What to Do this May Half Term Across the North East and Yorkshire
The half term holidays are here!
LILIDOREI
Children’s imaginations can run wild at the largest play structure in the world, where they will interact with soundscapes and actors called Secret Keepers to create their own story. Until 1st June, there are mysteries to solve and the Squiffles need your help. Your children can follow the clues in the Squiffle Investigation Notebook to narrow down the list of suspects and find out ‘whodunnit’.
The Alnwick Garden, Gardeners Cottage, Greenwell Road, Alnwick NE66 1HB
01665 511350
lilidoreialnwick.co.uk
GO APE MATFEN
One for adrenaline junkies, at Go Ape Matfen you can take on the treetop challenge featuring a Tarzan swing and zip wires, or have a go at axe throwing. Then, why not make the most of your day by exploring Hadrian's Wall and Northumberland National Park, just a short drive away?
Newcastle NE20 0RH
01603 895500
goape.co.uk
HAMSTERLEY FOREST
County Durham’s largest forest, Hamsterley spans 2,000 hectares along the side of a sheltered valley, and you can spend a whole day exploring its trails on foot or two wheels. There’s wooden adventure play structures and it’s the perfect picnic spot too. Keep your eyes peeled for the Gruffalo! Children can follow the Stick Man on his forest adventure, and there’s even a special trail for four-legged visitors.
Bedburn, Hamsterley DL13 3NL
01388 488312
forestryengland.uk
THE PLOTTERS’ FOREST
Let the kids run free in Raby Castle’s immersive adventure playground within their Christmas tree plantation, while parents can relax among the treetops on the deck of the Plotters’ Pantry. Children with a Plotters’ Forest, Park and Gardens ticket can step inside Raby Castle for free during the holidays from 24th May to 1st June, where they can also enjoy a Family Explorer Guided Tour and Castle Quest Trail. There’ll also be a trail in The Plotters’ Forest woodland adventure playground, tractor rides, a children’s planting station and another trail hidden in the 300-year-old Walled Gardens.
Staindrop DL2 3NF
01833 660888
raby.co.uk
BEAMISH
Go back in time at Beamish Museum this half term – the iconic open-air museum is hosting a Festival of Transport as Rowley Station reopens for the first time since 2020. After a short steam train ride, see a replica of the original Puffing Billy locomotive, and there’ll be vintage vehicles on display too.
Beamish DH9 0RG
0191 370 4000
beamish.org.uk
WILLIAM’S DEN
Take part in William’s Jungle Adventure at William’s Den this half term, where children can tackle obstacle courses and scavenger hunts, take part in Dentucker Trials, and see if they have what it takes to be crowned King or Queen of the jungle. Elsewhere, they can build dens and make friends in the sandpit, and there’s an indoor playground too.
Castle Farm, Wold Hill, North Cave HU15 2LS
01430 472230
williamsden.co.uk
EDEN CAMP
Award-winning and dog-friendly Eden Camp was built on the site of a real prisoner of war camp, and in each hut you can discover different areas of wartime Britain on the home front and the front line. It’s Tank Week this half term and Sherman M50, a Cold War-era upgrade of the legendary Sherman tank, will be on display so there’s a rare chance to see it up-close. There’ll also be live tank demonstrations and a family-friendly tank-themed trail.
Malton YO17 6RT
01653 697777
edencamp.co.uk
RHS GARDEN HARLOW CARR
The most northerly of all the RHS gardens, Harlow Carr has woodlands, streamside plantings, herbaceous borders, wildflower meadows and small-scale model gardens to explore. This May half term, it’s hosting The Great Garden Gameathon with giant garden games from oversized chess to jumbo jenga. Plus, there’ll be Garden Detectives onsite from Monday to Friday, to entertain with interactive performances.
Crag Lane, Beckwithshaw, Harrogate HG3 1QB
01423 565418
rhs.org.uk
LIFE SCIENCE CENTRE
A science hub in the city, Life Science Centre will engage curious minds – and it’s celebrating its 25th birthday this month! Look to the stars in the domed planetarium, conduct scientific experiments in the labs and be wowed by shows and demonstrations. On 24th May, Lightbox opened with a collection of interactive exhibits where light, colour and sound come to life, and you can save 25 percent off tickets this half term.
Times Square, Newcastle NE1 4EP
0191 243 8210
life.org.uk
DISCOVERY MUSEUM
There’s something to learn on every visit to the Discovery Museum, with scientific collections and rotating exhibitions. Visitors are greeted by the imposing Turbinia, a 34-metre steam ship that was once the fastest in the world. Interact with science in the science maze and delve into the city’s history with the Newcastle Story. You can also discover how the North East helped to crack the Enigma Code, and discover the story of migrants who have chosen to make Tyneside their home at Destination Tyneside. On 29th May, visitors can take part in building a LEGO city in the Great Hall.
Blandford Square, Newcastle NE1 4JA
0191 232 6789
discoverymuseum.org.uk
BALTIC
With four floors of art to explore and constantly rotating exhibitions at Baltic Centre for Contemporary Art, kids will love the sensory room, and you can explore the library which holds more than 13,000 books on contemporary art and visual culture. This May half term Baltic is hosting five days of eco-friendly activities including a special Baltic Yard Sale. From 28th May to 1st June, Baltic’s Big Days Out features artist-led workshops, collaging, guided tours, interactive storytelling, and a toy repair café where broken play items can be brought back to life.
Gateshead Quays, South Shore Road, Gateshead NE8 3BA
0191 478 1810
baltic.art
BUTTERFLY WORLD
Located in Preston Park, Butterfly World is home to more than 140 species of butterfly and hundreds of tropical host plants. Witness the vividly-coloured butterflies close up and learn more about them, then head to the meerkat house to see the adorable clan in their specialised habitat. There are also insects, reptiles, fish and even monkeys to see here.
Preston Park, Yarm Road, Stockton TS18 3RH
butterflyworld.uk
SCIENCE AND MEDIA MUSEUM
Bradford’s National Science and Media Museum explores the science and culture of image and sound technologies through exciting workshops, exhibitions and events. Visitors are invited to think like a scientist in the Wonderlab and get hands-on in a variety of activities – and there are changing events throughout the year to engage children with science. Don’t miss YOU:MATTER – an immersive experience blending art, science and creative technologies to explore the relationships tethering us to the universe (as part of the Bradford 2025 UK City of Culture celebrations).
Bradford BD1 1NQ
0330 058 0058
scienceandmediamuseum.org.uk
XSCAPE
Want to ski on real snow without having to leave the UK? Xscape’s Snozone is a mustvisit for both beginners and pros. But with themed climbing walls to tackle, escape rooms, laser tag, bowling, VR simulators, immersive cinema pods, and glow-in-the-dark golf, you can easily spend the whole day here. Your kids will be obsessed with the UK’s first high street slime store and you can let little ones run free at soft play.
Colorado Way, Castleford WF10 4TA
01977 664794
xscapeyorkshire.co.uk
YORK’S CHOCOLATE STORY
York’s most famous chocolate-making families are celebrated at York’s Chocolate Story where visitors can even learn to become a chocolatier themselves. Enjoy a guided tour and three floors of interactivity to discover York’s rich chocolate making history – the perfect family day out for half term. Don’t miss the VIP chocolate masterclasses and truffle rolling experiences too.
King’s Square, York YO1 7LD
yorkschocolatestory.com
EUREKA! THE NATIONAL CHILDREN’S MUSEUM
For both an educational and fun day out, this children’s museum in Halifax is where kids up to 11 get to spend a day focused on the business of play. There are six unique zones to discover here, filled with hundreds of interactive exhibits to inspire young minds. Don’t miss Pixel Play in the upstairs Spark Gallery to interact with floor-to-ceiling digital exhibits which you can control with your body. Until 1st June, Eureka are hosting a hands-on tech adventure for half term where children can build their own robots and experiment with interactive technology.
Discovery Road, Halifax HX1 2NE
01422 330069
eureka.org.uk
