24th May 25, Eastbourne
Discover colourful carnivals, dramatic jousting, arts, comedy, and some great free family fun days out across South East England this May half term. The Spring Bank holiday weekend also means you'll find an ever-growing number of events and activities for all ages, to get you out and about making the most of the long weekend. Whether you live here or are just in the region for a day out or enjoying a weekend away, take a look and discover what's on this half term holidays.
Find something near you to enjoy in our featured list below from value-added activities to family-friendly events. Whether you are looking for something to do over half term in Hampshire or along the South Coast, in the Surrey countryside, or planning on touring around the destination, use the links above to search what's on or head to the bottom of the page for a full listing of events across the South East over the half term holidays.
Planning a May half-term holiday? Discover great value accommodation across the South East for a spring getaway. You can also search by destinations to link up with the local offical tourism websites across the region. Our newsletter archive and YouTube channel is also a great place to discover things to do in South East England.
May half term runs from Saturday 24th May to Sunday 1st June across South East England and includes the Spring Bank Holiday on Monday 28th May. This is the last of the three bank holidays in the UK in May. The May holidays generally bring brighter longer days, more consistent weather and see the South East welcoming a host of music events and food festivals, outdoor trails and evening events to keep everybody thoroughly entertained.
Find hundreds more events and things to do in Hampshire, the Isle of Wight, Sussex, Kent, Surrey, Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire, Dorset this May Half Term holiday and Spring Bank holiday in our guide below. Whether you're looking for something near you, or if you are travelling to a part of South East England for a short break or day trip, use the 'map view' button to find something local.
Number of results: 130
, currently showing 1 to 20.
Exhibitions
Waddesdon
Art in Nature is a new and unique event that brings together leading land and environmental artists from across the UK to create and showcase new works inspired by and created in the beautiful grounds at Waddesdon.
Childrens Events
Selborne, Alton
Small Things with Wings- bugs, bees, beetles, flies
Wild Wednesdays are an hour of hands-on activities for children and their parents to experience local wildlife. Using the range of habitats at our site, each day has a different theme to introduce…
Carnival
Eastbourne
The biggest Seafront Carnival in the South East will return this year.
More than 1,500 walkers are expected to take part with some 25,000 fans and supporters.
Free Event
Portsmouth
Get your bag for life ready — there’s never been a more exciting time to shop the market.
Childrens Events
Berwick
Make wild memories this May half term at Drusillas Zoo Park!
Keep the kids half term happy with a zooper day out at Drusillas Park - voted one of the best days out with kids in Sussex!
Get nose-to-nose with 80 species of animal in our interactive…
Indoor
Tonbridge
Balfour Winery knowledgeable tour guides will lead you in a fun and relaxed tasting of six, where you can learn the technique of wine tasting without the bravado.
Food
Hedge End
Indulge in the timeless tradition of Afternoon Tea at Botleigh Grange Hotel & Spa. Savour delicate finger sandwiches, freshly baked scones with clotted cream and jam, and an array of handcrafted bakes, all paired with tea and coffee. For an extra…
Music
Winchester
Featuring The Lindy Hop Dance Company and The Harry Strutters Hot Rhythm Orchestra
Take a step back into 1920/30s New York City and through the doors of Harlem's hottest nightclub, The Cotton Club!
For one night only, Swinging at the Cotton Club…
Childrens Events
Winchester
When the Science Centre doors close, the cinema screen will be rolling!
Are you ready for a completely unique cinema experience? Grab a seat, sit back and relax as one of Hollywood's biggest blockbusters, National Treasure, plays out under the…
Theatre
Reading
In this WORLD PREMIERE, the idyllic estate of Pemberley, home to Elizabeth Bennet and Mr. Darcy from Jane Austen's iconic "Pride and Prejudice" becomes the stage for a chilling mystery, imagined by one of Britain's finest ever crime novelists, P.D…
Exhibitions
Henley-on-Thames
We have lift off for all you space enthusiasts out there with The Space Vault Exhibition coming to the River & Rowing Museum this July.
Using immersive audio and visuals, and comprising one of the UK's largest private collections of space…
Arts
Canterbury
Members of the Canterbury Society of Art will display numerous original artworks in a variety of media including watercolours, acrylics, oils, pastels, Lino cuts and mixed media.
The artists will be in attendance and happy to explain about their…
Antiques
Sunbury on Thames
Sunbury Antiques Market comes to Kempton Park Racecourse on the second and last Tuesday of every month with over 700 inside and outside stalls throughout our two indoor halls and outside hard standing drive in area.
There is always a vast range…
Tour
Oxford
Explore the fascinating city of Oxford with ease, with a City Sightseeing Bus and Walking Tour.
With 20 bus stops to hop on and off at, entry to the Carfax Tower to enjoy views of Oxford and a 45 minute walking tour 'Stepping Through Oxford'…
Tour
Chatham
If you're a fan of the hit series and you've been wondering where Call the Midwife is filmed, put yourself in the picture and explore where the real drama happens with a Call the Midwife Official Location Tour at The Historic Dockyard Chatham…
Food
Shaves wood Lane, Albourne
Join us on Saturday, 24th May for a fantastic Sussex Cheese & Wine evening, where we'll be highlighting the award-winning High Weald Dairy with a carefully curated cheese tasting and paired wine flight.
Throughout the evening, you will learn about…
Festival
Cowes
This dynamic fringe event in this part of the Isle of Wight will deliver an explosion of art and culture through performances and workshops. Hosted in unique venues throughout the town in Cowes, Cowes Fringe guarantees a memorable weekend…
Food
Netley Abbey
The Big Eat food festival will be returning to Netley in May 2025, after welcoming a whopping 28,000 people to last year’s event.
The Big Eat is returning to Royal Victoria Country Park for the fourth consecutive year after securing headline…
Heritage & History
Ramsgate
Commemoration of the 85th Anniversary of Operation Dynamo, Ramsgate takes place with a series of events from Friday 16 to Monday 26 May 2025.
In May 1940, a rescue operation was implemented by the Royal Navy to evacuate British, French and…
Childrens Events
Winchester
Get set for some Brontosaurus-sized fun! Join us on a prehistoric time travel adventure to find out how our dinosaur friends lived in this exciting live science show.
The Dino Show is an action-packed family-friendly 20-minute live show that takes…
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