Things to do this May Half Term

May Half Term – the gateway to the summer holidays! We’ve put together some of our top affordable (many of them free) days out for families for this short but sweet week of school freedom (except for the teens who are in GCSE mode – may the force be with you).

There are some wonderful events taking place this May, including the Dalston Children’s Festival and Chelsea Fringe, plus we’ve got some alternative ideas, including a zipwire through central London and children’s trails which take in all the brilliant London sights.

Don’t forget to tag us and add the hashtag #littlebirddaysout so other LittleBird families can get ideas too!

Museum Fun for Families…

• The Museum of London always have a great selection of free family events and workshops. Catch a screening of Aardman’s Early Man or accessorise like a caveman, make a prehistoric animal flipbook, or create your own Roman perfume at the MOL Docklands and more.
• Get inventive and creative at the Museum of Childhood and create your own moving toy in their Inventive Children workshops.
• Meet a WWII evacuee at the Imperial War Museum London
• Head to the V&A on Monday 28th May – !st June for their pop-up performance, Stardust, inspired by The Future Starts Here exhibition (Free, drop-in).
• Visit the Grant Museum of Zoology on the 26th May and join a hands-on session which explores some of their zoological specimens.
• Got a little (or big) locomotive fan? Head to the London Museum of Water & Steam for the Festival of Trains from 26th May – 3rd June. Save 45% on tickets here.

Quirky ideas…

• Join a family art workshop, ‘Drawings of Discovery’ , at the British Library on Wednesday 30th May or, wait for it, a Moana family sing-along on Saturday 2nd June!
• Build your own picture book at Foyles on Charing Cross Road with illustrator Bruce Ingman.
• The City of London have put together a series of Children’s Trails which make exploring the city’s square mile even easier and more fun.
• Discover London’s Talking Statues. This innovative and unique idea brings some of London’s most iconic statues to life at the swipe of your phone.
• Explore the art and history of Kenwood House on Tuesday 29th or Wednesday 30th May and take part in a creative family art & craft workshop as you go.
• Ever wondered what it’s like to zipwire through central London? Well now you can find out with Zipnow and for 20% off here.

Nature lovers and outdoor fun…

• Go on an aerial family adventure at High Places Horsham. Save 50% on activity packages here.
• Visiting the MOL? Be sure to check out the free hidden gem that is the Barbican Conservatory.
• Take a bucket and spade and visit the Southbank Centre Beach.
• Head to Hyde Park on Wednesday 30th May for a Nature’s Recyclers Discovery Day, featuring up-cycling activities, nature trail, art and crafts, and a mud kitchen!
• Take a trip to East Grinstead on Saturday 3rd June for the Ultm8 Warrior Junior Obstacle Course. Mud, face paint and obstacles = a sure-fire great day out.
• Fancy glamping? Why not head up to the beautiful North Norfolk for a stay in a cosy bell tent and unwind in the wilderness…but with sauna access, a pizza oven and wood-burning stove. Save 43% on stays here.
• Visit one of London’s city farms and see how fast the Spring babies are growing. For our top recommendations, see here.

A variety of different festivals…

• Spend Bank Holiday Monday with favourite CBeebies characters, Cook and Line, enjoy rides, go-karting, inflatables, children’s entertainers and more at Kidz Big Bash in Essex. Save 50% on tickets here.
• Get involved in the myriad of activities taking place across Dalston for the Dalston Children’s Festival on Saturday 26th May and 2nd June. From picnics, to crafts, to caricatures, to theatre and music! Most events are drop-in but some require you to book a place.
• The Chelsea Fringe Festival finishes on 27th May but there’s plenty of free things to see before then. Check out The Floating Meadow at Paddington, a Botanical Sculpture Trail at Walthamstow Wetlands, a floral installation in Covent Garden, a Roof Garden Fun Day in Wandsworth and more here.
• Part of the Chelsea Fringe and London Festival of Architecture, Battersea Park’s Pump House Gallery will be hosting a range of free family activities and performances. Learn about the ‘Not so Secret Language of Flowers’ or explore the traditional art of tea-making and tea-leaf readings at a Tasseography workshop.

Kids theatre…

• Not Now, Bernard at the Unicorn Theatre – this iconic picture book comes to life in this brand new production at the wonderful Unicorn Theatre. Save 20% on tickets here.
• The Underbelly Festival is back again with a brilliant selection of family fun, from the wacky Shakespearience, to Aliens Love Underpants. See what else is on on LittleBird here.
• Or head to the iconic Polka Theatre in Wimbledon for their innovative Techtopia Festival. Featuring performances Stardust, Error 404, Random Selfies and The First Girl in Space, this series explores the role of technology in modern childhood. There are also a number of free family activities to get involved in to, including a Prediction Machine and Art coded Wallpaper! Save 29% on tickets here.
• The hills are alive with the sound of music at the BFI this Half Term, especially with 20% off tickets to a screening of The Sound of Music on the 28th and 31st May here.

For more May Half Term ideas and savings, check out our category on LittleBird…