Sunshine and adventures this May half term across Tewkesbury Borough
Posted on: 22 May 2026
Tewkesbury Borough is gearing up for a sunshine‑filled May half term with a wide range of family events running from 23 to 31 May. Highlights include Tudor living‑history tours, the Cotswold Festival of Steam, a ‘Play in a Day’ theatre session and a celebration of nature with falconry displays and creative workshops.
The half‑term fun begins on Saturday, 23 May with a step back into the 16th century. The John Moore Museum will host its Living History Tudor Tours at the Merchant’s House on Church Street, giving visitors the chance to explore everyday Tudor life inside the beautifully restored home. Tours run at 11.30am and 2.30pm.
Railway fans are in for a treat from Saturday, 23 May to Monday, 25 May as the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Steam Railway hosts its spectacular Cotswold Festival of Steam. This flagship event brings the golden age of rail to life, offering a nostalgic journey through the picturesque Cotswold countryside. Different engines will be in steam, and children can enjoy a range of activities based at Toddington. The bank holiday weekend is the perfect chance to stop off in Winchcombe and enjoy a trip into the town, with Winchcombe Museum currently running an exhibition to celebrate the centenary of Winchcombe Pottery.
Young performers will take centre stage on Tuesday, 26 May as The Roses Theatre hosts ‘Silly Shakespeare – A Play in a Day’, an action‑packed workshop for children aged seven to 11. In just a few hours, budding actors will work together to create, rehearse and perform their own Shakespeare‑inspired show, building confidence, creativity and plenty of laughter along the way.
For those who prefer hands-on crafting, the Old Baptist Chapel will host a workshop on Wednesday, 27 May, where children can create colourful handprint flowers to take home. A great opportunity to really study the beauty of nature close-up.
At Sudeley Castle, visitors can explore the grounds through a brand-new tree trail, enjoy magnificent falconry displays, and children can get their hands dirty with forest school sessions in the ancient woodland.
Tewkesbury Abbey has a programme designed to help families explore the wildlife that thrives in its historic grounds. Children can join bird and bug hunts, discovering the creatures that make the Abbey gardens their home, before getting hands‑on with traditional nature‑themed crafts such as bark rubbing and creating wild‑seed bird feeders. It’s a gentle, family‑friendly way to enjoy the Abbey’s beautiful setting while learning about the natural world.
For those who want to appreciate the borough’s natural beauty from a height, Cleeve Common provides the perfect setting for a wellbeing walk on Friday, 29 May, offering a chance to enjoy the limestone grassland and panoramic views in the sunshine.
For young creators, Nature in Art is packed with hands‑on fun. Try yoga, rock painting, salt‑dough, sun prints and nature journals, with sessions running morning and afternoon. Don’t miss Thursday’s sun‑printing workshop – the predicted bright weather to create unique images with greenery from the gardens. Booking is essential.
Tewkesbury’s Watson Hall will get toes tapping at the free Daytime Dance on Friday, 29 May, featuring swing and blues music from 1pm to 4pm.
The week reaches a musical finale on Sunday, 31 May at Gupshill Manor. The Crescendo Big Band, featuring the talented Marvin Muoneke, will perform a lively concert at 3pm, providing an upbeat end to a week of celebration.
Cllr Richard Stanley, Leader of Tewkesbury Borough Council and Lead Member for Economic Development, said: “With sunshine on the way, it’s a brilliant chance for families and visitors to get out and enjoy everything our borough has to offer.
“This half‑term line up really shows off the best of our towns, villages and open spaces. These events bring people together, support our fantastic local businesses and give everyone plenty of reasons to explore and celebrate our communities.”
For more ideas on what to see and do, pop into the Tewkesbury Tourist Information Centre. Full event details and booking links are also available on individual venue websites.
