It’s the first of the May bank holidays and a great time to get out and about. There’s so much to do from traditional May Day celebrations and fairs to fossil collecting! Lots of FREE things too!
SOUTH
Fossil Festival, Lyme Regis, Dorset, 1-3rd May, Families, FREE
Come and enjoy a brilliant family day out in one of Dorset’s oldest and most beautiful places for the annual Fossil Festival. There will be plenty of walks, talks, street performances, music and comedy. The Fossil Fair will enthrall kids with rare fossils, minerals and jewellery. Scientists will be on hand from the Natural History Museum and the Paleontological Association together with many other fascinating and clever people ready to answer all your questions! (Small charge for some talks/ shows/ craft sessions of approx £3 which can be booked online)
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Downton Cuckoo Fair, Salisbury, 2nd May, 10 – 4pm , Families, FREE
This marvellous annual fair is a fantastic free fun day out for all the family! Held on the picturesque village greens of Downton close to the beautiful New Forest there is something for everyone. There will be over 250 stalls selling crafts, gifts, tasty food and other lovely things. There will be plenty of entertainment for the kids including rides, inflatables, Punch and Judy and good old fashioned Morris Dancing!
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May Day at the Historic Dockyard, Portsmouth 4th May, Families, 10-5.30pm (Normal Entry Fees apply varies from £10-£18)
It’s “May the Forth Be With You” day so why not visit here and make a Pod Racer or Light Sabre? Kids will love a play with Star Wars Lego and there’s even a Star Wars Laser Quest! If you come along dressed as any character you can enter a prize draw for a free game! At the Explosion Museum join in with a May Day Street Party with lots of fun activities and games for everyone in the family.
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LONDON
Canalway Cavalcade, Little Venice London, 2-4th May, Families, FREE
This Bank Holiday weekend bring the family to this annual gathering of over 130 beautiful canal boats which will be moored along the Grand Union Canal. Many will be dressed up for a pageant and there will be lots of typically British fun with morris dancers, stalls, live music and entertaining activities for kids.
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Penguin Parade, Discover Childrens Story Centre, 2- 4th May, Families, £5pp
Why not waddle along with the family to this great story centre for a weekend of penguin fun! Kids will love listening to a penguin story, creating their very own pengiun and dressing up ready to join in with the grand pengiun parade!
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May on the Docks, Magical Rivers of London, London Docklands 2-4th May 11 – 4pm , Kids 5+, FREE
Come and discover the magic of the Thames this Bank Holiday weekend and have fun exploring all about its history with lots of great crafts, family shows and storytelling. On Bank Holiday Monday you can find out all about the traditions of ‘tea time’ and design your very own tea set.
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The Alice Look, V&A Museum of Childhood London 2nd May- 1st Nov, Families, FREE
It’s 150 years since Lewis Carroll wrote the famous childhood book Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland. This fascinating family friendly exhibition is full of garments, photos and illustrations and will show how Alice has been portrayed all around the world in different ways inspiring designers and photographers.
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Star Wars Days, Legoland Windsor 2-4th May, Families, Approx £183 family of 4
All Star Wars fans will love a visit to Legoland this May Bank Holiday! With life size characters to meet and greet and a giant LEGO mosaic to join in with where you can see the the Ewoks appear brick by brick in the magical Ewok Forest. Don’t miss the 501st Uk Garrison march every afternoon! Everyone is welcome to come dressed as their favourite character for a daily competition.
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SOUTH EAST
Brighton Children’s Parade, 2nd May, Families, 10.30am, FREE
It’s time for Brighton’s spectacular Children’s Parade, this year with a theme of ‘taking flight’. 5,000 children from different schools around the region will be dressed in colourful imaginitive costumes exploring any idea to do with flight. Be prepared to see plenty of birds, bumble bees, spaceships and other weird and wonderful creations as they make their way around the streets of this vibrant city.
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May Day Festival at Hever Castle, Kent 2-4th May, Families, Adults £16 Kids over 5, £9
This historic castle is offering a May Day weekend packed with traditional celebrations and fun activities all the family will enjoy. See the May Queen crowned in the Castle grounds and join in with some good old fashioned dancing around the Maypole to 16th century music. Kids can follow the May Day procession with mythical characters from folklore and jingle some May bells along the way!
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MIDLANDS
May Day Celebrations, Mary Arden’s Farm, Stratford- Upon- Avon, 2nd – 4th May, Adult £12.50, Child £8
Plan a visit this Bank Holiday to Mary Arden’s Farm where they will be celebrating the May Bank Holiday in Tudor style. You will get to decorate the Jack-in-the Green by weaving ivy into the willow frame, you will also be able to make flower head garlands and jack-in the-green masks to take home. During the day there will be a parade to bring in the maypole and Tudor dancing.
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NORTH
Little Painting Challenge, University of Manchester, 2-4th May, Families, FREE
This Bank Holiday weekend there is plenty of free fun to be had at this amazing art gallery. On display are all the winning paintings from the recent competition ‘The Little Painting Challenge’. With great outdoor workshops and family interactive art sessions with presenters from CBBC, kids will learn to have a go at being creative learning new drawing skills. There will be a fantastic Art Picnic and brilliant multi sensory activities for younger kids on the Bank Holiday Monday. Check out the website for full details of all activities on offer!
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Tudors on Tour, Henry’s Royal Progress, Tatton Park, Cheshire 2-4th May, Families, £30 family, under 5’s free
This Bank Holiday why not spend an historic day celebrating Henry V111’s arrival at this great Park from Hampton Court Palace with the splendour of his travelling court. This fantastic family festival will entertain everyone and bring to life this time from years gone by with jousting and plenty of royal entertainment including a spectacular 360 degree digital pop-up palace! Kids will love the live Tudor performances, games and craft activities on offer and don’t forget to visit the Tudor farm and all its brilliant animals.
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Wild Weekend, Trentham Gardens Staffordshire, 2-4th May 11:00 – 16:00. Families, Family of 5 £33.60
Get the kids outdoors this Bank Holiday and they can have fun taking part in bug and scavenger hunts. They can also join in with great nature crafts, have a ride on a pony or go wild in the adventure playground. Bolder ones will love the fast and furious zip wire or let them get lost in the maze! Cheeky fairies are hidden in the beautiful woodlands and gardens so don’t forget to take a camera for some great photos as fairies do like to pose for pictures!
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SCOTLAND
Jacobite Re-enactment, Crathes Castle, Aberdeen, 2-3rd May 10.30 – 4.30, Families, Family ticket £29.50
Take the family back to the 1700’s, to the time when Bonnie Prince Charlie tried to take the throne. Watch the British Army on patrol and see the Jacobites try to block their path. Set in the grounds of this magnificent castle this is a great chance to re-live a famous part of history.
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WALES
Gold Fever, Dolaucothi Gold Mine, Lampeter 3rd May, Adult £8, Child £4
This May Bank holiday why not spend a day visiting this gold mine from Roman times in the beautiful Welsh Valley in search of gold! Kids will love the gold panning competition and there will be plenty of ‘gold’ themed activities for them to enjoy including a treasure hunt.
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Have a wonderful Bank Holiday Weekend whatever you get up too!
