Heritage Open Days is England's largest community led festival of history and culture, involving thousands of local volunteers and organisations. Every year in September it brings people together to celebrate their heritage, community and history. Stories are told, traditions explored, and histories brought to life. It’s your chance to see hidden places and try out new experiences – and it’s all FREE.

For those early birds who would like to book on one of the Family History sessions, here are the details.

Twenty-minute family history consultations with expert John Hanson are available to book.

• Friday 12 September 2025 – 11am to 1pm at Bletchley Library
  To book your 20-minute session contact Bletchley Library on 01908 372797 or email library.enquiries@milton-keynes.gov.uk.
   
• Thursday 16 September 2025 – 11am to 1pm at Newport Pagnell Library
  To book your 20-minute session contact Newport Pagnell Library on 01908 610933 or email library.enquiries@milton-keynes.gov.uk.

• 10-10.30am – Baby Songs and Rhyme Time at Central Library (under 2s)
• 10.30-11.30am – Lego Club at Stony Stratford Library
• 10.45-11.15am – Storytime for the under 7s at Central Library
• 11.15-11.45am – Storytime for the under 5s at Woburn Sands Library
• 2-3pm – Lego Club at Central Library
• 2.30-4.30pm – Games Club at Olney Library
• 3.30-4.30pm – Lego Club at Wolverton Library

• 11-11.30am – Storytime for the under 5s at Olney Library
• 2.30-4.30pm – Lego Club at Newport Pagnell Library

• 2.30-4.30pm – Read and Play at Olney Library
• 2.30-4.30pm – Games Club at Stony Stratford Library
• 3.30-4.30pm – Lego Club at Bletchley Library
• 3.30-4.30pm – Lego Club at Westcroft Library

• 2-4pm – Games Club at Newport Pagnell Library
• 2.30-4.30pm – Lego Club at Olney Library
• 3.30-4.30pm – Lego Club at Kingston Library
• 3.30-4.30pm – Lego Club at Woburn Sands Library

• 10am-12pm – Lego Club at Central Library
• 11am-12pm – Lego Club at Newport Pagnell Library
• 11am-12pm – Lego Club at Stony Stratford Library

Join Alina Orchestra musicians as they perform two ‘Band in a Van’ interactive concerts.

Performing anything from Disney to classical music, the audiences are encouraged to shake instruments, sing along, take part in body percussion, and even conduct the group. It’s great fun, with a friendly, relaxed atmosphere. The band plays a range of music to enthuse, excite and entertain everyone in this interactive family friendly event (you can even try an instrument at the end of the event).

You'll need to book your free place in advance for these events. Children must be accompanied by an adult. Click on the link to book your tickets:

• Friday 8 August 11am-12pm at Kingston Library - FULL
• Friday 8 August 2-3pm at Bletchley Library - FULL

Join Tiny Talk for British Sign Language signing sessions and learn to communicate with your babies before they can talk.

These baby sessions are for ages 0-2 but older siblings are welcome to attend alongside parents/carers.

Use the links below to book the session you’d like to attend. You only need to book a place for the adult, regardless of how many children will be attending.

• Friday 22 August (10.30-11am) at Central Library
• Friday 22 August (11.15-11.45am) at Central Library
• Wednesday 27 August (10.30-11am) at Wolverton Library
• Wednesday 27 August (11.15-11.45am) at Wolverton Library

Parents/carers must remain with their children throughout the sessions.

Two groups will be introduced to brass instruments including Cornet and Baritone. By the end of the workshop, you’ll be able to read some musical notes and play them. Suitable for beginners and those with no experience.

Funded by Woburn Sands Town Council.

• Thursday 14 August (10.30am-11.15am) at Woburn Sands Library - FULL
• Thursday 14 August (11.45am-12.30pm) at Woburn Sands Library - FULL

Join us for craft workshops based on a book by Steve Herman. Children will be led through the skills of drawing, colouring and card engineering to produce a stand-up storyboard to take home. The book’s teaching point of perseverance will inspire the children to create their own tale of perseverance.

Funded by Woburn Sands Town Council.

• Thursday 7 August (11am-12.15pm) at Woburn Sands Library - FULL

Join us for a fantastic clay workshop where you can choose your favourite cartoon, film or book character - or maybe a pirate, robot or mermaid - and create their face in a clay relief model to take home and paint.  You’ll need to wear an apron or old clothes for this one!

Funded by Woburn Sands Town Council.

• Thursday 21 August (10.30-11.30am) at Woburn Sands Library - FULL

Join Explore Learning for this tailor-made enchanted story-writing adventure which ties in with the 2025 Summer Reading Challenge, Story Garden. 

Explore Learning tutors will coach children to ‘plant’ the seeds of a great idea through a series of challenges and puzzles. By the end of the hour, they will have created a magical story for a young book bee who needed their own unique story.

To book your place, click on the relevant link below.

• Wednesday 27 August 11am to 12pm at Westcroft Library - FULL
• Wednesday 27 August 2pm to 3pm at Central Library - FULL

Listen to pirate adventures and then do some pirate-themed crafts. 

The session is suitable for ages 3 and above and parents/carers will join the crafting fun! If you need support with English as a second language for this activity, please let us know in advance by emailing library.promotions@milton-keynes.gov.uk

• Tuesday 12 August (1-2.30pm) at Olney Library - one place left!
• Wednesday 13 August (10-11.30am) at Stony Stratford Library - FULL
• Thursday 14 August (1-2.30pm) at Wolverton Library - FULL
• Wednesday 20 August (10-11.30am) at Westcroft Library
• Thursday 21 August (10-11.30am) at Newport Pagnell Library - FULL

Please note that the sessions are all the same so please do not book multiple sessions, as we’d like as many families as possible to be able to attend.

With the Summer Reading Challenge theme of ‘The Story Garden’ in mind, we’ll be using vibrant coloured inks to create repeating patterns inspired by plants and flowers from our gardens. Please wear old clothes as it can get messy!

Funded by Woburn Sands Town Council

Thursday 28 August (11am-12.15pm) at Woburn Sands Library - FULL

Storytimes with puppets, toys, bubbles and Lego.

These sessions are aimed at children/young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) in a non-judgmental setting. The libraries where these sessions are held will remain closed to the public on the day and are open specifically for these pre-booked sessions.

Support staff are welcome. Please only book places for the children attending and not any accompanying adults or siblings (who are welcome to come along).

• Monday 11 August (2-3pm) Stories and Rhymes about Movement at Bletchley Library
• Monday 18 August (11am-12pm) Stories and Rhymes about Bears at Kingston Library

Get creative with this craft session by the ‘Crafting for Change’ group at Stony Stratford Library. You’ll make Ninjas and Peg Dolls using straws and your imagination!

Funded by Stony Stratford Town Council.

• Tuesday 5 August (2-4pm) at Stony Stratford Library - FULL

To book your place for this event, you need to contact Stony Stratford Library on 01908 562562 or speak to staff when you next visit.

We offer stories, songs and rhymes at various libraries over the summer (in addition to the weekly storytimes listed above and these sessions are all drop-in with no booking necessary.

• Thursday 7 August (10.30-11am) – Bletchley Library
  Trip to the Seaside Storytime (under 5s)
• Friday 8 August (10-10.30am) – Newport Pagnell Library
  Seaside Stories: Fun at the Beach (under 5s)
• Friday 8 August (10-10.30am) – Westcroft Library
  Storytime: Seaside Fun (under 5s)
• Friday 8 August (2-2.30pm) – Wolverton Library
  Teddy Bear Storytime – bring your teddies! (under 5s)
• Tuesday 12 August (11.15-11.45am) – Woburn Sands Library
  Stories from another culture: NEW ZEALAND (under 7s)
• Tuesday 19 August (11.15-11.45am) – Woburn Sands Library
  Stories from another culture: CHINA (under 7s)
• Thursday 21 August (10-10.30am) – Kingston Library
  Storytime: The Jungle (under 5s)
• Friday 22 August (10-10.30am) – Newport Pagnell Library
  Teddy Bear’s Picnic Storytime (under 5s)
• Tuesday 26 August (11.15-11.45am) – Woburn Sands Library
  Community Police Special Storytime (under 7s)
• Saturday 30 August (11-11.30am) – Olney Library
  Summer Storytime with Folio volunteers (under 7s)

You’ll find art, craft and colouring supplies on the craft table at the library – enjoy!

• Saturday 9 August (10.30-11.30am)
• Saturday 16 August (10.30-11.30am)
• Saturday 23 August (10.30-11.30am)

Choose from the adult and children’s design sheets and colour away! 

• Thursday 7 August (10am-12pm) – Newport Pagnell Library
• Thursday 7 August (10.30am-12.30pm) – Olney Library
• Thursday 7 August (2-4pm) – Central Library
• Friday 8 August (10am-12pm) – Central Library
• Tuesday 12 August (2-4pm) – Newport Pagnell Library
• Wednesday 13 August (2-4pm) – Stony Stratford Library
• Thursday 14 August (10am-12pm) – Bletchley Library
• Friday 15 August (10am-12pm) – Stony Stratford Library
• Friday 15 August (2-4pm) – Bletchley Library
• Thursday 21 August (10am-12pm) – Wolverton Library
• Thursday 21 August (10.30am-12.30pm) – Olney Library
• Friday 22 August (10am-12pm) – Wolverton Library
• Thursday 28 August (2-4pm) – Central Library
• Friday 29 August (10am-12pm) – Central Library

Join children's book illustrator, Maria Christania, for a 3-day residency at Central Library! You’ll be able to watch Maria as she makes illustrations come to life. Learn about the art of illustration and you’ll have the opportunity to create your own artwork too!

Just stop by Central Library during the following times and take a seat – no booking is necessary.

• Thursday 14 August – 10.30am to 12pm & 1pm to 5pm
  Creating Characters from Nursery Rhymes
• Friday 15 August – 10.30am to 12pm & 1pm to 5pm
  Creating Characters from Classic Stories
• Saturday 16 August – 1pm to 4pm
  Creating Your Own Characters

See more of Maria’s work on her website or visit her Etsy page.

• COMPUTER HELP SESSIONS WITH OUR IT BUDDIES
  • Sessions are held at several libraries and offer one-to-one help with your devices (phones, laptops, tablets) and online processes like setting up an email or shopping. Visit the Digital Help web page for full details.
• GAMES CLUB - (all ages) at Newport Pagnell Library - Friday 2-4pm (drop-in)
• GAMES CLUB - (all ages) at Olney Library - Tuesday 2.30-4.30pm (drop-in)
• GAMES CLUB - (all ages) at Stony Stratford Library - Thursday 2.30-4.30pm (drop-in)
• GARDENING CLUB - Stony Stratford Library (contact Stony Stratford Library for dates). (Stopped for the Summer and returns in September)
• KNIT AND NATTER sessions at various libraries
• LIBRARY COFFEE MORNINGS at Stony Stratford Library with FoSSL on the first and third Wednesdays each month 10-11am. Free to attend, just stop by for tea, coffee, homemade cake and conversation. (Stopped for the Summer and returns on 3 September)
• LIBRARY READING GROUPS at various libraries
• MK NANOWRITERS meet on the second Saturday each month at Central Library 2pm to 4pm. It's a social group for writers although they do discuss writing as that's their shared hobby. If you'd like to know more or are interested in joining the group, please email mknanowriters@gmail.com.
• SOCIAL SCRABBLE at Bletchley Library on Tuesdays 10.30-11.30am.
• STONY LAST THURSDAY HISTORY SOCIETY - Drop-in any time between 2-4.30pm on the last Thursday of each month upstairs at Stony Stratford Library to chat with like-minded people about the history of Stony Stratford. If you'd like to know more, ask at Stony Stratford Library. (Stopped for the Summer and returns in September)

Please note that some activities are term time only.

• CODE CLUB (ages 9-13) at Central Library - Monday 4-5pm
• CRAFT CLUB (ages 3-9) at Olney Library - third Saturday each month 10.30-11.15am
• GAMES CLUB - (all ages) at Newport Pagnell Library - Friday 2-4pm (drop-in)
• GAMES CLUB - (all ages) at Olney Library - Tuesday 2.30-4.30pm (drop-in)
• GAMES CLUB - (all ages) at Stony Stratford Library - Thursday 2.30-4.30pm (drop-in)
• LEGO AND DUPLO CLUBS at various libraries
• READ AND PLAY sessions at Olney Library - Thursday 2.30-4.30pm
• STAY AND PLAY sessions at Bletchley Library - Tuesday 10.30-11.30am (term time only)
• STAY AND PLAY sessions at Central Library - Wednesday 1.30-2.30pm (term time only)
• STONY MUSIC MAKERS at Stony Stratford Library - Wednesday 9.30-10.15am (Stopped for the Summer and returns in September)
• STORIES, SONGS AND RHYMES at various libraries

English conversation club is for anyone who would like to practise and improve their English as a second language, gain better skills for study or employment, or just get on in everyday life.

The session on 28 August 2025 is CANCELLED.

Sessions at Central Library

• Everyone is welcome to join us on the day and you don't need to register.
• Conversation club sessions are held at Central Library on Thursday mornings 11am-12pm.
• If you'd like to know more you can phone 01908 254050 or speak to library staff.

The library offers many resources to help those who speak other languages and are looking to learn English as a second language (ESOL). The library also provides a range of material to help you improve your basic language and reading skills.

JOIN ME: Our 2020 Events - Memorial Quilt at Stony Stratford Library

Visit Stony Stratford Library to see this lockdown memorial quilt on display. It’s a community quilt project by Thread Thread Wine to memorialise the events that we most missed in 2020, whether cancelled, lost or postponed because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Soraya Tate, founder of Thread Thread Wine

At Christmas 2020 I decided to make a memorial quilt, dedicated to acknowledging the events and opportunities that we lost in 2020.

• I would create a quilt square about my own losses.
• I would invite others to do the same about their losses.
• I would join the pieces to make a quilt.
• I would display the quilt in December 2021 at an event for the makers.

This is the project so far; I hope you enjoy viewing it and reading about it. We have 42 submissions and the quilt is 3m long.

We have made some of the squares into cards for sale, to raise money for the mental health charity MIND.

If you would like to contribute your artwork to this project, please email Soraya or visit the Thread Thread Wine (TTW) Facebook page.

Read more about the background to this project, the inspiration and the artists who have contributed by visiting the Memorial quilt project page.

We offer Family History support from our volunteers:

FIRST STEPS

Get started with your family tree or research and have a beginner's guide to ancestry.com at Olney Library.

• on the second Friday each month - 2pm to 4pm

Book your free session by emailing library.enquiries@milton-keynes.gov.uk.

EXPERT ADVICE

If you’re having difficulties with your research and need some advice, John will use his years of experience to help you at Central Library.

• Dates to be announced

Book your free 30-minute session by emailing library.enquiries@milton-keynes.gov.uk or calling 01908 254050.

Friends Groups work in partnership with us and closely with local library teams to help support and enhance libraries in our local communities.

They provide an important contribution to support and maintain awareness of a library in a local community.

Folio - Olney Library

Folio (The Friends of the Library in Olney) run a programme of talks which are held 7.30-8.30pm at The Olney Centre, Room 4 and they request that you arrive at 7pm for a 7.30pm start. Refreshments are served after each talk.

• 1 September - Women Poets of the 100s/1800s - Vicki Shakeshaft and Stony Stratford Friends
• 6 October - The Olney Newton Link - Past and Present - Anne McCallum
• 3 November - Sink the Bismarck! - Michael Kushner
• 1 December - To be confirmed

Tickets are £6 in advance and can be booked online at Ticketsource or by phoning Ticketsource on 0333 666 3366.

If you are no longer able to attend or have any questions, please email olneyfoliofriends@gmail.com.

You can download a printable schedule of Folio talks here.

FoSSL - Stony Stratford Library

FoSSL (The Friends of Stony Stratford Library) run regular talks at the library and details for booking tickets for these events will be released closer to the time. If you'd like to join the mailing list to receive news and updates from FoSSL, email fosslmk@gmail.com.

• Thursday 11 September - Women writing in the Romantic Period by Vicki Shakeshaft

Tickets are available from 19 August at Stony Stratford Library (01908 562562). 

Visit the FOSSL website at: https://fossl.org.uk/ for the latest news and information.

• Several libraries host Knit and Natter groups.
• Beginners and experts are all welcome.
• Admission is free.

These are the summer holiday club times and some sessions will change in September so please visit the website for the regular days and times.

Click on the session links to see the dates when clubs are running.

Tuesday

• 10.30-11.30am at Stony Stratford Library
• 2-3pm at Central Library
• 3.30-4.30pm at Wolverton Library

Wednesday

• 2.30-4.30pm at Newport Pagnell Library

Thursday

• 3.30-4.30pm at Bletchley Library
• 3.30-4.30pm at Westcroft Library

Friday

• 2.30-4.30pm at Olney Library
• 3.30-4.30pm at Kingston Library
• 3.30-4.30pm at Woburn Sands Library

Saturday 

• 10am-12pm at Central Library
• 11am-12pm at Newport Pagnell Library
• 11am-12pm at Stony Stratford Library
• 2 August - 10.30-11.30am at Olney Library

• Free all-round fun with Lego/Duplo clubs at several of our libraries.
• We provide the bricks and you provide the imagination.
• Everyone regardless of age is invited to join the fun.
• Parents and carers are responsible for their child's safety.
• Parents and carers must remain with their children throughout the sessions.

Click on the session links to see the dates when clubs are running.

Tuesday

• 3.30-4.30pm at Wolverton Library
• 4-5pm at Central Library

Wednesday

• 3.30-4.30pm at Newport Pagnell Library

Thursday

• 3.30-4.30pm at Bletchley Library
• 3.30-4.30pm at Westcroft Library

Friday

• 3.30-4.30pm at Kingston Library
• 3.30-4.30pm at Olney Library
• 3.30-4.30pm at Woburn Sands Library
• 3.30-4.30pm at Stony Stratford Library

Saturday 

• 10am-12pm at Central Library
• 11-12pm at Stony Stratford Library
• First Saturday of each month - 10.30-11.30am at Olney Library

You can subscribe to library newsletters to hear the latest news or follow us on our various social media pages.

• Facebook (MiltonKeynesLibraries)
• Instagram (MKLibraries)
• Pinterest (MKLibraries)
• YouTube (Milton Keynes Libraries)

Do you enjoy reading? Would you like to talk about what you have read? Would you like to share your views with an informal group? Then why not join a reading group.

• Several libraries hold storytime sessions.
• We also have many online stories, songs, poems and signed stories on our YouTube Channel.
• Be sure to browse our unlisted stories playlist.

We're excited to bring you the Summer Reading Challenge each year during the summer holidays.

We're currently recruiting volunteers to help deliver the Summer Reading Challenge this summer. If you're aged 13-25 head over to the Summer Reading Challenge web page to learn more.

We hope you'll consider joining our team here at the Milton Keynes Libraries. You'll find details of any current vacancies across our libraries on the library vacancies webpage.

• We welcome volunteers at nine of our libraries (excluding Woughton Library).
• There are many interesting opportunities for volunteers within the Milton Keynes libraries and there's bound to be something that suits you.
• Volunteers need to be at least 13 years old.