Fantastic Northern Family Days Out this May Half-Term

With summer just around the corner and the anticipation of the upcoming half-term, it’s the perfect time to embrace the season, embark on exciting adventures, gain knowledge, and, above all, have an unforgettable summer experience. Prepare to immerse yourself in Northern Life’s top recommendations for delightful days out in Lancashire and Yorkshire during this summer half-term break…

York’s Chocolate Story, York

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Are you looking for a fun half-term activity for the whole family? Unwrap the history of chocolate at York’s Chocolate Story! This award-winning attraction is in the city’s heart, offering an interactive guided tour through 4,000 years of chocolate history.

Our Tour guides will take you on a journey of York’s confectionary past and present, where you’ll discover the stories of those who pioneered the chocolate industry, from its exotic origins in the rainforests of Central America to the cobbled streets of Yorkshire. Discover fascinating facts about iconic brands such as Kit Kat and Aero and learn how to taste chocolate like a true Chocolatier, indulging in numerous chocolate samples hand-crafted by our on-site chocolatiers.

Get hands-on chocolate experience and craft your very own chocolate lolly, personalising your design with a selection of chocolate toppings before packaging your creation ready to take home with you. Experience a live demonstration from one of our Chocolatiers before venturing down to our café and gift shop, where you can shop a range of delectable chocolate treats and delicious drinks. Tel  – 01904 527765 /info@yorkschocolatestory.com /www.yorkschocolatestory.com

Lancaster and Morecambe Bay

There’s plenty to do in Lancaster and Morecambe Bay this May half term. The famous Festa Italia returns to Lancaster City Centre with a week of music and fun leading up to the finale on Sunday, 28th May – a fantastic day of entertainment and family activities, cars and motorbikes, food and drink, and more!

Lancaster’s Dukes Theatre enters into the holiday spirit with an excellent half-term offer – families can enjoy musical comedy, drama and dance with Showstopper – The Improvised Musical (27th May), and little ones can watch The Singing Mermaid (30th-31th May) as she joins the circus in search of a life of excitement! The Platform in Morecambe offers an excellent show for little ones on 30th May – join in with the music, games and fun as Molly and her puppy Bingo celebrate a birthday in I Spy With My Little Eye!

Also, in Morecambe on the 3th and 4th June, you can come along to That Spring Thing, a celebration of spring with music, food, planting, crafts and storytelling, then head to Happy Mount Park to enjoy the Splash Park (pre-bookable at the kiosk on-site), play areas, trampolining and mini golf.

For more information: www.visitlancaster.org.uk / www.exploremorecambebay.org.uk

Royal Armouries Museum, Leeds

Mosey on down to the Royal Armouries Museum for a rootin’, tootin’ sharpshootin’ action-packed May half-term (27th May – 4th June) with an Old West theme.
Daily activities will include a High Noon shootout, stunt-riding horse shows (pre-book your tickets £), have-a-go activities like a tin can alley shooting gallery, and loads of adventure stories about cowboy adventurers, buffalo hunters, sheriffs and outlaws.

You can even make your own sheriff’s badge. Admission to the museum is free, but please pre-book your tickets to guarantee your visit.

Royal Armouries Museum Leeds LS10 1LT
Open daily 10am – 5pm www.royalarmouries.org.uk

Affinity Lancashire, Fleetwood

Get set for a half-term week of swashbuckling adventures at Affinity Lancashire in Fleetwood!

Hop on board to join the crew for a week of exciting and FREE pirate events.

On Saturday, 27th May, between 12 and 4 pm, join their Little Cod Club with Sea Life Blackpool for sea-themed fun, learning and craft. Then on Bank Holiday Monday, 29th May, meet a real-life pirate and mermaid at the centre telling remarkable stories from the deep between 12 and 4 pm. There’ll be fun, games, and face art too!

On Tuesday, 30th May, and Thursday, 1st June, join the hunt for treasure between 11 am and 4 pm. Scour the centre for the golden coins, collect the hidden letters, and then return to the starting point to collect your reward.

On Wednesday, 31st May, you can get creative at their Sand Art Workshop, which runs between 11 am and 4 pm. Then on Friday, 2nd June, join them for some bouncy, inflatable fun, again between 11 am and 4 pm!

To end the week, visit on Saturday, 3rd June, where you can graduate as a pirate at their How to be a Pirate Workshop. Full of swashbuckling fun, you’ll have plenty of Pirate adventures as you learn how to be a fantastic crewmate – and you’ll end the session by graduating as a fully-fledged Fleetwood Pirate. The workshops start at 11 am and will run in small groups, with the last session starting around 3.30 pm.

As Lancashire’s only outlet shopping centre, Affinity Lancashire boasts over 40 high-street brands with savings of up to 60% off RRP. If you’re hungry, you’ll find an excellent choice of independently operated cafés, plus there’s a free indoor soft play area for the under 5’s. They’re open seven days a week, parking is free, and they’re also dog friendly! With the Fleetwood marina on their doorstep and the NEWLY OPEN Fleetwood Garden World, you’re bound to enjoy your day at Affinity Lancashire. For full details, visit www.affinitylancashire.com or find us on Facebook.

Are you ready for your Affinity Adventure?

Eureka!

Jet off to Eureka! in Halifax this half term to explore all things STEAM!

No – not the stuff that comes out of your kettle but activities and workshops exploring Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Maths!

Open from 10am to 5pm daily from Saturday 27th May through to Sunday 4th June, the Eureka! team will be joined each day by a special guest running an array of STEAM-based activities, including the Orchestra of Objects and their “Make & Play” activity – like giant construction toys with musical components, so you literally make then play your creation!

On other dates they’ll be joined by CreativeHut will be running tech-based challenges, FLUX Dance will be imagining what it’s like to dance on other planets, KaplaClubs will be running construction workshops, and more.

Visit the Eureka! website to see what’s on each day over half term: https://play.eureka.org.uk/event/may/

 

 

Yorkshire Air Museum

Attention all half-term adventurers! Get ready to soar through the skies of excitement at the Yorkshire Air Museum in Elvington, where a world-class aircraft collection awaits you. From the pioneers of flight to the lightning-fast supersonic jets, this museum has it all!

This half term, prepare for an extraordinary experience with the thrilling HIDDEN HARRIERS TRAIL. Starting from May half term and running throughout the entire summer, embark on a mission to find the elusive Hidden Harriers scattered throughout the museum grounds. Keep your eyes peeled for ‘H’ the Harrier jump jet, cleverly camouflaged in ten secret locations. Can you discover all of H’s hiding places and uncover the letters that form the top-secret word? This captivating trail is absolutely free and perfect for kids of all ages!

On June 1st and 2nd, there is an incredible line-up of half-term events for kids that will take your aviation enthusiasm to new heights. Step into the shoes of a pilot as you venture into the cockpit. Climb aboard a selection of aircraft, including the legendary Desert Storm Buccaneer, the agile Harrier, the iconic Vampire, the nimble Jet Provost, and even a thrilling Dragonfly helicopter. Feel the thrill of sitting in the pilot’s seat and let your imagination soar!

But that’s not all – brace yourself for The Dakota Experience, where you can truly immerse yourself in the world of a World War II paratrooper. Step inside our authentic Dakota aircraft and witness what it was like to be a paratrooper during this historical era. Please note that children under 4 years old can join in for free but will need to sit on laps. The sessions will be held in the morning and afternoon on June 1st and 2nd and it’s a first-come, first-served basis. There is a small £5 additional charge to participate in these extraordinary activities. Simply pay at admissions and receive a wristband granting you access to the captivating cockpits and the awe-inspiring Dakota.

Want to dive deeper into history? Discover the gripping exhibition, Minutes to Midnight – hot jets in the cold war. Explore the pivotal role of aircraft during the tense Cold War period, where Western nations and the Soviet Union locked horns in a nuclear stalemate. Unveiled on April 21st, this captivating exhibition spans the entire museum, from the grand main hangar to the immersive cinema. Delve into personal reflections, experiencing first-hand the Cold War’s impact on British culture.

The site is wheelchair accessible, with the exception of the first floor of the Control Tower, and dog friendly, and there is a free car park. Yorkshire Air Museum is open Thursday-Tuesday 10 am-4 pm.

yorkshireairmuseum.org

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