10 Great Days Out in Herefordshire for May Half Term
Our top picks for 2025
With schools breaking up on Friday 23rd May, and the Bank Holiday falling on Monday 26th May, the nine-day period until schools go back on 2nd June is packed with things to do. Ten terrific events and activities are listed below, with even more options to be found on our What’s On page here.
Hay Festival in Herefordshire: 22nd May – 1st June 2025
The annual literary festival takes place in the Welsh border town of Hay-on-Wye from 22nd May to 1st June this year. There are still tickets available for the main talks and music events, as well as a myriad of free events for families to enjoy, and a free-to-enter festival site with entertainment all week. Whilst accommodation in town itself is tricky to find, there are still plenty of options close by in Herefordshire. For example, there are still safari tents, sleeping up to four, available for 3 nights from Monday 26th May 2025 from £175 per night at Drovers Rest. This 16th Century Organic Farm is just a short drive from Hay itself; it hosts farm stays and all manner of fun farm activities. Or, combine a camping trip in the Golden Valley, staying at the biodiverse Chapel House Farm in the village of Craswall (the festival site is only a 20-minute drive away), with camping pitches for two from £30 a night and availability over the week.
SABOTAGE by NoFit State Circus in Hereford: 23rd May - 8th June 2025
The Cardiff-based circus is collaborating with the nearby Courtyard Theatre to bring their Big Top to the site by the Hereford FC football ground. The two previously collaborated in 2018 on ‘Circus Mundi' which celebrated the 250th anniversary of Circus with a specially devised piece performed by the NoFit State Youth Circus for Herefordshire’s Family Festival.
Tickets from £16 per person. Find out more information about SABOTAGE here.
All Aboard the Eastnor Castle Steam & Vintage Weekend: 25th – 26th May 2025
Eastnor Castle is less than three miles from the market town of Ledbury, and the Eastnor Steam & Vintage 2025 event offers a nostalgic day out at one of the UK’s best visitor attractions. Steam engines, vintage cars, giant garden games, model steam engine rides, a vintage carousel and dance workshops will all feature, and are included in the entrance price.
Whilst you’re there, enjoy Eastnor’s beautiful lakeside walks, the Knight’s Maze, the Junior Obstacle Course, adventure playground, woodland play area, rope swings and the stunning castle itself. Visitors are invited to bring picnics or eat in the Castle Tea Room.
Adult tickets cost £15.50. Child tickets cost £9.50. Family tickets including two adults and three children cost £45. Family tickets including one adult and three children cost £30. A few great places to stay in the area include: the cabins or camping at Cwtch Cabins near Much Marcle - from £285 for a three night stay.
Pre-book Eastnor Castle online at Eastnor Steam & Vintage | Eastnor Castle.
Woodland Adventures at Oaker Wood near Leominster: 27th - 29th May 2025
Oaker Wood is perfect for children aged over seven years who want to experience the thrills and freedom of a day spent in the forest, all 175 acres of it! If the grown-ups fancy a hike and the kids aren’t keen, then why not book them on to a half term holiday club day (27/29 May for 7-11s and 28th May for 11-16 ), which includes team games and zip wires for the younger ones, and high ropes and paintballing for the older ones.
The holiday club sessions for 7–12-year-olds cost £25 per child and run from 9am-3pm on 27th and 29th May. The teen session costs £20/half day £40/full day and is running on 28th May.
To book visit Holiday Clubs & Activity Days for the School Holidays or call 01568 780111.
Free of charge Teddy Bear’s Picnic at Shobdon Airfield: 28th May 2025
Shobdon Airfield is hosting a Teddybear’s Picnic from 11am-3pm on Wednesday 28th May. Pack a hamper full of Herefordshire treats, pop your favourite bear in your bag. and join in the family fun day. There will also be refreshments sold on site. The event is proud to support The Teddy Trust so if you have a spare teddy bear, please bring it along and donate to this wonderful charity. Activities on the day will include a bouncy castle, hook-a-duck, pass the parcel and of course a ’guess the name of the teddy’ competition! To reserve a free ticket, visit the Eventbrite website.
More information is available at The Shobdon Airfield website.
Wildflower Identification Workshop, Queenswood Country Park: Tuesday 27th May 2025
Queenswood Country Park & Arboretum is managed by the Herefordshire Wildlife Trust and is a fantastic place for visitors of all ages to explore the great outdoors by following a series of waymarked trails. Home to a nationally recognised arboretum and acres of semi-natural woodland, the site also includes a café, visitor centre, playground and a much loved Gruffalo sculpture trail.
On the Tuesday of half term week (27th May), Queenswood are offering a free and fun workshop for children aged 8-12 who love nature and being outdoors and want to learn how to identify flowers. from 2pm - 4pm. Places can be reserved here.
Climb to new heights at Green Spider, Hereford
Green Spider is Hereford’s biggest indoor roped and bouldering centre. Join the Green Spider crew for one of their fun-packed climbing adventure half term days which is open to 7-17 year olds. As well as climbing on a variety of walls, children will also take part in a wide range of fun climbing and non-climbing based activities. All instruction and equipment is provided and no previous climbing experience is needed.
The May Half Term Holiday Camp is priced from £48pp. Book here at the Green Spider website.
Alternatively, try out the Hereford Cathedral Tower Tour and test your legs by climbing 218 steps for some of the finest views of Herefordshire. Tower tours include the Lantern Gallery and Ringing Chamber, with a set of panoramic interpretation boards at the very top. Children must be accompanied by an adult, and the climb is recommended for kids aged eight or over.
Tickets are available in the Cathedral Shop. No pre bookings are taken, so please purchase tickets on the day. To confirm if a Tower Tour is running, telephone 01432 374 210 or head to the website.
The Small Breeds Park & Owl Centre, near Kington
Half term is the chance to see the animals and owls at this well laid out farm park and owl centre. There are plenty of youngsters to meet – perhaps a goat kid or two, a baby donkey and some owlets. Get in the pens with the friendly pygmy goats and feed them, watch the red squirrels scurry around and gaze at the 30+ species of owl. There are lots of open spaces and a small café for food and drink. Open daily throughout half term from 10.30am to 5pm.
Entry is £13 for adults, £9 for children with under twos going free. No need to pre-book but to find out more go to the Small Breed Farm Park website.
Take to the Water – canoe, kayak and paddleboard adventures await!
The River Wye is navigable by canoe or kayak for over 100 miles, and there are a range of excellent Herefordshire-based operators offering canoe, kayak and paddleboard experiences to suit all abilities for those aged four and over. There is even the option to book an overnight, or multi-day, adventure including camping. Whether you’re meandering along spotting kingfishers, peregrine falcons, herons, and swans; paddling away admiring ancient woodland, limestone cliffs and castles; or you’re taking on the thrilling rapids at Symonds Yat, you’ll get a unique perspective on the gorgeous county of Herefordshire.
Check out the Visit Herefordshire’s top paddleboarding and canoeing options here.
The Viking Games in the Golden Valley
Home to an exhilarating range of Viking-inspired group activities, Viking Games is the place to channel Nordic gamesmanship outdoors with the family. Take part in one or all of six traditional games - Axe Throwing, Archery, Paintballing, Laser Clays, Bullrings, Kubb, Molkky or Stige- adapted for twenty-first century fun and guaranteed to bring out the Viking warrior in all of us! Several packages are available, from £11pp for an hour activity. There are options for those aged eight years and upwards.
To book, visit The Viking Games website.
Accommodation
Green Dragon Hotel, Hereford
The Green Dragon, in the heart of historic Hereford, is one of the UK’s oldest hotels and in the perfect spot for the Cathedral Tower Tour, the Green Spider climbing or as a jumping-off point for one the river experiences. This gorgeous boutique hotel has eighty-three en-suite rooms, a fabulous lounge and the superb Hereford Restaurant. Plus, there is a great dining scene for food loving families – from Leaven pizza round the corner to Beefy Boys burgers a few minutes’ walk away.
The Family ‘Apartment’ room sleeping four people is available from £215 a night (from £257 a night including breakfast) and there is still some May half term availability on the Green Dragon website.
The Royal Hotel, Ross-on-Wye
Steeped in history, the Royal Hotel, Ross-on-Wye boasts some of the best views of the surrounding countryside. Built on the foundations of a 13th century Bishop’s Palace, this 42-bedroom hotel is a great base from which to explore the market town of Ross-on-Wye and the surrounding countryside during half term. A family room sleeping four people costs from £121.50 per night with availability throughout the half term week. Call ahead if you would like to bring your dog. For more information and to make a booking visit The Royal Hotel, Ross-on-Wye | Greene King Inns.
Wait, there’s more…!
There are countless more events unfolding across Herefordshire this half term. Plus, our event schedule is updated weekly, so there's always something new to explore.
