Looking for things to do in Derby and Derbyshire this May Half Term? From creative workshops and storytelling sessions to theatre shows, outdoor adventures and budget-friendly days out, Derbyshire has lots of family-friendly events to keep kids of all ages entertained during the school holidays.
This guide brings together the best May Half Term Holiday events in Derby for kids and families, with a mix of free and paid activities across the city and surrounding areas. The page will be updated regularly as more events are announced, so make sure to bookmark it and check back for the latest ideas to help you plan your half term days out.
UPDATED MAY 2026
- Main Events
- Derby City Centre
- Parks, Gardens, Stately Homes and National Trust
- Farms, Theme Parks and other Attractions
- Theme Parks
- Council Events and Libraries
- Indoor Play Centre Events
- Shopping Centres and In Store Events
- Museum, Galleries and Theatre Activities
- Baby and Toddler Classes and Parties
Main Events
Derby Book Festival
Story Streets Book Trail
Date: 23rd May – 31st May · Free, drop in
Individual events listed under their locations below
City Centre
Derbion
Spring into Joy Crafts
Date: 26th May – 30th May · £3, booking recommended
Derbion Express
Date: 21st-28th May · 10-4pm £1, drop in
Electric daisy
Book Worms Kids Takeover
Date: 25th May 2026, Time: 10am-3pm, Price: £5 per child Booking required.*
Kids Day Rave!
Date: 29th May 2026, Time: 2-5pm Price: £5pp, £15.65 Family Ticket, Booking required.*
DERBY MARKET HALL
Family-friendly craft workshops
Date: Mon 25 May 10-2pm and Thu 28 May 1pm – 4pm, Price: Free, drop in
Fruit and Vegetable Clay Workshops
Date: Mon 25 May 2026, 10am – 12pm , Thu 28 May 2026, 1pm – 3pm , Price: FREE, Drop in
Percussion workshop
Date: Tue 26 May 2026, 10am – 11:30am and Thu 28 May 2026, 10am – 11:30am, Price: FREE, Drop in
Debry Quad
Get Creative, Motorised Mobiles for 7-11 Year Olds
Date: Thu 28 May , Time: 11am-4pm, Price: £20, booking required
Chapel Street Arts Centre
Derby Book Festival: Roma Agrawal: Making Science Fun!
23 May 2026 · 7-11y · 10am–11am · £8 · Booking required
Derby Book Festival: Construction Workshop inspired by ‘How to Build a Chocolate Bridge’
23 May 2026 · 7-11y · 11.30am · £3 · Booking required
Derby Book Festival: Playful Moves: The Very Hungry Caterpillar
27 May 2026 · 18m-5y · 10am · £5 · Booking required
Derby Book Festival: Frances Stickley: Capybara Disco Dreams
27 May 2026 · 3-7y · 10am · £5 · Booking required
Pippa Curnick: Pocket-sized Picture Books
27 May 2026 · 3-9y · 11am · £5 · Booking required
Ben Davis: Postman Planet
27 May 2026 · 6-10y · 1pm · £5 · Booking required
Parks, Gardens, Stately Homes and National Trust
NATIONAL MEMORIAL ARBORETUM
Arbie Eye-Spy Summer Trail
Date: 23-31 May 2026, 10am – 5pm · Price: £2.50 per person
Drop-in Arts & Crafts
Date: 25 – 29 May 2026 11am – 3pm · Price: Free
Stick Man Outdoor Trail
Date: Daily, ongoing · Time: during opening hours · Price: Free · Drop in
CONKERS
Whit Week – The Enchanted Forest
Date: Saturday 23rd May- Sunday 31st May · Included in admission. Under 5 Yrs: Free
Hicks lodge
Room on the Broom Trail (ongoing in 2026)
from 27 Jan · during opening hours · free – trail packs £4 – parking from £7.50 · 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
Kedleston Hall
May Half Term at Kedleston Hall
23-31 May 2026 · 9am–5pm · Free activities, admission applies · 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
SUDBURY Hall
May Half-Term Sudbury Seaside
22-31 May 2026 · 10am–5pm · Free activities, admission applies · Drop-in
Farms, Theme Parks and other Attractions
BLUebell dairy
Highland Cow Week
Between 23rd and 31st of May 2026 · 10am–4pm · £16 adults, £16.50 Children · booking recommended
national forest adventure farm
May Half Term
23rd May – 31st May · 10am–5pm · £15.95pp, under 2s free · booking recommended
Peak Wildlife PArk
Meet the Otter Family Trail
Sat, 23 May – Sun, 31 May · 10am–6pm · included in admission, under 2s free · booking recommended
Alton Towers*
Twilight at the Towers*
22-31 May 2026 · 10am–8pm · £32 (under 90cm free) · booking recommended for best price
DRAyton manor
Kids go Free in May (while stocks last)
8-31 May 2026 · 10am–5pm · £27.50pp · booking required
Heights of Abraham (Matlock Bath)
Meet the Wombles
23rd, 24th & 25th May and 29th, 30th & 31st May · 10am–5pm · booking recommended
Sports Week
25th May – 31st May 2026 · 10am–5pm · booking recommended
Council Events, Free Events and Libraries
Libraries
Springwood Library, Creative Comics with Laura Howell (8+), 26 May 2026 (10:30 am), Free
Spondon Library, Creative Comics with Laura Howell (8+), 26 May 2026 (1pm), Free
Indoor Play and Sports Events
Mini Donington
Mini Kid-Chella – Festival week
25-31 May 2026 · 9.15am, 11.15am, 1.15pm · £8.95 kids · Booking required
Hero Town Melbourne
n/a
tba – 9am, 11.15am and 1.30pm · £13 (1 adult and 1 child) · Booking required
Swadlincote Snowsports Centre
Bank Holiday Madness – Half Price
25 May 2026 · £10 · Booking recommended
Little moos play barn
Gruffalo Special
24/05/2026 · 9.30am-11.30am · £19.95 · Booking required
Little Moos Moovers
26/05/2026 · 9.30-11.30am · £10.95 · Booking required
Animal Encounter At The Play Barn
27/05/26 · 9.30am and 10.20am · £16 · Booking required
Moo Music
28/05/26 · Mixed 10am, Babies 11am · £11.95 · Booking required
Stitch Special
29/05/26 · 9.30am · £14.95 · Booking required
Iggle Piggle Special
29/05/26 · 12.30pm · £14.95 · Booking required
Shopping Centres, In Store Events, Restaurant and Café Events
waterstones Derby
Half Term at Waterstones – activities inspired by Alice in Wonderland
23-31 May 2026 · during opening hours · Free · Drop in
hobbycraft Derby
Kids’ Beaded Animal Keyring Workshop
31 May 1pm · £8 · Age 3+ · Booking Required
Kids’ Mixed Media Canvas Painting Workshop
26 May 2026 2pm · £8 · Age 3+ · Booking Required
Kids’ Slime Making Workshop
29 May 2pm and 30 May 2pm · £8 · Age 3+ · Booking Required
Pets at home – Derby Kingsway and Derby Meteor
Free Pet Pals Workshops
23-31st May · 2pm · FREE · Age 3+ · Booking Required
Church Farm Tearooms
Nature Burrow Encounters
Monday 25th May · £8pp · Booking Required
Bubble and Bounce
Friday 29th May · £10pp · Booking Required
Museum, Gallery and Theatre Workshops and Events
Derby museum of making
Workshop: These are my rocks – A story about Collecting
27 May 2026, 10.30am and 1.30pm · FREE – suggested donation £3
Steam Babies (0-2y)
28 May 2026, 10.15am · £3 per family
Derby Museum and Art Gallery
Make Celtic Knots and Anglo-Saxon designs
28 May 2026, 10.30am – 12.30pm & 1.30pm – 3.30pm, FREE – suggested donation £3
Pickford’s house
Learn how to Rag Rug
26 May 2026 – 10.30am–12.30pm, 1.30-3.30pm · All ages · FREE, suggested donation £3
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
Weds 28th May · Museum opening hours · All ages · FREE · Drop-in
Sharpe’s Pottery Museum
Bee Craft Day
23 May 2026 · 10am – 3pm · FREE · Drop-in
Clay Play! (4+)
27 May 2026 · 10am – 12pm · £5 · booking required
Sharpe’s Studio: Mosaic Making
26 May – 1-3pm · from £5 · booking required
Sea Glass Art for Families with Shore Things
28 May – 10.30-12pm · £15pp· booking required
Markeaton Craft Village
Kids Weekly Art Class – Saturdays
23 May · 10.30am and 12.30pm · 7-16y · £15 · booking required
Book Festival Workshop
28 May · 6-10 years 10.30am, 11+ 1pm · £15 · Drop-in
Manga Sunday Class
31 May · 10am · 7-16y · £20 · Drop-in
Baby and Toddler Specials
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