Exeter Custom House is hosting a month of free family activities over the school summer holidays at Exeter Quay.
Each Tuesday and Wednesday the Transit Shed will host workshops and each Friday Prom-Prom will provide entertainment including storytelling, puppetry, magic shows, games and a flea circus.
Events begin on Tuesday 29 July with a workshop on wool-weaving led by Lou Chapman while Sophie Doodles from Exeter Scrapstore leads a workshop enabling participants to make little boats from recycled materials. A Double Elephant printed postcard workshop follows on Wednesday.
The second week offers the opportunity to paint a ceramic creature with Helen McCormick Ceramics, create a community photo album with artists Sara Hurley and Monica Shanta or doodle cartoons with artist Scott Walker in Exeter Custom House.
The third week features an avian-inspired performance by Sarah Vigars with puppetry and live music as well as workshops with Drum Devon, Higher Beings Circus and Weird Sticks.
During the penultimate week workshop participants can make slime inspired by River Exe organisms with Devon Science, create boats from natural materials with Mountain Ash or drop in to relaxed music-making and singing sessions led by Moor to Sea.
The month will come to a close with a felting workshop led by OrganicARTS and an opportunity to have a go at spray-painting stencil artworks with street artist Szabatage.
Exeter Custom House was built in 1681, the first in England constructed for this purpose. It was in use by HM Customs until 1989, with building access only available on Red Coat guided tours.
Exeter Canal & Quay Trust and Exeter City Council jointly opened the building as as visitor centre in 2015.
Exeter Custom House now hosts arts and cultural events via rolling three-year “cultural partnerships” residencies. These are currently held by Art Work Exeter and Literature Works.
Summer at the Quayside takes place from Tuesday 29 July to Friday 29 August 2025. All activities are free to attend and booking is not required.
For more information visit the Exeter Custom House website.
