London’s May half term is going out with a bang this weekend, and with the sunshine firmly on the forecast, there’s never been a better excuse to get the kids out and make the most of it before the school run reality kicks back in.
With plenty of ways to cool off as well as the right amount of indoor shaded fun, wrapped up with storytelling, crafts and music, here’s proof that the best half term days are the ones where nobody’s looking at a screen. Wherever you end up, pack the sun cream, accept that someone is getting soaked, and enjoy the last long weekend before summer term takes over.
1. Granary Square Fountains, King’s Cross
Granary Square has 1,080 individually controlled water jets, a brilliant splash park for kids of all ages and one of the best ways to cool off on a warm day near King’s Cross. It’s free, no booking needed, and there are loads of cafés and restaurants right there for a relaxed lunch, making for an ideal family day out in the heat.
Address:Â Granary Square, Kings Cross, London N1C 4BH
Find out more here
2. Natural History Museum, Monsters of the Deep
If you need a break from the heat mid-afternoon, the Natural History Museum has a new temporary exhibition called Monsters of the Deep, plus its Monster May Festival with drop-in activities like Jurassic Jaws (identifying prehistoric marine creatures from their teeth) and Ocean Tales. Entry to the museum itself is free.
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Dates: Until 3 January 2027, entry from 10:00-16:30 daily
Address: Waterhouse Gallery, South Kensington
Book tickets here
3. Bubble Explorers, Science Museum
New to the Science Museum this half term, Bubble Explorers is a live interactive show run by the museum’s Explainers, designed especially for under 7s. Expect giant bubbles, hands-on experiments, and plenty of wow moments as little ones discover the science behind how bubbles move and stretch. Tickets are £4.50, with under twos going free, and museum entry itself remains free, making it a brilliant way to duck out of the heat for an hour while still keeping little ones thoroughly entertained.
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Address: Exhibition Road, South Kensington, London, SW7 2DD
Book tickets here
4. Caribbean Connections, London Transport Museum
The London Transport Museum in Covent Garden is running a half term programme of family activities exploring Caribbean culture and its connections with London’s transport history, with storytelling, hands-on crafts, music, themed trails and simple cookery activities, all included with museum admission. Running until Sunday, so this is the last weekend to catch it.
Address: Covent Garden Piazza, London, WC2E 7BB
Book tickets here
5. Luminarium at Battersea Power Station
Luminarium LUXART is a giant walk-through inflatable sculpture with a network of winding tunnels, bulbous chambers and cavernous domes made from translucent PVC that filters natural daylight into deep, saturated colour. Visitors journey through a sequence of spaces including the calming Green Dome, the dramatic Red Tree chamber, and the spiralling Blue Helix Dome, culminating in a spectacular central Cupola. It opens this Saturday and runs through 31 May in Power Station Park on the Thames, making it a perfect half-term outing.
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Dates: Until 31 May, 2026
Address: Battersea Park, London SW11 4NJ
Book tickets here
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