Hampshire Top Attractions Blog: Things to do this May half term!

As May fast approaches you’ll be starting to think about how you can make the most out of those bank holidays and half term week!

Below you’ll find some great things to do in half term and throughout May, right here in Hampshire!

British Touring Car Championships at Thruxton

Thruxton look forward to the first of two big race meetings on Sat 7 – Sun 8 May. It’s the British Touring Car Championship! Event info and ticket sales on their website. As always, Children 15 and under go free!
Birdworld join in with Love Your Zoo Week from Tuesday 31st May – Friday 3rd June! Throughout the period they will be holding additional tours and demonstrations in all of their animal departments plus topical trails and arts and crafts. Please visit their website for more information.
Beaulieu will be running their Half-Term Holiday Fun activities over the May Half Term. You can find all the details here on their website.
New Forest Activities offer a great selection of family activities, from Archery, Battlefield LIVE, Canoeing and Family Adventure Days! There’s something for everyone to enjoy throughout May. Find out more.
Bombay Sapphire Distillery

Bombay Sapphire Distillery allow you to explore the Bombay Sapphire Distillery on your own terms, in your own time this May half term. The Self-Discovery Experience showcases the very best of Bombay Sapphire gin and their beautiful, historic distillery. Take in the crystal clear water and beautiful natural surroundings as you walk along the River Test. Step back in time to uncover the fascinating history behind Laverstoke Mill in the Heritage Room. Discover the ten exotic botanicals in Bombay Sapphire gin in the Glasshouses and Botanical Dry Room and then join the hosts as they take you behind the scenes of the unique Vapour Infusion distillation process in the Dakin Still House. Immerse yourself in the history of gin and Bombay Sapphire in the Gin Academy, then your experience culminates in The Mill Bar. Every guest receives a drink on the housee in the Mill Bar alongside the beautiful River Test. Find out more.
Paultons Park! New for 2016 at Paultons Family Theme Park and opening 17th May is an amazing new Dinosaur Theme Park World, Lost Kingdom. Younger explorers will be able to enjoy iconic views across Lost Kingdom on Temple Heights, choose between riding in a huge dinosaur egg or giant stone on the swirling Boulder-Dash, ride the cute mini-coaster, Dino Chase and let off steam at the Little Explorers’ Play Park. Discover Lost Kingdom and experience a journey to a lost land that will never be forgotten. Find out more.
Paultons Park, Lost Kingdom

Gilbert White & The Oates Collections celebrate the legacy of pioneering naturalist Gilbert White with a fantastic family day of activities and fun! Gilbert White & The Oates Collections, in Selborne, Hampshire, will be joined by nature and conservation organisations from all over the country, including the RSPB and the Wildlife Trust, plus many more organisations who work in the fields of biodiversity, conservation and climate change. Various family friendly activities will run all day, for us to learn more about the importance of the natural world around us and what we can do to protect it. Find out more.
Longdown Activity Farm on the 3rd June enjoy lots of madcap humour and magical mayhem with one of the UK’s top family entertainers Silly Scott. During the day Silly Scott will be performing two completely different award- winning family magic shows jam-packed full of comedy magic with guaranteed belly laughs for the whole family. Silly Scott will also be balloon twisting between his shows, and can make some fantastic creations! Find out more.
Rock Up, Whiteley.

Rock Up highlight it is important to book climbing sessions in advance of the school holidays to avoid disappointment. Each session is restricted to 30 climbers and the sessions tend to fill up in the holidays and at weekends. Book now!
Marwell welcome you over summer half term for all things tiger striped! Meet and discover more about Marwell’s Amur tigers, Milla and Bagai, at their new tiger talk. Learn how they spend their days, what their favourite foods are and how tigers survive in the wild. Look totally roarsome with their fantastic face painting and meet Taj the Tiger – their friendly costume character! Take part in their purrrrfect tiger themed trail around the park and pick up your FREE sticker to take home from the info hut. Find out more.
Dinosaur Isle will be open seven days a week, from 10am to 6pm with last admissions at 5pm. Their school room will be open from Friday 27th of May to Sunday 5th of June for painting and drawing, and soft dinosaur toys for the younger kids to play with. In addition we will be running a number of guided public fossil walks at various locations around the Islands southern coastline from Friday 27thMay to Saturday 4th June. Our local beach is within walking distance at Yaverland, but we will also be leading a few walks at Shanklin (about two miles away) and at Brook (near Freshwater) to provide some extra choice. Fossil walks are dependent on tides so the times for the walks vary throughout the half-term. These walks are very popular and book up quickly during the week so please call us on (01983) 404344 to book and pay for a place before they fill-up. Find out more.
Silly Scott, Longdown Activity Farm

Hollycombe is a sea of bluebells in early May – the gentle scent of the bluebells combined with the steam from the engines is quite intoxicating! Come along and see ‘Steam in Miniature’ at Hollycombe on 8th and 9th May – don’t forget that the purchase of a ticket entitles holder to unlimited return visits to Hollycombe for one year! Find out more.
SeaCity: Maritime Archaeology Activities (All ages)Tues 31 May / SeaCity Grand Hall 10am-5pm / Admission to the museum applies but activity is free of charge / Drop-In. Discover the hidden secrets of maritime archaeology with the museum’s hands-on activities. Look and touch real artefacts from shipwrecks. Have a go with the mini-airlifts, the mini-ROV and the scuba diver kit. Find out more.
Tudor House Museum Fairytale Castles (Age 6yrs+) Fri 3 June / Tudor House Education Room / 10am-1pm / £8 / Pre-book. Create your own castle out of card and then decorate them in the style of your favourite fairytale character! Fancy dress is very much encouraged! Find out more.
Hawk Conservancy Trust invite you for a full day of family activities with a new raptor trail for intrepid explorers who want to hunt for answers, pictures and stamps. Find out more.