May Half Term 2026 – Best Days Out
May half term is one of the best times of year to get the kids out of the house: warmer weather, longer days and a packed calendar of limited-time family events. To make planning easier, we’ve pulled together the best May Half Term 2026 days out from the attractions below, from toy shop adventures and dinosaur encounters to farm fun, circus shows and animal experiences.
Every pick in this guide is a dedicated May half term event, so you can quickly compare dates, locations, age suitability and what makes each day out special before booking.
Best May Half Term 2026 days out at a glance
| Attraction | Dates | Location | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Half Term at Hamleys – May the Toys Be With You | 23rd May – 31st May 2026 | Hamleys, London | All ages |
| Kids Go Free this May at Drayton Manor Theme Park and Zoo | 8th May – 31st May 2026 | Drayton Manor Resort | Best for 2-12 years |
| Step Into The Story at The Gruffalo Discovery Land at Twycross | 23rd May – 31st May 2026 | Twycross Zoo | All ages |
| Highland Hoedown at Cockfields Farm | 23rd May – 31st May 2026 | Cockfields Farm | All ages |
| Experience Free-roaming Monkey’s This May Half Term! | 6th May – 7th June 2026 | Trentham Monkey Forest | All ages |
| Dino Week this Half Term at Twin Lakes | 23rd May – 31st May 2026 | Twin Lakes Park | All ages |
| Wheelgate Theme, Farm & Water Park – K-Pop Takeover! | 23rd May – 31st May 2026 | Robin Hoods Wheelgate Park | All ages |
| BOOM Circus at Belvoir Retail Village | 23rd May – 25th May 2026 | Belvoir Castle | All ages |
| May Half Term: Highland Cow Week | 23rd May – 31st May 2026 | Bluebell Dairy | All ages |
1. Half Term at Hamleys – May the Toys Be With You
Dates: 23rd May – 31st May 2026 Location: Hamleys, London Typical visit time: 2-3 hours Suitable for: All ages Good to know: Free entry
Star Wars-inspired fun across seven floors of Hamleys Regent Street, with live entertainment, Jedi Training, meet-and-greets and family-friendly missions.
This is a brilliant choice for families heading into London, especially if you need a weather-proof day out with plenty of free entertainment. Expect a big, playful store-wide atmosphere with Star Wars-inspired activities, the new Star Wars & Marvel Fan Zone, character moments and seven floors of toys to explore.
2. Kids Go Free this May at Drayton Manor Theme Park and Zoo
Dates: 8th May – 31st May 2026 Location: Drayton Manor Resort Typical visit time: 5+ hours Suitable for: Best for 2-12 years Good to know: One free child per paying adult, maximum two free children; subject to availability and terms.
A big-value theme park day with Thomas Land, 50+ rides and attractions, zoo animals and a kids-go-free offer for May 2026.
Drayton Manor is ideal when you want one day out to tick several boxes at once: theme park rides, Thomas Land for younger children and zoo time for animal lovers. The kids-go-free offer makes it a strong option for families looking for a bigger day out during the school holidays.
3. Step Into The Story at The Gruffalo Discovery Land at Twycross
Dates: 23rd May – 31st May 2026 Location: Twycross Zoo Typical visit time: 2-3 hours Suitable for: All ages Good to know: Gruffalo experiences included with standard zoo admission; selected dates and availability apply.
Little explorers can journey through The Gruffalo Discovery Land, complete Ranger Training, meet the Gruffalo and enjoy story-led adventures at Twycross Zoo.
Perfect for younger children and Julia Donaldson fans, this event blends story time with real animal encounters. Families can follow the deep dark wood trail, spot characters from the story and add Gruffalo-themed activities into a zoo visit.
4. Highland Hoedown at Cockfields Farm
Dates: 23rd May – 31st May 2026 Location: Cockfields Farm Typical visit time: 3-4 hours Suitable for: All ages Good to know: Highland cow grooming and alpaca walking are charged extras; some outdoor attractions are weather dependent.
A springtime farm day with newborn animals, cuddle corner, animal feeding, jumping pillow, line dancing, foam party and optional alpaca walking or Highland cow grooming.
Cockfields Farm is a lively pick for families who love hands-on animal activities. Alongside farm favourites, visitors can enjoy animal cuddles, feeding, play areas, line dancing and a foam party finish, with optional extras available for families who want to make the day feel extra special.
5. Experience Free-roaming Monkey’s This May Half Term!
Dates: 6th May – 7th June 2026 Location: Trentham Monkey Forest Typical visit time: 2-3 hours Suitable for: All ages Good to know: Book online in advance.
Walk through woodland at Trentham Monkey Forest and spot free-roaming Barbary macaques living in a spacious 60-acre forest environment.
For a slower-paced outdoor adventure, Trentham Monkey Forest is all about walking through woodland while Barbary macaques roam freely around you. It is a memorable choice for children who love animals and for families who prefer fresh air over rides.
6. Dino Week this Half Term at Twin Lakes
Dates: 23rd May – 31st May 2026 Location: Twin Lakes Park Typical visit time: 5+ hours Suitable for: All ages Good to know: Dino Week included with entry tickets and annual passes; selected dates only. Children under 95cm visit free.
A full-day theme park adventure with rides, indoor play, animal encounters, waterpark fun and Dino Week activities including baby dinosaurs, dino hunts and ranger-led experiences.
Twin Lakes is made for a full day of play, and Dino Week adds extra roar to the usual mix of rides, indoor entertainment, animals and water fun. Children can meet baby dinosaurs, join dino-themed games and enjoy ranger-led activities as part of the event.
7. Wheelgate Theme, Farm & Water Park – K-Pop Takeover!
Dates: 23rd May – 31st May 2026 Location: Robin Hoods Wheelgate Park Typical visit time: 5+ hours Suitable for: All ages Good to know: Children under 95cm visit free; waterpark and attractions are subject to availability, weather and operating schedules.
A full family day out near Sherwood Forest with more than 30 rides and attractions, animal farm fun, falconry, indoor play and waterpark adventures.
Wheelgate is a good all-rounder for mixed-age families because it combines rides, farm animals, falconry, indoor play and waterpark attractions. It is particularly useful for families who want plenty to do in one place, with both indoor and outdoor options.
8. BOOM Circus at Belvoir Retail Village
Dates: 23rd May – 25th May 2026 Location: Belvoir Castle Typical visit time: 1-2 hours Suitable for: All ages Good to know: Under 3s go free. Two shows daily at 11:00am and 2:00pm.
A pirate-themed circus under the Big Top with acrobatics, juggling, aerial skills, comedy and storytelling at Belvoir Retail Village.
This is the shortest experience in the guide, making it easy to build into a wider day out. The pirate-themed production brings together aerial acts, acrobatics, juggling, comedy and storytelling, with two shows a day over the May Bank Holiday weekend.
9. May Half Term: Highland Cow Week
Dates: 23rd May – 31st May 2026 Location: Bluebell Dairy Typical visit time: 5+ hours Suitable for: All ages Good to know: Under 2s go free.
A Highland cow themed farm day with calves, bottle feeding, optional calf cuddling, a Highland Cow Safari, trail, talks, feeding times and photo spots.
Bluebell Dairy is a strong choice for animal-mad families, especially anyone with a soft spot for Highland cows. Expect calf encounters, feeding experiences, a Highland Cow Safari, a themed trail, talks and plenty of photo moments across the farm.
How to choose the best May half term day out
For big all-day adventures, start with Drayton Manor, Twin Lakes, Wheelgate or Bluebell Dairy. For animal-focused days out, choose Twycross Zoo, Trentham Monkey Forest, Cockfields Farm or Highland Cow Week. For a shorter experience or city-friendly plan, Hamleys and BOOM Circus are easy to fit around travel, food and other family plans.
Whichever event you choose, check the latest ticket availability, opening times and any weather-dependent activities before travelling. You can also browse more seasonal inspiration on our May Half Term 2026 events page or explore more things to do with kids across the UK.