Things to Do At May Half Term 2025
Image Credit: Ilona
May Half Term in 2025 falls between Monday 26th May 2025 and Friday 30th May 2025.
Hopefully by now there is some good weather to look forward to in the UK, so when the kids have a week off from school, you are going to need some ideas for things to do!
School holidays may vary so always double check your children's school holiday dates before booking anything. You can check out UK school holiday dates here.
Events and Places To Go in May Half Term 2025
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So here is a whole lot of ideas of places to go and things to do during the May Half Term holiday.
Family events happening across the whole of the UK during the school May Half Term holidays this year.
- Down On The Farm
- National Trust
- Seems A Bit Fishy..
See the life aquatic at one of the best aquariums in the UK see anything from fish to sharks, seals and otters. There are locations across the UK.
As well as experiencing Britain's amazing sea creatures you can learn about the underwater realms around the world.
Animal lovers will have a brilliant time at one of the UK's Top Farm Parks, whether you love sheep and goats, cows, horses, chickens and rabbits. Some places include more exotic animals such as llamas and meerkats.
The National Trust properties across the UK will be holding events over Half Term, so check out your local venus for events, including lots of way to tick items off your 50 things to do before you're 11 ¾ list.
There are events that are happening across the UK, then you can find out what is happening where you live.
- May Half Term Events in England
- May Half Term Events in Scotland
- May Half Term Events In Wales
- May Half Term Events in Northern Ireland
- Britain’s Greatest Escape At Alton Towers
This May Half Term experience the incredible selection of mind-bending, pulse-pounding rollercoasters, like Wicker Man, Oblivion and The Smiler. Or venture into Forbidden Valley to encounter a fearsome creature, fury heightened and more uncontrollable than ever before… Nemesis Reborn
Plus try out all the fantastic family favourites like CBeebies Land where families can explore CBeebies themed rides and attractions, plus meet favourite CBeebies friends including Bluey, Bingo, Bandit and Chilli in an exciting meet and greet experience at the UK’s only CBeebies Land!
- The Eden Project - Cornwall
- The Manchester Flower Festival
- Wonderlab: The Bramall Gallery
Head down to the National Railway Museum this May to try out Wonderlab: The Bramall Gallery, an unmissable new interactive experience for families - where nothing is off limits.
Play your way through 18 hands-on challenges and fuel their curiosity with amazing live experiments.
Test your engineering skills as you step into the human wind tunnel, launch a rocket, and build big—then immerse yourself in an explosive live show to reveal the science behind the fun.
- Edinburgh International Children’s Festival
- Hay Festival Hay-on-Wye
- Dinomania at National Museum Cardiff
- Meet The Gruffalo In Llanarthne
- Fairbourne Railway
- Wetland Bug Hunt
In Co. Down, Northern Ireland, the WWT's Castle Espie teams up with the creators of Wallace and Grommit for Aardman presents Lloyd of the Flies Wetland Bug Hunt.
Dive into the wonderful world of wetland insects with Lloyd and his new friend Dart the dragonfly.
Follow the trail to help Lloyd and tour guide Dart the dragonfly find Lloyd's friends and family and make their way to the bug hotel. Download the Lloyd of the Flies AR Bug Hunt augmented reality trail app produced by Aardman to shrink down to fly size and see the world through insects' eyes.
May Half Term Holiday Events In England
Family events happening across England during the school May Half Term holidays this year.
In Cornwall the Eden Project have got lots planned May Half Term for a fantastic family fun event from 24th May – 1st June full of theatre, dance, music and literature.
The Manchester Flower Festival is a fantastic FREE event all over Manchester City Centre with floral installations, outdoor dining, live music and entertainment, you’re in for a bloomin’ amazing long bank holiday weekend from 23rd to 26th May 2025.
Follow the Floral Trail with tributes to Manchester's finest Icons, From floral installations to outdoor dining, live music and entertainment, you’re in for a bloomin’ amazing long weekend in Manchester city centre. Free and open to all, come along and see Manchester in flowers.
May Half Term Holiday Events In Scotland
Family events happening across Scotland during the school May Half Term holidays this year.
The Edinburgh International Children’s Festival takes place over May Half Term and celebrates the best of children’s theatre and dance from around the world.
From 24th May to 1st June 2025 there is a full programme of performances, activities and pop-up events that are dedicated to entertaining and engaging children from toddlers to teenagers at locations across Edinburgh.
May Half Term Holiday Events In Wales
Family events happening across Wales during the school May Half Term holidays this year.
Image Credit: Chris Athanasiou
The Hay Festival is one of the UK's biggest and most prestigious literary festivals in the UK, and they have a huge programme of bookish events for children and families.
The program for 2025 will be announced in March.
The festival runs in Hay-on-Wye on the Welsh border from 22nd May to 1st June 2025.
Get ready for a roarsome adventure as Dinomania comes to the National Museum Cardiff this summer.
Meet adorable baby dinosaurs - but what out, they might nibble your fingers! Come face-to-face with Spike, a huge walking Spinosaurus. He's massive, mighty, and always up for a roar! Learn incredible dinosaur facts. Ever wondered how fast a T-rex could run or what a Velociraptor really looked like? Dinomania have the answers!
It opens on 28th May and runs until 1st June 2025.
Image Credit: NBGW
A new Gruffalo Trail has opened at the National Botanic Garden of Wales in Llanarthne Carmarthenshire.
It features five larger-than-life sculptures of characters from the ever-popular books created by Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler: Mouse, Fox, Owl, Snake and the Gruffalo.
Plus you can visit British Bird of Prey Centre, the only bird of prey centre in the UK that focuses solely on our native species along with The Great Glasshouse which houses some of the most endangered plants on the planet.
Fairbourne Railway is a little hidden gem in North Wales, running from Fairbourne village to the mouth of the Mawddach Estuary, connecting with the ferry to Barmouth for over 100 years. Children go for just £1.
They also have a miniature railway where from May 27th to 29th they have a Steam and Diesel Gala, with model railways and miniature train rides.
May Half Term Holiday Events In Northern Ireland
Family events happening across Northern Ireland during the school May Half Term holidays this year.
If you need some more ideas here are 5 Free Things to Do in any Town, City or Village.
Staying Indoors
If the weather is bad or you just fancy a cosy day at home, here are some more ideas.
- Make your own Playdough from ingredients that you will already have stored in the kitchen.
- Don't let the kids brains get rusty over half term with our free printable Wordsearches and Anagrams.
- Try some retro fun and teach the kids to make a pillow fort.
- Teach the kids a useful skill that you will have for life with our 7 Tips for Teaching Kids to Knit (or find a crafty friend who can help) then get the kids knitting.
- Catch up on some classic kids books with these 20 Children's Classics that You Can Download for FREE Now. Everything from Alice's Adventures in Wonderland and Treasure island to Heidi, The Jungle Book and Little Women.
- I can hear the groans from here, but some kids may just have some revision to do.....
Plan out your half term week with our FREE printable School Half Term Holiday Planner which is free to download and print off in PDF format.