A shark at the National Sea Life Centre

Things to do West Midlands May half term 2023

With May half term 2023 rapidly approaching, it’s time for a list of things to do in the West Midlands. Lots of attractions have events taking place this year and others are reopening for the summer. From family trails to fun days, there’s lots to see and do around the West Midlands. If your dog would like to join you for some half term fun, check out my post about dog friendly days out in the West Midlands.

This post covers the West Midlands County area only. If you are looking for May half term days out in nearby counties, please see below:

Bear Grylls Adventure

Whilst there is no specific half term event taking place at Bear Grylls Adventure, there are plenty of exciting indoor and outdoor activities to fill a day out. Choose from:

  • Axe Throwing
  • Archery
  • iFly indoor skydive
  • High ropes course
  • Shooting
  • Climbing
  • Cage snorkelling
  • Shark dive
  • Escape rooms

To find out more and to book, head to the Bear Grylls Adventure website.

Birmingham Botanical Gardens

It’s all a bit Jurassic Park at the Birmingham Botanical Gardens this May half term 2023 from 27th May to 4th June. The Jurassic Gardens event offers a unique opportunity to interact with dinosaurs up close. Visitors can meet a raptor, a brontosaurus, and even cuddly baby dinosaurs. They can also learn how to train a raptor and watch baby dinosaurs hatch and come to life. Full details are on the Botanical Gardens website.

Black Country Living Museum

Reminisce about flavours from the past at the BCLM this May half term from 27th May to 4th June 2023. Meet the museum’s new historical characters, the Jamaican mothers, also known as the Singhs. They are attempting to locate the rare ingredients for their delicious recipes. Find out which spices were in demand locally in the 1950s. Look out for the ice cream seller riding his vintage trike through the streets. Find out what a penny lick was, and how they would have kept the ice creams frozen.

Participate in family-friendly crafts to learn how to turn a piece of paper into an ice cream. Explore the history of sweets in the Black Country. Watch sweet making demonstrations and taste test handmade sweets. Don’t forget to visit the Edwardian chemist to find out how they would have looked after their teeth, and learn about the medicinal properties of herbs and spices grown in the gardens.

The Museum’s usual family-friendly activities are still going strong. Including street games, the coal mine experience, vintage bus rides, short films in the Lime Light Cinema, times tables in the Victorian School, and fish & chips. Head to the BCLM website for more information and read my review of the Black Country Living Museum.

12 tips for a brilliant day out at the Black Country Living Museum near Dudley in the West Midlands. This is a living history museum that is perfect for visitors of all ages from small children to adults. It is an excellent, full day out with both food outlets and picnic areas available. Includes the Dudley Canal and Tunnel Trust.

Cadbury World

Freddo’s Magic Show will be taking place at Cadbury World during May half term 2023, and it runs throughout the summer. Shout abracadabra as Freddo the magician astounds you. Be amazed as he makes things disappear and reappear elsewhere. He might even use magic to bring something to life! Full details are on their website and you can read my review of a family day out at Cadbury World

A family day out at Cadbury World Birmingham West Midlands little girls with cadbury bunny

Cannon Hill Park

Whilst no specific event takes place at Cannon Hill Park this May half term, it’s always a great day out with plenty to do for all ages. Toilet facilities are available and you can purchase food and drink or enjoy a picnic. Activities include:

  • Fun Park:  The fun park has rides, activities and games for children aged up to 10 years old. 
  • Golden Putter: 36-hole mini golf. 
  • Land Train: Tour the park on the land train. 
  • Swan Lake Boating: Hire a pedal boat and relax in the park’s lake.
  • MAC Birmingham: Check out the exhibitions, galleries, theatre, cinema, crafts and workshops. 
  • Birmingham Wildlife Conservation Park: Visit animals including red pandas, monkeys and reptiles and meet the keepers to learn more about them. 
  • Sports Facilities: Participate in tennis, fishing, running, cycling and walking. 

Full information is available on the Cannon Hill Park website.

Coventry Transport Museum  

Coventry Transport Museum is focusing on upcycling this May half term from 27th May to 4th June 2023. The Junk Model Making Challenge encourages children to imagine a more playful environment by upcycling waste into new inventions. This May half-term, the focus is on gravity. Visitors who share their creations on social media will be in with a chance to win a family ticket for the Wave waterpark. The challenge is included in normal museum entry. For full details, head to the Transport Museum website. 

Herbert Art Gallery and Museum

Create a scenic seascape at Herbert Art Gallery and Museum this May half term from 27th May to 3rd June 2023. Use junk modelling, collaging and water colours to make your sea-inspired creation. On 27th, 29th and 30th May, kids can create an underwater world in a glass mason jar using natural materials. On 31st May and 1st June, upcycle egg boxes and other junk materials to create carton rafts. The museum will have plenty of ideas for creating a tropical landscape in your garden to use your raft in. On 2nd and 3rd June, make a seascape collage with layers of contrasting colours, lighthouse silhouettes, and 3D origami boats.

While you’re at the museum, don’t forget to pay a visit to Dippy the Diplodocus, their resident dinosaur who is currently residing there for a three-year holiday from his usual home at the Natural History Museum. Head to the Museum website to find out more about the craft event. You’ll need to book a ticket in advance to visit Dippy in Coventry

Legoland Discovery Centre

There doesn’t seem to be a specific event happening at the Legoland Discovery Centre for West Midlands May half term 2023. However, visitors booking a standard play session can enjoy the ultimate indoor lego experience. Create a masterpiece at a build station, check out the mini Midlands, have fun in soft play and take advantage of the 4D cinema and two rides. If you decide to visit the National Sea Life Centre as well, you can buy a combined ticket online to save money. Full details are on the Discovery Centre website.

National Sea Life Centre

It’s all about sharks at The National SEA LIFE Center in Birmingham for May half term 2023, from 20th May to 4th June. Home to the only 360-degree ocean tunnel in the UK, it’s a great place to get up close and personal with sharks. Learn everything there is to know about the fin-tastic species by going on an underwater adventure. Discover the truth about this commonly feared animal with a variety of shark facts.

Activities include:

  • Meeting a marine biologist
  • Searching for shark teeth
  • Following the Sharklife trail card on an aquarium adventure
  • Visitors will be able to enter a competition to win a VIP shark feeding experience

Full details are on the National Sea Life Centre website and you can read my review of a day out at the National Sea Life Centre. They advise booking in advance due to popularity of the attraction and are now a cashless site so remember to bring a card for any purchases you wish to make.

Octonauts Octo Glow Explorers at Sea Life Birmingham

Sandwell Valley Country Park

No specific event takes place for West Midlands May half term 2023 at Sandwell Valley. However, this is always a good option for a budget-friendly day out. Enjoy this outdoor space with great bird watching, and a Green Flag award-winning park. A traditional farmyard, walled kitchen gardens, a small museum, and award-winning tea rooms are all part of the fully restored working Victorian farm. Additionally, Forge Mill Farm has a farm store, a small animal area, a farm trail, and a playground for kids. There’s even an aerial assault course if you’re feeling adventurous. Football fields, crazy golf, tennis courts and pitch-and-put are also available for visitors. Sandwell Borough Council have further details.

Selly Manor

It’s time for a trip to Wonderland this May half-term. Visit Selly Manor between 29th May and 4th June for family-friendly activities, crafts and games that will send you down the rabbit hole. On the family trail, you can see the Red Queen’s roses and the Mad Hatter’s Tea Party. Discover the Selly Manor Garden. The Cheshire Cat says, “It doesn’t matter which way you go”! Full details of the event are on the Selly Manor website

The Wave

The Wave is one of the UK’s largest and newest indoor waterparks, located in Coventry city centre. Whilst it doesn’t have a specific event taking place during may half term, it’s always worth a visit. It features six epic slides, a large splash pad, the Wave Pool, Mana Spa, a 120 station gym, a 25m swimming pool, a class studio and squash courts. If you’re heading there for a day out during half term, look out for the Torrent with its disappearing floor, the cascade with its exciting plunge pool and a roller coaster ride on the rapids. Little ones will enjoy the splash pad and if you’d rather chill out, the lazy river is for you. Further details and booking information are on the Wave website. 

Think Tank Museum

The think Tank Interactive Science Museum in Birmingham has three activities taking place during May half term 2023, with each running from 29th May to 2nd June. All three are focused around climate change.

  • Climate Busking: Find out the impact our changing ocean is having on millions of fish shells within it. Find out what happens to them and how we can prevent climate change. 
  • Climate Crusaders’ Zoolab Show: Zoolab will be in the Thinktank Theatre. Visitors can handle exotic animals including giant snails, snakes and spiders. Learn about the way the planet is changing and how we can help. This 45-minute show will explore important topics such as Biodiversity, Climate Change, Deforestation and Global Warming.
  • Make your own plant pot: Make a paper plant pot and plant a dwarf french bean in it to take home.

For further information about the event and to book, head to the Think Tank website.

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