If you’re looking for things to do in May half term, either in Buckinghamshire or a little bit beyond that, you’re in the right place. I’ve got a roundup of family-friendly activities for you right here! Whether you’re into crafts, adventure play or nature trails, there should be something for everyone!
Things to do in May half term – National Trust events
We are so lucky in Buckinghamshire to have access to so many wonderful National Trust properties. They are gems for running so many fantastic events during school holidays, and the May half term is no exception. Here’s what’s going on in the local area…
Stowe is running an educational ‘How Long Until It’s Gone?’ sustainability trail through the half term. Learn more about waste and recycling and how we can all do our bit to help. This trail is free and is included with normal admission – and if you’re a National Trust member that means it’s a free trip all round!
They’re also running some craft sessions from 27th-30th for children aged 3+. Sessions cost £3 per person and you can learn how to make fun creations using objects from your recycling bin and from nature. No need to book, just drop in.
Ascott is hosting some free drop-in activities with Nature Makers MK on Monday 26th and Saturday 31st. You can try any of the following eco-friendly crafts:
- Nature vases
- Yarn Bee’s to celebrate World Bee Day
- Flower Pot Decorating
Alternatively, if crafts aren’t your thing, you can try your hand at the scavenger hunt – pick up a themed bag and head off on a nature adventure to see what you can find.
All the activities are completely free and there’s no need to book, just drop in!
Museum events
The Roald Dahl Museum has four fantastic events running during the half term:
- Pelly Clay Workshops on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday
- Jungle Juniors Animal Handling on Friday
- Animal Antics Village Trail on Thursday
- Storytelling running every day
The Discover Bucks Museum in Aylesbury is amazing at half term events and providing fun activities for the little ones, and the May half term is no exception. Starting on Monday 26th May, here are the events in store…
- Monday – Space Science at 10:30, 12:30 and 2:30 for £6 per person. Recommended age for this is 5+
- Tuesday – Space Suncatchers from 10-3. This costs £4 per person and is recommended for ages 3+
- Wednesday – Space Puppets from 10-3. This costs £4 per person and is recommended for ages 3+
- Thursday – Space Mobiles from 10-3. This costs £4 per person and is recommended for ages 5+
- Friday – Space Sculptures from 10-3. This costs £5 per person and is recommended for ages 3+
However, that’s not all! There will be a brand new exhibition opening. “Beyond the Stars: A Propmakers Guide to the Galaxy” will allow you to discover the art of sci-fi special effects. Some of the props on display have been used in films and TV shows including Doctor Who and The Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy!
You can book your tickets on the Discover Bucks website here.
Oxford Bus Museum is hosting two epic events in the half term. On Sunday 25th you can enjoy free heritage bus rides throughout the day as part of their classic bus day. However, if cars are more you thing, pop over on Monday 26th where you can enjoy a display of classic cars at their on site Morris Motors museum.
Book your tickets for those events on their website here.
Farm events
We have so many great local farms around Bucks and some of them are really getting stuck in with super fun half term activities.
Odds Farm Park are hosting a ‘Half Term Hoedown’! This sounds like it’s going to be so much fun, with interactive shows, sheep shearing demonstrations, cowboy crafts, tractor rides and more. What’s more, there’s a brand new eatery, the Dipple Diner, which will serve up some rootin’ tootin’ treats!
Book your tickets in advance to save some pennies!
Thrift Farm is making May magical! As well as all the usual fun at Thrift Farm, keep an eye out for roaming mythical creatures, Diego the dragon and Aurora the unicorn. Additionally, you can groove away to the Mystic Bubble Bop Disco, take your chance in the Dragons Lair, Dig into the depths of the Dragon Dig for a prize, search for clues on the Unicorn Trail, try your hand at Unicorn Hoopla and more!
Hogshaw Farm is hosting it’s annual Hogfest event all week long. There’s all the usual fun of the farm to be had and also the Hogfest activities, including mini train rides, village fete games and lots of circus themed fun!
Tickets have to be booked in advance – grab yours here.
The Bucks Goat Centre has a whole host of activities going on this half term.
- Saturday – Bunny Brunch at 10:30
- Sunday – Ferret Fun at 11:30
- Monday – Bubble Fun at 11:30 and 15:30
- Tuesday – Piggy Lunch at 12pm
- Wednesday – Garden Workshop at 2pm
- Thursday – Ferret Fun at 11:30
- Friday – Animal Enrichment Workshop at 2pm
All activities are included in general admission and you can book in advance online or just turn up and pay on the door.
Zoo events
Whipsnade Zoo has some creative fun going on with Mister Maker and Rebecca from CBeebies hosting some live shows and craft workshops all week long! Through art and play children will be able to learn more about protecting the planet through recycling, the significance of parrot conservation and more!
The live shows will be fun for children AND grown ups, featuring plenty of dancing, singing and surprises!
Shopping Centres
Friars Square is creating some half term balloon fun on Tuesday 27th May – and it’s all free! There’ll be three hilarious balloon shows at 11, 12:30 and 2, sweet treats on stilts, creative make and take craft workshops and a treasure trail too! No need to book, just come along and enjoy the fun.
The Marlowes in Hemel Hempstead are having a Dino Day on the Wednesday of half term. Meet T-Rex and the baby dinosaurs, get some selfies and have some cool interactions with them all between 11am and 4pm.
Additionally, you can find emergency vehicles in the town centre on Saturday 31st from 11-3. Meet the heroes who keep us safe, enjoy some craft, get your face painted and more.
No need to book, these events are totally free – just turn up!
Victoria Place Shopping Centre in Woking is hosting the Wild West Woking event on Saturday the 24th and Saturday 31st. On the 24th you can decorate your very own cowboy hat! On the 31st you can join the interactive Cowboy School and learn the ways of the Wild West in addition to making your own Cowboy Badge! You’ll also get a certificate on completion of your training.
Additionally, there is a Most Wanted trail running all half term long. Track down the Most Wanted Outlaws and be in with a chance to win £100 to spend at The Entertainer!
Find out more and book your tickets here.
Leighton-Linslade Town Council are hosting a Market Event for families on Tuesday from 10-2. You can meet some farmyard friends from Animal Edge, get your face painted for free, get creative at the craft table, hunt down all the bugs on the park explorer trail and more! No need to book, as this event is free – just turn up!
More half term fun
Larks by the Lake, Watermead are hosting their annual family fun day on Sunday 25th. This free event will include a food court, shopping, games, music, the Great Watermead Bake Off, a dog show and more! No need to book – just turn up to the Watermead Balloon Field anytime between 12:30 and 5:30.
Princes Risborough School is the location for this years local Beer and Music festival. This will run all weekend and is perfect family fun! There’ll be free kids entertainment from The Magic Man and Crazy Hazy, there’ll be fairground rides, live music and plenty to eat and drink. You can get a variety of tickets, including weekend passes, and kids go free! Book
Thomley has so many brilliant activities going on over the May half term and the splash park will be open all week. Their schedule looks a bit like this…
- Monday – Open for all – additional activities include a pirate assault course, baking oat pirate pops and feeding the ships birds.
- Tuesday – Disability family day – activities include den building, cooking pizza treasure maps and gardening club
- Wednesday – Disability for all day – activities include football, making rainbow fish cakes, music workshop and a treasure hunt
- Thursday – 13+ day – activities include giant pirate battleships, cooking pizza treasure maps and gardening club
- Friday – Open for all – additional activities include farm animals on site all day, a circus skills workshop, cooking rainbow fishcakes and time in the crew mud kitchen.
- Saturday – Open for all – activities include defending the fort with archery, making mermaid lemonade and the ministry of silly pirate walks
- Sunday – Disability quiet day – activities include deep breathing bubble snakes and a sensory walk
Tickets MUST be booked in advance for these events! You can get yours here.
TGI Fridays in High Wycombe has a special half term visitor… on Wednesday and Thursday from 11-1you can enjoy a meet and greet with Spiderman! Children cost £10 and included in that price is a drink, a main and a dessert, along with the chance to meet Spiderman and complete some themed activities.
To book, email highwycombe@tgifridays.co.uk or call 0330 175 9255
Chinnor and Princes Risborough Railway has two dinosaur days on the 25th and 26th May. Children who bring their favourite dinosaur with them get in for free! Otherwise its £1 for children aged 3-15 and free for under 3’s. Additionally, there’ll be a dinosaur hunt around the station! Book your tickets here.
Dinton Pastures Country Park has plenty of fun going on during he half term! There’ll be a slime workshop, hair braiding, airbrush tattoos, face painting! No need to book, just turn up on the day.
Trackplay will be in MK on Saturday with various sessions throughout the day. There’ll be trains, a bouncy castles, ride ons, toy dinosaurs and more. Book your space on the Trackplay website.
Sports events
Radley Sports Centre is hosting some kids fun sessions on the Tuesday and Thursday of half term. Children aged 8-12 are welcome to join the fun from 2:30-4pm. There’ll be two huge inflatable assault courses, fun pool toys and diving boards! Book your tickets on the Radley Sports Centre website.
Bletchley Rugby Club is hosting Bounce Camp every day of this long weekend. There’ll be a 640 foot obstacle course, slides, castles, axe throwing, basket ball, soft play and plenty of refreshments such as burgers, candyfloos, ice cream and more. Book your tickets online for £9.99 via the Bounce Camp website.
Beyond Buckinghamshire…
Woburn Sands Emporium has a ‘Make Your Own Pizza’ session where children can design and cook their own pizza for £11.9. Book your tickets here.
They are also hosting an Animal Experience event, another popular activity! Meet plenty of small and adorable creatures including meerkats, chinchillas, snakes and more! Book your tickets here.
Finally, they’re hosting a ‘Plant Your Own Hanging Basket’ session for £8.99. Get your children into gardening with a hands on workshop where they can create a beautiful hanging basket. Book your tickets here.
Nature Makers MK are hosting a special turtle themed session followed by a picnic! The session runs on Friday 30th May from 11-12:30 and will last 45 minutes (not including the picnic afterwards!). Activities will include giant turtle painting, sand sensory play, a turtle egg hunt, 3D sea scene art, clay modelling and more.
Chester House Estate is hosting Fun at the Estate this half term. Join in with mini tractor rides, face painting, garden games, meet the alpacas and more! Running from Wednesday – Friday, tickets must be booked in advance on their website.
Aldenham Country Park have their Spring Into Summer event where you can feed the farm animals, pet small animals, meet Winnie the Pooh, play on the Bouncy Castle, ride mini tractors, visit the 100 Aker Wood, play in the adventure park and much more!
You don’t need to book in advance, however if you do, you can save some money.
One World Animals are hosting one of their popular interactive animal events at the Abbots Langley Community Centre on the Friday! The encounters will last for 75 minutes and you can meet many creatures, including tarantulas, snakes, ferrets and more. Booking for this is a must – get your tickets here.
The Hertfordshire County Show is happening this weekend. You can make your own pizza with local ingredients, watch animal demonstrations in the entertainment ring, see some vintage tractors, meet farm animals, try some countryside crafts, learn about bees, chat to local farmers, witness dancing sheep and so much more! Book your tickets online.
And that’s a wrap!
Phew! There’s a lot going on, and I know full well this list is not an exhaustive one!
What are your plans for the half term? I’d love to hear all about what you get up to, or any recommendations you may have! Whatever you do, I hope you have fun and soak up some extra hours with your little ones whilst they’re off school. Happy memory making!
Leave a Reply