May Half Term in Berkshire 2024
May half term is one of my favourite school holidays. The weather’s usually nice and it brings with it the prospect of the summer holidays just around the corner. But, it can often be hard to know what to do on the sunny days of May half term so I thought I’d put together some ideas and suggestions.
When is May half term in Berkshire?
May half term, in the middle of the summer term 2024, in the Berkshire school holidays runs from 27 May to 31 May 2024 which is the same as many of the neighbouring county half terms this year. Make sure you check term dates on your school website.
Days Out in Berkshire
If you’re just looking for a day out then we have a lot of inspiration for you in Berkshire and a little further afield. These posts should be helpful – I’ve included family fun days out in Berkshire with dedicated half term activities below.
- Family Days Out in the South East
- Educational Days Out in the South East
- Educational Days Out in London
- Things to Do on a Family Trip to London
- Things to do in London on a Rainy Day
Afternoon Tea in Berkshire
If you fancy going for afternoon tea as a half term treat there are plenty of places to choose from and these guides may help you find somewhere perfect!
- The Best Places to Have Afternoon Tea in Berkshire
- Where to Have Afternoon Tea for Kids in Berkshire
National Trust Events in Berkshire
National Trust is one of our go to places during any school holiday and they always have so many events and trails on to keep the whole family entertained. Here are a few options for half term fun at National Trust this May:
The Vyne – Vyne Rd, Sherborne St John, Basingstoke RG24 9HL
May Half Term Wildlife Bingo – 25th May 2024 to 6th June 2024
Connect with nature with sensory wildlife bingo at The Vyne. With three different versions, families can race to spot as many signs of wildlife as they can. Free sheets available at Visitor Reception.
Read about our time at The Vyne here
Basildon Park – Lower Basildon, Reading RG8 9NR
May Half Term at Basildon Park – 25th May 2024 to 6th June 2024
Visit Basildon Park this May half term and take part in a children’s trail.
Read about our time at Basildon Park here
Cliveden is always nice to visit as well but they don’t seem to have any events on this half term.
Days Out with Half Term Activities in Berkshire
Bucklebury Farm Park – Pease Hill, Reading RG7 6RR
Lego at the Farm – Various dates throughout half term – £5 per child
Visit Bucklebury Farm and take part in a Lego workshop too. These workshops are designed to help children with problem solving, dexterity, creativity, confidence and relaxation all whilst building friendships and having fun with LEGO® bricks.
4 Kingdoms Adventure Park – Newbury Road, Headley, Thatcham RG19 8JY
Dinosaur Invasion – 27th May to 4th June 2024 – Included with admission
Visit 4 Kingdoms for baby dinosaur encounters, enjoy a ride through the Dino kingdom and make the most of dinosaur shows and attractions.
Wellington Country Park – Odiham Road, Riseley, Berkshire RG7 1SP
Dino Takeover – 27th to 31st May 2024
Take a walk on the wild side and journey to a time when dinosaurs roamed the Earth. Come face to face with a dinosaur, from the fierce T-Rex, to the agile Raptor there are plenty of opportunities throughout the day to witness these fantastic beasts.
Read about our day at Wellington Country Park here
Reading Museum – Blagrave Street, Reading, RG1 1QH
Sugar Cube Igloos – Tuesday 28th May 2024 – £4 per child
Find out more about the Inuit people and how igloos stay warm despite being made of ice! Then have a go at building your own little igloo out of sugar cubes.
Make & Take: Arctic Bird Streamers – Wednesday 29th May – £1 per child
All ages will love these fun streamers, inspired by the wonderful Arctic Mirage Exhibition.
Ice Experiments – Thursday 30th May – £4 per child
Try some fun experiments to see how ice melts – including how it behaves when you try to cut it, pick it up and add salt, sugar and colour.
Families will get a chance to create some pictures in charcoal and chalk as artist Julian Grater has done in the latest exhibition Arctic Mirage, and what happens when you add ice into the mix!
Victorian Schoolroom Experience in the Gateway – Friday 31st May – £1 per person
Meet a Victorian schoolteacher and re-learn the ‘3Rs’. A 45-minute experience for adults and children over 5 in a unique Victorian classroom, in the historic Abbey Gateway.
BCA Zoo – Burchett’s Green, Maidenhead SL6 6QR
Zoo Tours: Sunday 19th May, Sunday 2nd June
Visir BCA Zoo on a guided tour, home to over 100 different species from across the globe. Visit the Nocturnal Room where the animals come alive in the twilight, the bustling Zoo Courtyard and finish off in the warm Reptile House where you never know what fascinating creature might be waiting around the next corner.
Windsor Castle – Windsor SL4 1NJ
In the Picture: Half Term Activities at Windsor Castle – 27th May 2024 to 2nd June 2024
This half term, free fun activities are available in Pug Yard Learning Centre at the Castle. The activities are all about portraiture and photography. Children can create beautiful frames and collages using old photographs, and also think about what it is like to stand in ‘a photographers shoes‘!
You can read about our time at Windsor Castle here
Treasure Trails
If you want to get outside but you don’t really know where, we love Treasure Trails. It’s an adventure that the whole family can get involved in. Solve a mystery, save the day or be a spy! It’s great fun and we always really enjoy it. Here are some of the Berkshire Treasure Trails – you can see the full list here.
- Marlow – Town and Parks
- Maidenhead – Riverside
- Twyford
- Wokingham
- Reading – Abbey Quarter
- Windsor – Gardens and Riverside
- Eton
- Datchet
You can read about one of our Treasure Trail adventures here.
Theatre Shows
Going to the theatre is a great activity that the whole family will enjoy and Berkshire has a lot of great theatres to really make the most of. Here are the family shows on during May half term:
Corn Exchange – Market Pl, Newbury RG14 5BD
- Pop Divas Live – 28th May 2024
- West End Magic – 30th May 2024
- Fireman Sam – 2nd June 2024
South Hill Park Arts Centre – Ringmead, Bracknell RG12 7PA
- The Little Mix Show – 25th May 2024
- The Adventures of Dr Dolittle – 2nd June 2024
Indoor Activities in Berkshire
If the weather isn’t great over half term then you may want to do something indoors that still gets you out of the house. Here are some ideas:
Libraries in Berkshire
There are many libraries across Berkshire and the vast majority of them have activities and events on for children on a regular basis but especially during school holidays. You can find your local library here and book available sessions online too.
Leisure Centres in Berkshire
Leisure centres can be a fantastic place to spend time as a family and they’ve come far over recent times, now having so much more than just swimming pools. Many have climbing facilities, soft play centres and even trampoline parks within them! Here are some of the ones in Berkshire to choose from:
- Bracknell Leisure Centre
- Palmer Park, Reading
- Wokingham Leisure Centre
- Arborfield Green Leisure Centre
- Bulmershe Leisure Centre
- Woodford Park Leisure Centre
- St Crispin’s Leisure Centre
- Loddon Valley Leisure Centre
- Kennet Leisure Centre
- Windsor Leisure Centre
- Braywick Leisure Centre
- Rivermead Leisure Centre
- Willink Leisure Centre, Burghfield Common
- Northcroft Leisure Centre
- Cox Green Leisure Centre
- Charters Leisure Centre
- South Reading Leisure Centre
Trampoline Parks in Berkshire
Trampolining is a fantastic activity that children love and it’s perfect for a wet weather day – which is often the case in February half term! Here are the trampoline parks in Berkshire – and many of the leisure centres above offer trampolining classes too. It’s great fun for all ages.
- Red Kangaroo – Reading
- Jump In – Slough
- Bracknell Trampoline Centre
- Jump Giants – Slough
Soft Play and Indoor Play Centres in Berkshire
Soft play and other indoor play centres are fantastic for children and are great for bad weather days too. We have so many great indoor activity hubs in Berkshire from typical soft play centres to role play dressing up experiences.
- The Mad House – Reading
- Jungle Mania – Woodley
- Monkey Mates – Wokingham
- Active Antz at Bracknell Leisure Centre
- Tiny Town Cafe – Newbury
- The Jelly Lounge – Windsor
- Lakeside Soft Play – Datchet
- Cobbs Play Barn – Hungerford
- Active Tots – Reading – Read our review here
Shopping Centres in Berkshire
Shopping centres are a great place to spend time. You can wander round the shops, grab some lunch and there are often organised activities and events in to make the most of as well.
- The Lexicon – Bracknell
- Nicholsons Shopping Centre – Maidenhead
- Queensmere Observatory Shopping Centre – Slough
- Kennet Shopping Centre – Newbury
- Parkway Shopping Centre – Newbury
- The Oracle – Reading
- Broad Street Mall – Reading
Pottery Painting in Berkshire
Pottery painting is a fantastic activity for the whole family as well as being a calm and relaxed experience. Children of all ages will love it and it’s so nice to have something to take away with you afterwards – or pick up a few days later when it’s been fired! Here are our Berkshire pottery painting destinations.
- Pottery Pals – Wokingham
- Top of the Pots – Warfield
- Mad Hatters Pottery Cafe – Reading
- Hands-on Art Adventures – Windsor
- The Ugly Duckling Pottery Painting – Newbury
- Blue Beetle Ceramics – Thatcham
Bowling in Berkshire
Bowling is another great activity for the whole family and perfect when the weather isn’t great. Here are the Berkshire bowling alleys to choose from:
- Wokingham Superbowl
- Hollywood Bowl – Bracknell
- The Phoenix Bowl – Maidenhead
- Spinners Crazy Golf & Bowling – Reading
Laser Tag in Berkshire
Laser Tag was such a new thing when I was a child but they’ve grown massively in popularity over recent years and now laser centres are everywhere. Here are both indoor and outdoor laser tag sites across Berkshire.
- Laser Quest – Wokingham
- Predator Assault – Reading
- Absolutely Laser – Maidenhead
Climbing Centres and Aerial Adventures in Berkshire
Climbing is another great family activity and we have so many centres across the county – plus those included in the leisure centres above. Here are some more indoor and outdoor centres to give you some climbing inspiration.
- Parthian Climbing – Reading
- Oakwood Climbing Centre – Wokingham
- The Climbing Hangar – Reading
- Slough Climbing Wall
- Northway Climbing Centre – Newbury
- Dinton Activity Centre – Wokingham
- Go Ape – Swinley Forest, Bracknell – Read our Go Ape review here
- Clip n Climb – Reading – Read our Clip n Climb review here
Cinemas in Berkshire
Most cinemas have reduced tickets at weekends and in school holidays, a great budget activity that the whole family can enjoy together
Vue – Mighty Mornings
At Vue’s Mini Mornings you can see the best kids and family films from only £2.49 each. Mini Mornings run every Saturday and Sunday morning from 10am plus every day in the school holidays.
Odeon – Odeon Kids
With special Odeon Kids screenings of the most spellbinding fairy tales and animated films, grown-ups pay kids’ ticket prices, making it a great value day out for the whole family.
There are many other cinemas in Berkshire – Everyman, Empire and Harlequin to name a few, but they all seem to have the same ticket prices and offerings during school holidays.
Holiday Clubs in Berkshire
If you need to work over the holidays and need childcare then holiday clubs are a really popular idea – and there are so many across Berkshire that you’re bound to find one perfect for your children that’s close to where you live or work.
Koosa Kids
Where: The Heights Primary School, Reading – EP Collier Primary School, Reading – Birch Hill Primary School, Bracknell
When: 28th to 31st May 2024
Ages: 4 – 13 year olds
Experience all the fun and excitement of the Winter Olympics at KOOSA Kids February Half Term Holiday Clubs. With a mixture of active and non-active games and activities, the Winter Olympics Spectacular caters for all tastes and interests.
Ultimate Activity Camps
Where: Crossfields, Reading
When: To be confirmed, check website for details.
Ages: 4 – 14 year olds
At Ultimate Activity Camps, children will enjoy a fantastic range of sports, games and art activities every week led by engaging staff at amazing locations. Fun is at the heart of everything they do.
Camp Beaumont
Where: Elstree School, Reading – Jennett’s Park, Bracknell – Leighton Park School, Reading – St George’s School, Windsor – St John’s Beaumont School, Old Windsor – Wellington Health & Fitness Club, Berkshire
When: 28th to 31st May 2024
Ages: 3 to 16 year olds
Camp Beaumont award-winning half-term adventure day camps feature over 50 activities including archery, football and tennis, teaching children new skills whilst making new friends and enjoying their best half-term break yet.
Premier Education Holiday Camps
Where: Birch Copse Primary School, Tilehurst
When: 28th to 31st May 2024
Ages: 4 to 12 year olds
Premier Education have a range of fun and exciting holiday camps to keep children active. Each Holiday Camp features a range of activities and with a choice between a Multi-Activity camp, Multi-Sport camp, Performing Arts camp, or a Sport-Specific camp.
Barracudas also have camps in Maidenhead and Newbury over the holidays.
I hope that’s given you some inspiration for family friendly things to do over the May half term holidays before the kids are back at school for the last half term of the year. I’ll add more suggestions as I come across them and if you know of anything going on in Berkshire that I’ve missed please do get in touch and let me know.
If you’re looking for even more to do this half term, these articles might help:
- Where to practice Archery in Berkshire
- Where to go Go Karting in Berkshire
- Where to play Crazy Golf in Berkshire
- Where to Have Afternoon Tea for Kids in Berkshire
- 17 Pubs with Play Areas Berkshire
