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Free things to do with your kids over Summer half term

summer half term fun for the family

This Summer half term we've found loads of fun places to go with your family - we've got days out, workshops, kids events - everything you need to have fun with your family this Whitsun week. And the best thing about them is that they're all free!

Cornwall: Digging up the past

Where: The Royal Cornwall Museum, Truro
When? 27, 29 May 2009
What? There are half-term drop-in sessions with archaeologically-inspired activities on Wednesday including digging up artefacts and finding fossils; on Friday kids can try out the ancient wattle and daub building technique. Plus there’s coin-striking, pot-making, story-telling and weaving going on around the museum.
Royal Cornwall Museum website

Coventry: Cycling festival

Where? Coventry Transport Museum
When? 23 – 25 May 2009
What? Cycling is the theme this half-term weekend with a cycle tour round Coventry and the opportunity to try different bikes of all shapes and sizes. For the less energetic there are rickshaw rides, historic displays, face painting and story telling.
Coventry Transport Museum website

Cumbria: Lakes Alive!

Where? The Glebe at Bowness on Windermere
When? Saturday 23 May 2009 from 8.30pm-11pm.
What? Head for where the Lakes Alive Festival for half-term kicks off with a spectacular aerial display called WOW, featuring acrobatics and dancing, which will end with short fireworks finale.
Lakes Alive website

East Anglia: Family Fun Day

Where: The Norfolk & Suffolk Aviation Museum, Norwich
When? 31 May 2009
What: There’s fun for all the family on the 31st with activities for all ages from a teddy bear hunt to testing the radar systems on a Sea Prince. There are artefacts to handle as well as displays to look at, flight simulators to ride and a 1940s dance band. You might want to bring your cameras, too, as there are original WWII uniforms to try on.
Aviation Museum website

Essex: Insect Week

Where? Wat Tyler Country Park, Essex
When? 23 - 31 May 2009
What? There’s a bug hunt on! Learn why insects are so important, which butterfly is which and how to make your garden more wildlife friendly. There may be a charge of around £1 for some make and do activities for children.
Insect Week website

Gateshead: Cadbury Buttons' Fun on the Farm

Where: Bill Quay community Farm, Gateshead
When? 30-31 May 2009
What: Cadbury Buttons are taking over the farm for two days of fun! Fun on the Farm features six entertaining activity zones hosted by Cadbury Buttons’ Cat, Pig, Panda, Owl, Monkey and Penguin. Activities include games, face painting, story telling and treasure hunts, making edible souvenirs, karaoke and dancing.
Also on at:
Bath: Bath City Farm. 6 – 7 June
Birmingham: Woodgate Valley Urban Farm. 25 – 26 May 2009
Leicester: Gorse Hill City Farm. 13-14 June 2009
Liverpool: Rice Lane City Farm. 28 – 29 May 2009
London: Mudchute Park and Farm. 23 – 24 May 2009
Manchester: Wythenshaw Community Farm. 13 – 14 June 2009
Middlesbrough: The Clarence’s Community Farm. 25 - 26 May 2009
Nottingham: Stonebridge City Farm. 28 – 29 May 2009
Buttons on the farm website

Humber: Far Ings Open Day

Where? Far Ings National Nature Reserve, Barton-on-Humber
When? 24 May 2009
What? Get closer to nature during Wildlife Week with half-term activities including tours of the nature reserve, pond-dipping, mini-beasting, butterfly walks and much more
Far Ings website

Lichfield: Carnival

Where? Lichfield city centre
When? 25 May 2009
What? There’s a fun day out at the carnival in Lichfield on the 25th with market stalls and a parade, Morris dancers and music, boats and a funfair. Though there are things to see and do available all day the carnival truly begins after the Lichfield Mercury Bower Queen is crowned at noon.
Visit Lichfield website

Lincoln: Wildlife week open-day

Where: Whisby Nature Park, Lincoln
When? 31 May 2009, 10.30am - 3.30pm
What? For the adventurous and the nature lovers in the family there’s pond dipping and bug hunting sessions, practical activities and the chance to meet some of the nature park’s four legged residents
Lincs Trust website

Liverpool: Magical History

Where: Merseyside Maritime Museum, Liverpool
Where? Erddig, Wrexham
When? 25, 26, 30 May 2009
What? The Maritime Museum’s got activities galore for half term, including giving you the chance to get busy with the Vikings on the 26th and discover some of the Monsters of the Deep (and make your own) on the 25th and 30th or watch a live performance any day.
Liverpool Museums website

London: Children and family events

Where? South Bank Centre, London
When? 22 May – 1 June 2009
What? There’s plenty of events on for children and families this half-term at the South Bank Centre. Most of the events are free, including the 100 metres gold handicap (movie), Gluemouth; interactive poetry readings for children, and The Magnets; singing workshops for children and families with the chance to perform at the Clore Ballroom.
South Bank Centre website

London: Children and family events

Where: Horniman Museum, London
When? 25 – 29 May 2009
What? Lots of different hands-on events are taking place this half-term at the Horniman Museum, including make and do, workshops, storytelling, nature trail. Most are free but do check the individual events, over 3 yrs only
Horniman Museum website

London: The Long Weekend

Where: Tate Modern, London
When? 22 – 25 May 2009
What? There are lots of activities for families this Long Weekend. With a dedicated family area, a village fete, the House of Fairy Tales and recycling workshops including puppet and jack-in-the-box making.
Tate Long Weekend website

London: Make and Do Sundays

Where: National Maritime Museum, Greenwich
When? Every Sunday in May
What? Ready to set sail? Take a cartography workshop and make a treasure map or create a suitcase to take on your trip with you. Look around the museum and plan that trip!
National Maritime Museum website

Lothian: Scottish Marathon

Where: Edinburgh
When? Saturday 31 May 2009 from 9am
What? 16,000 runners are expected to take part in this year’s Scottish Marathon and the Hairy Haggis Relay race. Turn up and cheer them on, and enjoy the free entertainment ranging from bagpipers to cheerleading squads and steel drum bands.
Edinburgh Marathon website

Salisbury: Salisbury International Arts Festival

Where: Salisbury
When? 22 May – 6 June 2009
What? There’s a lot on for families at this summer festival including a treasure trail, sculpture workshop, dance workshop, street theatre, indoor theatre, stop-motion animation workshop and henna hand-painting. Though not all of the events are free, these – and many more – are.
Salisbury Festival website

Shropshire: Search and Rescue

Where: RAF Museum Cosford, Shropshire
When? 26 – 29 May 2009 at 11:00, 12:00, 14:00, 15:00.
What? Take a look around the displays and then take part in a daring sea rescue at the RAF museum. Participants have the choice of either learning survival techniques aboard a raft or of being a member of the heroic rescue team guiding the RAF. There’s no need to book but report in ten minutes early to make sure you get your place. Participating children need to be accompanied by an adult.
RAF Museum website

South Wales: When in Rome…

Where: National Roman Legion Museum, Newport
When? 25 – 29 May 2009
What? Kids can experience the life of a roman soldier this half term. Drop in to try on Roman armour and spend time in the barracks as well as all the all of the usual museum exhibits. Learn all about what the Romans really did for us.
Museum Wales website

Suffolk: Half-term holiday activitie

Where: Lakenheath Nature Reserve, Suffolk
When? 23 - 31 May 2009
What? There are indoor and outdoor activities at the nature reserve so there’ll be something to enjoy whatever the weather. There are craft activities in the visitor centre and scavenger hunts, adventure trails and pond dipping going on around the reserve. Booking essential.
RSPB website

Wakefield: Half-term madness

Where: National Coal Mining Museum
When? 25 – 29 May 2009
What? Explore the nature trail or take a tour underground; visit the ponies or take a train; do arts and crafts or visit Billy Bear and the fairies for a sing-a-long teddy bears picnic – whatever your taste there’s something on for every member of the family this half term. All activities run on a drop-in basis but you’ll need to arrive around 10am to take part in one of the underground tours.
National Coal Mining Museum website

York: All the fun of the fair

Where: National Railway Museum, York
When? 23 – 31 May 2009
What? There’s a lot to do at the National Railway Museum this half-term. As well as the trains there are workshops and interactive storytelling sessions, children can lean how to control railway signals and there’s even a funfair in the grounds – though rides are charged at £1.50.
National Railway Museum website


View Raisingkids half-term guide in a larger map

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