The Peak District May half term events are being added as and when attractions and local businesses make their announcements. There are lots more to come!
If you’re planning your family days out in and around the Peak District for May half term, then you’ve come to the right place. With spring in full bloom across the National Park and lots of sunny days (fingers crossed) it really is a wonderful time of year to explore the UK’s oldest National Park.
May half term dates for Peak District schools are: 24th May to 1st June.
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For general days out, rather than specific events, please check out our guide to Family Days Out in the Peak District, which provides lots of inspiration. Although not much beats a long family walk in the Peak District or family bike ride, and perhaps a stop at a Peak District ice cream parlour afterwards to reward everyone’s efforts.
As always, we’ll be keeping this page updated as much as possible with news from these Peak District May half term events. But also keep an eye on the Peak District Kids Facebook Group and also our Instagram. Feel free to email us if you know of an event not listed here.
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1. Family Day Rock Climbing with Peak Lines
Running sessions throughout May half term
Click here for further information and to book
Click here for the Peak District Kids review
Spend quality time with your family, discover stunning locations in the Peak District, and create memories to last a lifetime with the family rock climbing sessions over the early May bank holiday weekend.
Peak Lines offer private half-day and full-day climbing experiences in the Peak District.
- The sessions are friendly, encouraging, and aimed to get you working together as a family
- You will have a go at climbing and abseiling, learn how to hold each other’s ropes and even learn some of the techniques essential to climbing independently
- The session will be tailored to you and your family based on experience, age, and fitness level
- Top-of-the-range safety equipment is provided
Half Day (3 Hours) £200 for a family of up to 6 people, any additional person is £55.
Full Day (6 hours) £299 for a family of up to 6 people, any additional person is £80 .
2. TrYumphant May Half Term Holiday Camp
Tuesday 27th to Friday 30th May, 8:30am-4pm with optional extra time until 6pm
Baslow Sports Field
From £29.75/day
Click here for more information and to book
The TrYumphant May Half Term Holiday Camp runs from 27th-30th May and is open to all kids, whether you live locally or are visiting on holiday. Rated 5 stars on Google, this camp offers a great mix of creativity, sportiness, and silliness to suit all tastes and talents. They pride themselves on low staff-child ratios (average 1:6) so that they can give each and every child a memorable, confidence-building and fun experience!
You can book in for as many or as few days as you like. A handful of families who visit the Peak District on holiday also use this as an opportunity to experience a kid-free date day (you’re on holiday after all), so perhaps try out a Peak District spa after a long walk?
Use code PDK10 to get 10% off or get 50% off with code FSM if you qualify for free school meals based on benefits.
3. Family activities and kids activity days at White Hall Outdoor Centre
Check this Eventbrite page for dates and to book online
Click here for our review of White Hall Outdoor Centre
Looking for something different to keep the kids entertained during the holidays? White Hall Centre offers a range of exciting activity days running throughout the school holidays. These courses span from one-day to five-day adventures, packed with fun and challenges.
Children aged 6 to 18 years are welcome to join. The centre also hosts family activity days, allowing parents to participate alongside their children, as well as SEND family activity days specially designed for families and children with special educational needs and disabilities.
Prices start at £39.40 per person, and a packed lunch can be provided upon request. Each day begins at 9:30 a.m. and ends with pick-up at 4:30 p.m. at White Hall Centre.
Activities on offer include:
- High and low ropes
- Zip wires
- Climbing walls
- Mountain biking
- Orienteering
- Artificial cave
- Problem solving
- Shelter building
- Canoeing
- SUP
- Caving
- Abseiling
Stream Scrambling start at £34.05 per person. Each day begins at 9:30 a.m. at White Hall Centre. With pick-up at 4:30 p.m.
4. Peaks and Paddles Kayak Hire / Family Canoe trips / Abseiling
Running sessions throughout May half term
Click here for further information and to book
Minimum age of 5yrs for all activities
Kayak hire
Paddle a tandem kayak , meandering at a leisurely slow pace along the Cromford Canal and return. Enjoying the wildlife along the way in a lovely location. 1hr approx.
Teens can paddle together provided a parent is supervising.
This is a no swimming / falling in allowed.
Family canoe trip
Just your group plus the instructor, take control of your canoe and cruise along the canal, with help from the instructor you will be in control in no time! Enjoy a few games and challenges along the way.
2hrs approx.
Millers Dale Bridge Abseil
With a head for heights descend 90ft into the valley below! Safety rope attached at all times with full instruction to get the most out of your experience. Min 4 goes each more if your quick!
2hrs approx.
5. Top Secret: The Magic of Science, Buxton Pavilion Arts Centre
Saturday 24 May, 2pm
Ticket Price: £10 (Children’s discount: £15)
Click here for tickets
Is it magic… or is it science?
Fusing the mystery of magic with wondrous and miraculous feats of science. Hang on to your seats and experience a non-stop action packed interactive magical science show with experiments and magic that will capture the imagination.
Top Secret is a fast moving colourful magical science show filled with mystery, suspense, and lots and lots of mess!
6. Hansel and Gretel at Buxton Opera House
Tuesday 27th May (11am, 1pm, 3pm – relaxed performance)
Ticket price: £13 (Children’s discount: £10)
Click here for tickets
Come on an enchanting adventure in Northern Ballet’s brand-new children’s ballet Hansel & Gretel.
In this reimagined classic, Hansel and Gretel take a walk through the woods, unaware of the damage they leave behind. But when they get lost, they meet a host of spirited friends who teach them how we can all better look after the planet – and have some fun along the way!
Northern Ballet’s magical ballets for children bring much-loved fairy tales to life with bold sets, bright costumes and brilliant live music and dance – the perfect way for you and your child to experience the wonder of ballet together.
7. 20% off at Bonkers Golf, Matlock
Open every day throughout May half term
Click here for further information and to book
Click here for the Peak District Kids review
Get 20% off your May half term fun at Bonkers Illumination Golf with code May20. Enjoy the exciting 9-hole illuminated crazy golf course, a great activity for the whole family. Discount only for online bookings (valid 26th May – 1st June).
8. Go for a family walk
A family walk in the Peak District is really number one reason to visit the National Park, and you should at least fit in one of our family walks into your May half term.
With hundreds of public footpaths criss-crossing the National Park and gentle rolling hills that aren’t too taxing on little legs, it’s the perfect free activity.
On this website we have over 80 family walks, including pram friendly walks and toddler walks, to more challenging walks such as Stanage Edge or Win Hill. Or you may even want to take on an epic walk up Kinder Scout with the kids.
9. Get out on the bikes
May half term is a good time to dust off the bikes stored away over the winter months, and head out on one of our Peak District cycle routes.
There are lots of old railway tracks that have been transformed into traffic free routes for walkers, cyclists, horse riders and wheelchair users through some of the Peak District’s most spectacular limestone dales. As these are traffic free and relatively flat, they’re a great place to go for a family bike ride.
Plus, there are also some lovely routes around the reservoirs (including Ladybower cycle route and Carsington cycle route), although kids will need bikes with gears for these ones.
Below are our top tried and tested Peak District family bike routes. Though remember, you don’t have to do the whole route, you can always cut it short for tired legs.
You may also like to read:
Things to do on a rainy day in the Peak District
Short and easy family walks in the Peak District
Things to do in Matlock and Matlock Bath