Check out what's on for kids in Nottingham this half term!
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Days out, Parks and Farms
Nottingham City
Green Hustle Festival Free Old Market Square Sat 3rd-Sun 4th June
A free festival celebrating life, nature, community action and creativity
Live music, dancing and shows with a green theme
Family workshops and activities including seed bomb making and circus skills. Fringe events happening all across the city.
Nottingham Castle
Nottingham Castle will host 'Medieval Legends' over the May bank holiday weekend (Saturday 27 - Monday 29 May)
This three-day medieval weekend in the castle grounds will showcase cave tours, a medieval encampment, have-a-go archery and a meet and greet with Robin Hood himself!
Entry is just £1 per person per day, and tickets can be booked online here
Rufford Abbey
A Knights Trail
27 May - 4 June
10.30am - 16.00 Daily (no need to pre book)
Embark on an epic quest around the Abbey grounds, with our themed walk. Locate all our knights shield, find the clues and gain a prize!
Activity sheets are available for £2.50 at Visitors Reception
White Post Farm Wednesday
Wednesday 31st May 10am - 3.30pm, £2.50
Come and meet some of the animals from White Post Farm!
Little Princess sing-a-long breakfast or brunch
2 June - Breakfast 9am | Brunch 11:30am | The Mermaid Princess
3 June - Breakfast 9am | Brunch 11:30am | The Snow Queen
We are thrilled to be bringing the magic of the fairy tales to our breakfast and brunch events this summer. Enjoy a delicious, freshly cooked breakfast in Lord Savile's Kitchen and be joined by a real Princess who will lead a sing-a-long and teach you how to be a Princess! You will be sure to have an unforgettable and magical experience!
Cost: £15.95 per person | Under 1s FREE*Please note all children must be accompanied by a paying adult.
Newstead Abbey
Join us this Half-Term for our Medieval themed family garden trail.
Trail sheets available from the House Shop.
£2.00 per sheet.
Clumber Park (National Trust Admission Also Applies)
Head to the Front Field for sports and loose play. Why not take a picnic and make a day of it?
We're excited to be relaunching our family orienteering route this school holiday, with maps available from the Discovery Centre. Have fun finding your way around the route and testing your orienteering skills.
Head to the Discovery Centre to enjoy a range of 50 Things to do before you're 11 & 3/4, or 50 Things to do when you're a bit older. activities. If you pick up both, that's up to 100 activities that you can do throughout the year at any National Trust property!
On Tuesday 30 and Wednesday 31 May, join the team down at Lake Brew, by the lake in Hardwick village, for Stick Art sessions. From 10.30 - 14.00, create wild art with materials collected from around the park.
Belton House (National Trust Admission Also Applies)
Can you be a Belton detective and help us find the pesky pests hiding in the house? Pick up your trail sheet from the mansion entrance and get hunting for the hidden pests. Discover more about what damage they can cause and have a go at creating your very own creature! Available when the mansion is open, Thursday - Monday, 11am - 4pm, last entry at 3.30pm.
Embark on an adventure outdoors to become a nature hero at Belton! Pick up your trail sheet from the visitor reception and tick off some of the 50 things to do before you're 11 3/4. What tree will you get to know?
Don't forget to explore the outdoor adventure playground!
Booking is not needed for the activities, but booking is required for entry to Belton during school holidays and bank holidays. You can book through the website or by calling 0344 249 1895.
Thoresby Park
27th May-4th June 10.30am - 6.30pm
Traditional Vintage Fun Fair
Shipley Country Park
SUNDAY 28 MAY – SUNDAY 4 JUNE 10.30am-3.30pm.
NATURE TRAIL Come along to this trail to find out about some wonderful animals from around the world! Track down the clue cards to help you complete the activity sheet and receive a certificate! Length: 1 mile approximately. Cost: £1.50 per child.
Bramcote Hills Park
Hemlock Happening
An exciting annual event to have fun with your family and friends and to celebrate the Coronation of the King Charles III! Free entry for everyone; food, fairground rides, crafts, dance, live music performances and much more. The event will be marked by a finale firework extravaganza at 10.30pm. FREE parking is available at Ilkeston Road Recreation Ground NG9 8JE which is only 3 mins walk from the venue. Limited parking spaces for blue badge holders are also available on site. More event details can be found on www.hemlockhappening.org.
Bramcote Hills Park, Bramcote, Nottingham, NG9 3JT
Gulliver’s (all 4 locations)
45% off children’s tickets for half term.
Stonebridge City Farm
-Monday: the education room will be open with a whole host of crafts for you and little ones to get stuck into, this will be £1 per child to get into. This will be open all day so you can drop in anytime throughout the day
-Tuesday: We have the AMAZING rainbow stripes joining us as usual, is the weather is nice we will be hosting this one OUTSIDE! Tickets are £3 and are sold first come first serve basis, so get here early
-Wednesday: Teddy Bears Picnic AND Sheep Shearing! We are spoiling you that day. There will be loads of activities from story time to crafts.
Joss will be joining us on the farm to give all the sheep their yearly trim. She will talk you through the sheep shearing process, not to be missed! All the fun starts from 10am
-Thursday: We will be hosting a little foraging activity for our rabbits. Our knowledgeable Barn Manager Marie will show you how to make little foraging packs for your rabbits and talk you through everything they like to eat. Supplies for this are VERY LIMITED AND WILL BE GIVEN OUT ON A FIRST COME FIRST SERVE BASIS. THE ACITIVITY STARTS AT 12:30PM AND ONCE WE HAVE SOLD ALL THE TICKETS THAT IS IT!
-Friday to Sunday: We will taking part in the Green Hustle Festival. There will be a FREE trail on throughout the farm celebrating everything GREEN here at the farm
Manor Farm and Parklands
This May half term, dinosaurs will be taking over the farm! Book in advance for the best prices!!
Open daily 10am to 5pm, from Monday 29th May to Friday 2nd June in East Leake, LE12 6LU on the Notts/Leics/Derbyshire borders.
Little ones will love hunting in the sand for fossils and dinosaur skeletons. And, in addition to the seven dinosaurs to find along The World of Dinosaur Roar! Discovery Trail, the 'real-life' Dinosaur Roar! will be making an appearance for selfies throughout the week.
White Post Farm
Half term is coming and so are the Dinosaurs! 29th May until 2nd June!
Raptors World - Roarsome Dinosaur Entertainment are on their way and we have a full timetable of prehistoric action to look forward to!
Pre-book your tickets to guarantee your place and strap yourself in for some fearsome fun!
Inflatables Fun Day at Mellish Rugby Club
We will be at MELLISH RUGBY CLUB (NG35RX) on the 27th, 28th and 29th of May 2023
We will be bringing the UK’s largest inflatable outdoor play area to Mellish Rugby Club! Sessions will start at 10:30am and 2pm lasting 3 hours all for £9 per child! THIS IS A PAY ON THE GATE EVENT ONLY! The age range for this event is 2-12, strictly NO adults on the inflatables. This is an outdoor event so weather permitting. Accompanying adults and car parking are free Mellish Rugby Club have a strict NO DOGS policy total wipeout and bungee trampolines are at an additional cost.
Museums, Galleries and Libraries Events
Nottingham City Libraries
Elmer crafts and picture hunt
There will be an Elmer picture hunt available from Saturday 27th May to Saturday 3rd June and all libraries will have an Elmer craft session during half term as listed below:
Aspley Library Wednesday 31st May 10.30-11.30am
Basford Library Thursday 1st June 2-4pm
Bilborough Library Tuesday 30th May 2pm – 2.30pm
Bulwell Library Wednesday 31st May 10.30am-12pm
Clifton Library Thursday 1st June 2pm-3.30pm
The Dales Library Friday 2nd June 11am-1pm
Hyson Green Library Wednesday 31st May 10.30am-1.30pm
Radford/Lenton Library Friday 2nd June 11.15am-12.45pm
The Meadows Library Wednesday 31st May 11am-1pm
Southglade Park Library Wednesday 31st May 11am-12.30pm
St Ann’s Library Friday 2nd June 2pm-3pm
Strelley Road Library Wednesday 31st May 11.30am-1pm
Wollaton Library Tuesday 30th May 10.30am-12pm
Green’s Windmill
27th May Bread Baking
Bring the kids to bake their very own delicious bread in our bread-baking workshop! Will you eat it straight away or save it for later? All ingredients supplied.
BOOKING ESSENTIAL! To book a place for this activity please call 0115 915 6878. We're running six timed sessions at 10.15am, 11am, 11.45am, 1pm, 1.45pm & 2.30pm.
£4 per child. For ages 3+. Booking required
1st June Cheese Straw Baking
£4 per child. For ages 3+. Booking required
Friday 2nd June 10am – 4pm
Games day. No booking required. Games will be in the millyard and community garden. FREE event, but donations are welcome
3rd June Cornbread Cupcake Baking
£4 per child. For ages 3+. Booking required
Canalside Heritage Centre
Join us at the Heritage Centre this Half Term for fun, free Very Hungry Caterpillar children's activities! We'll have a FREE caterpillar fact-finding trail around the garden everyday of the Half Term - just pick-up a clipboard from inside and get searching!
On Thursday 1st June we'll also have FREE Very Hungry Caterpillar craft activities for children in the Weir View Room. There's no need book just pop-in anytime between 10.30am and 3pm.
Mansfield Museum
Celebrate the build up to Mansfield Carnival on Saturday 17 June in mansfield market place!
Tuesday 30 May 10am to 11am (0 to 7 years) 11am to 12pm (7 years and above)
Beat Feet Drumming
Wednesday 31 May 10am to 1pm in the Market Place
Global Dance with Charm
Flag making (also in the museum 10am to 12pm)
Thursday 1 June 10am to 12pm
Make a Carnival headdress
Friday 2 June 10am to 12pm
Make your own Carnival Wings
Nottingham Contemporary
Stone Soup Stories Workshops
Delve into Object Theatre, as you explore everyday items to create a mix of imaginary tales. Captivate and charm, with awe and wonder as you share and enchant the reader with your amazing images and storylines inspired by our current exhibitions.
The workshops are drop-in; we invite you to book as spaces are limited.
Sessions take place on Tue 30 May, Wed 31 May & Thu 1 Jun, at the following times:
10:00 – 12:00 noon and 13:00 – 15:00
Nottingham Playhouse
Tue 30 May Super-Fun Theatre Skills Day! (Ages 8 – 14)
Tue 30 May Free Fun Drama Workshop (Ages 9 – 11)
Thu 1 Jun The World Famous Playhouse Toddler Disco!
Fri 2 Jun Play in a Day (age 8-14) – inspired by Holes by Louis Sachar
Fri 2 Jun Kite Making for all the Family (Ages 5-8)
Lakeside Arts
Saturday 27 May - Sunday 04 June
Luminarium: TERCERADIX £5 pp (£6 priority booking)
The world premier of the new luminarium structure from Architects of Air.
Inside, these glorious structures radiate beautiful, iridescent colours and their interiors are regularly described as other-worldly, cathedral-like or space-like. However you describe your experience, they are always sensory, magical and memorable occasions, much-loved by hundreds of thousands of Nottingham audiences since 2004.
MOVING MOUTH POP-UP PUPPET DINOSAUR WORKSHOP
Tuesday 30 May 10am-12noon Performing Arts Studio £8 Suitable for ages 6-10
SOCK PUPPET WORKSHOP
Tuesday 30 May, 2-4pm Performing Arts Studio
£8 Suitable for ages 8-12
Theatre and Cinema
Royal Concert Hall/Theatre Royal
The Spectacular Music of Harry Potter
Sunday 4 June 3:30pm
Tickets £16.50 to £39.50
Age Guidance: 7+
Nottingham Playhouse
CHILDREN'S THEATRE
Sun 28 May
Mansfield Palace Theatre
Spring Pantomime – Rapunzel Tuesday 30th May
Showcase Cinemas Nottingham
Totally Tots - Superworm and Zog 27th - 31st May 11am
Arc Cinema Beeston and Hucknall
Meet Flounder and The Little Mermaid when you see the new film on Sat 27th May
In Store Activities
Four Seasons Mansfield
Fun & games in Four Seasons on 2nd June - 10am - 1pm
FREE family crafts & games sessions and the opportunity to put your name down for regular events by the Sutton Academy further education team!
BATH BOMB painting session by The Little Lotion Company price £2.50-£5.00
IKEA
Monday 29th May – Free bank holiday face painting
Monday 29th May – Friday 2nd June 11am-3pm - Create your own dreamcatcher (Booking required with Ikea Family Card)
Hobbycraft Nottingham
Workshops – booking required
Kids Hama Bead Art 29th May £5 Kids Bead Rainbow Making 1st June £5
Kids Personalised Canvas Painting 31st May £5
Smyths
Pokemon May Half Term Bus Tour
Tuesday 30th May Mansfield 11-3pm
Gabby’s Dollhouse Bus Tour
Sat 3rd and Sun 4th June Sheffield Drakehouse Retail Park
Craft Shop Ruddington
Workshops – booking required
31st May Summer Tie Dye Session
1st June Paint a Planter
2nd June Bird House Decorating
3rd June Clay Dream Catcher
4th June Flower Pot Wind Chime
Sports and Leisure
Carlton Forum Leisure Centre
Monday 29 May – Friday 2 June
Crash course swimming lessons - stages 1-4 £32.50 per child for 5 consecutive days, with a Gedling Leisure card.
Tuesday 30 May - Friday 2 June, 1.30-2.30pm each day
Float Fun (small and main pool)
Leisure card cost £5.10, £3.50 concessions, £3.30 juniors.
Redhill Leisure Centre
Friday 2 June, 5-6.30pm
Roller disco
For ages 5 to 16 (an adult must stay in the sports hall for under 8s) £3.90 with a Gedling Leisure card (free for Xtreme DNA members). Includes skate hire if needed.
Bring your own roller skates or roller blades, or we have a limited amount of skates available to hire for free at the centre (available on a first come first served basis).
Thursday 1 June, 2pm
Capoeira Fusion
A special session for both children and parents to join in. (Please note the usual evening session will not be on during the half term). With a Gedling Leisure card, this session costs £3.90 juniors, £7.60 adults, £6.10 concessions or free with a junior Xtreme DNA or adult DNA membership.
Calverton Leisure Centre
Family Swim
Tuesday 30 May – Friday 2 June, 11.30-12.30pm
£5.10 adults, £3.30 juniors with a Gedling Leisure card.
Pool Inflatafun (under 8s and non-swimmers must be accompanied by an adult, 1-2-1)
Tuesday 30 May and Thursday 1 June, 1-2pm
£5.10 adults, £3.30 juniors with a Gedling Leisure card.
Bouncy Castle Fun (ages 0-13. All children to be supervised by an adult)
Tuesday 30 May – Friday 2 June, 10-11.30am
£4.60 with a Gedling Leisure card.
Nottingham Ice Centre
Half Term at the National Ice Centre 26 May - 4 June
Join the National Ice Centre this Half Term for our disco sessions, hockey clinic, daily skating sessions and intensive skating lessons! Plus, there’s a Rock & Metal Skate taking place on 2 June with a guest DJ from Kerrang!
✨ DISCO SESSIONS ✨
Celebrate the Half Term with our Friday night and Saturday afternoon discos! Lights fill the rink as the biggest hits play!
🐯 THEMED PARENT & TOTS SESSIONS 🧸
At these themed sessions, come in fancy dress and enjoy a skate with your little one! On Monday 29 May, our popular Teddy Bear’s Picnic returns and on Friday 2 June, we have a jungle animal themed skate. Adults skate for £5 and children aged 5 and under skate for free!
🏒 JUNIOR ICE HOCKEY CLINIC 🏒
On Monday 29 May, our hockey clinic returns! Learn skills and have fun on the ice.
⛸️ INTENSIVE SKATING LESSONS ⛸️
Our popular intensive lessons return on Tuesday 30 May, Wednesday 31 May and Thursday 1 June. Fit our six-week skating course into just three days!
🤘 ROCK & METAL SKATE 🤘
On Friday 2 June, our guest DJ, Amelia Clarke from Kerrang!, will be playing all the rock and metal hits at this awesome skate to fundraise for Metal For Good!
👦 HOLIDAY CLUB 👧
For just £35 per day, children aged 7 – 13 will enjoy fun activities and ice skating every day!
🏒 CROSS-ICE COMPETITION 🏒
We’re hosting a Cross-Ice Competition for players aged 12 and under! You can sign up, get drafted to a team and then compete on our ice rink.
Plus, enjoy our public skating sessions each day where children aged 5 and under skate for free.
Kimberley Swimming Pool
Teaching Pool - Pool Games
Tuesday 30th May (beginner and Foundation)
Thursday 1st June (stage 1 and 2) 10.30-11am
The Lenton Centre
Family Swims are back for this May half term.
£3.50 for children and £6 for adults. Book in advance over the counter, via phone or messenger to book on to these sessions as they will fill up fast!
Under 5s play and baby class specials
Robyns World
UNIFORM ROLE PLAY
This half term we are having a uniform event! We are going to change our little time for a different lay out, we will have a Post office, Fire Engine, Police Station, Airport, Hospital & explorers camp.
Anybody with a Blue light card can get a 15% discount with code BlueLight.
Tiny Town Adventures
Teddy Bear’s Picnic Wednesday 31st May 11.30-1 and 1.30-3 £11.95
Includes 1.5 hrs role play session, a teddy inspired lunch, photo opportunity with ted, party games and music.
Imagine Avenue
Story Week – Role Play Sessions with book swap
My Playful World
Tuesday 30th May Duplo Day
Thursday 1st June Brio Train Track Day
Bean Block Café
Rhubarb Theatre Company will be at BeanBlock on Thursday 1st June at 3pm for Interactive Storytelling of “What the Ladybird Heard”
Tickets include party food plate, drink and treat
Adults and babies under 1 are FREE with paying child
Spiderman Party
Spiderman is swinging into BeanBlock on Friday 2nd June at 3pm
Expect party games, dancing, photo opportunities and loads of fun
Tickets are only £12.50 per child, adults and babies under 1 go FREE when accompanying a paying child
Tickets include party food plate, drink and cupcake
Little Princess Palace Mansfield
Mascot Monday 29th May with Olaf and Anna
Tots Club Tuesday 30th May with Elsa
Tots Club Friday 2nd June with Anna
BARBIE DISCO Friday 2nd June | 4:30-6:00pm
Singing, Dancing, Competitions, Party Games, Party Dances and so much more! £12.50 per child
Boots and Brambles
We are running two Family Sessions in May Half Term - Monday 29th & Tuesday 30th May 10.30-12. Open to all ages.
Little Nature Tots
Pirate Party Monday 29th May
Nature Tots - 9.30-10.45am
Nature Babes - 11.15-12.15pm
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