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Out & About May Half-term 2025
#1 · May 11, 2025, 2:25 pm
Celebrate with Thomas the Tank Engine at The Watercress Line this May half-term.
All aboard! Don’t miss out on a very special party at The Watercress Line in Hampshire when everyone’s favourite #1 blue engine, Thomas the Tank Engine, celebrates 80 years of Thomas & Friends!
Day Out With Thomas:
The Party Tour will be visiting The Watercress Line this May half-term (24 May – 1 June) and families are invited to climb aboard for a trainload of fun.
This year’s event will be packed with railway fun, exciting shows and a Party Zone with Thomas-themed games, decorations, and activities for young fans.
Sodor Station Sweepers Rusty & Dusty return with two brand new outdoor shows featuring Sir Topham Hatt, Percy, Diesel, and Toad.
Young visitors and their families can also enjoy Meet-and-Greet opportunities with Sir Topham Hatt and Rusty & Dusty and have their photos taken with Percy, Diesel, Trevor and Terence.
All visitors can ride behind Thomas the Tank Engine, a REAL steam engine (pre-bookable) and enjoy unlimited travel on The Watercress Line’s heritage trains between Ropley and Alton.
In addition, there will be Thomas & Friends themed storytime sessions and play zones, Thomas & Friends giveaways for every child, fairground ride fun, and exciting rides on the delightful miniature railway. Refreshments will be available at Ropley’s T-Junction and food and drink stalls.
For more information and to purchase tickets, please visit
London Museum Docklands.
Booking recommended Reduce, reuse and recycle this May half term at London Museum Docklands.
Transform rubbish into works of art, take part in a litter pick along the foreshore, join a storytelling session with the author of JoJo & Gran Gran and clean up a role-play city made for little Londoners.
28 May and 25 June 2025 | 10.30am – 3pm and 10.30am – 2pm | Under 5s
All year | 10am-4pm | Paid advanced booking from £3 | Under 8s
Walks & tours:
7-30 May 2025 | 1.30-2.15pm | Tickets from £8 | All ages
11 – 31 May 2025 | 2-3.15pm | Tickets from £10 | All ages
24 May 2025 | 10.30-11.30am | Ticketed from £8 | Families
27 May and 30 May 2025 | 10.30-11.30am | Ticketed from £8 | Families
Great Fire of London family walk
24 May 2025 | 10.30-11.30am | Ticketed from £8 | Families
http://www.londonmuseum.org.uk
Le Petit Cordon Bleu – Parent & Child Cooking Workshops at CORD by Le Cordon Bleu
Le Petit Cordon Bleu is a charming series of interactive cookery workshops designed for children aged 8 to 12 years, accompanied by a parent or guardian.
Hosted at CORD by Le Cordon Bleu, the culinary institute’s flagship restaurant and cookery school on Fleet Street, these three-hour sessions invite families to cook together in a relaxed and inspiring setting. Guided by a Le Cordon Bleu chef, children and parents will learn essential culinary skills, develop creativity, and enjoy quality time through food.
Some workshops include a specially prepared lunch at CORD, allowing families to extend their experience and enjoy a meal together after the session.
No previous cooking experience is needed – just enthusiasm and a love of learning something new together.
Workshop Details:3 hours; Children aged 8–12 (each child must be accompanied by one adult); CORD by Le Cordon Bleu, Fleet Street, London
Places are limited and advance booking is highly recommended.
Full details available here: Le Petit Cordon Bleu Children's Cooking Classes
Horniman Museum and Gardens
Visit our free galleries – the World Gallery, Music Gallery and Natural History Pop-up display in The Studio – no advance booking needed. Please note the Natural History Gallery and Nature Base are currently closed for redevelopment until 2026 as part of our Nature + Love project.
To book the Aquarium, Butterfly House and The Robot Zoo we encourage visitors including Members to book tickets in advance to guarantee entry, particularly during busy periods such as weekends and school holidays.
Mini Golf by UrbanCrazy
Saturday 24 May to Sunday 1 June, 10.30am to 5pm. Last entry 4.30pm
Tickets: Adult £7, Child £4.50, Family (2 adults + 2 children) £17.50. Wheelchair accessible.
Family Craft Saturdays
Saturdays 24 and 31 May, 2 to 4pm. Last entry 3.30pm
24 May – create your own little bumble bee and learn about the importance of these buzzy friends to celebrate World Bee Day.
31 May – for National Children’s Gardening Week, decorate little seedling pots and plant your own seeds.
Our Family Craft volunteers were Highly Commended in the Marsh Awards for Volunteers in Museum Learning 2023.
Free. Drop in. Suitable for ages 3+.
Eid Al-Adha Bazaar at the Horniman Market
Sunday 25 May, 10am–3pm Free entry.
Animal Robotics
Tuesday 27 May, 10am, 11.15am, 1.15pm, 2.30pm
Please note that your finished creation is not included in the ticket price. All materials are reused for future sessions.
Tickets: Child £15, includes one adult. Sessions last 60 minutes. Suitable for 5- to 8-year-olds. Children must be accompanied by an adult.
MiniJam Percussion Fun
Wednesday 28 May and Thursday 29 May, 11am, 12 noon, 1.30pm, 2.30pm
Tickets: Child £10, includes one adult. Sessions last 45 minutes. Suitable for under-5s. Children must be accompanied by an adult.
100 London Road, Forest Hill SE23 3PQ horniman.ac.uk
Raver Tots Kicks Off Summer Festival Tour at Mote Park in Kent on Bank Holiday Monday
Raver Tots, the UK’s award-winning family-friendly rave, is back with its biggest festival tour yet. Kicking off a summer of fun starting at Mote Park, Maidstone, on 26th May 2025 (Bank Holiday Monday).
The family-friendly day out like no other promises a full day of music, dancing and entertainment for all ages, with a huge line-up of legendary performances from Romeo, Lisa Maffia and Dan Da Man (So Solid Crew), General Levy, Artful Dodger, Matt Jam Lamont, The Wideboys, Mollie Collins, Charlotte Devaney, Nicky Blackmarket and many more, complete with confetti canons and that signature Raver Tots fun energy.
Attractions are also bigger and better than ever, with free funfair rides, giant inflatables, games, arts and crafts with Scola Kids and LYRA, face painting and glitter art, state of the art Raver Tots production and special effects show, as well as street food and a fully licensed bar for the grown-ups.
Saoirse Holland, Raver Tots Director, said: “We’re so excited to be kicking off our 2025 festival tour in Kent. We’ve pulled out all the stops to create an incredible experience for families – packed with music, energy and fun. Last year, every event sold out, and we’re expecting even bigger demand this year, so if you are coming, early purchase is strongly advised.”
Event Details:
Monday 26th May 2025 (Bank Holiday) 11am – 5pm Mote Park, Mote Avenue, Maidstone, Kent ME15 7SU: From £5 for babies, £20 for children, and £25 for adults
All music is played at child-safe sound levels. Raver Tots Festivals are a safe, high-vibe, inclusive space designed for kids to explore, play, and rave alongside their grownups.
Grab your tickets now at: https://www.ravertots.co.uk/event/raver-tots-outdoor-festival-kent-2025/