This week we celebrate 150 years of Beatrix Potter, with stories such as The Tale of Peter Rabbit that are quintessentially British and beloved by many. Unsurprisingly this year has been a busy one for Peter Rabbit and his friends as the whole country unites in celebrating one of the nation’s favourite children’s stories of all time. To ensure you’re up to date with all things Beatrix Potter and to help you celebrate the anniversary this week with your little ones, we’ve pulled together some of our favourite news, events and ideas from the year so far.

Look out for Beatrix Potter

Expect to see Beatrix Potter’s characters everywhere in the coming weeks and months with new book cover designs and even on our currency!

Five books from the Beatrix Potter collection have been given a rather modern makeover as some of Britain’s most iconic fashion designers give these book covers a brand new image. Quite a far cry from the original designs, the new ones are just as fun and British, making them a great gift for any Beatrix Potter fan.

If you’re not sure you’ve got the money laying around for new books, don’t worry as Beatrix Potter may be closer than you think… Later this year Peter Rabbit and three other Beatrix Potter favourites will be hopping onto our currency and into our pockets with special circulating commemorative coins. Peter Rabbit has become the first child’s fictional character to appear on UK currency earlier in the year with full colour collectable versions of the circulating 50 pence coins, but make sure to keep an eye on your change for those in circulation.

Have a day with Beatrix Potter

Get the kids outside in the summer holidays with a short break to the Lake District. An area of outstanding natural beauty, this area inspired Beatrix Potters’ love of nature and animals. As such she is credited with the successful preservation of much of the Lake District National Park and donated her Lake District home and lands of Hill Top Farm to the National Trust after her death. To help celebrate her anniversary the National Trust has a range of activities and events this July and over the summer, including special guided walks and birthday picnics at Hill Top Farm that are sure to be entertaining for the whole family.

If the Lake District is a bit far or you don’t have a whole weekend to spare, why not take a trip to Foyles on Charing Cross Road in London and experience the magical world of Beatrix Potter. A fun day for both adults and children, everyone has the chance to listen to a live narration by a professional story teller, help create a sequel, meet some of the characters and join in trying to find Peter as well as many other activities.

For even more upcoming events or to locate another event if you’ve missed one, keep checking the official Beatrix Potter events page.

Even more fun

Beatrix Potter games and activities are also available for free online and are an ideal way to keep kids entertained over the summer holidays and on long trips. Help find Peter Rabbit in the Find Peter Game or reveal one of your favourite characters in a jigsaw puzzle.

Long car journey? Download The Tale of Peter Rabbit and other stories for fun on the go, or print out one of a huge variety of activity sheets including colouring pages and mazes. Kids can even wish happy birthday to Beatrix Potter themselves with the Happy Birthday Beatrix colouring card.

Beatrix Potter has a place in everyone’s hearts, young and old, so celebrate her birthday this summer with the whole family. You can also show just how much Beatrix Potter means to you and take part in our poll by telling us who your favourite character is.