Activities & Days Out / 25 May, 2018 / My Baba
Our favourite thing about the May half-term is all of the fantastic activities that come along with it. This year is filled with family festivals, as well as fun days out around London and plenty of arts and crafts opportunities to get creative and make something special. Here are our top picks from around London and the UK.
Britain’s leading cycle race is arriving in Wembley Park to deliver north west London some family fun! Britain’s best cyclists will battle it out for the top spot, while the family fun will feature virtual reality tours, photo booths and youth races.
Where: Wembley Park, Wembley
When: Tuesday 29th May
Great for: All the family
Once again the Cartoon Museum have a whole host of activities for kids over the holiday. Kicking off with Creating Comics on Monday, then throughout the week a chance to try out cut-out animation, creating cartoon postcards and a masterclass in manga, they’ll be something everyone can enjoy.
Where: The Cartoon Museum
When: 28 May-1 June
Great for: 8-18 years
This Southbank festival is always a hit with the kids. Check out the circus shows, including The Very Circusy Caterpillar and children’s variety show Aliens Love Underpants. For the younger children, don’t miss Monksi Mouse’s Baby Dancehall Disco.
Where: The Southbank
When: See website for various events and dates
Great for: All the family
The Royal Institution are hosting a fabulous family fun day filled with seriously cool science, including levitation, space travel and the exciting science behind Doctor Who, Star Wars and Frankenstein. The family day is best suited for 6-12 year olds, but welcomes younger children too.
Where: The Royal Institution of Great Britain, Mayfair
When: Saturday 2 June
Great for: 6-12 years
Enjoy free access to the All Points East site and take advantage of a whole host of family activities, live music and entertainment, pop-up food and drink stalls. Theatre, art workshops and football fun are a few of the things on offer for the kids.
When: 28-31 May
Great for: All the family
Where: Victoria Park, Tower Hamlets
This fantastic festival will be taking place in various locations in Dalston. Choose from a huge range of activities, including Tots Tunes, Make A Play In A Day, Big and Small Beat It Band and much more! Some activities can be pre-booked while others are drop-in, take a look at the website for more info.
When: 26 May and 2 June
Where: Dalston
Great for: All the family
The Horniman museum is always a good shout for family activities and this half-term is all about puppets from around the world. As well as the arts and crafts sessions on Saturdays, you’ll have chance to listen to performances and talks, go pond dipping and learning about the Great British Bee Count.
Where: Horniman Museum and Gardens, Forest Hill
When: Daily
Great for: All the family
Described as ‘enchanting for both old and young alike’, The Open Air Theatre is welcoming Peter Pan to the stage. Relive the iconic tale of Peter Pan as he journeys to Never Land.
When: Until 15 June
Where: Regent’s Park
Great for: All the family (7 years and above)
With the largest herd of African elephants in the UK, Howletts Wild Animal Park will be half-term day out to remember. They’ll be a chance to visit the monkeys, leopards and gorillas too. The park has exciting news in that the Animals of the Ice Age exhibition had recently opened, showcasing the mighty mammoth, sharp-toothed sabres, and other life-sized creatures of the past.
Where: Howletts Wild Animal Park, Kent
When: Over the half-term holiday
Great for: All the family
The Winchester zoo is celebrating the unveiling of its new tropical house with Energy for Life, the biggest exhibition in the history of the zoo. With two levels, a waterfall, and a forest floor, this house promises to be a cool experience for the whole family. What’s more, over half term they’ll be a chance to join in the Top Trumps Challenge. Follow a fun trail and learn about how the animal species compare.
When: Open daily (half term activities 26 May-3 June)
Where: Marwell Zoo, Winchester
Great for: All the family
Daylesford cookery classes are always a huge hit with the adults, so that’s why we’re super excited about their introduction to cooking for children. The Budding Chefs cookery course will introduce children to different flavours as well as teaching them to think more about where their food comes from. It’ll feature a guided tour of the Market Garden where children will harvest their own ingredients and later use them in their recipes.
Where: The Cookery School, Daylesford, Stow-on-the-Wold
When: Wednesday 30 May
Great for: 5-12 years
From the makers of Bestival comes Common People this bank holiday weekend. Welcoming a wide range of acts with the likes of James, The Jacksons and Maximo Park, this will be a fabulous day out for all the family. They’ll be a kids’ corner, Junkyard Golf, the world’s largest disco ball, and much more!
When: 26-27 May
Where: South Park, Oxford
Great for: All the family