The Queen's Joust at Leeds Castle May half term

The Queen's Joust at Leeds Castle

23rd - 25th May 26, Maidstone

What's on this May Half Term Week and Spring Bank Holiday 2026

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Discover what’s on across South East England this May half term, including family events, festivals, outdoor activities and free days out. Find ideas by date, location or interest.

From dramatic jousting, birds of prey, art trails, food festivals, bus tours, and some free family 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 and making the most of the long weekend. Whether you live in the South East, are just visiting the for a day-out or enjoying a weekend away, discover what's on this half term holidays.

Half-term and bank holiday Monday events in South East England

Find something near you to enjoy in the featured list below, or use the search above to find out what's on for a specific date or in a specific county - alternatively use the 'map view' button to find something local. Scroll to the bottom of the page for lots of ideas and inspiration from the full list of events across the South East this school holidays.

  • The Big Eat Festival, Royal Victoria Country Park, Netley Abbey, Southampton, Hampshire (F)
    23rd - 24th May 2026
    Returning for its fourth year, this free-to-attend festival is a celebration of local food and musical talent with all the profits being donated to local food banks.
  • Explore the historic City of Oxford by bus and on foot, City Sightseeing Oxford, Broad Street, Oxford, Oxfordshire
    23rd - 31st May 2026
    A great to experience Oxford with 18 bus stops to hop on and off at, entry to the Carfax Tower to enjoy views of Oxford and a 45 minute walking tour.
  • The Queens Joust, Leeds Castle, Maidstone, Kent
    23rd - 25th May 2026
    Exhilarating display of combat and action and medieval living and feasting this May bank holiday
  • Eton Arts Week, Eton, Berkshire (F)
    23rd - 31st May 2026
    With the launch event En Plein Air Eton on the 23rd, the Eton Art Trail showcasing local artists, talks, workshops and family activities to enjoy.
  • May Half Term Activities, Cutty Sark, Royal Museums Greenwich, Greenwich, London
    23rd May - 31st May 2026
    Hands on craft workshops themed around stars and navigation, historical characters to meet and a family trail to follow around the ship.
  • Birds of Prey Weekend, Bekonscot Model Village and Railway, Warwick Road, Beaconsfield, Buckinghamshire
    24th - 25th May 2026
    See birds of prey up close, the brand new NFTS 1930s circus themed model exhibition and enjoy the chance to explore the oldest original model village in the world. 
  • The Napoleonic Experience, Chiltern Open Air Museum, Newland Park, Gorelands Lane, Chalfont St Giles, Buckinghamshire
    24th  - 25th May 2026
    Epic arena battles and encampments with over 150 re-enactors, cannons and weaponry, bringing history to live and the chance to meet Jason Salkey from TV show Sharpe.
  • Mystical Magical May Half Term, Rare Breeds Centre, Highlands Farm, Woodchurch, Ashford, Kent
    25th May - 29th May 2026
    Follow the mystical trail, try your hand at spell writing, explore the farm and meet the enchanting themed characters as they wander around the farm
  • Steam Days, Didcot Railway Centre, Didcot, Oxfordshire
    30th - 31st May 2026
    Unlimited steam rides, get hands on in the signalling centre, explore the 1932 engine shed, let of some steam in the outdoor adventure park 
  • Sportive Cycle Ride, Hook Norton Brewery, Brewery Lane, Hook Norton, Oxfordshire
    31st May 2026
    Fantastic cycle ride through the Oxfordshire countryside with two distances available and full support provided - 39 miles or 60 miles

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. Head over to the newsletter archive and YouTube channel to discover some of the great places to visit in South East England. The month of May generally brings brighter and longer days, more consistent weather and sees a host of music events and food festivals, outdoor trails and evening events added to the what's on calendar, keeping everybody thoroughly entertained.

When is the May half-term Holiday 2026?

May half term in South East England runs from late May to early June and includes the Spring Bank Holiday Monday, making it ideal for short breaks and family days out.

Is May half-term the same across all the South East counties?

Yes, this May half term all of the counties are running the same holidays from Saturday 23rd May to Sunday 31st May 2026, which includes the Spring Bank Holiday on Monday 25th May 2026. This is the second bank holiday Monday in the UK in May.

Half-term activities near me 

Find over a hundred events across Hampshire, the Isle of Wight, Sussex, Kent, Surrey, Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire, this May Half Term and Bank holiday weekend.

May Half Term Events and Activities

Number of results:

Number of results: 118

, currently showing 1 to 20.

  1. Forest Play

    Type

    Type:

    Childrens Events

    Wexham

    Play your way through nature at Black Park!

    Join us at Black Pines Camp for Forest Play! Children can play and explore through activities like the mud kitchen, games, sand pit, bug hunting, water play, balancing and more. Outdoor play is proven to…

    Dates

    From:
    24 Apr 2026to23 Apr 2027Open 13:00 - 14:00
  2. Active Reality Henley

    Type

    Type:

    Childrens Events

    Gillott's Lane, Henley-on-Thames

    Active Reality delivers immersive, adventure-driven VR experiences for all ages, designed to bring people together through fun, memorable, and engaging gameplay. With a focus on social connection and light physical activity, Active Reality…

    Dates

    From:
    24 Sept 2025to24 Sept 2026Open 15:00 - 20:00
  3. Curious About Guildford

    Type

    Type:

    Walking

    Millmead, Guildford

    (Re)Discover Guildford with two lively treasure‑hunt walks packed with clues, surprises and “I’ve never noticed that!” moments.

    Dates

    From:
    1 Jan 2026to31 Dec 2026
  4. Half Term at The Sculpture Park

    Type

    Type:

    Gardens

    Churt, Farnham

    Enjoy art in nature - suitable for all ages.
    Wander through stunning sculptures hidden amongst beautiful woodland, lakes and winding trails. The perfect mix of fresh air, inspiration and adventure.
    Whether you're bringing family, friends or…

    Dates

    From:
    23 May 2026to31 May 2026Open 10:00 - 17:00
  5. Dinosaur Madness

    Type

    Type:

    Childrens Events

    Binsted

    Experience dinosaurs like never before with our roaming T. rex, baby dino meet-and-greets, and thrilling live shows. Take the dinosaur trail around the Park and discover all the fun facts about these prehistoric creatures, you never know what you…

    Dates

    From:
    23 May 2026to31 May 2026
  6. Curious About Marlow

    Type

    Type:

    Walking

    West Street, Marlow

    Have fun (re)discovering Marlow with two quirky treasure‑hunt walks that get you spotting things you’ve never noticed before. It’s a fresh‑air adventure that’s fun, affordable, and perfect for all ages.

    Dates

    From:
    1 Jan 2026to31 Dec 2026
  7. Wine & Pairings 9 Course Gourmand Tasting Menu

    Type

    Type:

    Food

    Wickham, Fareham

    Set within the serene embrace of Quob Park Estate’s 180-acre vineyard, Wine & Pairings offers a dining experience as breathtaking as its surroundings. Following our Estate-To-Glass-&-Plate ethos, Michelin-trained chefs craft seasonal, innovative…

    Venue

    Quob Park Estate, Fareham

    Dates

    From:
    22 Apr 2025to28 June 2026Various Opening Times
  8. Atonement

    Type

    Type:

    Theatre

    Chichester

    On an English country estate during the blazing summer of 1935, 13 year-old Briony Tallis witnesses a passionate scene between her elder sister Cecilia and the son of their housekeeper, Robbie. In a disastrous desire for drama but only a dim…

    Venue

    Chichester Festival Theatre, Chichester

    Dates

    From:
    29 May 2026to20 June 2026
  9. Curious About Rochester

    Type

    Type:

    Walking

    High Street, Rochester

    Rediscover Rochester with two lively treasure‑hunt walks packed with clues, surprises and “I’ve never noticed that!” moments.
    Fun, affordable and perfect for all ages.

    Dates

    From:
    1 Jan 2026to31 Dec 2026Open 09:00 - 18:00
  10. The Tree Listening Project

    Type

    Type:

    Walking

    Aylesbury

    Using advanced acoustic technology, we are able to amplify the natural sounds of trees. Join us as we listen to these hidden noises and discover what happens behind the bark.

    Whilst listening to the headphones hanging from the tree's branches you…

    Dates

    From:
    1 May 2026to31 May 2026Open 10:00 - 17:00
  11. Summer Bandstand Concerts

    Type

    Type:

    Free Event

    Folkestone

    The historic Leas Bandstand in Folkestone welcomes a series of summer bandstand concerts, ranging from tribute acts to brass bands, country and western to sea shanties. 

    Dates

    From:
    31 May 2026Open 11:00 - 17:00
  12. Summer Half Term Opening

    Type

    Type:

    Outdoor Event / Activities

    Newchapel, Lingfield

    There's no better place to meet Britain's wonderful wildlife than the British Wildlife Centre. The Centre will be opening its doors for the summer half term, from Sat 23 May to Sun 31 May. Home to the UK's finest collection of native wild species,…

    Venue

    British Wildlife Centre, Tandridge

    Dates

    From:
    23 May 2026to31 May 2026Open 10:00 - 17:00
  13. Oxford Sightseeing Bus Tour & Top Attractions Combo

    Type

    Type:

    Tour

    Oxford

    Explore the best of Oxford with a combined ticket from City Sightseeing Oxford, including a hop-on hop-off bus tour and entry to some of the city’s top attractions. Perfect for a day out in Oxford, this bundle offers a convenient way to discover…

    Venue

    City Sightseeing Oxford, Oxfordshire

    Dates

    From:
    28 May 2026to30 Sept 2026
  14. Haroun Hayward: Path Through Trees

    Type

    Type:

    Exhibitions

    Chichester

    This exhibition will mark Haroun Hayward's (b. 1983) first solo
    institutional show. Hayward will present a new body of work,
    created in dialogue with artworks in Pallant House Gallery's
    collection by Wilhelmina Barns-Graham, Paul Nash,…

    Venue

    Pallant House Gallery, Chichester

    Dates

    From:
    30 May 2026to1 Nov 2026
  15. Beach Life Music Festival

    Type

    Type:

    Free Event

    Eastbourne

    Beach Life returns this summer to a new venue at Eastbourne's iconic Bandstand, with non-stop live music, street food, stalls and entertainment. 

    Dates

    From:
    30 May 2026to31 May 2026
  16. Marvellous LEGO® Menagerie

    Type

    Type:

    Childrens Events

    Great Missenden

    From 10am to 4.30pm.

    Drop in to our pop-up LEGO® making room and create your own marvellous animal.

    You can follow guides to make a chicken, fox or badger. Or simply use the LEGO to create your own awesome animal. Once you're done, break it all up…

    Dates

    From:
    23 May 2026to31 May 2026Open 10:00 - 16:30
  17. Art in Nature

    Type

    Type:

    Arts

    Waddesdon

    Land and nature-based artists from across the world will once again be encouraging everyone, young and old, to release their inner artist and get creative with foraged natural materials from around the grounds. Get hands-on with large scale…

    Dates

    From:
    23 May 2026to31 May 2026Open 10:00 - 17:00
  18. Tractor Time

    Type

    Type:

    Show / Display

    Totton, Southampton

    If you are looking for an extra reason to visit Longdown Activity Farm, Hampshire then Tractor Time is it!  As well as the usual schedule of animal activities that run throughout the day on 30th - 31st May 26, visitors will be able to explore a…

    Venue

    Longdown Activity Farm, Southampton

    Dates

    From:
    30 May 2026to31 May 2026
  19. Wire Flower Making

    Type

    Type:

    Arts

    West Sussex

    Unwind, create, and explore the delicate beauty of wire flower art.

    In this 2-hour workshop, you'll be guided step by step through the enchanting process of crafting beautiful, everlasting flowers and leaves from metal wire.

    You'll begin by…

    Venue

    Leonardslee Gardens, Horsham

    Dates

    From:
    31 May 2026Open 10:30 - 12:30
  20. MAY HALF TERM AND BANK HOLIDAY BOAT HIRE

    Type

    Type:

    Outdoor Event / Activities

    BRANDY ISLAND, BUSCOT

    This half term Cotswold Boat Hire are open from 9am until 5pm every day so you can escape for a countryside adventure on the beautiful rural Upper Thames.
    From an hour to overnight electric powered self drive boats offer a chance to get away from it…

    Dates

    From:
    22 May 2026to31 May 2026Open 08:00 - 17:00