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Event and activity information

The events schedule shows regular events across the libraries and can be searched and filtered by location, audience and keywords.

View the schedule of regular events

 

New and upcoming events

Art and Textiles Exhibition from Community Learning MK

1 to 31 July 2025

Welcome to the third ‘Textile Heaven’ exhibition on the first floor at Central Library. The exhibition showcases the work created during Textile Heaven courses offered through Community Learning MK. 

We hope you enjoy the array of local creativity and are perhaps inspired to join a course and get creative.

We welcome your comments in the visitor book.

Marco Cardoso Magic at Kingston Library

Monday 28 July 2025

Marco Cardoso is a master magician who has been mesmerizing audiences across the UK for over a decade. He joins us for two performances for adults and children aged 5+. 

Tickets cost £5 each and must be booked online in advance as places are limited. Click on this link to book your Magic Show tickets (you’ll be taken to Eventbrite and can select your chosen show time).

  • Monday 28 July 10am to 11am
  • Monday 28 July 12pm to 1pm

Please ensure you arrive in time to settle before the show start times.

Kingston Library is closed to the public on this day and is only open for these events. Children must be accompanied by an adult who should remain with them throughout the performance.

Learn more about Marco and his magic by visiting Marco’s website or Marco Cardoso Magic on Instagram.

Heritage Open Days - 12 to 21 September 2025

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.

 

   

Children’s Summer Activities 2025

24 July 2025 to 30 August 2025

Welcome to our programme of children’s activities for the summer holidays. All events are FREE but some require booking in advance as places are limited.

Download the full programme here.

If you have booked a place for an activity and are unable to attend, please let us know by emailing: library.promotions@milton-keynes.gov.uk to allow your tickets to be reallocated. 

If your child has any additional needs you’d like us to know about, please email library.promotions@milton-keynes.gov.uk as we hope to make the experience fun for everyone.

Parents and carers must remain in the library throughout the sessions.

REGULAR WEEKLY DROP-IN ACTIVITIES

These sessions operate from 24 July 2025 to 30 August 2025.

Tuesdays

  • 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

Wednesdays

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

Thursdays

  • 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

Fridays

  • 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

Saturdays

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

ACTIVITIES THAT REQUIRE BOOKING 

These summer activities require booking online in advance. Click on the link for the relevant activity and you’ll be taken to the booking form.

Alina Orchestra – Band in a Van Concerts (for all ages)

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:

Baby Signing Sessions (from newborn to 2 years)

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.

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

Brass Band Workshops (ages 7-12)

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

Dinosaur Storyboard Crafts (ages 6-10)

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.

‘Faces in Relief’ Clay Workshop (ages 6-10)

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

The Hidden Glade with Explore Learning (ages 5-11)

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.

Horrible Histories with Studio 43 (ages 5-14)

Create Horrible Histories characters with Studio 43: from Rotten Romans to Vile Victorians and many more! 

  • Tuesday 29 July (2-3.30pm) at Stony Stratford Library

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.

Pirate Crafts with Community Learning MK (ages 3-14)

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

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.

Printing with Inks (ages 8-12)

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

SEND Storytimes (ages 0-14)

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).

STEM Hoop Gliders Workshops (ages 8-14)

Join The Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET) for fantastic STEM workshops with hands-on hoop gliders and flight activities. Parents must remain with their children throughout the sessions but only book tickets for the children attending.

  • Friday 1 August (11am-12pm) at Newport Pagnell Library - FULL
  • Friday 1 August (1pm-2pm) at Central Library - FULL

Straw Ninjas and Peg Dolls (ages 4-11)

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

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.

Uplifting Rhythms and Mantras with Drum United

Join Adey from Drum United Academy this Summer for positive mindset drumming & body-beats. Sessions are great fun with body-tapping, air-drumming, box-drums and drumsticks!

Sessions are FREE but require booking in advance as places are limited. You can register via the Drum United Academy website using the relevant links below to book your sessions. Each registration allows for one adult with up to 3 children.

Kingston Library on Tuesday 29 July

Stony Stratford Library on Wednesday 30 July

Central MK Library on Thursday 31 July

Parents/carers must stay with their children throughout the session.

If you need to cancel your booking, please contact Drum United directly using the Drum United contact form.

ACTIVITIES THAT DO NOT REQUIRE BOOKING

These summer activities are drop-in and require no booking:

Storytimes

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 24 July (10-10.30am) – Stony Stratford Library
    Story Garden Storytime to introduce the Summer Reading Challenge (under 8s)
  • Saturday 26 July (11-11.30am) – Olney Library
    Summer Storytime with Folio volunteers (under 7s)
  • Tuesday 29 July (11.15-11.45am) – Woburn Sands Library
    Community Police Special Storytime (under 7s)
  • Thursday 31 July (10-10.30am) – Stony Stratford Library
    Storytime with jokes and riddles (under 8s)
  • Saturday 2 August (11.15-11.45am) – Woburn Sands Library
    Stories from another culture: CANADA (under 7s)
  • Tuesday 5 August (11.15-11.45am) – Woburn Sands Library
    Stories from another culture: CHINA (under 7s)
  • 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)

Extra Lego and Duplo Club sessions (all ages)

 

  • Friday 25 July (3.30-4.30pm) – Stony Stratford Library
  • Saturday 2 August (10.30-11.30am) – Olney Library

DIY Crafts and Colouring at Olney Library (all ages)

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)

Creative Colouring for all the family (all ages)

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

  • Thursday 24 July (10am-12pm) – Westcroft Library
  • Friday 25 July (2-4pm) – Westcroft Library
  • Thursday 31 July (2-4pm) – Kingston Library
  • Friday 1 August (10am-12pm) – Kingston Library
  • 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

Children’s Book Illustrator Maria Christania (all ages)

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.

2025 Summer Reading Challenge, Story Garden

This year's challenge from The Reading Agency is all about adventures in nature and the great outdoors - inspiring children to tap into a world of imagination through reading and to celebrate adventure, fantasy and storytelling through nature and the great outdoors. Sign up at any of the Milton Keynes Libraries from Friday 18 July. 

Regular activities

Regular events and services for each library are also listed on the individual library information pages. New and one-off events are shown in the section above.

Adult - various regular activities

  • 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)
  • 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. (Sessions are suspended during August 2025)
  • 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.

Children - various regular activities

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 are suspended until September 2025.
  • STONY MUSIC MAKERS at Stony Stratford Library - Wednesday 9.30-10.15am
  • STORIES, SONGS AND RHYMES at various libraries

English conversation club

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.

Exhibitions

Discover MK

The Discover MK Showcase area is on the first floor at Central Library. It is the primary showcase for the archive, museum and heritage of Milton Keynes and the surrounding area. It has a regularly changing series of exhibitions throughout the year and more information can be found on the Discover MK website.

Made in MK 

From April 2025

Take a trip down memory lane with this exhibition showcasing many of the local industries and companies that have been in and around Milton Keynes for many years - including Boatbuilding in Stony Stratford with The Watling Works, McCorquodale Printing in Newport Pagnell and Brush Making in Bletchley.

This is another fantastic exhibition brought to you by Living Archive MK.

 

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.

Family History Help

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.

  • Thursday 12 June 2025 - 1pm to 3pm
  • Thursday 10 July 2025 - 1pm to 3pm

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

Friends Groups

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.

  • Coming soon.

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

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

Knit and natter

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

Lego and Duplo clubs (up to 23 July 2025 and restarting 1 September 2025)

  • 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

Wednesday

Thursday

Friday

Saturday 

Lego and Duplo clubs (24 July to 30 August 2025)

Library news

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

Reading groups

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.

Stories, songs and rhymes

Summer Reading Challenge

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.

Vacancies at Milton Keynes City Council libraries

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.

Volunteering with Milton Keynes City Council libraries

  • 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.

 

Milton Keynes City Council Libraries contact information

Milton Keynes Central Library, 555 Silbury Boulevard, Milton Keynes MK9 3HL