The Wonky Workshop at The Wilson

The Wilson has turned Arts and Crafts ideas into something children can actually get their hands on. Wonky Workshop is a playful, child-centred exhibition where kids can build, balance, experiment and invent using soft sculptures, bold patterns and wooden construction shapes.

Wonky Workshop

Date: 13 June 2026 to November 2026

Time: Tuesday to Saturday, 10am to 5pm; Sunday, 10am to 4pm. The Wilson is closed on Mondays. Last admission is 30 minutes before closing.

Cost: Free admission to The Wilson, with a suggested £5 donation.

Location: The Wilson Art Gallery & Museum, Clarence Street, Cheltenham, GL50 3JT

Suitable for: Children and families

Inspired by the people, furniture and ethos of the Arts and Crafts Movement, the exhibition is all about learning through doing. Children can use the different shapes and materials to make their own furniture and structures, exploring balance, design and construction as they go. Sharing and cooperation are part of the idea too, so expect some collaborative building when several young makers have their eye on the same pile of pieces.

It’s designed as an inclusive, accessible space, with creativity and curiosity taking priority over getting anything particularly straight. Which, given the name, seems entirely appropriate.

The Wilson is fully accessible with a lift to every floor, disabled toilets and wheelchairs available to borrow on request. There’s also a family-friendly Play Café open during normal gallery hours, with a LEGO wall, books, colouring and trails if the kids still have some creative energy left afterwards.