May half-term family days out 2026: The best things to do with kids

Make the most of May half term with a packed programme of family-friendly days out across the region, from outdoor adventures and animal encounters to creative workshops and live entertainment.

Longer days and a welcome hint of summer make May half term the perfect excuse to get out and explore. Whether your children love getting close to nature, diving into hands-on activities or simply burning off energy in the great outdoors, there’s no shortage of inspiration.

Across Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire, Hampshire and Surrey, you’ll find a brilliant mix of festivals, trails, shows and immersive experiences designed to keep all ages entertained.

Berkshire

This year’s Reading Children’s Festival celebrates its 37th anniversary from May 9th to 31st with events and activities for children all over the borough, starting with Forbury Fiesta on 9th, where there will be something for everyone to get involved with on the day. Expect plenty of fun, mayhem and madness from sport and music workshops to fun with art and craft sessions – take your pick from the exciting events at venues across Reading. Visit whatsonreading.com for more.

Get ready for a week of animal talks and interactive farm-themed activities at Wellington Country Park, May 25th to 29th. Meet the Farmer Q&A, step into the shoes of a vet with roleplay workshops and get stuck in with a mucking out activity. Explore tractors and ride-on mowers and discover how they are used. Get creative by chalk painting wooden barn animals, explore the corn sensory box and make memories at some of the farm-themed photo points. Book tickets at wellingtoncountrypark.co.uk.

Follow the Sonning Scarecrow Trail in and around the beautiful Thameside village to find the themed scarecrows amongst the gardens and hedgerows on May 24th & 25th.

Boom, Boom! The Basil Brush Family Magic Show comes to South Hill Park Wilde Theatre on Friday, 29th May. What tricks will the cunning fox be up to? Tickets at southhillpark.org.uk/shp-events/basil-brush-family-magic-show/.

Football Mania is set to hit Windsor Racecourse on Monday, 25th May when the pitch comes to the turf. Under 18s go free and there’s free entertainment for all the family all day alongside racing including fun fair rides, Shetland Pony races, bouncy castles, circus performers, stilt footballers, penalty shoot-out and football darts—all getting you ready for the World Cup in June. windsor-racecourse.co.uk

The National Trust always serves up family fun days to enjoy. Take the woodland walk in Basildon Park to find the wild play trail in the parkland. Get adventurous on the balance beam, jump on the hopscotch and play with the ball run. Enjoy playing in nature at Greys Court, look out for trees to climb and piles of logs to jump over on your very own adventure.

Go Ape in Swinley Forest offers high ropes for treetop adventures—take on the forest trails with a Segway, tackle the tree-to-tree crossings, Tarzan swings and epic zip lines. Book at goape.co.uk/locations/bracknell.

Get your hands dirty with Create & Grow at Squire’s Garden Centres this half term—plant a tasty veg pot, decorate it, add a plant label and take it home to watch your veggies grow (£8 booking a must, squiresgardencentres.co.uk).

Buckinghamshire

Waddesdon Manor is always a great day out. Between 23rd & 31st May, Art in Nature (free with entry) invites you to get hands-on with large-scale community collaborations, take part in workshops, masterclasses and talks, or simply wander the art trails; visit waddesdon.org.uk.

Chinnor & Princess Risborough Railway offers timeless family-friendly adventures. Why not book a ride on a lovingly restored heritage train? Visit chinnorrailway.co.uk.

Kew Little Pigs in Old Amersham is a small, friendly farm offering pre-booked piggy petting and grooming experiences that will have you smitten… Also check out the May Half-Term Colouring Competition! kewlittlepigs.com.

Step back in time at Chiltern Open Air Museum in Chalfont St Giles. Events include family trails, traditional games and costumed interpreters bringing historic buildings to life, with plenty of space to roam; coam.org.uk.

Fancy a National Trust day? Exciting plans are afoot at Hughenden Manor, the former home of Benjamin Disraeli, with a children’s trail and hands-on craft workshops. The gardens and orchards will be buzzing with life. Nearby, We’re Going on a Bear Hunt lands at Cliveden, with a series of interactive installations. Get ready to swish, splash and squelch your way to the bear this half term! nationaltrust.org.uk.

Enjoy time on the water with Cookham Reach Sailing Club, a friendly, family-focused club on a beautiful stretch of the Thames. Open to all ages and abilities, it offers everything from relaxed social sailing and paddle boarding to competitive racing and coaching sessions; cookhamreachsc.org.

Over in Beaconsfield, Bekonscot Model Village is a timeless treat. Kids love spotting the tiny trains, buildings and hidden details, and it’s just the right size for a relaxed half-day outing; bekonscot.co.uk.

A family trip to Peterley Manor Farm in Prestwood is always a feast for all the senses. Check out Cherry’s Nature Crafting Sessions for little ones aged three to seven, 26th to 29th May; peterleymanorfarm.co.uk.

Norden Farm Centre for the Arts near Maidenhead hosts family theatre, workshops and drop-in craft sessions perfect for the school holidays; norden.farm.

Bookworms shouldn’t miss the Roald Dahl Museum and Story Centre in Great Missenden, with interactive exhibits, storytelling and creative fun; roalddahlmuseum.org.

And Go Ape Wendover delivers treetop adventures, zip wires and forest fun high above the ground, set in beautiful woodland; goape.co.uk.

Oxfordshire

Starting with a seasonal favourite, Waterperry Gardens is bursting into bloom. Follow Family Trails through the ornamental gardens, with clues to solve along the way, then refuel at the tearoom or browse the garden shop; waterperrygardens.co.uk.

For hands-on countryside fun, Big Bale Play at High Lodge Farm in Culham is a winner. Think giant straw bale mazes, climbing towers and space to roam; highlodgefarm.com.

For a brilliant mix of history and play, Cogges Manor Farm near Witney offers 17 acres of adventure. Meet the animals and enjoy seasonal crafts, trails and storytelling; cogges.org.uk.

Nature lovers will adore Earth Trust for outdoor discovery. Climb Wittenham Clumps for stunning views or explore meadows, ponds and woodlands; earthtrust.org.uk.

In Oxford, the Oxford University Museum of Natural History hosts interactive events such as Meet the Scientists (27th & 28th May), while The Story Museum brings tales to life through play; storymuseum.org.uk. The Ashmolean Museum offers fantastic free family activities; ashmolean.org, while Oxford Castle and Prison often runs interactive workshops; oxfordcastleandprison.co.uk.

Transport fans will love the Oxford Bus Museum, where heritage rides await; oxfordbusmuseum.org.

History fans can enjoy themed fun at the Soldiers of Oxfordshire Museum in Woodstock (sofo.org.uk), while the Pendon Museum offers a glimpse of rural life for all generations; pendonmuseum.com.

For a grand day out, Blenheim Palace is always a showstopper, with parkland, play areas and Half-Term Trails; blenheimpalace.com.

Nearby, the inclusive Fairytale Farm brings magic to life; fairytalefarm.co.uk. And Roves Farm near Swindon offers animal encounters and family fun; rovesfarm.co.uk.

If you fancy a touch of arts and crafts heritage, Kelmscott Manor, once home to William Morris, is open for the season. Wander through the enchanting gardens, explore the historic interiors and enjoy homemade treats in the tearoom; kelmscottmanor.org.uk

Fancy a National Trust day out? Hughenden Manor is always a winner, with woodland trails, open parkland and family-friendly activities.

Cliveden is another showstopper, with its parterre gardens, riverside walks and Storybook Play Den, perfect for outdoor fun; nationaltrust.org.uk

Hampshire

The Shed is your go-to spot for family fun, laughter, and community vibes! With Free Toddler Tuesdays, lively Saturday Events, and something happening every week, there’s fun for all ages. Sing your heart out at family karaoke, get crafty with Daisy, or enjoy music, games, and more. From dog walks to wine strolls, it’s all about bringing people together and making great memories.

Celebrate the 10th anniversary of Nature Day at Gilbert White’s House & Gardens in Selborne, on May 10th. This perfect and affordable family day out invites visitors to connect with nature through guided walks, hands-on crafts and activities from conservation groups, while exploring the historic house and beautiful gardens in a fun, engaging setting for all ages. Children go free!

Farncombe Boat House is open from late March until the end of October for self-drive day boats and holiday boats. Enjoy a day out on the River Wey with friends and family, or a weekend exploring further downstream and onto the River Thames. Available for days, weekends, midweek breaks and weekly holidays on the river.

Enjoy a great day out by steam with Railway Touring Company to destinations including historic towns and cities, trips to the seaside, as well as journeys through mountains and valleys across land often not seen from roads. Most trains allow time to visit the destination and discover its attractions. To find out where your next journey could take you, visit railwaytouring.net/uk-day-trips.

To celebrate the launch of the new book I Spot a Cow by Kay Vincent, published by Nosy Crow in collaboration with the National Trust, join Hinton Ampner for this fun-filled family trail and explore the gardens to find all of the farm animals. They’ve also left lots of fun games for you to do along the way!

Day Out With Thomas™: Let’s Rock, Let’s Roll Tour is hitting the tracks and bringing the beat to The Watercress Line from 23rd to 31st. Hop on board a train ride with Thomas, watch exciting live shows with Sodor Station Sweepers Rusty & Dusty, join the Thomas & Friends™ character hunt, enjoy garden games and more! There are also two new Rusty & Dusty outdoor entertainment shows with Sir Topham Hatt, Percy, Diesel and Toad.

Screen On The Lawn returns to Aviator Hotel in Farnborough this month, bringing a unique outdoor cinema experience—where else can you watch an iconic film while private jets take off behind the screen? The 2026 line-up includes Pretty Woman (22nd May), Zootropolis 2 (23rd 4pm), F1: The Movie (23rd 8pm) and Grease (24th 8pm). More info & booking at aviatorhampshire.com/experiences/screen-on-the-lawn.

Surrey

May half term is time for the Great Garden Game-a-thon at RHS Garden Wisley. Explore the maze and play giant garden games. Meet Zoolab’s animals in Scales and Tails Challenge and climb through leaves and branches to reach the top. Details & booking at rhs.org.uk/gardens/wisley/whats-on/may-half-term-at-wisley.

Hatchlands Park invites you to take a magical wander inspired by Moominvalley this spring, with a family trail around the garden, meeting characters from the stories.

Be a Meadow Explorer and step into the wild beauty of the meadow with relaxed, family-friendly outdoor adventure at Painshill. Discover the incredible plants, insects and wildlife that thrive in this vibrant habitat.

Farncombe Boat House is open from late March until the end of October for self-drive day boats and holiday boats. Enjoy a day out on the River Wey with friends and family, or a weekend exploring further downstream and onto the River Thames. Available for days, weekends, midweek breaks and weekly holidays on the river Wey.

The Shed is your go-to spot for family fun, laughter, and community vibes! With Free Toddler Tuesdays, lively Saturday Events, and something happening every week, there’s fun for all ages. Sing your heart out at family karaoke, get crafty with Daisy, or enjoy music, games and more. From dog walks to wine strolls, it’s all about bringing people together and making great memories.

Celebrate the 10th anniversary of Nature Day at Gilbert White’s House & Gardens in Selborne on May 10th. This affordable family day out invites you to connect with nature through guided walks, hands-on crafts and activities from conservation groups, while exploring the historic house and beautiful gardens. Children go free!

Say Hello Again as you follow Neil Diamond’s story from his early songwriting days to international stardom, through six decades of hits including Sweet Caroline. Hello Again – The Neil Diamond Story is at Camberley Theatre on Saturday, 2nd May. Get the Party Started with award-winning P!nk impersonator Stacy Green on 11th July, packed with pop hits and energy.

Enjoy a great day out by steam with Railway Touring Company to destinations including historic towns and cities, seaside trips, and journeys through mountains and valleys across countryside often not seen from roads. Most trains allow time to explore the destination. Visit railwaytouring.net/uk-day-trips.

Get your hands dirty with Create & Grow at Squire’s Garden Centres this half term—plant a tasty veg pot, decorate it, add a plant label and take it home to watch your veggies grow (£8 booking required, squiresgardencentres.co.uk).

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