The Best Things To Do With Kids This Half-Term

LONDON:

Science Fiction Family Fun Day

The Royal Institution is hosting a fabulous family day filled with seriously cool science, including levitation, space travel and the exciting technology behind the likes of 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 2nd June
Great for: 6-12 years

Visit Eventbrite.co.uk

OVO Energy Tour Series Family Festival

Britain’s leading cycle race is arriving in Wembley Park to provide north-west London with some family fun. Britain’s best cyclists will battle it out for the top spot, but while you wait for the winner, take the little ones to try out the virtual reality tours, photo booths and youth races.

Where: Wembley Park, Wembley
When: Tuesday 29th May
Great for: All ages

Visit WembleyPark.com

Comic Workshops at The Cartoon Museum  

Once again, the Cartoon Museum has a whole host of activities for children over the holiday period. Kicking off with creating comics on Monday, then throughout there’s something everyone can enjoy – including the chance to try cut-out animation, make cartoon postcards and a masterclass in manga.

Where: The Cartoon Museum, Bloomsbury
When: 28th May to 1st June
Great for: 8-18 years

Visit CartoonMuseumShoot.org

Underbelly Festival

This Southbank festival is always a hit with the young ones. Check out the circus shows, including The Very Circusy Caterpillar, and children’s variety show Aliens Love Underpants. And there’s something for even the youngest of children – don’t miss Monksi Mouse’s Baby Dancehall Disco.

Where: The Southbank
When: See website for various events and dates
Great for: All ages

Visit UnderbellyFestival.com

All Points East Festival

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 just a few of the things on offer for the kids.

Where: Victoria Park, Tower Hamlets
When: 28th-31st May
Great for: All ages

Visit AllPointsEastFestival.com

Dalston Children’s Festival

This fantastic festival will be taking place in various locations across Dalston. Choose from a huge range of activities, including Tots Tunes, Make A Play in A Day, and Big and Small Beat It Band. Some activities can be pre-booked while others are drop-in – take a look at the website for more info.

Where: Various locations in Dalston
When: 26th May and 2nd June
Great for: All ages

Visit DalstonChildren.org.uk
 

Horniman Museum

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 the chance to listen to performances and talks, go pond dipping and to learn about the Great British Bee Count.

Where: Horniman Museum and Gardens, Forest Hill
When: Daily throughout half-term
Great for: All ages  

Visit HornimanMuseum.com

Peter Pan at the Open Air Theatre

Regent Park’s Open Air Theatre is best known for its intense Shakespeare performances and sing-along musicals, but their latest production of Peter Pan is perfect for a family night out. Enchanting for both old and young alike, this swash-buckling rendition has been praised by critics. Plus, for parents of children with autism, the theatre has teamed with the National Autistic Society to offer an autism-friendly performance on 30th May.

Where: Regent’s Park, Marylebone
When: Until 15th June
Great for: 7 years and above

Visit OpenAirTheatre.com

ACROSS THE UK:

Common People Festival

From the makers of Bestival comes Common People, a music, arts and community festival in Oxford and Southampton this bank holiday weekend. With both festivals welcoming a wide range of acts such as Morcheeba, All Saints, The Jacksons and Maximo Park, this will be a fabulous day out for all the family. There’ll be a kids’ corner, Junkyard Golf, the world’s largest disco ball, and much more.

Where: South Park, Oxford; Southampton Common
When: 26th and 27th May
Great for: All ages

Visit CommonPeople.net

Howletts Wild Animal Park

With the largest herd of African elephants in the UK, Howletts Wild Animal Park will be a half-term day out to remember – and, of course, there’ll be a chance to visit the monkeys, leopards and gorillas, too. Their recently-opened Animals of the Ice Age exhibition is an educational fanfare, showcasing the mighty mammoth, sharp-toothed sabres, and other life-sized creatures of the past.

Where: Howletts Wild Animal Park, Kent
When: Daily throughout half-term
Great for: All ages

Visit AspinallFoundation.org

Marwell Zoo’s Tropical House

The Winchester zoo is celebrating the unveiling of its new tropical house with Energy for Life, the biggest exhibition in its history. Split over two levels and featuring a waterfall and forest floor, this house promises to be a cool experience for the whole family. What’s more, over half term there will be a chance to join in the Top Trumps Challenge – follow the fun trail and learn how the animal species compare.

Where: Marwell Zoo, Winchester
When: 26th May to 3rd June
Great for: All ages

Visit Marwell.co.uk

Daylesford Organic Children’s Cookery School

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
When: Wednesday 30th May
Great for: 5-12 years

Visit Daylesford.com

Visit  MyBaba.com for more parenting ideas.