Fantastic Mr Fox, nationwide

Read the book? Seen the movie? Time now to take the kids to the live show of Fantastic Mr Fox. Following their successful production of James and the Giant Peach last year, the open-air touring group Illyria Theatre Company is staging a creative, interactive stage version of the Roald Dahl classic at various outdoor locations around the country, from gardens to castles to farms, throughout August. Will Mr Fox outwit the cruel farmers?
• Prices vary according to location. For a full listing and booking information visit illyria.uk.com

Merlin Festival, Carmarthen

With a history stretching back more than 2,000 years, Carmarthen claims to be Wales' oldest town. On 13 August the town centre will be transformed into a magical medieval haven with live music, story telling and roving entertainers. Also on the programme are arts and crafts workshops, free face painting, a wizard academy and Epico the Dragon will be prowling the streets.
• discovercarmarthenshire.com, free, 10am-5pm

The Great Garden Adventure, Wisley, Surrey

Fancy testing out your youngsters' green fingers? Until 31 August you can join in the Great Garden Adventure at Wisley, which is run by the Royal Horticultural Society. With special events happening in the garden daily, there is something going on for all ages. Arts and crafts include making an adventures map and magical hat, while budding gardeners can join in the sowing and growing herb workshop. Or pack them off with their favourite teddy to the teddy bears' picnic. No need to book – just drop in.
• rhs.org.uk/wisley, adults £10.90, children (6-16) £3.90, no extra charge for events

Sherlock Holmes Weekend, Telford, Shropshire

Do you have an amateur sleuth or budding detective in the family? Then head to the Ironbridge Gorge Museum during its Sherlock Holmes detective weekend, on 13-14 August when you will be helping Sherlock and Watson solve a curious case of stolen treasure, which has taken place at Blists Hill Victorian Town. There's also a chance to test your detective skills: learn how to take finger prints, print and match plaster casts of footprints to shoes. Holmes himself will be on hand to discuss the crime.
• Coach Road, Coalbrookdale, ironbridge.org.uk. Adults £22.50, children £14.75, family of four £61.50

Bodiam Castle's Medieval Weekend, East Sussex

Catch a gruesome battle, have a go at archery, get pelted in cannon paint balling and watch jousting displays ... kids can travel back to the 14th century at Bodiam Castle's Medieval Weekender. On 13 and 14 August, the Medieval Siege Society will perform mock battles, the Knights of Arkley will be performing twice a day (noon and 2:45pm) while younger kids can try their hand at children's crossbow and decorate their own shield. You can enjoy an array of medieval games and listen to the various castle characters giving tours of the castle.
• nationaltrust.org.uk/bodiamcastle, adults/children/family £12.33/£6.17/£33.15 for combined ticket, £5.78/£2.89/£15.30 for castle only, or £7.23/£3.62/£19.55 for event only

All the fun of the circus, Stoke-on-Trent

The canalside Emma Bridgewater factory – it's the one that produces the distinctive spotty pottery – is running various circus-themed activities throughout the summer, including face-painting, mask-making and circus skills workshops. Children arriving in fancy dress will get free time in the pottery studio. Next week (8-12 August) they will be running puppet-making classes (ring the shop for details of following weeks), and on the August bank holiday weekend (27-29) there'll be a barbecue in the courtyard.
• Lichfield Street, Hanley, 01782 201328, emmabridgewater.co.uk, open 9.30am-5.30pm. Until 4 September

Various activities, Northern Ireland

Starting on 7 August and running on Sundays throughout the month, Cotton Court and Saint Anne's Square will be given over to circus performers, acrobatics and jugglers as part of Belfast's Festival of Fools. The free shows will start at 2pm (Cotton Court) and 4pm (Saint Anne's Square). In Derry, Gasyard Wall Féile, the city's largest community arts festival, will feature more than 100 events from carnival to sport, fun days and lectures until 14 August. Meanwhile, in Cusehndall on the Antrim coast, the Heart of the Glens festival (6-14 August) will offer more fun-filled days, from the chance to dress up for the Theme Street night, a treasure hunt and the grand finale – a big street party called the Ireland Longest Waves of Tory.
• Belfast: foolsfestival.com. Derry: nireland.com/gasyard.feile. Cusehndall: glensfestival.com

Trains, trams and automobiles, Glasgow

Glasgow's recently opened Riverside Museum on the River Clyde is Iraqi-British architect Zaha Hadid's first major building in the UK. Incorporating the existing Museum of Transport, visitors can hop on vintage trains, cars and trams, and enjoy street theatre and circus performers. On Sunday 8 August, the Scottish Austin 7s Car Club will be bringing a selection of pre-war cars to the museum for the day. Kids can jump on board the Genlee, a three-masted barque that has circumnavigated the globe four times since first setting sail in 1896 and is now moored next to the museum. The tall ship offers plenty of fun for little pirates, including maritime themed activities, an under-5s play area and costume volunteer days.
• 0141-287 2720, glasgowlife.org.uk, free admission. Tall Ship (0141-357 3699, thetallship.com) adults £5, one child goes free per paying adult, additional children £3

Bridges Festival, Newcastle

Head to the riverside on 13-14 August to enjoy a range of maritime activities, part of a new free festival celebrating the history, heritage and culture of the NewcastleGateshead quayside, the River Tyne and the seven bridges which connect the two. At the nautical photo booth kids can dress up as pirates; there's a quayside "beach" and a mini model boat regatta. In the evening, sit back and relax on the riverbanks as a decorated showboat pontoon makes its way down the Tyne and fireworks light up Swing Bridge and Gateshead Millennium Bridge, or eat at the open-air pop-up restaurant, where the "captain" will entertain diners with tales of the river.
• 0191-440 5720, newcastlegateshead.com

Beach wildlife events, Rye, Kent

Fancy a day pottering along the seashore and exploring a castle? Rye Harbour Nature Reserve is running a different kids' activity almost every day in August, so bring your nets and explore the shallows at low tide (10 August, 2pm). Or make natural art in the sand with pebbles and shells (25 August, 2pm). If you've got any history buffs in your family, how about a guided walk through the Nature Reserve to look inside Camber Castle – one of Henry VIII's fortifications? (11 August, 10am). Check out the events section of the website for lots more activities.
• 01797 227784, wildrye.info