Milton Keynes Museum’s Victorian weekend is by Royal Appointment

It was the era of exploration and discovery and this June Milton Keynes Museum is turning back the clock and inviting everyone to experience Victorian life – but you’ll need to be on your best behaviour; HM Queen Victoria will be making an appearance!

Re-enactors the Die Hards will be standing to attention when Her Majesty inspects her troops at 2pm daily, before attending afternoon tea* in the marquee. Get practicing those greetings and curtseys!

Neil Story will be telling tales of Victorian life, and there will be stories from the era for the kids. Interactive Punch and Judy shows will take place at intervals throughout both days too. That’s the way to do it!

A Cabinet of Curiosities tent will include all kinds of unusual exhibits, and if you want to experience learning how the Victorians did it, a trip to the schoolroom for a school session is recommended – backchat or misbehave at your peril!

If you think filling the washing machine is a trauma, get busy in the laundry room – dolly tubs and mangles are much more laborious. You’ll return home so happy to see your washer drier you’ll possibly give it a hug!

Feeling peckish? In the cottage, visitors will be able to assist the volunteers making yummy Welsh cakes.

Add in Victorian traders, demos around lacemaking and pole lathing, games including egg and spoon, quoits, croquet and the all-important coconut shy and you can be sure of a fab, fun time.

Victorian medicine will come under the spotlight in the pharmacy, and if you want to replicate a Victorian garden, the best place to start is with a tour of the Museum’s beautiful outdoor spaces.

Craft activities will take the attention of children – peg dolls and zoetrope making is on the agenda.

But the great weekend does come with a word of caution – the Ragged Victorians will also be roaming the grounds, and when they are not sharing their brilliant stories of days gone by, given the chance, they might just pick a pocket or two!

“The Victorian Weekend is a highlight of our calendar, and we are going all out to make sure that this year’s event comes with all of the associated bells and whistles,” said Museum director Bill Griffiths, “We’ve got music too, with Wolverton Town Band, an accordion player, and morris dancers shaking their bells accordingly!

“We can’t wait to take you back in time at this fun packed event.”

All the usual museum attractions will also be open, so roll-up, roll-up for as much exuberant entertainment as you can handle, this June 8 & 9!

Standard admission prices apply – which will also give you FREE entry for the following 12 months.

*Afternoon Tea with HM Queen Victoria must be pre-booked through the website.

For more information, visit miltonkeynesmuseum.org.uk