Dean Heritage Centre

28/08/2026

WE ARE OPEN!

Thanks to our amazing site manager we are open and looking forward to our Wind Chime crafts today.

27/08/2026

🚨 URGENT NOTICE – TEMPORARY CLOSURE 🚨

Unfortunately, due to flooding, the Dean Heritage Centre and Heritage Coffee Shop have had to close immediately today for the safety of our visitors, volunteers and staff.

We’re very sorry for the short notice and for any inconvenience this may cause, particularly if you were planning to visit us this afternoon.

Please do not travel to the Centre today.

We’ll share further updates as soon as we can regarding reopening.

Thank you so much for your understanding and support. ❤️

Please share this post to help us spread the word.

26/08/2026

Make something beautiful together this Friday 🌸

There’s still time to squeeze another creative adventure into the summer holidays.

On Friday morning, children visiting the Dean Heritage Centre can make their own beaded wind chime using natural materials, colourful beads and little bells.

They’ll leave with something they’ve made themselves and can hang outside at home. 💛

📍 Dean Heritage Centre, Camp Mill, Soudley
📅 Friday 28 August
⏰ 10am–1pm

Adults need to remain with children during the session.

Take a look at the event details here:

Children will be creating their very own beautiful beaded wind chime. Using some natural items, beads and bells, once completed, they can be hung outside.

24/08/2026

🏴‍☠️ Looking for something FREE to do with the kids this Wednesday?

Pirates are taking over the Dean Heritage Centre on Wednesday 26th August, and there’s plenty for little adventurers to get stuck into!

From 11am–2pm, families can:
⚓ Make their own model pirate ship
🌊 Test whether it can sail on the mill pond with the Centre’s pirate crew
🗺️ Follow the treasure hunt trail and solve clues around the site
🏴‍☠️ Explore the museum, woodland and everything else the Centre has to discover
And the best bit?

The activities are FREE, entry to the museum is FREE and there’s no need to book.
So if you’re wondering how to fill one of the last Wednesdays of the summer holidays, grab your little pirates and head to the Forest of Dean for an adventure!

📅 Wednesday 26th August
⏰ 11am–2pm
📍 Dean Heritage Centre, Camp Mill, Soudley, GL14 2UB
☕ You can also make a day of it with a visit to the Heritage Coffee Shop, which is open until 5pm.

⚠️ Travel note: The road at Brains Green towards Blakeney is currently closed, so allow a little extra time and follow the local diversion signs when travelling to the Centre.

👉 Find all the details here:

https://www.deanheritagecentre.org/event-details-registration/pirate-wednesday-free-activities-2026-08-26-11-00

Tag a parent, grandparent or friend who might fancy a pirate adventure this Wednesday! 🏴‍☠️

Free summer holiday activities!

24/08/2026

The summer holiday clock is ticking
ONE WEEK OF THE SUMMER HOLIDAYS LEFT… 👀

How did that happen so quickly?

If the list of things you meant to do with the kids is still longer than the list of things you’ve actually done, consider this your reminder.

There’s still time for:

🌳 Woodland exploring
👣 Gruffalo spotting
🏛 Discovering Forest history
🛝 Playing
🎨 Summer activities
🍰 Cake, obviously

And entry to the Dean Heritage Centre is FREE.

Tag the person who keeps saying, “We should do something before they go back to school.”

23/08/2026

How could you have spent your Sunday? 🌿

Exploring the past, wandering beside the mill pond, discovering the stories of the Forest of Dean and finishing it all off with something delicious at the Heritage Coffee Shop. ☕🍰

A day at the Dean Heritage Centre is about more than visiting a museum. It’s time together, a chance to slow down and somewhere the whole family can explore.

And with FREE museum entry, it’s an easy way to turn an ordinary Sunday into a day out.

If you didn’t make it today, there’s always next weekend. 💚

📍 Dean Heritage Centre, Soudley

20/08/2026

🚧 IMPORTANT TRAVEL UPDATE: ROAD CLOSURE 🚧

Planning a visit to the Dean Heritage Centre over the next few weeks? Please be aware that the road down to Blakeney at Brains Green will be closed from Monday 24 August until Wednesday 16 September.

We are still open and ready to welcome you! 🌿

You can still reach the Dean Heritage Centre, but your journey may take a little longer than usual. Please:

📍 Follow the local diversion signs
🚗 Allow a little extra time for your journey
🏛️ Don’t let the diversion put you off visiting!

There’s still plenty to see, explore and enjoy at the Centre, and we look forward to welcoming you.

Please share this post with anyone you know who may be planning a visit so they can plan their journey in advance.

16/08/2026

🎉 LOOKING FOR SOMETHING FUN TO DO WITH THE KIDS THIS WEEK? 🎉

We’ve got three brilliant activities happening at the Dean Heritage Centre this week, and even better... museum entry is FREE! 🙌

Come along, explore the museum, enjoy some family time and get involved in one of our special summer activities:

♻️ Tuesday 18th August – Upcycled Crafts
Get creative and turn everyday materials into something completely new. FREE activity

🏴‍☠️ Wednesday 19th August – Pirate Wednesday
Ahoy, me hearties! Join us for a day of pirate-themed fun at the Centre. FREE activity

🏮 Friday 21st August – Make Your Own Lantern
Create your very own lantern to take home with you. £4 per person

✨ FREE museum entry
✨ Family-friendly activities
✨ Plenty to discover around the Centre
✨ Heritage Coffee Shop on site for drinks, lunches and treats

You don’t need to spend a fortune to have a great family day out this summer. Come and explore, create, play and make some memories with us. ❤️

📍 Dean Heritage Centre, Soudley

Which day are you coming along for... crafts, pirates or lantern making? Share in the comments👇

12/08/2026

Don't forget the Museum and Coffee Shop are closed all day today.

IMPORTANT VISITOR NOTICE: CLOSED WEDNESDAY 12TH AUGUST

Please note that the Dean Heritage Centre and Heritage Coffee Shop will be closed all day on Wednesday 12th August due to the electricity being switched off across the wider Soudley area.

Unfortunately, this means we won’t be able to welcome visitors to the Centre or Coffee Shop that day.

We’re sorry for any inconvenience this may cause and really appreciate your understanding.

The good news is that we’ll be open as usual on our other opening days, so we’d love to see you then. Whether you’re planning a family day out, exploring the history of the Forest of Dean or stopping by for coffee and something delicious, there’s still plenty of opportunity to visit us.

Please help us spread the word by sharing this post with anyone who may have been planning to visit on Wednesday.

We look forward to welcoming you soon.