From gladiators to gnomes, carnivals to crocodiles, indoor and outdoor theatre, here’s your list of what’s on for kids this half term each day across Hertfordshire, Bedfordshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire.
Please scroll to the bottom of the page for events which are on every day.
Times and prices vary. Please check individual sites/social media before travel and book in advance to avoid disappointed.
And please tag me on social media if you enjoy these recommendations.
ENJOY!
SATURDAY 27th MAY
The Worst Princess – The Grove Theatre, Dunstable
Enjoy the music and mayhem of this funny, feminist twist on a traditional princess tale. Suitable for 3+.
Create a Crocodile Nest at the Roald Dahl Museum (Gt. Missenden)
Visit the pop-up nest nook and have a go at making a giant crocodile out of junk.
Bug Handling at the Story Museum (Oxford)
Learn more about a variety of mini beasts, with the opportunity to handle and experience them close-up.
SUNDAY 28th MAY
FREE Luton Carnival
A lively parade and free family entertainment from steel bands to roaming dinosaurs.
The Worst Princess – The Grove Theatre, Dunstable
(suitable for 3+)
Enjoy the music and mayhem of this funny, feminist twist on a traditional princess tale.
Bluey at Buzz Rail, Leighton Buzzard
Bluey will be visiting Stonehenge Works. Take a steam-train ride to meet her at intervals.
Gladiator Games at COAM Chalfont St Giles
Meet costumed re-enactors and explore their camp whilst learning all about life in Britain in the 1st Century AD. Combat and weaponry displays.
The Greatest Magician, Elgiva Chesham
James Phelan, the magician most infamous for jamming the BBC switchboard after correctly predicting the lottery results, performs his new show which will leave you aching with laughter and dizzy in disbelief.
Bug Handling at the Story Museum (Oxford)
Learn more about a variety of mini beasts, with the opportunity to handle and experience them close-up.
BANK HOLIDAY MONDAY 29th May
Gladiator Games at COAM, Chalfont St Giles
Meet costumed re-enactors and explore their camp whilst learning all about life in Britain in the 1st Century AD. Combat and weaponry displays.
Bug House Making at Nettlebed Cheese Shed (nr. Henley)
Children can make and decorate their own bug house as well as get their own wooden jigsaw puzzle to decorate and take home. There’s the option to join a nature walk afterwards.
Robin Hood Outdoor Theatre at Ashridge House
This action-packed production delivers huge laughs and daring adventures. Enjoy a picnic in the beautiful gardens. Suitable for 5+.
Pitstone Green Museum nr. Ivinghoe
Enjoy this Victorian farm with its tractor rides, ride on miniature train, working rack saw, model railways, medieval archery plus working blacksmith.
Bus Rally at Bucks Rail Centre
Admire buses from all different eras plus steam trail rides, model railway and railway museum.
The National Museum of Computing Bletchley, nr. Milton Keynes
Educational fun for all the family, providing byte sized tasters of coding, robotics, augmented reality, virtual reality and much more.
Bug Handling at the Story Museum (Oxford)
Learn more about a variety of mini beasts, with the opportunity to handle and experience them close-up.
TUESDAY 30th MAY
Camouflage Creatures at Tring Natural History Museum
Discover how animals use camouflage to hide and explore the wonderful colours and patterns that result. Suitable for 5+
Terrific Tuesday at COAM, Chalfont St Giles.
Enjoy special activities including rag rugging, french knitting, grinding flour and butter making in the Iron Age house, storytelling and Hands on Clay with the Dacorum and Chiltern Potters Guild.
FREE Stickman Trail at Houghton Park Hall, Houghton Regis
The self-guided trail is aimed at encouraging children aged 3-7 to get outdoors and explore the natural world and find out how things grow.
Bug Handling at the Story Museum (Oxford)
Learn more about a variety of mini beasts, with the opportunity to handle and experience them close-up.
Making Meadows at Oxford Museum of Natural History
Join local artist Alice Walker to find out about this amazing, rare habitat and make art. You’ll also have the chance to get hands-on with the specimens that call these marvellous meadows home.
For children of all ages. Drop-in, no booking needed.
WEDNESDAY 31ST MAY
Journey to the Stars! Old Town Hall, Hemel Hempstead
A marvellous blend of puppetry, storytelling, live music and comedy, sprinkled with astounding science and astronomy facts, and all contained within an accessible, funny and unique family show. Suitable for 4+.
Professor Slug’s House of Bug, Stockwood Discovery Centre Luton
Professor Slug is an eccentric expert on invertebrates who helps bugs out with their buggy problems – and you can too! Suitable for 3+
Camouflage Creatures at Tring Natural History Museum
Discover how animals use camouflage to hide and explore the wonderful colours and patterns that result. Suitable for 5+
The Extraordinary Time-Travelling Adventures of Baron Munchausen Aylesbury Waterside Theatre. A lively production full of delightful stories.
Wildlife Garden Open Day and family fun at College Lake (nr. Tring)
Visit the beautiful wildlife garden and enjoy activities from seed planting and treasure hunts to bird spotting and mud and sand pits. Suitable for all ages.
Face Your Fears Day at Houghton Hall Park, Houghton Regis
Climb the 7m activity wall, brave 30m long tunnels or meet the snakes, birds and creepy crawlies. Some activities are paid for and age restrictions apply but the mini obstacle course is free.
FREE – Amazing Ammonites Oxford Natural History Museum
Ammonites were around for more than 380 million years. All that remains of them are fossils of their shells.Take part in a morning of creative activities that help us imagine an ancient ocean alive with these mysterious creatures. For 10-14 year-olds (children need not be accompanied by a parent, booking required).
THURSDAY 1st JUNE
FREE Biobitz at Tring Natural History Museum
Pond dipping and mini beast hunting to help the museum experts record what is living in the museum grounds. Suitable for all ages.
FREE – Dinosaurs roaming in Tring
Dinosaurs will be visiting Tring Memorial Gardens and there’s a Pimms tent…
FRIDAY 2nd JUNE
FREE – Dinosaurs roaming in Tring
Dinosaurs will be visiting Tring Memorial Gardens and there’s a Pimms tent…
SATURDAY 3rd and SUNDAY 4th JUNE
Great British Food Festival at Ashridge House (nr. Berkhamsted)
From an artisan market and premium street food to kids’ activities and a mini zoo.
ON ALL WEEK:
Gnometastic at Waterperry Gardens, nr. Oxford
Help the gnomes in the gardens who have forgotten their names. Find all eight gnomes (and their names) to win a prize. Sat 27th– Sun 4th June.
Enormous Crocodile and The Twits at The Roald Dahl Museum (Gt. Missenden) Enjoy activities related to these two brilliant books from making a life size croc tail to storytelling and walks throughout the week. Suitable for different ages. Sat 27th– Sun 4th June.
Superheroes and Princesses at Hogshaw Farm
Live entertainment from Superhero and Princess friends, participate in our Heroes Academy and enjoy all the usual fun of the farm. Sat 27th – Sun 4th June.
Colourscape at Waddesdon Manor (nr. Aylesbury)
Take an interactive, kaleidoscopic journey through winding tunnels of radiant colours and live music. Sat 27th May – Sun 4th June, closed Tues 30th
Dino Week at Mead Open Farm (nr. Leighton Buzzard)
Come face to face with the roaming dinosaurs, enjoy the dino disco plus lots more. Sat 27th May – Sun 4th June
30th Anniversary at Odds Farm Park (nr. High Wycombe)
Sheep shearing demonstrations, tractor & trailer ride and other exciting animal activities. Plus, make a splash in H2Odds waterplay, test drive Marmalade’s Mini Rovers & enjoy acres of outdoor adventure play. Sat 27th May– Sun 4th June
Professor Miles Munch’s Trail, Dunstable Downs
Help Professor Miles Munch find more sustainable food solutions, closer to home. Be amazed at how far many of your favourite foods have travelled, crossing vast oceans to get to your dinner table or lunch box. Sat 27th May- Sun 4th June.
