May Half Term School Holiday Guide 2023

The May half term school holiday is upon us already and at least it’s starting to feel like summer is around the corner. I’ve packed the guide with family theatre, arts and crafts, raving and more good times for your whole crew. I’m super excited that my book is launching next week and yesterday I got to see a finished copy for the first time. It was an emotional moment. Watch the unboxing video on my Instagram. Have a brilliant half term break!

Book Launch: Raising Boys Who Do Better

My book Raising Boys Who Do Better: A Hopeful Guide for a New Generation launches this May half term school holiday. I’m having a private party to mark the publication of the book, however I do have more public events planned including some virtual events for those of you who can’t make it in person. Hopefully, I will be seeing some of you this weekend at the Alexandra Palace x Big Fish Little Fish SOLD OUT Family Rave on Saturday. In the meantime, you can pre-buy your copies of the book here: https://geni.us/RaisingBoys (out June 1)

Signed Books Offer

Wonderful Things to Do with Kids this May Half Term School Holiday

BABES CHOICE

UNIQLO Tate Play: Empower Holiday Make Studio at Tate Modern (Clore Hub), Bankside, SE1 9TG (Southwark/Blackfriars tube)
Rebels, raise your voices! What would you like to change, help, save or love? Make your mark on the world by creating your own bold slogans, posters and images using fabric scraps and colourful tape. Be inspired by rule-benders from Tate’s collection and help make a giant activist banner. The May Half Term School Holiday Make Studio runs alongside Richard Bell’s Embassy, an installation hosting public conversations around activism and imagining better futures. 10.30am-6pm (last entry 5pm); FREE (May 27-Jun 4)

Kids Rule! at Eltham Palace and Gardens, Court Yard, Eltham, Greenwich SE9 5QE (Mottingham rail)
It’s yet another right royal knees-up in the historic grounds, this time celebrating King Charles III’s coronation. Pack a picnic and your crew to enjoy fresh air fun with costumed storytellers, celebration crowns, games, stalls and crafting. This gorgeous art deco palace is definitely worth a visit — with or without the children! 10am-5pm; adult £20/child £12.50/family of 4 £52.50/under 5s FREE (May 27-Jun 4)

FUN DMC Daytime Family Block Party at JuJu’s Bar & Stage Ely’s Yard, 15 Hanbury St, E1 6QR (Aldgate East tube, Liverpool St tube/rail, Shoreditch High St overground)
It’s the May Half Term School Holiday Special for the daytime family block party, with DJ Spin Doctor and special guests mixing up the big tunes including soul, funk hip hop, disco, R&B and party anthems. Buy some food and drink refreshments on site, and enjoy activities such as a graffiti train, photo booth, hip hop colouring in, soft play room, dance contests and face painting. 12pm-3pm; adult £10/child £7.50/family of 4 £30 (May 28)

Backyard Cinema: Romeo & Juliet at Alexandra Palace Theatre, Alexandra Palace Way, London N22 7AY (Wood Green tube)
Is it the greatest love story ever told? It’s certainly one of the most dramatic and it’s been given cult status in Baz Luhrmann’s electric adaptation. See Shakespeare’s star-crossed lovers’ tale remixed in the 1996 hit movie starring Claire Danes and Leonardo DiCaprio. Watch it under stained glass windows and candle-lit aisles with a live choir singing tunes and new songs from the movie soundtrack. For ages 12+. 7.30pm (Tue-Sun) & 2.30pm (Sat-Sun); from £25 (May 30-Jun 4)

Room for All: Pride Family Day at Museum of the Home, 136 Kingsland Road, E2 8EA (Hoxton overground)
June is Pride Month and the celebrations are kicking off at the Museum of the Home’s fun-filled day for the whole family. To kick off Pride celebrations this June, come join us for a fun-filled family day. Make statement T-shirts and tote bags, hear stories about Pride’s history, and explore themes of diversity, acceptance, and uniqueness. All ages welcome. 10.30am-4pm; FREE (Jun 2)

Dennis and Gnasher Unleashed at the Orchestra, Royal Festival Hall, Southbank Centre, Belvedere Rd, SE1 8XX (Waterloo/Embankment tube/rail)
Nostalgic mamas and papas and their naughty ones are invited to a mischief-making musical jamboree. Watch professional musicians do their thing then have a go with percussion instruments in the Crash Bang Wallop orchestra. Learn to draw Beano characters or to create a Dennis and Gnasher inspired instrument using recycled materials and meet Dennis and Gnasher between performances. Concerts at 11am & 2pm/meet and greets at 10.30am, 12pm, 1.30pm & 3pm/workshops 10am-4pm; shows £10-£20/activities are FREE (Jun 3)

Family Fun Weekend at Cutty Sark, King William Walk, West Greenwich, SE10 9HT (Cutty Sark DLR, Greenwich rail)
Climb onto the legendary tea clipper to hear stories from the past and from other shores. Families can meet characters from Cutty Sark history, play giant board games, have fun with dress-up, take part in workshops and more. For older ones and adults, you can try climbing the Cutty Sark Rig! Around the corner, there’s a whole week of half-term kids activities at National Maritime Museum. Family Weekend is from 10am-5pm; free with Cutty Sark entry: adult £16-£18/child under 16 £8-£9/under 4s FREE (Jun 3-4)

Bring Your Baby Guided London Walks and Pub Quizzes, various London locations
These BYB walks and pub quizzes get rave reviews from new parents seeking grown up company with likeminded people. Over the May Half Term School Holiday, themed walking routes include: Bermondsey History (Jun 2). If indoor fun and games is more your style, try the Bring Your Baby Pub Quizzes, all held in bottle, breastfeeding, baby-changing and pushchair-friendly settings around London. Prizes for 1st, 2nd & 3rd places and free sweet treats for each table. Team sizes max 6 (baby-free friends welcome too). Guided walks 11am-2pm/£20; pub quizzes 12pm-2.30pm/from £10 pp (ongoing)

FAMILY THEATRE

What’s On at Polka Theatre, 240 The Broadway, Wimbledon, SW19 1SB (South Wimbledon tube)
Polka Theatre hosts two fantastic family productions for the May half term school holiday. The Adventures of the Little Red Hen (May 26-Jun 4/from £10) is an energetic mix of puppetry, live music, storytelling and comedy from the brilliant Stuff and Nonsense, best for ages 3-10. The Everywhere Bear (May 27-Aug 14/from £12) is an expressive puppet show for ages 3-7, based on another bestselling book by Julia Donaldson and illustrator Rebecca Cobb. Various times and prices (May 26-Aug 14)

Squirrel (for ages 6 months-4 years) at Unicorn Theatre, 147 Tooley St, SE1 2HZ (London Bridge tube/rail)
Hurry, there are still a few seats for this sweet interactive tale about a Squirrel who is searching for their perfect acorn collection. But where did they bury it? BA tale of new growth and new beginnings with a sprinkling of magic and puppetry mayhem thrown in. Best for ages 6 months to 4 years. 9.30am, 11.30am & 1.30pm (Tue-Sun); adult £16-£18/child £11-£13 (May 27-Jul 2)

The Invisible Man at Unicorn Theatre, Unicorn Theatre, 147 Tooley St, SE1 2HZ (London Bridge tube/rail)
Imagine nobody could see you, what sorts of things would you get up to? Acclaimed Theatre Artemis present a funny and surrealist take on this concept. A stage technician and a musician get ready for a performance, the audience is waiting, but can anybody find the main act? For ages 5-11.  Various times around 11am & 2.30pm; adult from £12-£25.5/child from £8.50-£17 (May 28-Jun 18)

Once On This Island at Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre 2023, Queen Mary’s Garden within Regent’s Park, NW1 4NU (Baker St tube)
Head to the outdoor theatre to catch this vibrant musical playing out against a Caribbean backdrop. Follow the journey of peasant girl Ti Moune, a boy called Daniel, and a love more powerful than prejudice or death. Best for ages 10+, kids under 4 will not be admitted. 8pm (Mon-Sat) & 3pm (Thu-Sat); £25-£65 (until Jun 10)

Bleak Expectations at Criterion Theatre, 218-223 Piccadilly, St. James’s, W1J 9HR (Piccadilly Circus tube)
Saddle up for a Dickens mashup based on the award-winning radio series by Mark Evans. The madcap show is filled with plot twists and a special guest narrator every week. The lineup includes Sally Phillips, Dermot O’Leary, Julian Clary, Adjoa Andoh, Stephen Fry, Jo Brand, Jack Dee and Nish Kumar. Content warning: prop guns, loud noises, haze and flashes of light. Recommended for ages 10+. 7.30pm (Tue-Sat), 2.30pm (Thu & Sat), 3pm (Sun); from £15 (until Sep 3)

Mrs Doubtfire the Musical at Shaftesbury Theatre, Shaftesbury Avenue, WC2H 8DP (Piccadilly Circus tube)
Who’s your nanny, London? Meet Euphegenia Doubtfire (Gabriel Vick), the Scottish nanny alter ego of a divorced dad who’s doing everything he can to stay a part of his children’s lives. A toe-tapping musical based on the movie made famous by the late Robin Williams’ star turn. For ages 6+. 7.30pm (Mon-Sat), 2.30pm (Thu & Sat); from £37.50 (until Jan 13)

MUSEUMS AND WORKSHOPS

The Box Rocket at Discover Children’s Story Centre,  at 383-387 High Street Stratford, E15 4QZ (Stratford tube/rail/overground/DLR)
Discover’s space-themed exhibition is created by award-winning illustrator Dapo Adeola and writer Tola Okogwu, inspired by Rocket (the brilliant character in picture book Look Up!). Best for ages 0-8. Exhibition from 10am-10.50am/£3.50pp. Main centre opening hours: 10am-5pm (off peak/weekdays), 10am-1.15pm or 1.45pm-5pm (peak/school holidays and weekends); session passes from £8 per adult or child/1 year olds £2.50/under 1s FREE (from Apr 1)

Trains, Trains, Trains at London Museum of Water and Steam, Green Dragon Lane, TW8 0EN (Kew Bridge rail)
Choo choo! It’s another train-themed takeover at London Museum of Water & Steam this May half term school holiday. Bring your mini engineers along to see model railways and real miniature steam trains. There’s also storytelling and songs with Musical Mark, special visits, crafting and time to play with trains. 10am-4pm; adult £12.50 day pass/£19 annual pass; child FREE (May 27-Jun 4)

DAVID HOCKNEY: BIGGER & CLOSER (not smaller & further away), At Lightroom, 12 Lewis Cubitt Square, N1C 4DY (King’s Cross St Pancras tube/rail)
This is a fabulous wander into the imagination of one of Britain’s most iconic artists. Discover 60 years of his work via large-scale projections using Lightroom’s walls and revolutionary sound system. 10am-4pm (Mon-Thu), 10am-8.30pm (Fri-Sat), 10am-4.30pm (Sun); from adult £25-£32.50/child age 5-18 £15-22.50/under 5s FREE/concs available (until Jun 4)

The Offbeat Sari at Design Museum, 224-238 Kensington High Street, W8 6AG (High St Kensington/South Kensington tube)
Unravelling the history and design of the contemporary sari, this exciting exhibition is curated by the museum’s Head of Curatorial, Priya Khanchandani. See dozens of saris from designers, wearers and craftspeople across India. All ages welcome. 10am-5pm;adult from £12.60/child from £6.30/under 11s FREE (until Sep 17)

Brick Dinos at Horniman Museum, 100 London Rd, SE23 3PQ (Forest Hill overground)
Experience creatures from the Jurassic and Cretaceous eras at Horniman Museum’s LEGO exhibition. Little ones will enjoy learning more about these bricked up beast, and trying out activities such as fossil digging and building your own dinosaurs. 10am-5.30pm; adult from £9/child from £4.50/family from £15.50/under 3s FREE (until Oct 29)

Titanosaur at Natural History Museum,  Cromwell Road, SW7 5BD (South Kensington tube)
Dinosaur fans can’t miss this blockbuster exhibition of the titanosaur Patagotitan mayorum, one of the largest creatures that ever walked the earth. Track its journey from tiny egg to towering creature of legend. Open to all ages. 10am-5.50pm daily (last entry 5.30pm); adult £16/child £9/family from £27.25 (until Jan 7)

Hunterian Museum at the Royal College of Surgeons of England, 38–43 Lincolns Inn Fields, WC2A 3PE (Holborn/Temple tube)
Dig the 14,000 odd specimens at this newly reopened museum. The collection once belonged to John Hunter, an 18th century surgeon anatomist. It’s now England’s largest public display of human anatomy and an interesting spot for an educational visit. Best for older kids (school visits open to Year 7 and up). 10am-5pm (Tue-Sat); FREE (ongoing)

Frameless, 6 Marble Arch, W1H 7AP (Marble Arch tube)
Enter a 30,000 square foot gallery space, the largest of its kind in the UK, to explore 40 timeless art pieces. This interactive experience brings major works to life with emotional soundtracks and state-of-the-art visuals. All ages. 10am-7pm (Mon-Tue), 10am-9pm (Wed-Thu & Sun), 10am-11pm (Fri-Sat) – last entry 2 hours before closing; adult from £25/child from £15/under 5s FREE but require a ticket (ongoing)

NATURE AND OUTDOORS

Horrible Histories Boat Tours: Terrible Thames, Tower Bridge Quay (in front of the Tower Hotel), E1Q 1LD (Tower Hill tube/rail)
All aboard to explore the world’s most notorious river, with horrible tales of historical figures like King Henry VIII, Anne Boleyn, Julius Caesar, the Duke of Wellington, Queen Boudicca, Jack the Ripper and Captain Kidd. All ages welcome. 45 minutes tours starting from 10.45am (check times and availability online); adult ages 15+ £25/child 3-15 £15/family £72/under 3s FREE on parent/carer’s lap (from Apr 1) 

Spring Family Festival at London Zoo, Regent’s Park NW1 4RY (Regent’s Park/Camden Town tube)
Watch the zoo spring into life at this May half term school holiday programme of arts, crafts, music and workshops. Enter festival tents and play interactive games, or get artsy in the Daisy Den. For older kids, there’s a Foxglove Fortress to test out bushcraft skills, and there’s even a baby sensory area in the Lilac Lounge. All sessions are first come, first served and included in regular zoo admission (unless otherwise stated). 10am-5pm (closes 6pm); adult tickets range from £27.23 (off peak-£35 (peak)/child £18.04 (off peak)-£21 (peak)/under 3s FREE (May 27-Jun 4)

Drawn to Water: Quentin Blake at WWT London Wetland Centre, Queen Elizabeth’s Walk, Barnes, SW13 9WT (Barnes rail/Hammersmith tube)
See an exclusive display of rare prints by Quentin Blake and take part in nature-inspired activities for all ages. You can even collect and keep an illustrated guide full of Quentin Blake’s drawings or win a one-off, special edition Quentin Blake print. All ages welcome (some activities may be suitable for older kid or adults). Included with entry: 9.30am-5pm (or 5.30pm from Jul 21-Sep 3); adult from £15.40/child from £9.50/family from £43.10/under 4s FREE (until Sep 10) 

StreetHunt: The Case of Colombia’s Finest, start location Shoe Lane Library,, Hill House, 1 Little New St, Blackfriars, EC4A 3JR (Farringdon tube/Fleet St City rail)
Go on a self-guided scavenger hunt that invites players to sniff out evidence of a crime. You’ll use an interactive map to unlock clues around the area. For groups of up to 10, game play lasts around 2 hours and costs £15pp. For ages 13+. Various times and packages available. (ongoing) 

ACTION AND ADVENTURE

Tomb Raider: The LIVE Experience, Lower Basement and Upper Basement Atrium Building, Stables Market, Camden NW1 8AH (Camden Rd overground/Camden Town tube)
An immersive experience for older kids and adults that sees you launching off in Finland as an Archaeology student. When Lara Croft messages you about a deadly discovery, you’ll wind up hacking through the Costa Rican jungles, searching for an ancient tomb and fighting a secret order. Live actors and characters bring this adrenaline-fuelled attraction to life. You don’t need to play the Lara Croft game to have a blast. For ages 12+ (under 18s must be accompanied by an adult). Various times from 10am-8.45pm (Mon-Sun); from £44-£79 (ongoing)

Half Term Meet the Crew at The Golden Hinde, St. Mary Overie Dock, Cathedral Street, SE1 9DE (London Bridge tube/rail)
Travel back in time to meet the members of the Golden Hinde’s crew. Let the master put you to the test by teaching you how to haul anchor and introducing you to the ship’s cannons. If anything goes wrong, the resident barber surgeon is ready to stitch you up! History with a twist for all ages. 11am-4pm; £6 entry (May 29-Jun 2)

Lift 109 at Battersea Power Station, Turbine Hall A (Level 1), Circus Rd W, Nine Elms, SW8 5BN (Battersea Power Station tube, Battersea Park rail)
Take a dizzying lift ride up to the top of the north-west chimney where you can enjoy 360 degree views of London’s skyline. A fun activity to enjoy as part of a day out at the revamped Battersea Power Station. 10am-6pm (Mon-Wed), 10am-8pm (Thu-Sun and school holidays); adult from £15.90/child from £11.50/family of 4 from £50.40/under 3s FREE (ongoing)

iFly London at The O2, Peninsula Square, SE10 0DX (North Greenwich tube)
Not ready to leap out of a plane? Try this indoor skydiving experience first. Embracing flyers from a broad range of ages and abilities, iFly is all about the fun of free falling on a cushion of air. Ages 3+. Various time slots between 8am and 10.30pm (book ahead); from £39.99pp (Mon-Thu before 6pm) or from £49.99pp; 9am-10.30pm (ongoing)

The Wild at Substation Brixton, Unit 13, Ellerslie Square Industrial Estate, Brixton, SW2 5DZ (Brixton tube)
Let your mini Spider-Man fans climb to their hearts’ content. This is the only physical play and learning space in London that’s worked with a Froebel specialist to enhance sensory engagement and simulation.Open play for ages 2+ at 9am-10.30am & 11am-12.30pm weekdays; for ages 5+ at 4pm-5.30pm weekdays; weekend spots available for birthday parties. Open play costs £9.50/£5 per addition child/5 visits £40/monthly unlimited membership £50 (ongoing)

FAMILY CINEMA

The Little Mermaid (PG), cinemas nationwide
The reviews for this live adaptation of the Disney classic are making me quite emotional. I can’t wait to see Halle Bailey bring Black girl magic to her performance as Ariel, a sea creature whose heart is sworn to an earth-bound prince. And she’s ready to pay a huge price.  This musical also stars Awkwafina, Javier Bardem and is coproduced by Lin-Manuel Miranda (Hamilton, Moana). (out May 26)

Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse 
We are counting down the days until Miles Morales comes swinging across our screens again! The sequel to my favourite ever Spider-Man movie sees Miles reunited with Gwen Stacy and landing in the Multi-Verse where he faces a huge new threat. (out Jun 2)

Family Film Club: Soaring Shorts, at Barbican Cinema 2, Barbican Centre, Beech Street EC2Y 8DS (Barbican tube)
The specially curated shorts programme for June will include the award winning animation Shoom’s Odyssey, about a newly hatched chick called Shoom who has to help find a safe haven for the other birds in their nest. Enjoy other bird-themed short films aimed at ages 4+ (all ages welcome, grownups must be accompanied by a child). 11am; adult £3.50/child £2.50 (Jun 3)

Saturday Family Film Club in Canada Square Park, Canary Wharf E14 5AB (Canary Wharf tube/DLR/rail)
Take the kids along for a free Saturday matinee screening in the park. Turn up early to get the best spot and don’t forget to bring snacks. Over half term, you can watch Sing!, the hugely entertaining animated musical featuring a Koala named Buster Moon. 10.30am; FREE (Jun 3-Aug 19)

**NB: Please note that all event timings and prices are subject to change/cancellation at short notice, so always check ahead with the venue (or the latest government guidelines) before making a trip!**