per session, so booking ahead is recommended.

🎃 £5 per pumpkin
📅 Sunday 25 October
📍 Dean Heritage Centre, Soudley

And because we’re open all week for half-term, you can make a proper day of it, explore the Centre, enjoy the Gruffalo Trail and stop by the Heritage Coffee Shop too.

Who’s ready to create the spookiest pumpkin in the Forest? 👀

🎟️ Book your carving slot by following the link in the comments (select your time slot in the top right of the event page)

22/10/2026

Thank you, Jan Raku, for your wonderful five-star review! We’re delighted to hear you enjoyed the Dean Heritage Centre and the stunning surrounding area. There’s so much to discover in this beautiful part of the world—we hope to welcome you back again soon.

16/10/2026

🎄STALLHOLDERS WANTED – CHRISTMAS MARKET🎄

We’re looking for local businesses, makers, artists and creatives to join us for our Christmas Market Weekend at the Dean Heritage Centre.

📅 Saturday 21st & Sunday 22nd November
⏰ 10am–4pm
📍 Dean Heritage Centre

If you create or sell handmade gifts, artwork, crafts, festive products, homeware, treats or something a little different, we’d love to hear from you.

It’s a great opportunity to showcase your business, meet local customers and be part of a festive weekend celebrating independent businesses and creatives.

🎁 Interested in having a stall?

Apply here:

https://forms.gle/MQKcDKHomzWKWbhJ8

Please feel free to tag or share with any local businesses, makers or creatives who might be interested. 🎄✨

Dean Heritage Centre Weekend Christmas Market - 21st and 22nd of November 10:00-16:00 Please note that this is for both days