What's On In Cheltenham: May Half Term Guide
Things are really hotting up here in Cheltenham, in more ways than one! The summer sun may be sizzling in town, but before you pack those buckets and beach towels for a trip to sandy shores - why not pause for a Pimms (or a Robinsons Fruit Shoot) to swot up on our half term activity guide? There's so much in store for kids this half term, you can't get a more action-packed stay-cation than Cheltenham.
Saturday 26th May
The Whitsun Craft Fair offers the chance to pick up an unusual find - totally an excuse for a spot of retail therapy! A host of stalls are selling some beautiful gifts, including home produce, bespoke Jewellery, cakes, handmade crafts, cards and candles and hand-sewn dolls, mice and bags! From 2pm - 4pm, Find out more.
Yard Sale at the Bottle Of Sauce returns... Cheltenham's fabulously funky monthly pub shopping event offers and eclectic selection of bric-a-brac, whatnots, curiosities and knick-knacks. Fuel up on artisan coffee, splendiferous cakes and pastries, breakfast baps, Event from 10am - 4pm, free entry, with kids and dogs welcome. Find out more.
The Colour Club creative family sessions are aimed at ages 2-8 and their grown-ups. It aims to be the most fun hour of your week spent together. Listen along to storytime and make artwork together, inspired by the themes and images. The theme this Saturday is The Tiger Who Came To Tea! The session will take place at the School House Cafe this Saturday from 10:30am - 11:30am and costs £5 per child (£3.50 for siblings). Find out more.
It’s your chance to celebrate Elmer The Elephant at Charlton Kings library throughout half term. Drop in at any time over half term and enjoy Elmer themed crafts, search for Elmer and his friends hidden in the library and choose some Elmer books to take home! Dressing in your favourite bright colours is encouraged! From 9:30am - 3pm Saturday and from Tuesday - Friday. Find out more.
Sunday 27th May
Play Farm Cheltenham, hold sessions especially for children with autism every fortnight. Understanding that children with autism can be overwhelmed by noise, light and sometimes boisterous behaviour of other children, the team are offering a one-hour window before opening to the rest of the public for play. From 9am - 10am, £5 per family of 2 adults, 2 children. Find out more.
Time for an ancient bake-off! Fancy learning how bake, Victorian style? Learn how to make drop scones on a working Victorian range cooker with Holst Birthplace Museum’s Laura Kinnear in this special workshop this Sunday. The workshop is free however pre-booking is advised. From 10am - 12pm and 12:30pm - 2:30pm. Find out more.
RNLI Fun Day Sunday at Croft Farm Waterpark (Tewkesbury) offers family-friendly fun in the sun, with the Great Wellie Walk around the lake with Stormy Stan, various stalls, games, dancers, Shanty singers including the famous 'Barnacle Buoys', a fabulous puppet show, model boats, fire rescue, RNLI Education. Sign up from 10am for Races On The Water at the sports centre, all children must be accompanied by an adult. Find out more.
Lou Lou’s Vintage Fair is a one-stop-shop for all things, 50’s, 60’s, 70’s and beyond! The UK’s ‘best vintage fair’ returns to Cheltenham Town Hall this Sunday. Find unique, handpicked quality goods with stalls of vintage fashion, accessories, home, collectables and more from some of the UK's finest vintage traders. From 11am - 4pm, £2.50 on the door, under 12's free. Find out more.
Take it easy this Sunday evening and rock up to The Alfresco Film Company screening of Ferris Bueller’s Day Off! This coming-of-age classic will be shown on the stunning top lawn overlooking the beautiful lake and gardens at Cowley Manor. Only suitable for older children and grown ups, parental discretion is advised. Find out more.
All Weekend
The Bell Festival promises a fantastic weekend full of family fun! Bouncy castles for children, live music, great beer, house ales, a large selection of wines and a beautiful garden bar for the grown ups! From 2pm daily, free entry! Find out more.
The Wheatsheaf Cider and Beer Festival isn’t just for grown ups. Set to be their biggest festival yet, expect 24 guest beers, 14 guest ciders, a BBQ all weekend, LOADS of live music, children’s entertainment including The Music Man, a Punch & Judy show AND a bouncy castle! From 11am - 11pm daily. Find out more.
All Week
Cineworld Movies For Juniors has a fantastic line up in store for little ones, showing a child-friendly selection from Friday 25th - Thursday 31st, including Duck Duck Goose, Peter Rabbit and The Greatest Showman. (Next weekend's films TBC) Munchboxes are available to buy which include popcorn, a soft drink (Fruit Shoot), and Magic Stars or raisins. Tickets cost around £3 and pre-booking is recommended. Find out more.
Cheltenham Science Centre is open Tuesday - Saturday during half term, and offers fun, exciting and educational activities best suited to ages 4 upwards. Admission is just £2 per person and nearby parking is 30p per hour. Find out more
Explore Crickley Hill whilst looking for the various nature questions hidden amongst the trails and trees - it’s the 30 Days Wild Nature Quiz! This quiz forms part of the Wildlife Trusts' '30 Days Wild’ campaign, encouraging everyone to do something wild every day in June. Can you take on the challenge? Come along from open from 8am - 6pm, where there will be an instruction sheet for you to follow. The cost of the activities ranges from £1 to £3 per child. Find out more.
Escape the heat (or the rain?) with a round of indoor golf at Mr Mulligan's Lost World Golf in the Brewery Quarter. Play 18 or 36 holes amongst Neptunes Mist or Canopy Creek and after working up an appetite (it is a sport you know), pop to the restaurant for some top-notch nosh or one of 10 flavours of ice cream. Nom. Pre-booking golf is advised. View prices, opening times and book online here.
Take a walk on the wild side at Cotswold Farm Park Nature Week! Celebrate and explore nature, with fun activities and demonstrations for everyone to enjoy! Join the expert Nature Ranger who will take you on a journey of discovery to explore nature around the Conservation area and Woodland Walk. Try out pond dipping and get to know some underwater creatures and critters. From Saturday 26th May until Sunday 3rd June, 10:30am - 5pm daily. Find out more.
Fun on the Play Farm with special half term activities, including two live shows from The Music Man on Tuesday 29th, balloon modelling and a magician on Wednesday 30th, morning messy play (partnering with 143 Sensory) and afternoon face painting on Thursday 31st, and a disco and party games on Friday 1st! Messy Play Tickets £7.50 per child and £5.50 for siblings, INCLUDING full access to our Soft-Play centre! Find out more.
If you're looking for an alternative place to dine with added family fun, check out Smokey Joe's on Bennington Street. An American diner with free-to-play arcade games, funky foods, board games, milkshakes and their epic unicorn hot chocolate. 10% off with a Cineworld ticket. Find out more
Bank Holiday Monday 28th May
Fancy getting creative? Join the Hobbycraft Kids Craft Club team in store for a free workshop, offering young crafters (ages 5+) the opportunity to make their very own floral felt brooch! Workshops at 1pm & 2:30pm, pre-booking essential. Find out more.
It's the Suffolks Street Fair on Monday with entertainment, stalls, street food and Elvis! (Uuh-huh). This is always a wonderful event with a great atmosphere. Find out more
Pop in for a spot of lunch at 131 this Bank Holiday Monday, where children can get involved with face painting and balloon sculpting, while parents can sit back and relax! From 12pm - 3pm. Find out more.
Tuesday 29th May
Celebrate Elmer The Elephant at Prestbury Library - better late than never! Come and belatedly celebrate Elmer Day, take part in Elmer themed crafts, find Elmer and friends hidden in the library, do some colouring-in and choose some Elmer books to take home! Come along dressed in your favourite bright colours, there’s no need to book and nothing to pay! From 10:30am - 11:30am. Find out more.
The Wizards & Wands Workshop at Smokey Joe's is perfect for all aspiring wizards! In this magical school of Wizardry you will be entertained by talented magicians and decorate your own wand. Drink Unicorn Hot chocolate or Butter Beer and enjoy a magically inspired cake! All included in the £10 ticket price, suitable for ages 6+, from 4pm - 6pm. Find out more. Friday workshop also available - more information here.
Wednesday 30th May
If you’re popping out for a coffee? Wacky Wednesday at Aquavitae is for you! Children decorate their very own gingerbread man for free, with any adult who buys a coffee and a cake between 9am - 11am. Find out more.
Join the Head Chef of No 38 The Park, James Gordon for this special Children’s Cooking Workshop. Learn how to make your own delicious pizza and fruit filled muffins from scratch! 2pm, £12 per child. Find out more.
Shiver me timbers! Sudeley Castle May Children's Wednesday will be fun-fun-fun! Pirate Children’s Wednesday and pirate fancy dress is the order of the day – or else you’ll be forced to walk the plank! Set sail with Captain Barnacle on his hilarious pirate pantomime show, board the Jolly Roger pirate ship bouncy castle, have a go at some arts and crafts and much more! From 10am, usual admission rates apply. Find out more.
Get to grips with the outdoors at Cotswold Farm Park, with the special Cotswold Adventures Bushcraft one day course, perfect for families and friends! You’ll be surrounded by beautiful rolling hills in the private woodland and bush camp, where you will learn foraging, shelter building, game preparation, fire-lighting session and natural navigation. Suitable for ages 8+, from 10am - 4:30pm. Find out more.
The ‘edu-fun’ continues at The Rock! Drum for the stars, take part in a fashion parade, and dance to African, Samba and Soukous beats! Sing in many languages, design, paint and play! There’s also the opportunity to take to the stage with Edufun at the Festival of Stars on Saturday 16th June. Wednesday 30th & Thursday 31st May from 10am - 12pm, free! Find out more.
Thursday 31st May
Have some Half term Iron Age Fun at Crickley Hill! Go back in time and learn how our Iron Age ancestors made their hill their home, storm the Iron Age hill fort, build a wattle and daub panel, and more! Suitable for 5+ years, dogs on lead welcome. From 10:30am - 12:30pm, tickets £10, pre-booking is advised. Find out more.
‘Explore Learning: A Squire's Journey Into Knighthood’ is a free grammar workshop for children aged 5-6. After all, it’s never too soon to learn how to cross the t’s and dot the i’s! From 11:30am - 12:30pm. Find out more.
Friday 1st June
Escape Rooms Cheltenham is going to be popping up at the Hesters Way Lunch at the Baptist Church this Friday of half term. The team will be running a mini version of the June & July Experiment Extravaganza. Bring your kids, enjoy a great lunch and have fun! From 12:30pm - 3:30pm. Find out more.
Time for Family Fun Friday at Wardens Wood Bushcraft! Wellies on, let's go and explore Warden's Wood, an often forgotten about part of Cleeve Common. Come along for an afternoon of bushcraft and nature exploration, see if you can survive in the wilds with your family by identifying trees from their leaves, building a den and toasting marshmallows on a campfire! Feel free to bring a picnic or refreshments to enjoy around the campfire too. Suitable for children aged 5 years and over and pre-booking is essential, 2pm start until 4pm. Find out more.
AquaVitae Daytime fun continues with Fantastic Friday. Children can take part in arts and crafts free of charge with any paying adult has coffee and cake! What's not to like about that?! From 9am - 11am. Find out more.
Saturday 2nd June
Love hot chillies and think you have eaten the very hottest? The second Cheltenham Street Chilli Fiesta is here, the family street fiesta with a difference... Up to 15 chilli producers will have stalls in Cambray Place on Saturday, as well as a huge range of chillies, there will be chilli sauces, chilli cheeses, chilli olives, a chilli BBQ and even a chilli artist and a chilli eating contest. The hottest chilli eating contest will be open to adults. From 10am - 5pm, free! Find out more.
Fancy some free music?! With a number of performances and workshops for the whole family to enjoy at the Big Local Community Music Festival, we've got the perfect day out for you. Choirs, local musicians and groups are set to perform at the Gas Green festival and it's all free. Come along to the Community Centre (Baker Street) on Saturday, from 11am - 5pm. Find out more.
Sunday 3rd June
Community fun for all the family at Pilley Bridge Nature Reserve on Sunday. Travel back in time to 1881 with traditional train rides. Try your hand at circus skills. Picnic with home made cakes and old fashioned drinks. Exhibitions, re-enactments and raffle. If you feel brave come dressed for the times '1881 - 1918' - prizes for the best dressed. From 2pm - 4pm, free! Find out more.
Phew, that's just some of the activities lined-up for families in Cheltenham over May Half Term. To search a specific day, or browse all activities, check Cheltenham Rocks. Check back regularly for new events and family activities we add more daily - we hope your half term rocks!
