*Updated for 2026!
Here is our bumper blog post of everything going on for May Half Term in Nottingham! There’s a brilliant selection of special events and activities across the county over this school holiday and we’ve got all the details.
This post will continue to be updated as new events are announced!
Nottinghamshire, Nottingham City and Derbyshire May Half Term Holidays are 23rd May – 31st May 2026
Contents
- Parks, Gardens, Stately Homes and National Trust
- Farms
- Theme Parks
- Council Events and Libraries
- Indoor Play Centre Events
- Shopping Centres and In Store Events
- Museum and Galleries
- Cinema and Theatre
- Baby and Toddler Classes and Parties
- SEN Sessions
Main Events
Luminarium: Timisien
Lakeside Arts
Date: 23rd May – 31 May 2026
Price: £6.50pp Under 18m free
Quiet Sessions, SEN Sessions, Adults only sessions available
Parks, Gardens, Stately Homes and National Trust
Sherwood Pines
Room on the Broom Trail (ongoing in 2026)
from 27 Jan · during opening hours · free – trail packs £4 – parking from £7.50 · Drop-in
Nottingham Castle
Outdoor Tales & Traditions Trail
23-31 May 2026 · 10-4pm · £2 plus site entry (£15 adults, kids free) · Drop-in
Medieval Legends Weekend
Saturday 23rd May – Monday 25th May 2026 · 10-4pm · £2 plus site entry (£15 adults, kids free) · Drop-in
Wollaton Hall and Deer Park
‘Wonders In Nature’ Outdoor Trail
23-31 May 2026 · 10am-4pm · £2 – Drop-in
Sausage & Cider Festival
30 May 2026 · 12pm-10pm
Summer in Nashville
31 May 2026 · 12pm-8pm
sherwood forest
Gathering of the North
23-25 May 2026 · 10am–5pm · £15 per car for parking · Drop-in
Newstead Abbey
Outdoor ‘Medieval Detective’ Trail
23-31 May 2026 during opening hours · £2 (parking applies) · Drop-in
Hardwick hall
May Half Term at Hardwick
23 May – 31 May 2026 · 9.30–5pm · Included in admission, free for members · Drop-in
Calke abbey
On screen at Calke Abbey
ongoing through 2026 · 9.30am–4pm · included in admission · Drop-in
Festival of Blossom display in St Giles Church
May 2026 · 11-4.15pm · included in admission · Drop-in
Make Your Own Wild Habitats Diorama
23 May 2026 · 10-11.30am and 1-2.30pm · £7 plus admission · booking required
May Half Term: Blooming Blossom Activity Trail
23-31 May 2026 · 10-5pm · included in admission · Drop-in
Storytelling Session with the Blossom Fairy (under 5s session also available)
30-31 May 2026 · 10-12 and 1-3pm · £5 plus admission · booking required
BELTON ESTATE
May Half Term at Belton
23 May – 31 May 2026 · 9.30am–5.30pm · Free activities for members, admission applies · Drop-in
Pokémon TCG Mega Evolution Trail at Belton
23 May – 6 Sep 2026 · 9.30am–5.30pm · Free for members, admission applies · Drop-in
cLUMBER PARK
Clumber Park Great Big Tree Climbing(6+)
30-31 May 2026 · 9am–4pm · £27.50 plus admission · Booking Required
Kedleston Hall
May Half Term at Kedleston Hall
23-31 May 2026 · 9am–5pm · Free activities, admission applies · Drop-in
SUDBURY Hall
May Half-Term Sudbury Seaside
22-31 May 2026 · 10am–5pm · Free activities, admission applies · Drop-in
Papplewick Pumping Station
Artisan Fair and Steam Event
24-25 May 2026 · 10am–4pm · £14, under 12s Free (includes 12 month annual pass) · booking recommended
BElvoir Castle
The Pirate Adventure Trail
23-31 May 2026 · 9.30am–4pm · Adults £10 Children £6 · Booking recommended
Woodthorpe Grange Park and plant nursery
Bee Day Celebrations
25 May 2026 · 10am–3.30pm · Pop up Crafts £3, 2 for £5 · Drop in
Farms
Stonebridge City Farm
Garden Event
25 May 2026 · 10am–2pm · tba · Drop-in
Rainbow Stripes
26 May 2026 · 11am-12 and 12-1pm · £3 · collect ticket at the entrance
Crafts event
27 May 2026 · 10am–2pm · £2 drop in
Manor farm park and woodlands
Dinosaur Week
23-29 May · 10am–5pm · £14.95pp, under 2s £5.95 · booking recommended
BLUebell dairy
Highland Cow Week
Between 23rd and 31st of May 2026 · 10am–4pm · £16 adults, £16.50 Children · booking recommended
Theme Parks
Alton Towers*
Twilight at the Towers*
22-31 May 2026 · 10am–8pm · £32 (under 90cm free) · booking recommended for best prices
DRAyton manor
Kids go Free in May (while stocks last)
8-31 May 2026 · 10am–5pm · £31pp · booking required
Council Events, Free Events and Libraries
Nottingham City Libraries
Slugageddon!
Nottingham Central Library – Wednesday 27 May 2pm*
Suitable for children aged 6-11. Tickets are priced at £5 per person or £14 for a family of four
Make a Moving Robot – booking required
Tuesday 26th May – Hyson Green Library – 1.30pm and 2.45pm
Wednesday 27th May – Meadows Library – 1.30pm and 2.45pm
Thursday 28th May – Wollaton Library – 1.30pm and 2.45pm
Winnie the Pooh activities and picture hunt
Details TBA
Nottinghamshire Inspire Libraries
Bingham Library
Lego – 23 and 30 May 1-3pm
Decorate a 10 or make a party hat – 26/27 May
Make and decorate a paper cake – 28/29 May
Nottingham city family hubs
Meadows Family Event at the Meadows Family Hub
26 May, 10-11.30am, all ages welcome
Nottingham Cathedral
Pugin’s Paints: A Family Workshop (7+)
27 May 2026 · 10-12pm and 1–3pm · Free · Drop-in
Indoor Play, Sports Events and Fun Days
Teversal Visitors centre
Half Term Family Crafts – Funny Faces
29 May · 10.30am – 12pm · £4.50 per child · booking required
Boatyard Boulders
Ms Rachel & Little Rockers Bouldering Session. Under 5’s.
27th May 2026 · 9-12pm · £12.95 · Booking Required
2 hours Critter & Climb. Animal Handling and Bouldering
28th May, 10.30am or 1.45pm, £15.72 per child, booking required
3 hour Graffiti Workshop with Beth Wise. Includes Pizza lunch (6-12y)
26th May. 9am-12pm. · £34.58 booking required
Holiday Clubs – 29th May
Mighty Monsters
Petting Zoo
26th May 2026 · 9am and 11am and 1pm · £15 · Booking required
POP Singalong Party
28th May 2026 · 1.30pm · £17.50 · Booking required
Tiny town adventures – CLOSED FOR HALF TERM
Chilwell Olympia
Battle Zone and Soft Play
28th May 2026 · 10am-12 or 1.30pm-3.30pm · £7.50 per child · booking required
Oceans of Fun
Free Return Ticket
Visit 19-31 May and return free in the summer holidays · all day · · book online or walk in available
Pirates Play Centre
Free Return Ticket when you come dressed as a Pirate, Princess or Viking
Visit 25-29 May and get a return visit to Vikings in Loughborough (expires 31 July 2026 · book online
Shopping Centres, In Store, Café and Restaurant Events
waterstones nottingham
Elmer Day Celebrations!
Saturday 23rd May 2026 – Sunday 24th May 2026 9- 5pm · Free, drop in
Mad Hatter’s Tea Party with Anna James
27/5/2026 · 1pm · £8 · Booking Required
Shakespearean Insult Workshop
26/05/2026 · 3pm · £5 (accompanying adults free) · Booking Required
hobbycraft nottingham
Kids’ Beaded Animal Keyring Workshop
29/05/2026 · 12pm and 2pm · £8 · Age 3+ · Booking Required
Kids’ Mixed Media Canvas Painting Workshop
28/05/2026 · 12pm and 2pm · £8 · Age 3+ · Booking Required
SMYTHS TOYS
Toy Story Mini Bag Giveaway and free Face Painting
23rd May 2026 · from 9am while stocks last · FREE · Drop-in
FOUR SEASONS SHOPPING CENTRE
Free Festival – No mind left behind
22-24 May 2026 11am – 3pm · FREE · Drop in
Half-Term Fun – K-Pop Takeover Day
28 May 2026 11am – 3pm · FREE · Drop in
Museum, Gallery and Theatre Workshops and Events
nottingham contemporary
Half Term Family Activities
Tue 26 May – Thu 28 May, 10am-12pm and 1pm-3pm (weds 1-3 SEND)· FREE · booking recommended
National justice museum
Object Handling
26 May · 11-1pm · All ages · Included in Museum Entry · drop in
Badge Making Workshop (7+)
27 May · 10–12pm · All ages · free· booking required
Mail Bag Sewing
28 May · 11-3.30pm · All ages · Included in Museum Entry · drop in
Mansfield Museum
Tiger Finger Puppets
26 May 2026. · 10am–1pm · All ages · FREE · Drop-in
Make A Tiger Crown
27 May 2026. · 10am–1pm · All ages · FREE · Drop-in
Make Your Own Magic Wand
28 May 2026. · 10am–1pm · All ages · FREE · Drop-in
Lego Build & Play Day
29 May 2026. · 10am–1pm · All ages · FREE · Drop-in
Erewash Museum
Beach
Weds 27th – Sat 30th May · Museum opening hours · All ages · FREE · Drop-in
Circus Skills
Weds 27th May · 11-4pm · All ages · FREE · Drop-in
Animal Expedition
Weds 28th May · Museum opening hours · All ages · £4 · Booking Required
Punch and Judy Show
Thurs 29th May · Museum opening hours · All ages · FREE · Drop-in
Lakeside Arts
Co-Design Playful Robots (8-11)
Thu 28 May 2026, 10am-12.30 and 1.30-4pm, FREE · Booking Required
Fun with Drawing (8-12y)
Fri 29 May 2026, 10.30am · £8 · Booking Required
Seed Sculptures (4+ and their families)
Fri 29 May 2026, 2pm · £8 per child, adult free · Booking Required
Cardboard Adventures Workshop
Sat 30 May 2026, 10am · Free · Drop in 10-4pm
Cardboard World Makers (3-6y)
Sun 31 May 2026, 12.30pm · £8 · Booking Required
Nottingham industrial Museum
Steaming Day
31 May 2026 · 11am–4pm · Adult £6, Concession/student £4, Children FREE · Drop-in
Harley Gallery
Family Clay: Portrait Plates(ages 7-16)
28/05/2026 · 10am–12pm · £14 · booking required
Green’s Windmill
Biscuit Baking
30 and 31st May 2026 · 6 time slots · £4 · booking recommended
Bread Baking
23 and 28 May 2026 · 6 time slots · £4 · booking recommended
Cool Science
24 May 2026 · 6 time slots · FREE · drop in
Bassetlaw Museum
All Sessions are Free – Donations Appreciated – 10-12pm and 1-3pm – Drop in
Theatre and Cinema Shows
Mansfield Palace Theatre
The Tiger Who Came to Tea
26-27/05/2026 · 2 showings per day · £17 · booking required
The Sooty Show
28th May 2026 · 11am · £21 Adult / £18.50 Child· booking required
Arc cinema Hucknall
Character Meet and Greet – Mandalorian and Grogu
Friday 22nd May 2026 · 10am-4pm · Free · Drop-in
Baby and Toddler Specials
Little Nature Tots Stay and Play
Enchanted Forest – 24 May · booking required
Pizza Party in the Woods – 30 May · booking required
Fun Little Foodies Gruffalo Crumble Special – 31 May – booking required
Little glow ashfielD
Sensory Sessions With Buzz Ceramics – Friday 29th May – £9
Boots and Brambles
May Bank Holiday Family Forest School Session – 25th May , 10.30-12pm · booking required
Holiday Clubs – 26th May 10-3pm · booking required
urban bushcraft
Holiday Clubs 27-19th May
Rattle and Roll Performance
Holiday Clubs
SEN Sessions
Ifun Mansfield
2nd and 7th April 5.30pm
Infinity Derby
01/04/2026 · 10am–3pm · £3.50 · Drop-in
Planet Bounce
01/04/2026 · 10am–3pm · £3.50 · Drop-in
Nottingham Contemporary
01/04/2026 · 10am–3pm · £3.50 · Drop-in
Mighty Monsters
01/04/2026 · 10am–3pm · £3.50 · Drop-in
Pirates Play Centre
01/04/2026 · 10am–3pm · £3.50 · Drop-in
Derby Museum
01/04/2026 · 10am–3pm · £3.50 · Drop-in
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