May Half-Term Family Activities 2025
It’s almost half-term and that means there’s more on than usual! We’ve pulled together a listing of the goings-on that families can enjoy together in the area, with the activities also featured in our Calendar. We’re adding more and more as and when things are announced, so do keep checking back! For camps and workshops that children can enjoy on their own please check out our Half-Term Camps & Workshops Guide.
- No special half-term events but Chiswick House has lovely dog-friendly gardens to walk around, a great cafe, and an adventure playground for under 7s. Visiting information can be found here.
24th May – 1st June: May Half-Term at Ham House.
- Join Ham House for photography-inspired crafts and activities in the Garden Room. Draw your own portrait, inspired by the paintings in the Long Gallery; make an origami camera; get creative with a photo scavenger hunt; enjoy a free print from the CEWE photo station – take it home as a memento of your visit or share it on a photo wall. Free but normal admission applies plus there are two bookable kids photo workshops run by Sharp Shots on Tuesday 27 May (£42.00-£58.00).
24th May – 1st June: May Half-Term at Hampton Court Palace.
- Visit the Historic Kitchens this half-term and experience the weird and wonderful world of soap making and stain removal in the time of Queen Anne. What is soap? How is it made? How does it work? How do you get red wine out of the carpet? Fear not, the Palace’s team of experimental historians are on hand to answer your questions as they demonstrate traditional soap making methods and test out some strange recipes for removing stains from the 18th century. And it’s not just soap bars you’ll discover in the kitchens. As well as spotless hands and faces, the laundry departments needed means and methods for cleaning shifts and shirts, napkins and tablecloths. Sessions vary by day – please see their website for details. PLUS over the weekend of 24th/25th, enjoy a day of serious nonsense at The Big Bahooey (in collaboration with Cirque Bijou). You can try juggling, plate spinning, wire walking and more in the circus workshops. Slap on some headphones and dance yourself silly at the silent disco. Belt out a tune at the singalongs. Cheer the acrobats and jugglers. Be wowed by a circus or music show. Get crafty at the Boxville cardboard workshop. Gaze in awe at the stilt walkers. Be captivated by the mesmerising street theatre, or snap a selfie with the cool creatures wandering the Gardens. The Magic Garden will also be open. Normal admission applies.
26th, 27th, 29th, 30th May: Half-Term Craft Fun at Hounslow Urban Farm.
- Hounslow Urban Farm is always a treat to visit with the little ones, and this half-term children will also enjoy crafts such as slime making, animal masks, butterfly pictures, farmyard crowns and more (selected times – see website for details). Plus stroll around the pens with goats, pigs, donkeys, llamas, peacocks and owls, and you can even feed some of the animals. There are also animal encounters throughout the day, where you can meet and handle small mammals, reptiles and more. Normal admission applies plus crafts are £2.00-£5.00).
- No special family events, but Kew Gardens always makes a great family day out, with the Children’s Garden, family kitchen & shop, log trail, treetop walkway, immense glasshouses, the Hive, and of course acres of gardens to run free in and explore. Visiting information can be found here.
London Museum Of Water And Steam (Brentford)
24th May – 1st June: Imagineering at the London Museum Of Water & Steam.
- Where engineering and imagination combine! A week of hands-on learning and discovery with Imagineering: build the tallest structure to rival the Museum’s standpipe tower in the straw tower challenge; use the power of the sun to create beautiful prints in a cyanotype workshop; engineering craft. Plus on the 24th/25th May. experience the wonder of Victorian engineering first-hand at the Steam Up weekend, when the gigantic engines will be set in motion through the power of steam. Normal admission applies plus there is a Wagoneering workshop to build a model coal wagon on the 26th May (£18.00).
London Wetland Centre (Barnes)
24th May – 1st June: May Half-Term Activities at the London Wetland Centre.
- Join a jam-packed programme of nature inspired activities for the whole family! Taking centre stage-Aardman presents Lloyd of the Flies Wetland Bug Hunt! Dive into the wonderful world of wetland insects with Lloyd and his new friend Dart the dragonfly. More details about this exciting event can be found here. As well as taking part in the trail, visitors can enjoy pond dipping, mini beast hunts, otter talks, and an interactive touch table (please see their website for details of times). There is also quiet and calm pond dipping on the 24th & 31st, designed for children who have different sensory needs and who benefit from a quieter environment. Normal admission applies.
24th May – 1st June: Horrible Histories® Gorgeous Georgians Trail at Osterley Park.
- Inspired by the Horrible Histories books, dive into the world of the Georgians with an interactive family-friendly trail around the house, garden and parkland. Uncover the quirks and scandals of Georgian history while exploring a real Georgian manor house. This 10-stop, interactive trail is designed to entertain children of all ages with a combination of games, activities and historical facts. In the Temple of Pan, find the Marvellous Make Up Gallery. Spin the Wheel of Woe to find out which job you might have had as one of the cheerless children living in Georgian times. On the Long Walk, look out for Horrible Highwaymen hiding in the trees, including Dick Turpin, known to frequent the local area. Learn about the foul foods popular during Georgian Times and even try Osterley’s posh potty, with flatulent fart noises! Normal admission applies.
- No special half-term events listed at time of writing, but a lovely place for a walk around the lake and a visit to the Great Conservatory (open Wednesdays-Sundays), with the beautiful house open Sundays, Wednesdays & Thursdays. There is also the Foodies Festival 24th – 26th May. Visiting information can be found here.
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