Primary Times - the definitive what’s on and where to go family guide of activities and events for children of primary school age. Things to do with your kids during the school holidays including arts and craft activities, music and theatre for children, parties, competitions, days out, and family attractions along with term time drama schools, dance classes, after school clubs and sports activities. Things to do at a place near you!
May half term in Devon 2021
With restrictions continuing to lift and the weather (hopefully) improving, this May half term is a great time for families in Devon to get out and about to explore our amazing county and see what our fabulous local businesses have to offer! We've pulled together some of our favourite suggestions for things that are going on. We are currently pulling together our bumper summer edition so if you have any events that you would to see featured - send us an email here
**Do not forget that due to the ongoing global situation, activities and events are more subject to change than ever before so we always advise you to double-check that the event is still going ahead and as you expect or before travelling and making any arrangements. Please also expect that due to visitor and attendee numbers being reduced, spaces will fill up particularly quickly so if you are interested in anything below - be quick!
Crealy Theme Park and Resort is the South West’s Number One Family Day Out, home to over 60 rides and attractions, live shows and exciting seasonal events. From 29th May – 6th June*, the Theme Park will be open every day for ‘Cause Mayhem this May’ half term celebrations so guests can enjoy rollercoasters, outdoor play areas, waterslides and animals galore! Plus, in line with the current government guidelines, the Theme Park will also be reopening all of its indoor rides and attractions, which include three soft play areas, totaling over 60,000 square foot, and four indoor rides so you can be guaranteed fun whatever the British weather may bring!
Also reopening will be their new indoor animal attraction, Jungle Journey, which is home to some exotic animal residents from all over the world including a Red Iguana, Chinese Water Dragons, Crested Geckos and the world’s longest species of snake – the Reticulated Python. May Half Term will also see the return of their famous mascot, Buddy Bear, to the outdoor Piazza Stage with his new show for 2021 – Buddy’s Big Bash! All under 92cm go free!
*subject to change pending any further government updates.
All May Half Term tickets must be purchased online and in advance before your visit at the Crealy website
Family fun at St Nicholas Priory, Exeter
Visit St Nicholas Priory this May half-term to try out their brand-new kids based activity!!
Designed by the artist collective White Wall Yellow Door (who specialise in producing family engagement materials) the ‘Brass Rubbing Trail’ makes a fun and inspiring way to explore Exeter’s oldest building.
For more information, opening times, or to find out about the other family activities on offer at St Nicholas Priory, please visit their website
Bear Town is back
Bear Town is reopening on Monday 17th May ready to greet its next set of explorers. Built for children, Bear Town is a truly immersive indoor role play experience that is not only amazing fun but educational too, supporting the Early Years Foundation Stage.
Children aged 1-7 years will have a great time learning through play. Whilst the children explore the town, grown ups can relax in the Bear Café enjoying a fantastic range of freshly ground coffee, cakes, snacks and delicious meals. Visit their website to book your ticket!
The Bear Trail
The Bear Trail is Devon’s muddiest family assault course!
With 30 obstacles and unlimited mud! An award-winning mud-fest of an attraction, the Bear Trail is a family-friendly mud run obstacle course set on a 10-acre site.
Scramble over the bear nets, zip down the zip wire and tumble through the tunnels. Tackle the assault course together as many times as you like; this is a mighty mudder for all ages.
Once you’ve tackled the assault course together, relax at the Bear Cave Cafe serving delicious wood-fired pizzas, paninis, drinks, treats and more. Or bring your own picnic and enjoy our outdoor picnic areas.
Open weekends and school holidays, visit their website to book your next adventure.
RHS Rosemoor encourages families to grow together this summer
From 29th May to 13th June, RHS Rosemoor is encouraging families to Get up and Grow with a full raft of activities and a new trail to inspire people of all ages.
The trail will show how plants have evolved to attract different kinds of pollinators with their scent, colour and shape, and visitors can learn which plants in their own gardens are beneficial to various insect groups. Activities will include a self-guided garden trail (available daily) for both adults and children as well as planting workshops (weekdays only) designed to inspire people to grow at home.
The Get Up and Grow trail is available to download from the Rosemoor website (where you can also find out more information and book tickets). On completion of the trail, each family can pick up some wildflower seeds and a booklet to help people grow for pollinators at home. Don’t forget to visit the Garden Centre too which is stocked full of products to help families grow at home
RHS members go free but all visits by members and non-members need to be booked online in advance, to avoid disappointment.
For more information, please visit the RHS Rosemoor website
Pennywell Farm is Devon’s Best Visitor Attraction . . . . . again!
The multi award winning visitor attraction has done it again, picking up the top tourism award, Best Visitor Attraction, for a second year running at the Devon Tourism Awards. It’s the first time that any attraction has won the award two years in a row. Added to Best Visitor Attraction in the South Devon awards in 2018, it’s a three-year award-winning run!
The team at Pennywell would love to welcome you to experience their award-winning fun. You can meet hundreds of friendly animals and enjoy activities, rides, shows and displays.
Book tickets via the Pennywell Farm website
River Dart Country Park has reopened
River Dart Country Park is now open for Day Visitors. Packed with adventures and fun for all the family, explore slides, forts, zip wires, a pirate ship lake, and much more in our large Adventure Playground. Take on exciting Dare Devil activities including; high ropes, the new climbing experience, and canoeing (available at additional cost) It’s time for family fun in the great outdoors. River Dart Country Park is back!
Pre-book day admission and activities at the River Dart Country Park website
Marvellous May Half Term at Woodlands Family Theme Park!
Plenty of fun for all the family! PLUS, character appearances* from Paw Patrol’s Chase on Monday 31st May and Hey Duggee on Tuesday 1st June. Meet Richie the Raptor & Tank the Triceratops on our Dinosaur days. Titan the Robot is back on Friday 4th June! Don’t forget to bring your camera!
*Characters appearing at intervals throughout the day.
See the Woodlands Family Theme Park website for discounted tickets and to find out more about our events.
World of Country Life open again!
World of Country Life in Exmouth are pleased to announce that they have reopened ‘Appy Angus park mascot and the rest of the team are so pleased to welcome back visitors to the park all the animals are looking forward to seeing everyone and there are some really cute new additions to meet too! The park has all the necessary measures in place to comply with the industry standard Visit Devon Good to Go scheme so you can be assured of a safe environment to enjoy your day.
Go along and have some fun you can book on the World of Country Life website
Colour me happy at China Blue … Trying to find a gift or simply looking for something different to do?
China Blue’s Paint Your Own Ceramic Studio has pottery to suit any style, from magical fairy castles to fierce dragons, plant pots to crockery! They can host Paint Your Own Parties and take care of the cake too! After all that creativity, you can rest and refuel in their Café where all their food is homemade and locally sourced. Make memories to last this May Half Term. Coupon on Page 19. Booking is essential to paint in their COVID safe studio, call 01803 860908 and visit their website at www.china-blue.co.uk/
Get ready to explore The Donkey Sanctuary
Are you curious? Do you like adventures? Then get ready to explore the sanctuary with their new family activity trail, ‘An Adorably Curious Adventure’. Discover the A-Z of fun facts on an adorable donkey adventure like no other and complete the trail activities along the way to claim a prize and a sticker on completion. Plus, with daily talks, scenic walks, engaging exhibits, award-winning gardens and, of course, hundreds of friendly donkeys, there’s so much to explore with your own herd, whatever the weather. Open every day from 9am, entry and parking is free. Dogs are welcome on a lead. Find out more at The Donkey Sanctuary Sidmouth website.
House of Marbles is open again!
House of Marbles in Bovey Tracey is back open and as always is a great free place to visit with unique museums, games garden, working glassworks & shop with many amazing marble runs too. The restaurant now has heated outside daytime dining, with children’s menus available. Well behaved dogs are welcome. They will also have a fun new addition to our team arriving very soon – a Where’s Wally themed Moor Otter! It will only be around for this Summer though…
Find out more at the House of Marbles website
Explore Dartmoor National Park in 2021
Join Dartmoor National Park for fun activities at their award winning Visitor Centres during the school holidays, including their Mad about Mapping week in May half term. From the 28th May they will be offering lots of ‘otterly’ fun when their Moor Otter friends come to stay.
Don’t forget to pick up your Time for Nature Challenge sheet and celebrate Dartmoor’s 70th year as a National Park with them.
Start your Dartmoor adventure at the Dartmoor National Park website
Also, don't forget to keep checking our regularly updated event listings on our homepage and don't forget to check out our Facebook, Twitter and Instagram