Sanapshot of Half-Term Events around the UK - May 2007

Surely it can't be half-term again? Well, whether you're looking forward to spending time with the kids, or you have other things planned here are a few suggestions to get you started:






Countrywide Events

Berkshire: Attenshun!
Date: REME, Arborfield, Reading
Location: Wed 30 May - Fri 1 June 2007, 11-3.30pm
Activities: Enjoy a trip to one of the REME Museum of Technology's Sounds and Signals half-term activity days. The assault courses, water jumps and marching training are all suitable for ages 5-12, but bring a change of outfit!
www.rememuseum.org.uk

Cheshire: Green Fingers
Location: Little Moreton Hall, Cheshire
Location: 26- 28 May 200711.30-4pm
Activities: Discover the Tudor Knot garden at its best and see how many varieties of birds your children can spot around the estate. Why not let them try their hand at gardening by learning how to sow a seed, take it home and watch it grow.
www.nationaltrust.org.uk

Clwyd: Knights and Princesses
Location: Chirk Castle, Wrexham
Date: Thursday 31 May 2007 from 12-4pm
Activities: Queen Joanna requests the presence of all bold knights and beautiful princesses to her Castle for a fun filled day. Activities include a Knight's quest through the State Rooms, trail in the gardens and best dressed knight & princess competition.
www.chirk.com

East Midlands: Just For Kids
Location: Nottingham, Leicester, Derby
Date: 28 May-10 June 2007
Activities: More than 10,000 people went to last year's The Spark - Britain's largest children's arts festival. Highlights for 2007 include breakdance workshops by the Hip Hop Collective, a baby rave for parents and the under-4s as well as countless performances by visiting theatre groups.
www.sparkfestival.co.uk

Kent: King Of The Castle
Location: The Knight's Realm, Leeds Castle, Kent
Date: Every day
Activities: Let the kids blow off steam at Leeds Castle's newly-opened Knights Realm Playground. Over 5s will enjoy climbing the Maiden’s Tower or jousting along an aerial runway and there's a special toddler's playgound for the youngest family members.
www.leeds-castle.com

London: Design Museum Family Day
Location: Design Museum, Shad Thames
Date: Saturday 26 May 2007
Activities: The Design Museum opens its doors for an exciting day of fun, family friendly activities on Saturday 26 May. Highlights include family exhibition trails, drop-in design and make workshops, Meet the designer sessions, children’s exhibition tours, and the chance for families to design and eat their own gingerbread people.
www.designmuseum.org


London: The Long Weekend
Location: Tate Modern
Date: Sat 26 May - Mon 28 May 2007
Activities: From family fun in two giant yurts in the Tate Modern's front lawn to the welcome return of The Great Turbine Challenge, the hugely popular 3000 square foot board game created by set designer Delia Peel, this recurring festival has loads to offer children of all ages.
www.tate.org.uk

** A personal favourite of mine.

Northumbria: Art With Attitude
Location: Belsay House, Northumbria
Date: 5 May - 30 September 2007, 10am-5pm.
Activities: Picture House sees the magnificent empty and austere nineteenth century Belsay Hall Castle and gardens transformed by film directors, sound and music producers, performers, artists and fashion designers. Children and adults alike will love this amazing exhibition which is bound to get everyone talking.
www.picturehousebelsay.co.uk

Perthshire: The Big Bang
Location: Perth Racecourse, Perth
Date: 26 May 2007, 5pm.
Activities: The Scottish Fireworks championships are a must for anyone who enjoys a good display. Three companies will compete to win the Scottish heat of the British championships - each will put on a 10 minute display of the biggest and best fireworks you may ever have seen. (eat you heart out 4th of July!)
www.britishfireworks.co.uk

Tyne & Wear: Bookworms
Location: Seven Stories, Newcastle
Date: 5 May - 30 September 2007, 10am-5pm.
Activities: The Centre for Children's Books has arranged a variety of children's activities over the summer half term. Events are free, including collage making, clown performances and for older kids script writing workshops, be aware however that some need to be pre-booked. Phone ahead to check.
www.sevenstories.org.uk

West Sussex: Horsing Around
Location: Petworth House, East Sussex
Date: Mon 28 to Wed 30 May 2007 12-4pm
Activities: Visit the Petworth hobbyhorses this half term and enjoy an afternoon 'horsing around'. Hobbyhorse quiz trail and crafts - help create a fantastic horsey mural, and a prize for the best 'pony picture' brought on the day.
www.nationaltrust.org.uk

Cambidgeshire

Saturday 26th May - Monday 28th May
Thomas The Tank Engine will be in steam at Nene Valley Railway this Bank Holiday weekend - booking is recommended on 01780 784444. Normal services will be running every day during half-term week, please check times with the railway before you travel!

Sunday 27th & Monday 28th May
The Farmland Museum celebrates its 10th anniversary of being at Denny Abbey with a Country Fair drawing together all areas of the museum's collections, from Victorian toys to Early Saxon settlements. 12-5pm, admission £4 adults, £1.70 children (under 5's free).

Monday 28th - Wednesday 30th May
Family activity days are being held at Wimpole Home Farm (11am-4pm Monday and Wednesday, 1.30-4pm Tuesday) - for more details visit www.wimpole.org.uk

Monday 28th May - Friday 1st June
Free family craft activities with a science fiction and space theme are being held every morning at Peterborough Museum from 10.30am-12.30pm. Entry is £2 for adults and £1 for children (under 5's free), with all proceeds going to the BBC Children in Need and Help the Aged charities.


West Midlands

Big Bonanza Book Bash at Cannon Hill Park

Sunday 27 and Monday 28 May, 12 noon-6pm Admission FREE

Two days of family fun at Cannon Hill Park during the Lord Mayor's Show. Meet poets, storytellers and authors and join in the activities. Plus bookstalls, children's book characters, mendhi and face painting.
More information on the Book Bash.

Summer Half-term Events

Highlights include the chance to see potty poet Chris White in action, enter the spellbinding world of storytellers Anamation or find out how to write thrillers with Joe Craig!
Find out more details about the half term events
Or have a look at the full programme listing: www.birmingham.gov.uk/

As always be safe, have fun and enjoy your time together. Even if the decision is to stay at home, be creative; do spring cleaning together, how about a little gardening. Try a carpet picnic - a good DVD and some naughty snacks. And I don't mean to contradict myself but - try to relax too!