Yippee the second May bank holiday is here and if you need some inspiration of how to spend the day, don’t worry – we can help! We’ve searched locations up and down the country to find some of the best events which are perfect for families and here’s what we’ve found for you…
Pirate Treasure Hunt; WWT London Wetland Centre, London, 28th May – 5th June
Pick up a map and see if you can solve the clues and find the treasure which has been hidden by the pesky pirates! Children are encouraged to dress up in their pirate best for lots of added fun!
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Wild About Spring; Vauxhall City Farm, London, 29th May – 4th June
Visit this city farm for this free family event where children can learn all about farm life and how some of the smaller animals are cared for. There will be fun activities for the kids to join in with as each day the focus will be on a different part of the farm!
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Fun Days; Golden Hinde II, London, 28th – 31st May
Come and celebrate a day dedicated to famous explorer Sir Francis Drake, with plenty of games and stories for the children. On the Sunday and Monday of the bank holiday weekend, its ‘Pirate Fun Day’ so expect lots of pirate fun looking for treasure to entertain your little scallywags!
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Love Your Zoo Week! Battersea Park Children’s Zoo, London, 30th May – 3rd June
Bank holiday Monday kick starts the week long ‘Love Your Zoo’ celebrations where meerkats, otters and monkeys all getting their turn to meet eager visitors. There will be storytelling and crafts for the kids too!
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Minibeasts on Brownsea; Brownsea Island, Poole Harbour, Dorset, 28th May – 5th June
Not that you need a special event to want to visit this beautiful island but over the May half-term there is a free trail to follow in search of creepy crawlies that enjoy living on the island. Kids will love the bug hotel workshops and the chance to create their own minibeast!
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Tiger Tales; Marwell Zoological Park, Winchester, Hampshire, 28th May – 5th June
Find out about and spot the beautiful Amur tigers at Marwell Zoo. Follow the tiger themed trail, listen to ‘tiger talks’ and even get your face painted to look just like them!
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Morden Gets Muddy! Morden Hall Park; Morden, Surrey, 30th May – 3rd June
Definitely one for the kids, how about a messy bank holiday making mud pies, hunting for worms and jumping in muddy puddles? If this sounds like something your little cherub would love, then don’t forget to take wellies and old clothes! Don’t worry mums and dads, there are plenty of other activities to join in with too! 😉
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Nature Week Trail & Animal Petting Zoo; Borde Hill Garden, Haywards Heath, West Sussex, 28th May – 5th June
Come along and celebrate Nature Week over the bank holiday weekend where there will be so much to keep the little ones entertained! Meet all kinds of super adorable animals at the mobile petting zoo ‘Animal Magic’, and there are Nature Trails to follow where kids can look for clues hidden around the garden! Plus, don’t forget to visit to the Adventure Playground and enjoy the thrill of the zip wire!
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Pirates Week; Marsh Farm Animal Adventure Park, Chelmsford, Essex, 28th May – 3rd June
As well as meeting, petting and feeding the cute animals, kids will be able to join in the Pirate fun over the bank holiday weekend. Jump aboard the inflatable galleon, join in the treasure trail and have great fun creating pirate arts and crafts to take home! Kids are encouraged to dress up so grab your pirate hats and eye patches for a truly swashbuckling adventure!
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Curious Crocklebog Costume Caper; BeWilderwood, Norwich, Norfolk, 28th May – 5th June
Visit BeWilderwood this bank holiday weekend where the Crocklebogs are waiting to entertain you! There will be lots of fun crafty activities and the chance to make your own Crocklebog big hat to wear!
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Lyveden Alive! Lyveden New Bield; Oundle, Northamptonshire, 30th May – 3rd June
Head to the Family Den where you can pick up a trail sheet and explore the beautiful surroundings of this estate. There are also fun activities for the kids to get stuck into which include pond dipping, hunting for wild flowers and searching for bugs!
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Destination Space Grossology; National Space Centre, Leicester, 28th May – 5th June
Why not experience a bank holiday with a difference – learning all about how our bodies would cope if we lived in space! There will be fascinating science shows and the kids will love exploring lots of very disgusting things, plus the chance to make glow in the dark slime!
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Enchanted Fairy Forest; Tropical Butterfly House, Wildlife and Falconry Centre, Sheffield, South Yorkshire, 28th May – 5th June
With a sprinkle of fairy dust, bank holiday magic awaits all the family where everyone can explore cute pixie dwellings and fairy hideaways! With the help of Fairy Guides, you’ll explore the forest which will be a truly memorable experience for the children! You’ll also get to enjoy daily bird of prey displays and have fun meeting the lemurs and meerkats.
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Farm Fairies and Country Kings; Bluebell Dairy, Derby, Derbyshire, 28th May – 30th May
Pop along to this wonderful farm over the bank holiday weekend where the little ones will have loads of fun searching the farm for hidden trinkets! They can then get creative by turning them into their own fairy wands or crowns!
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We’re Going On A Bug Hunt! Biddulph Grange Garden, Biddulph, Staffordshire, 28th May – 5th June
Enjoy a bank holiday outdoors searching for bugs and other fascinating creepy crawlies on an explorer trail perfect for all the family. The children also have the chance to get creative with some fun crafty activities too!
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Meet the Birds! Lightwater Valley; Ripon, North Yorkshire, 29th – 30th May
Stars of the brand new Angry Birds movie, Red, Bomb and Chuck will be at Lightwater Valley over the bank holiday eagerly waiting to meet all the children. Don’t forget to take your camera as there will be plenty of photo opportunities, plus let the kids run wild in the Angry Birds Activity Park!
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Pirate Day; Tredegar House, Newport, Wales, 30th May
There’s plenty going on at Tredegar House during half term, however on Bank Holiday Monday take your little swashbucklers to enjoy Pirate Day! There will be plenty of themed activities, games and ooohh arrr surprises to keep your little salty sea dogs entertained!
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Imaginate Festival; National Museum of Scotland, Edinburgh, 28th May 2016 – 3rd Jun 2016
Come along and enjoy this free family Fringe Weekend which promises brilliant theatre performances and dance for younger visitors. Kids and grown-ups will be thrilled by excitement of the event which is sure to inspire the little ones creative passion. Keep your eyes peeled for some entertaining festival shows too – perfect for all the family!
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