19 May 2015
May Half Term
The Treasure Houses of England
The Treasure Houses of England, a series of fine stately homes, castles and palaces, have a wealth of activities to keep all the family amused throughout the May half term. Welcome the summer with the finest visitor experiences in England.
Enjoy playing Beaulieu's Giant Games in the grounds. Balance blocks in a towering Jenga game, get tactical with giant size Chess and Noughts and Crosses and test out your logic skills with larger than life Connect Four. Budding young drivers can take to the track on the Mini Car Driving Circuit, or get active on Dipstick's Mini Motor Play Trail with its Veteran Bus climbing frame, swings and Little Tykes ride-on cars. In Palace House the costumed guides will reveal what life was really like in a Victorian country house. In a new feature, Medieval May, running from 28th – 31st May, find out about life in the Middle Ages. Listen to a Beaulieu Abbey costumed monk recount what life was like for the monks who lived in the Abbey during the 13th & 14th centuries. See falconry demonstrations in the Abbey Cloister and in the Nave learn about the life of a soldier in medieval times and watch demonstrations of bowmanship by the Beaulieu Bowmen.
Families will love Blenheim Palace's first Food Festival 23 – 25 May. Watch cookery demos, enjoy children's workshops, guided foraging, and visit stalls selling delicious Oxfordshire artisan produce. Aspiring chefs of all ages can look forward to learning from local cookery schools and chefs as well as talks and workshops delivered across the three days. Aiming to entertain, educate and fill up the whole family, the three-day feast of food and drink will showcase the best in local and regional produce.
The Living Heritage Game and Country Fair is at Burghley from 24 – 25th May. Enjoy a whole host of country attractions and entertainment. The Falconry Village includes a flying arena as well as some resident falconers. Equestrian demonstrations will take place as well as scurry racing and mounted games.
Enjoy a Magical Masterclass at Castle Howard from 28 – 29th May. Discover the secrets of the magic circle as WonderPhil mesmerizes and amazes before passing on the wand for children to have a go themselves. Inside a magical room of potions and illusions, children will learn tricks to surprise and delight their friends as well as taking home their very own wand.
Chatsworth is incredibly family friendly this May Half Term. Join in the Wild West themed fun on the trailer ride, dare to handle the spiders and snakes, take a shot in Tin Can Alley, let off steam in the adventure playground and meet all the animals in our farmyard.
The Great British Food Festival is back at Harewood, 23 – 25th May. Find 80 top local and artisan producers, a big serving of stunning hot food, a dash of real ale and wine bars, kids cookery lessons and lots of children's activities, top chef demos a cake competition and the popular Men vs Food. There will be lashings of excellent live music making a lovely foodie family day out.
A visit to the exciting Bloody Hollow adventure play area at Hatfield House is a must this half term. With its 2.5 metre high model of Hatfield House dominating the central area, Bloody Hollow has a great range of play items for all ages of children ranging from a rope bridge, aerial runway and tree house, plus all the favourites such as swings, springies and a see-saw. On 23 May try the Adventure 001! Take a VIP helicopter flight from the grounds, soaring to new heights, before you take a wander around the house itself.
Enjoy a weekend of outdoor cinema at Holkham Hall from 23 -24th May watching Mamma Mia and Top Gun in the Walled Gardens. For more family-friendly fun try the Park Discovery Days – Pond Dipping 26th & 28th May. Join the education team in Holkham park for some hands on, fun activities exploring the wildlife you can find here. Fancy a dip? Have a go at pond dipping and discover what lies beneath the water in Holkham lake.
Young squires and fair maidens are invited to the 'Knights' Challenge for Children' at Leeds Castle this May Half Term. From 23 – 25th May find a special Knight's and Princess trail running with a chocolate prize; then from 26 – 31st May join in with daily medieval challenges. From junior jousting to designing your own royal shield; courtly dancing to a re-enactment of the Battle of Agincourt! Feel how heavy a real knight's armour would have been, with the chance to dress up and try on chainmail, gauntlets, breastplates and helmets!
With so many gardens to explore at Woburn Abbey you'd better pack up a picnic! With a Bog Garden, Chinese Dairy, Children's Garden, Rockery, Kitchen Garden, Camellia House, and a Hornbeam Maze, there's something to keep everyone happy at Woburn this May Half Term.
