Summer Half-Term

Looking for fun things to do with the kids this Whitsun? Then check out our Summer Half-Term events for the whole family across Essex.

Click on each one for more details, or look at the Things to Do section for full half-term listings by area

BARKING AND DAGENHAM

Premier Sport Holiday Courses

• Football
• Gymnastics
• Multi-Sports
• PA Musical Theatre
• PA Dance
• PA Drama

 

Valence House

• Alive with history
• Archaeology explorer adventure
• Autism hour – Victorian explorer backpacks
• Make a kite
• Sand Art
• Victorian explorer backpacks
   

BASILDON

 

• Fun rides and lessons at pony pals club

 

South Essex Gymnastics Club

• Fun sessions

 

The Treehouse Club

• Holiday Camp: We offer a fantastically fun, action-packed holiday club programme of forestry, sports, creative games, team building and outdoor activities for ages 2-11 years old. We encourage children to climb trees, pond dip, build dens and make new friends along the way. Our holiday clubs are designed to offer an exciting place to play and try new things.

 

Towngate Theatre

BRAINTREE

Colne Valley Railway

• Meet Peter Rabbit: Peter Rabbit will be making appearances at intervals throughout the day.
• Operating Day: Heritage Diesel Railcar or Diesel hauled passenger trains.
• Operating Day with Steam: One or more Steam locomotives operating. This may also include Heritage Diesel Trains.

 

Empire Theatre

• Surf’s Up: This story follows a teenage rock hopper penguin named Cody Maverick from his hometown of Shiverpool, Antarctica, where all of the other penguins think he’s nothing but a surfing fool, to the “Big Z Memorial Surf Off” on Pen Gu Island.

 

Hedingham Castle

• Jousting! – Knights of Royal England: The ever exciting and popular Knights of Royal England return to Hedingham, recreate a classic Tourney in front of the Keep. An awesome spectacle of chivalry, hand to hand combat, mounted challenges and dark deeds! Surrounding it all will be a bustling arena with craft stalls, a range of food and a host of entertainment!

 

Premier Sport Holiday Courses

• Football
• Gymnastics
• Multi-Sports
• PA Musical Theatre
• PA Dance
• PA Drama

 

TT Gymnastics Club

• Holiday Club: Structured session with a mixture of tramp & gym. Suitable for all abilities & sexes

 

Wyevale Garden Centres

• Create a Bird Buddy: Decorate and plant your own bird pot for your home.
• Feed the Birds: Make and decorate your own feeder to entice more birds into your garden.
• Flower Power Pot: Plant your own flower and decorate a pot and plant marker.
• Grow Your Own Mini Garden: Plant your own mini garden with giant flowers, bee hives and wild friends.
• Make a Bird Home: Decorate a cosy bird box for your garden birds.

BRENTWOOD

Academy of Sport

• Athletics Academy with Dean Macey

 

Barracudas

• Holiday Clubs: Exciting activity day camps for children during the school holidays. Children will take part in a wide variety of activities including sports, arts & crafts, mad science and much much more! Ofsted registered, Experienced CRB checked staff, Piece of mind for parents, Excellent Fun for kids!

 

Chelsea Soccer Schools

• Soccer School

 

Happy Child Soccer Fun

• Whitsun Soccer School

 

 Mega Camps

• Half-Term Camps: Mega Camps are dedicated to providing the best children’s camps for children aged 51/2 – 14. during the half term & School Holidays in the Essex area.

 

Thriftwood Scout Centre

• Chill Out – Holiday Club: Fantastic activities during the School Holiday Breaks

 

UK Football Camps

• Football Fun

 

Wild Forest

• Nuclear races Half term fun! Get off the tech and come and play in the real world!

 

Winger Sports Academy

• Multi-sports Camp: Lots of fun activities available including: Football, Dodgeball, Rounders, Cricket, Basketball, Street Futsal, Street Cricket, Street Ball, American Ball Tag, Urban Golf, Competition Day – Sporting Challenges and Inflatable Sports Day

CASTLE POINT

Camp Epic

• May Half-Term Camp: Wacky science, wet and wild, Fortnite days, sports and more

 

Hadleigh Park

• Archery Sessions
• Kite Making 
• Roundhouse Open Day 
• Space Day with Castle Point Astronomy Club

 

Revelation Art

• Buddy’s secret life: Join our pets inspired workshop to paint your own ceramic dog as well as craft
• Father’s Day workshop: Create your own Dad plaque as well as art and craft
• The Gruffalo paint and story: Come along to our Gruffalo themed workshop and take part in ceramic painting and messy play, followed by song/story time and bubble blowing.
• Pokejar workshop: Come along and make your own storage jar, as well as craft and biscuit decorating.

CHELMSFORD

 

Chelsea Soccer Schools

• Soccer School

 

David Lloyd Leisure

• Holiday Club

 

Dovedale Leisure Centre

• City Camps 
• Mini City Camps 

COLCHESTER

 

Abberton Reservoir

• Brambly Hedge: Poppy’s Babies: Meet the mice, listen to the story and complete a mousey craft to take home.
• Drop-in Water for Wildlife Trail: Why not stop by Abberton and complete the trail all about the animals that live on and inside Abberton Reservoir?
• Mad About Mammals: Look for clues on the reserve, play some games and complete some mammal crafts.
• Minibeasts & Kite Creations: Go on a minibeast hunt and then create your own flying minibeast kite.
• Needle Felting Workshop: Come along join our needle felting workshop.
• Weird & Wonderful Wildlife: Discover odd wildlife from the slimiest to the best builders before finding some yourself in the pond.
• Wildfest: Abberton Reservoir visitor centre will be hosting the first ever Wildfest, building on the fantastic Summer Wildlife & Country Fair held there for many years. Followed by the ultimate party…
• Wildlife Explorer Drop-off Day: Drop-off day for 5-11 year olds. Activities include pond dipping & bug hunting.

 

The Beth Chatto Gardens

• Brilliant Birds, Trees & Bumblebees – Garden Activity Day for Children: All about our beautiful feathered, furry and leafy garden friends! Go on a bumblebee safari, follow the migration trail, try tree art and paint a picture.
• Ponds and Flower Boxes – Garden Activity Morning for Children: Enjoy a morning pond dipping and discover all the busy summer creatures, then sow your own seedy egg box of flowers to take home and grow.

 

Barracudas

• Holiday Clubs: Exciting activity day camps for children during the school holidays. Children will take part in a wide variety of activities including sports, arts & crafts, mad science and much much more! Ofsted registered, Experienced CRB checked staff, Piece of mind for parents, Excellent Fun for kids!

 

Castle Park

• Hospital Radio Colchester Annual Family Fun Day: Family Fun Day with Arena events, Music, Charity stalls, Children’s rides, Craft stalls, refreshments and lots more. A fun day out for all the family! Among the attractions at this year’s event is a large main arena with entertainment throughout the day.

 

Circus Wonderland

• Circus Wonderland

 

Colchester Arts Centre

• What’s Coming out of the Box Presents Inside: “What was it like in mummy’s tummy?” Have you ever heard this question? Or tried to answer? We did and the result is ‘Inside’. Join us on an immersive journey from conception to birth and share a very special experience with your little one. ‘Inside’ is an intimate, interactive show, specifically devised for 1 – 4year olds, alongside their families.

 

Colchester Castle

• Planetarium At Colchester Castle: Climb inside our heavenly planetarium this half-term. See the constellations unfold before you, and hear about Roman beliefs linked to the stars. Join our craft activity tables to get creative.

 

Colchester Gymnastics Club

• Holiday Gymnastics

 

Schools Out Activities

• Holiday Camps: Year-round school holiday camps for children 4 – 16yrs

 

Colchester Zoo

• May Half term: With our daily encounters, animal feeds and fantastic indoor and outdoor play areas, Colchester Zoo is a great day out for all the family during May Half Term! As you walk around the zoo there are plenty of play areas to try out, including the indoor soft play area, Jungle Tumble, so the kids can release their wild side!

 

David Lloyd Leisure

• Holiday Club

 

East Anglian Railway Museum 

• Half-Term Diesel Days: Get yourselves down to the museum in half-term for unlimited rides on one of our classic diesel trains… Explore the vintage carriages and enormous Goods Shed and check out some grand old locomotives under restoration in the shed.
• Transport Extravaganza: Soak up the atmosphere and feast your eyes on some great classic cars, vintage motorbikes and modern head turners, we’ll have over one hundred classic vehicles at this great family day out.

 

Essex Outdoors

• May Half-Term Camp: Working in groups of around 10 young people, your child will have the opportunity to take part in up to four fun and challenging activities each day, ranging from archery, canoeing and climbing to mountain biking, high ropes and sailing.

 

Fingringhoe Wick

• Campfire Cooking: Learn to cook and then eat different treats.
• Den Building: Come and build a den in our woodland and then toast a marshmallow over a campfire.
• Dinosaur Trail: Find clues that lead us to a scientific dig site, dig up fossils and then make a dino craft to take home!
• Fingringhoe Nature Tots: Our weekly group for the under 5’s – Child led play in our lovely woodland.
• Forest School Drop Off Day: A day of child led fun on the reserve. Minibeast hunting, pond dipping, den building and more!
• Mad about Minibeasts: Explore the weird world of minibeasts!
• Make a Mini Pond: Make a mini pond to take home, all material supplied.
• Nature Tots: Come along to our lovely woodland for a morning of child-led play.
• Pond Dipping: Find out what lives in the depths of our ponds.

firstsite

• £6 Family Film | Missing Link: Hugh Jackman is Sir Lionel Frost: a brave and dashing adventurer who considers himself to be the world’s foremost investigator of myths and monsters. The trouble is, no one else seems to agree. He sees a chance to prove himself by traveling to America’s Pacific Northwest to discover the world’s most legendary creature. A living remnant of Man’s primitive ancestry. The Missing Link.
• Autism Friendly Screening – Peppa Pig Festival of Fun: Get ready for Peppa’s biggest celebration yet when the muddiest ever festival comes to cinema screens in 2019 to celebrate 15 years of Peppa Pig!

 

Fun 4 Kids Colchester

• Holiday Camp

 

Headgate Theatre

• Land of Nod: Where do we really go when we fall asleep? A story of tiredness, over-tiredness, wonder and waking up exploring the struggle of bed time and the bliss of finally falling into slumber. Blending puppetry, storytelling and an enchanting musical score, this star-lit adventure is designed for children aged 3 and over.

 

Hollytrees Museum

• Twinkle Twinkle Little Star: Come to Hollytrees Museum and have a luminous time learning about constellations and making your own star mobile – hear the little-known ending of Colchester’s famous nursery rhyme.

 

Leisure World Colchester

• Base Camp: A full day of action packed supervised activities for children in school years 7 – 11. Swimming in the Leisure Pool everyday with supervised trips including Belong (Game), Tenpin & Escape Rooms with lunch provided.
• Kids Camp: A full day of action packed supervised activities for children in school years 1 – 6. A range of activities including swimming as a core part of the day’s activities as well as themed arts and crafts sessions, trampoline coaching, dodgeball, badminton, short tennis, football games, indoor rounders and cricket, plus team building games and treasure hunts.

 

Madbounce Inflatables

• INFLATABLE FUN unlimited bounce for ages 3-13 years.

 

Marks Hall

• May Half Term – Bug Hotel Rebuild: Help us rebuild our Bug Hotel during May Half Term. Kids, we need your help! Our Bug Hotel here at Marks Hall is key for providing shelter for insects and encourages important pollinators to the Gardens & Arboretum and we need you to take part in this exciting project.

 

Natural History Museum

• Monster Mash-Up: Get crafty at the Natural History Museum and take inspiration from mythical creatures and the Medieval bestiary. Create your own monster in this free craft session.

 

Premier Sport Holiday Courses

• Football
• Gymnastics
• Multi-Sports
• PA Musical Theatre
• PA Dance
• PA Drama

 

Schools Out Activities

• Holiday Camps: Year-round school holiday camps for children 4 – 16yrs

 

Winger Sports Academy

• Multi-sports Camp: Lots of fun activities available including: Football, Dodgeball, Rounders, Cricket, Basketball, Street Futsal, Street Cricket, Street Ball, American Ball Tag, Urban Golf, Competition Day – Sporting Challenges and Inflatable Sports Day

 

EPPING FOREST

Chelsea Soccer Schools

• Soccer School

 

David Lloyd Leisure

• Holiday Club

 

Epping Forest District Museum

• Become a Florist for the Day: Why not become a florist for the day with this fun workshop! Learn the tricks of the trade and make a corsage for a special occasion or a wonderful floral basket, all made by you! All materials provided.
• Exhibition: Man on the Moon: How do you have a wee in outer space? To mark the 50th anniversary of the first manned moon landing, this exhibition looks at the why, the how and the wherefore of this historic event. Discover how “The Space Race” technology and design has influenced and inspired our lives today.
• Fruit Art Workshop: Come along and make new friends with this fruity fun workshop! Learn how to make wonderful works of art out of fresh fruit! Wow your friends and family with your wonderful edible fruit creations to take home.

 

Epping Forest Gymnastics Club

• Holiday Club

Epping Ongar Railway

• Peppa Pig and George visit: Our second character visit, sees the ever popular Peppa Pig and George make another visit. Take a ride on our steam and diesel trains and see the cheeky little piggies.

 

Laser Mayhem

• Fortnite Battle Royale: Bringing the global gaming phenomenon to life this May; come and join in the fun with games that you’ve never seen before at Mayhem. You won’t want to miss this!

 

Lee Valley Ice Centre

• Learn to skate at Lee Valley Ice Centre: Why not enjoy some quality family time this half term whilst also learning a new skill and enjoying some physical activity. Lee Valley Ice Centre is running an introductory course, suitable for all ages, that will teach the basic skating skills to enable the whole family to get the most out of their time on the ice together.

 

Lee Valley Park Farms

• ‘A day in the life of a farmer’: Step into the boots of a farmer for the day and learn about daily life on a farm. Watch sheep being sheared, get involved in bottle feeding the lambs and take a ride on Tex the tractor. With so much to see and do, this is a day out the whole family can enjoy.
• Superhero and Princess Weekend: Calling all superheroes and princesses. Lee Valley Park Farms is hosting a fun-filled weekend for the whole family this bank holiday. Following the success of the inaugural event last year, Lee Valley Park Farms is inviting children to dress up as their favourite superhero or princess and take part in a heroic quest around the farms to discover the super powers and magical abilities of some of the farmyard animals.

 

Lee Valley Regional Park

• May Half Term fun: With summer on its way, why not treat the children to some fun outdoor experiences this May half term. Lee Valley Regional Park has a whole range of activities on offer from coached mountain bike, BMX and velodrome sessions to ice skating and lamb feeding.

 

Lee Valley VeloPark

• #ClubVPK MTB and BMX (11-16 years): Young riders have an opportunity to develop skills and enhance cycling confidence as they enjoy saddle time on our purpose built BMX and Mountain bike trails.
• BMX Thrills and MTB Skills (7-11 years): This May half term will have young riders learning how to ride a BMX and Mountain bike like a pro! Skill improvement, new techniques and confidence building all combine to help young riders hone their talents whilst having fun with their peers.
• Track Attack! This session offers riders a chance to experience the thrills of a velodrome, burning rubber on the same track as cycling heroes such as Sir Chris Hoy MBE, Mark Colbourne MBE and Laura Kenny CBE. Whether a first time or experienced velo-rider, this session focuses on skill development.

 

Lee Valley White Water Centre

• Summer Bounce & Sports Beach: Come and enjoy some bouncing fun at the incredible land based Inflatable Park. Conquer the Kick ‘n’ Stick, party in the Disco Dome, obstacle through Run The Gauntlet or bounce on The Colossal Bouncy Castle. The area is split into two height zones to ensure everyone is kept safe.

 

Loughton

• Loughton Festival

 

Ongar Kids Club

• Bee Happy
• Fun Sports Day
• Groovy Baby
• Imagination

 

Royal Gunpowder Mills

• Agent Nitrate’s Spy-Tastic School Holidays! Calling all wannabe spies – Agent Nitrate and the Spy Team have a mission for you! What is the mission? It is to join us for Agent Nitrate’s Spy-Tastic School Holidays. Join us on Bank Holiday Weekend  when Agent Nitrate will arrange special training for you in forensics! Are you up for this? Can you keep a secret, and sift through the clues? A superb activity for all the family!

 

Silver Kids Camps

• May Half-Term Camp: At Silver Kids Camps we’ve got days jam-packed with creativity, adventure and excitement!

 

Zinc Arts Centre

• Hearty Arties Pirate Workshop: Ahoy there me hearty arties! Join us this half term for our crafty and creative Pirate School Activity Day. Come along for a creative, inspiring time at our very first pirate workshop this half term.

HARLOW

Barracudas

• Holiday Clubs: Exciting activity day camps for children during the school holidays. Children will take part in a wide variety of activities including sports, arts & crafts, mad science and much much more! Ofsted registered, Experienced CRB checked staff, Piece of mind for parents, Excellent Fun for kids!

 

Essex Outdoors

• May Half-Term Camp: Working in groups of around 10 young people, your child will have the opportunity to take part in up to four fun and challenging activities each day, ranging from archery, canoeing and climbing to mountain biking, high ropes and sailing.

 

Happy Hands pottery

• May Half Term Pottery Painting Workshop

 

Harlow Leisure Zone

• May half term holiday activities

 

Mega Camps

• Half-Term Camps: Mega Camps are dedicated to providing the best children’s camps for children aged 51/2 – 14. during the half term & School Holidays in the Essex area.

 

The Water Gardens

• Meet a T-Rex! We’ve got a terrifyingly good reason to visit the Water Gardens this Half Term & plenty to keep the children entertained! A life-size 3 year old Tyrannosaurus Rex will be visiting The Water Gardens. And while you’re here, look out for the large dinosaur eggs that hidden around the site, and hop inside if you dare, for that all important selfie!

HAVERING

Barracudas

• Holiday Clubs: Exciting activity day camps for children during the school holidays. Children will take part in a wide variety of activities including sports, arts & crafts, mad science and much much more! Ofsted registered, Experienced CRB checked staff, Piece of mind for parents, Excellent Fun for kids!

 

Bedfords Park

• Campfire Cooking: Try your hand at lighting fires and cook up some sweet treats on the camp fire.
• Family Forest Fun: Make dens, woodland crafts, light fires and learn about wildlife.
• Minibeast Madness: What marvellous, magical and monstrous minibeasts will you find?
• Mini rafts: Will your mini raft float or sink? Build a mini raft from natural materials and see if it will float.
• Woodland Survival: Have you got what it takes to survive in the woods? Build a shelter, whittle a stick and learn how to light a fire.

 

Chelsea Soccer Schools

• Soccer School

 

Coalhouse Fort Events

• Open Day

 

David Lloyd Leisure

• Holiday Club

 

Ellis Leisure

• Inflatable Family Fun Days

 

Fairkytes Arts Centre

• May Half Term Art Workshops

 

Fir.ST Camps

• Back to the Future Camp: An adventure through time, with a chance to win a family trip to Lego Land or Sports Direct Vouchers.
• Dinosaurs and Monsters: Prehistoric adventure awaits our campers, with challenges and puzzles fit for a T-Rex.
• The Post-War Decades: Dress Up ’50s, ’60s, ’70s or the ’80s. Can you survive Rationing, Beehives, Flairs or a Good Power Ballad?
• Victorian London: Will you survive the Workhouse Master, and swallow the taste of Gruel, or are a flick.
• The Year 3000: We travel to the year 3000. What trials and tribulations await in the future.

Fit for Sport Camps

• Activity Camp

 

Ingrebourne Valley Visitor Centre

• Bark Boats: Collect your own materials to make your own bark boat to race on the lake. Please park at St Albyns car park and walk down to the lake.
• Barmy Army Obstacle Course: Base camp making, Target practise, Assault course, Tug of war and Camo net crawl. Please wear suitable clothing for getting Muddy.
• Bug Hunt: Come and explore the different habitats at Hornchurch Country Park. Go on a bug Hunt and find many of the insects that live in the Ingrebourne Valley. All equipment supplied.
• Bug Trail & Homes: Go on a self-lead trial through 2 different habitats and answer the questions about different bugs you might find, while you are answering the questions why not do a little bug hunting yourself, we will supply you with a bug pot and ID chart to help you find and identify the creepy crawlies.
• Den Building & Camp Fire Cooking: Learn the different techniques on building a waterproof den and learn how to make and cook campfire Doughnuts. Please dress to suit the weather.
• Family Bat Walk: Come along and learn about the bats that call Ingrebourne their home. We will be taking a walk on the wild side to spot our furry friends.
• Pond Dipping: We will be going underwater to explore what lives there. Its fun for all and the equipment is provided too.
• Science Experiments (Water): Have fun with science and conduct your very own experiments, including Bottle Rockets, Tornado in a jar, Rising Water experiment, Giaint Bubbles and Larva Lamps. Children must be accompanied by adults.

 

Lambourne End Centre for Outdoor Learning

• Adventure Academy

 

The Liberty Shopping Centre

• May Half-Term: The Liberty encourages local children to become fashionistas, and discover their talents by designing and sketching their ideal summer outfit.

 

Little Fingers Baking

• Hot Dogs, Shortbread Biscuits dipped in chocolate & creepy crawley mousse
• Mini millionaire Tarts, Pizza & chocolate Lollypop 

 

Mega Camps

• Half-Term Camps: Mega Camps are dedicated to providing the best children’s camps for children aged 51/2 – 14. during the half term & School Holidays in the Essex area.

 

Premier Sport Holiday Courses

• Football
• Gymnastics
• Multi-Sports
• PA Musical Theatre
• PA Dance
• PA Drama

 

Queens Theatre

• Back in Time for Breakfast: Join Millie, a young girl, on an adventure of a life-time! With your help she must travel to different countries to save the planet. Featuring playful puppetry, interactive sets and imaginative storytelling.

• Wild Families at Half Term – pond dipping: Drop in to Rainham Marshes this school holiday to take part in some fabulous family activities. You can hire an explorer bag from reception for £3 at any time during the holidays, or there is pond dipping on Tuesday 28-Thursday 30 May.

 

Stubbers Adventure Centre

• 4×4 Driving Experience Camp
• Adventurers Camp
• Discoverers Camp
• Quad Bike Riders Day Camp
• Seniors Camp
• Special Forces Training Day Camp
• Survival Academy Camp
• Water Sports Academy Camp

Thames Chase Forest Centre

• Buzzy Bees half term activities: Spring and Summer is a great time to help nature. Lots of bees are out now and they will be wanting to collect lots of nectar and pollen from beautifully coloured flowers and take it back to the hive for the Queen Bee so that there is food for the young ones.

 

Thurrock Thameside Nature park

• Spring Bank Holiday Funday: Enjoy an afternoon of free music from The Yardarm Folk Orchestra and open mic sessions – Bouncy Castles (£5 to bounce) food and fun! Music and entertainment in the centre too! Featuring: Rosewicke, One Tree Hillbillies, Pete Hamlyn, A shanty workshop and Talk on Thames History.

MALDON

• Half Term Rock Painting for Kids: Bring your youngsters along to the Museum during the Half Term Holidays in 2019 and have fun painting and finding rocks around the Museum grounds, plus other craft activities. This is a popular activity with children and adults alike.

 

Premier Sport Holiday Courses

• Football
• Gymnastics
• Multi-Sports
• PA Musical Theatre
• PA Dance
• PA Drama

REDBRIDGE

East London Goalkeeping Academy

• UEFA Nations League Football and Goalkeeping Camp

 

The Exchange

• Dinosaur Time: Have you ever wanted to become a Palaeontologist? Well now is your chance! Come on down to the Exchange Ilford and see what is happening over May Half Term. Children will have the opportunity to dig for their very own fossil in our sandpits, brush it down and inspect with their magnifying glass. Our team of expert Experience Engineers will engage with the children to create fantastic educational experience.

 

Fullwell Cross Library

• Buzzing Bots: Take part in this practical hands-on activity to invent and put together a Bee Robot. Revamp recycling materials with super easy to use electronic components. With your child, give it a go at programming the BBC micro:bit, the most affordable computer, and learn to code it to control lights and motors. Be stunned by your own creation, a dancing bee robot within a beehive!
• Elmer Day: Elmer is 30 this year, come and celebrate with us! Show your colours and drop in for some fun as we join the celebrations for Elmer Day with elephant themed activities. Suitable for 4 to 12 years.
• Nickita’s Crew Presents Father’s Day card making: Join Nickita 7, teacher mum Vio and her 2 brothers, Eddie 5 and Robbie 10 in playing fun word games and making creative cards for Father’s Day! Let your kids learn from Nickitia’s crew and save money by making your own cards!
• Scrummy Biscuit Design: Design your own biscuit. Add some colour and some other yummy bits to make a scrummy biscuit. Suitable for 4 to 10 years.
• What’s BIN Growing: Come and make a mini garden using things we’d usually throw away. Re-use old cartons and bottles by turning them into beautiful planters or bird feeders – you must bring a juice or milk carton. Also bring along your favourite fabric scraps, wrapping paper, old pegs and anything else for embellishment if you can. Alternative materials will be available. Please arrive 10 minutes before the session.

 

Gants Hill Library

• Buzzing Bots: Take part in this practical hands-on activity to invent and put together a Bee Robot. Revamp recycling materials with super easy to use electronic components. With your child, give it a go at programming the BBC micro:bit, the most affordable computer, and learn to code it to control lights and motors. Be stunned by your own creation, a dancing bee robot within a beehive!
• Elmer Day: Elmer is 30 this year, come and celebrate with us! Show your colours and drop in for some fun as we join the celebrations for Elmer Day with elephant themed activities. Suitable for 4 to 12 years.
• Wii Gaming: Come along for some fun with the Wii. Suitable for 6 to 12 years.

 

Goodmayes Library

• All Aboard for train craft: Steam trains once ran in Ilford. Find out about this fascinating means of transport and make your very own steam train at our heritage craft session to celebrate Local History Month.
• Elmer Day: Elmer is 30 this year, come and celebrate with us! Show your colours and drop in for some fun as we join the celebrations for Elmer Day with elephant themed activities. Suitable for 4 to 12 years.
• What’s BIN Growing: Come and make a mini garden using things we’d usually throw away. Re-use old cartons and bottles by turning them into beautiful planters or bird feeders – you must bring a juice or milk carton. Also bring along your favourite fabric scraps, wrapping paper, old pegs and anything else for embellishment if you can. Alternative materials will be available. Please arrive 10 minutes before the session.

 

Hainault Library

• Elmer Day: Elmer is 30 this year, come and celebrate with us! Show your colours and drop in for some fun as we join the celebrations for Elmer Day with elephant themed activities. Suitable for 4 to 12 years.

 

Keith Axon Library

• Elmer Day: Elmer is 30 this year, come and celebrate with us! Show your colours and drop in for some fun as we join the celebrations for Elmer Day with elephant themed activities. Suitable for 4 to 12 years.

 

Kenneth More Theatre

• Imagine Swapping Places with a Monster for the Day… The Monster Under the Bed: Ben has a big problemo. His best friend Vince has stolen his precious binoculars, his Dad is far, far away…oh, and there’s a monster under his bed. The Monster under the Bed is a comic and thrilling new play about friendship, and facing up to your fears. It’s Polka’s summer blockbuster, for all children

 

Kids in Charge

• Half Term Holiday Club

 

Premier Sport Holiday Courses

• Football
• Gymnastics
• Multi-Sports
• PA Musical Theatre
• PA Dance
• PA Drama

 

Redbridge Central Library

• Elmer Day: Elmer is 30 this year, come and celebrate with us! Show your colours and drop in for some fun as we join the celebrations for Elmer Day with elephant themed activities. Suitable for 4 to 12 years.
• Holiday Film Club: Come and enjoy a fun filled family film. Suitable for all ages.
• Introduction to Lego robotics course, 9-13 yrs: Join this 2 days course (Tuesday 28 and Wednesday 29 May) to learn the basic concepts of robotics by using the really popular LEGO Mindstorms. Build your own robot, customise it using your creativity and all the different parts available in the kit and each robot in the group will look totally different!
• Make Your Own Boat: Did you know that boats were once used to transport goods on the River Roding? Find out about the history of them and make your own boat in our heritage craft session to celebrate Local History Month.
• Make your own Robot hand
• Toddler Coding Session: Come along to this session which will include basic coding for toddlers. Suitable for 3 to 5 years.
• Virtual Trip – Seven Wonders of the World: Come with your family for a cultural Virtual Reality expedition around the world. Visit the 7 UNESCO World Heritage Sites and explore their area, landscape, weather and much more.
• What’s BIN Growing: Come and make a mini garden using things we’d usually throw away. Re-use old cartons and bottles by turning them into beautiful planters or bird feeders – you must bring a juice or milk carton. Also bring along your favourite fabric scraps, wrapping paper, old pegs and anything else for embellishment if you can. Alternative materials will be available. Please arrive 10 minutes before the session.

 

Redbridge Cycling Centre

• Easter Holidays and May Half-term Courses

 

Redbridge Drama Centre 

• Signor Baffo: An interactive children’s show, Signor Baffo opens his restaurant to children aged 3+. There’s chaos in the kitchen when Signor Baffo is left in charge. Expect plates full of fun, with generous helpings of silliness, mischief and adventure. What’s the best way to mix meatballs with spaghetti? How do you make a chicken lay an egg, and how does a sausage roll? All is revealed in the charming culinary chaos of Signor Baffo’s kitchen.

 

Redbridge Museum

• All aboard for train (4-10 yrs): Steam trains once ran in Ilford. Find out about this fascinating means of transport and make your very own steam train at our heritage craft session to celebrate Local History Month.
• Make your own boat (4-10 yrs): Did you know that boats were once used to transport goods on the river Roding? Find out about the history of them and make your own boat in our heritage craft session to celebrate Local History Month.
• Maths in the Museum (5-11 yrs): Drop in at any time to take part in this fun family trail around the Museum and explore the history of the borough through numbers, shapes, money, time and more!
• Wonder Women trail and crafts: Learn more about Redbridge’s very own Suffragettes and women’s fight for the vote at Redbridge Museum this May half term. Make a friendship bracelet, Suffragette inspired badge or mini magazine for 50p, or take part in a free family trail around the Museum and Wonder Women exhibition.

 

Seven Kings Library 

• Elmer Day: Elmer is 30 this year, come and celebrate with us! Show your colours and drop in for some fun as we join the celebrations for Elmer Day with elephant themed activities. Suitable for 4 to 12 years.

 

South Woodford Library & Gym

• Dreamcatcher Craft workshop: Join us for some swizzfigging fun by making your own dreamcatcher inspired by Roald Dahl’s story The BFG! Suitable for 5 to 12 years.
• Elmer Day: Elmer is 30 this year, come and celebrate with us! Show your colours and drop in for some fun as we join the celebrations for Elmer Day with elephant themed activities. Suitable for 4 to 12 years.
• What’s BIN Growing: Come and make a mini garden using things we’d usually throw away. Re-use old cartons and bottles by turning them into beautiful planters or bird feeders – you must bring a juice or milk carton. Also bring along your favourite fabric scraps, wrapping paper, old pegs and anything else for embellishment if you can. Alternative materials will be available. Please arrive 10 minutes before the session.

 

Valentines Mansion & Gardens

• Fairy House: Get crafty as you build your own fairy house at Valentines Mansion. Join us and spend the morning unleashing your creative talents as you make a unique fairy structure for our little friends to sleep in.
• Young Explorer Indoor/Outdoor Trail: We have an action packed trail planned for you! Be one of our young explorers as you hunt inside and outside the mansion to find the hidden objects on your trail map. Complete the adventure, find the objects and return your map to reception to head home with your prize.

Wanstead Library

• Awesome Animals Activity: Join us for a craft and face painting. Buzz along to the library where you will get to make your very own ‘Bee Bopper’ and get an animal themed face painting
• Buzzing Bots: Take part in this practical hands-on activity to invent and put together a Bee Robot. Revamp recycling materials with super easy to use electronic components. With your child, give it a go at programming the BBC micro:bit, the most affordable computer, and learn to code it to control lights and motors. Be stunned by your own creation, a dancing bee robot within a beehive!
• Elmer Day: Elmer is 30 this year, come and celebrate with us! Show your colours and drop in for some fun as we join the celebrations for Elmer Day with elephant themed activities. Suitable for 4 to 12 years.
• Paper Plane Competition: Calling all paper airplane experts! Want to be in a Paper Airplane competition? See how far and how long your airplanes will fly! This will be a fun way to learn about how things fly! There will be prizes for all junior participants. Up to 2 children per adult

 

Woodford Green Library

• Code Club Taster Session
• Elmer Day: Elmer is 30 this year, come and celebrate with us! Show your colours and drop in for some fun as we join the celebrations for Elmer Day with elephant themed activities. Suitable for 4 to 12 years

ROCHFORD

Belchamps Scout Centre Events

• Holiday Camp

 

Bricks 4 Kidz

• The Greatest Show! We are very excited to immerse ourselves in the wonderful world of the Circus! Join us and celebrate this awesome Movie as we build a giant Big Top and fill it with wonderful creative characters including acrobats and circus animals. Get creative and build together…..The Greatest Show!
• Minecraft vs The Supers! Will the superheroes help Steve defeat the creepers? We will be building a Superhero & Minecraft world where we meet all of our favourite characters and build them out of LEGO® bricks. We will build a fantasy world and protect it from all enemies with custom contraptions made with our unique LEGO technic models!
• Poke Pocket Brick Monsters: Get ready for an adventure in the world of Pokémon®! Capture wild Pokémon® creatures and train them for battle. Tap into your inner engineer as we build Dratini, Pikachu, Poké Balls and more. Do you have what it takes to become a Pokémon® Master or a Detective Pikachu?

 

Clare Mason Drama

• Drama Workshop

 

Emma’s Swim School

• Crash courses & private lessons 

 

Fizz & Giggle Parties

• Slime Workshop

 

Grovewood Primary School

• Fun Aladdin Workshop: A fun Aladdin theme day. We will be doing arts and crafts, dance, drama and plenty of fun and games.

 

Hockley Airsoft Arena

• Nerf Time: Come and enjoy 2 hours of fun packed excitement, running around with friends, old and new, in our custom built, air-conditioned, arena. Dodge the darts in and out of the rooms, hide behind the furniture and make barricades with the boxes.

 

Monkey Bizness Rochford

• Carnival Party

 

Red Brick Barn

• Children’s Magic Workshop:  Vanishing pen and coin, amazing linking paper clips, impossible mind-reading crayon.

 

SPORTSTAR

• Holiday clubs: During the holidays children have the opportunity to sample a wide variety of sports including Man Hunt, Uni-Hoc, Bouncy Castles, Dodgeball, Arts & Craft, Football, Nerf Wars, Capture the Flag, Indiana Jones, Survival, Hunger Games (safe version), German Torchlight, Wacky Races and Athletics.

 

SS Dance Studios

• BubbleGum Camp

 

Star Sports & Soccer Sports Activities

• Half-Term Sports Camp

 

SOUTHEND

Adventure Island

• Fairytale Dress Up Weekend: Hubble bubble, toil and trouble, where the fairies dance and the wizard chuckles. Experience the magic, stay all day, enjoy the fun the Adventure Island way!

 

Belfairs Riding School

• 2 hour ride
• Casual lessons
• Stable management morning then half hour lessons 

 

Belfairs Woodlands Centre

• Exotics Night
• Forest Fairies
• Forest School – Forest Friday 
• Forest School – Nature Tots
• Fun Thursday
• Treasure Tots
• Water for Wildlife Drop-in Craft
• Water for Wildlife Trail

 

Bricks 4 Kidz

• The Greatest Show! We are very excited to immerse ourselves in the wonderful world of the Circus! Join us and celebrate this awesome Movie as we build a giant Big Top and fill it with wonderful creative characters including acrobats and circus animals. Get creative and build together…..The Greatest Show!
• Minecraft vs The Supers! Will the superheroes help Steve defeat the creepers? We will be building a Superhero & Minecraft world where we meet all of our favourite characters and build them out of LEGO® bricks. We will build a fantasy world and protect it from all enemies with custom contraptions made with our unique LEGO technic models!
• Poke Pocket Brick Monsters: Get ready for an adventure in the world of Pokémon®! Capture wild Pokémon® creatures and train them for battle. Tap into your inner engineer as we build Dratini, Pikachu, Poké Balls and more. Do you have what it takes to become a Pokémon® Master or a Detective Pikachu?

 

David Lloyd Leisure

• Holiday Club

 

Ellis Leisure

• Inflatable Family Fun Days

 

Energize Essex Holiday Clubs

• Acrobatic Gymnastics
• Adventure
• Athletics
• Athletics Competition
• Crazy about Crafts
• Family Drum Fitness
• Family Fitness Sports
• Family Fitness Yoga
• Fashion
• General Gymnastics
• Lego
• Mad Science
• Multisports
• Musical Theatre
• Pop Dance
• Rhythmic Gymnastics
• Table Tennis
• Tumbling Gymnastics

Intrepid Ventures

• Half-Term Camp: Our camps offer the perfect opportunity for children to enjoy the outdoors and bushcraft. The activities are varied, fun and educational. The perfect idea for birthday parties and half term holidays.

 

Juniper Photography

• Mini-Sessions: Let’s go for a stroll in the woods and see some spring flowers, then get some lovely family photos on the way!

 

Leigh Community Centre

• Farmyard Experience – “Fun on the Farm”: Gemma’s Farm – Farmyard Experience. Get up close with your favourite animals. Gemma’s farm will be visiting the centre with her pony, goat, sheep, chickens, ducks, rabbits, mice and rats.
• Farmyard Puppet Show –  “Fun on the Farm”: Puppet Show with Imagination Station Puppets. A farm themed puppet show, the children will get to make their own sheep puppets to help tell the story
• Ponycycles –  “Fun on the Farm”: Little Riders Ponycycle Session. Free play on ponycycles, with races.

Mega Camps

• Half-Term Camps: Mega Camps are dedicated to providing the best children’s camps for children aged 51/2 – 14. during the half term & School Holidays in the Essex area.

 

Palace Theatre

• The Very Hungry Caterpillar: The timeless classic has made its way off the page and onto the stage. Created by Jonathan Rockefeller, the critically acclaimed production of The Very Hungry Caterpillar Show features a menagerie of 75 lovable puppets, faithfully adapting four of Eric Carle’s stories, Brown Bear, Brown Bear, 10 Little Rubber Ducks, The Very Lonely Firefly and of course, the star of the show celebrating its 50th Birthday in 2019 The Very Hungry Caterpillar.
• Wild Animals Puppetry Workshop: Let your imaginations run wild and create your very own animal puppet. Children will bring their creations to life and learn drama skills in our Wild Animals Puppetry Workshop. +Suitable for children aged 8-11 and their grown-ups.

 

Priory Park

• Wildlife Weekend

 

Ricks Multi-Sports

• Multi-Sports Camp

 

The Soccer Hub

• Whitsun Soccer School: Play the beautiful game in a safe, secure venue.

 

Southchurch Library

• Elmer Workshop: We’re celebrating Elmer Day! Join Emma Bearman for 2 hours of crafts stories and games based on the popular Elmer the Elephant stories.

 

Southend Diving

• May Half Term Dive Camps: Available to children in our current Learn to Dive programme
  AND COMPLETE Beginners who are aged 6 yrs and over, can swim 25m confidently, unaided and happy to swim in deep water.

 

Southend Leisure & Tennis

• Gymnastics Camp
• Tennis Camp

 

SPORTSTAR

• Holiday clubs: During the holidays children have the opportunity to sample a wide variety of sports including Man Hunt, Uni-Hoc, Bouncy Castles, Dodgeball, Arts & Craft, Football, Nerf Wars, Capture the Flag, Indiana Jones, Survival, Hunger Games (safe version), German Torchlight, Wacky Races and Athletics.

 

UK Football Camps

• Football Fun

 

Westcliff Library

• “The Very Hungry Caterpillar’s” 50th Birthday: Join us to celebrate the 50th anniversary of “The Very Hungry Caterpillar”. Enjoy a story and some rhymes, craft and a scavenger hunt. Snacks and drinks will be available.

 

The Yoga Factory

• Family Yoga Special: Family yoga is so much fun! In our world parents and children are super busy and there are few activities for them to do together, especially with no mobile phones, no iPads or tv or any other responsibilities. Family yoga provides a great place to spend healthy and happy, quality time together.

 

TENDRING

Clacton-on-Sea

• Seaside revival day Clacton: Jaywick Martello Tower and the Friends of Jaywick Martello Tower will be supporting the Resorting to the Coast project at their Seaside Revival Day! A full retro themed day of FREE family-friendly activites celebrating the heyday of the great British seaside experience which promises ‘a bucket load of good old-fashioned fun’.

 

Clacton Pier

• James Magic Entertainment: One of Essex’s most popular Magicians and Children’s Entertainers. Non-Stop Entertainment Including Mind Blowing Magic * Laughter With Puppets * Amazing Balloon Models * Party Games * All The latest Music * Bubble and Snow Machines * Disco Parties James’s show takes place at the Boardwalk Bar and Grill.
• Trevor Cline: An amazing comedy act featuring balloons

 

Jaywick Martello Tower

• Creative Net: What does the sea wall mean to you? Come and create words and phrases to inspire a graphic artist’s sea wall design. Have a go and allow the tide to flow; bring out your inner poet for the Tides of Tendring project.
• Essex at War: Join us at Jaywick Martello Tower where we will be hosting not one but TWO exhibitions on World War One to celebrate the one hundred year anniversary of the signing of the Treaty of Versailles (28 June 1919) which marked the official end of WW1.
• Resorting to the Coast – Seaside Revival Day: Jaywick Martello Tower and the Friends of Jaywick Martello Tower will be supporting the Resorting to the Coast project at their Seaside Revival Day! A full retro themed day of FREE family-friendly activites celebrating the heyday of the great British seaside experience which promises ‘a bucket load of good old-fashioned fun’.

Premier Sport Holiday Courses

• Football
• Gymnastics
• Multi-Sports
• PA Musical Theatre
• PA Dance
• PA Drama

THURROCK

Coalhouse Fort

• Open Day

 

Mega Camps

• Half-Term Camps: Mega Camps are dedicated to providing the best children’s camps for children aged 51/2 – 14. during the half term & School Holidays in the Essex area.

 

Orsett Hall

• Mad Hatters PARTY: Hosted By Joe Banana & BAM BAM. With Madness from Mad Hatter!

 

Premier Sport Holiday Courses

• Football
• Gymnastics
• Multi-Sports
• PA Musical Theatre
• PA Dance
• PA Drama

 

Thameside Theatre

• Wicked Wednesdays! Wicked Wednesdays allow up to two adults to watch free of charge with each child ticket purchased at £5.00. Additional adult tickets can be purchased at £5.00 per person. Each child will also receive popcorn and a drink so it really does make it great value for money.

 

Thurrock Garden Centre

• Cooking for Pre-Schoolers (2-5years): Tracey from Kids Craft Cooking runs a 35-40minute session aimed at 2-5year olds making mini quiches. The equipment used is designed for little hands. You are encouraged to participate, communicate & promote the development of your child’s gross/fine motor skills during the session.

 

Thurrock Thameside Nature park

• Kids’ Astronomy Adventure: For young folks who love science and space, we’ll be having an intergalactic adventure!
• Kids’ Water & Wildlife Walk: For kids and families who love a nice walk in nature.
• Spring Bank Holiday Funday: Enjoy an afternoon of free music from The Yardarm Folk Orchestra and open mic sessions – Bouncy Castles (£5 to bounce) food and fun!  Music and entertainment in the centre too! Featuring: Rosewicke, One Tree Hillbillies, Pete Hamlyn, A shanty workshop and Talk on Thames History.

 

Wild Thyme Outdoors

• Half-Term Adventurers

UTTLESFORD

Audley End House and Gardens

• Get Hands on with History – Myths and Legends: Come and hear Dr Vainen Schuch-des Forges, the travelling Cure-All Salesman, at Audley End this half term for a myths and legends themed storytelling session. Listen as he tells one of his fantastical tales of how he came by the knowledge and ingredients for his Miracle-Elixir.

 

Audley End Miniature Railway

• Pirate and Mermaid Festival: Join us for the return of our Pirates and Mermaids! The Picnic Area will be packed full of fun activities for your children to immerse themselves in, including Story Telling and sing along on our new stage area, Face Painting, Games Area and Craft Making. You can also take an enchanting Train Ride through the Audley End Estate Woodland and dive into the magical land of our Fairy and Elf Walk!

 

Fab Science

• May Half term Holiday Clubs:  We’ve had the best of biology, the coolest chemistry and the most fantastic physics. Booking is open now for ‘Wonderful Weather’ in May half term and some summer camps…more being added soon! Our camps were voted ‘Best Holiday Club’ in our region in the 2019 Hoop Awards. Come along and find out why!

 

Felsted School

• Hockey with Jo Westwood: This challenging course is aimed at introducing and practising various skill sets. Each session builds on the players’ knowledge and skill with the aim of introducing new techniques to matches and games as the course progresses.
• Squash with Richard Pilcher: Try our three-day squash course for new and improving players, led by Felsted Squash Coach, Richard Pilcher. Acquire and develop skills in this fast-paced, fun and exciting game. It also offers children, who have never played the sport before, the chance to try a new sport that improves agility, hand-eye coordination and fitness. Run by Felsted Squash Coach, Mr Richard Pilcher.

 

Saffron Walden Museum

• Build a birdhouse
• Build a bug hotel
• Help plant our nature gardens

 

SPORTSTAR

• Holiday clubs: During the holidays children have the opportunity to sample a wide variety of sports including Man Hunt, Uni-Hoc, Bouncy Castles, Dodgeball, Arts & Craft, Football, Nerf Wars, Capture the Flag, Indiana Jones, Survival, Hunger Games (safe version), German Torchlight, Wacky Races and Athletics.

 

We are still gathering events for this year. If you have one to submit, please do so using the button at the top of this page. Thank you