May half-term savings on activities for the whole family

Make the most of May half-term with our pick of the best family activities – all of which you can save money on with your Boundless membership

May has to be one of the best months in the calendar year. Not only is the weather generally nicer as we welcome in the summer, but there’s also a half-term holiday at the end of the month (this year starting on Friday 22 May), meaning families across the UK get to spend some quality time together.

If you’ve got kids or grandkids, you may be wondering how to make the most of this early-summer break. To give you inspiration, we’ve come up with a list of family-friendly activities – and what’s more, all of our suggestions are tied in with discounts available with your Boundless membership, meaning you can save money while having fun. What’s not to like!

Go to the cinema, you must!

Come rain or shine, a trip to the cinema is guaranteed to keep the whole family entertained – especially if it’s a big movie blockbuster you’re going to see. And they don’t come much bigger than Star Wars! Yes, the legendary franchise is returning to the silver screen just in time for the half-term holiday, with The Mandalorian and Grogu landing on 22 May.

This long-awaited spin-off of the popular Disney+ TV series promises action and cute moments galore as Pedro Pascal teams up with his little green companion for more intergalactic hijinks.

Cuteness is also guaranteed in Charlie the Wonderdog, which sees Owen Wilson voicing a family pet who’s abducted by aliens before returning home with a range of superpowers. Featuring fabulous animation and plenty of laugh-out-loud moments, it’s bound to put smiles on faces.

And The Super Mario Galaxy Movie will also still be showing in most mainstream cinemas. Starring Chris Pratt as the titular Nintendo hero and Jack Black as his nemesis Bowser, this animated action romp is a must-see for fans of the iconic arcade franchise.

Boundless offer

Buy your movie tickets and snacks through The Cinema Society  and you can save up to 37% on the price.

Journey back in time

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If you or your kids love cars and bikes, then there’s no better place to be this May half-term than the Cotswold Motoring Museum. Since opening in 1978, this vintage emporium in Bourton-on-the-Water has been thrilling visitors with its vast collection of automobiles, toys and other artefacts. As you make your way around, you’ll encounter some truly fascinating vehicles, from rally racers to vintage ice cream vans – and you’ll even get a chance to meet Brum, the TV car cherished by generations of children. Add in immersive exhibits like a blacksmith’s workshop and ‘Windrush Alley’, and you have an attraction that’s perfect for all age groups.

Want to get a taste of what you can expect at the Cotswold Motoring Museum? We got to meet some of the motors.

Boundless offers

Since the Cotswold Motoring Museum  is owned by Boundless, members get free year-round access for themselves, one additional adult and up to five children.

Boundless also owns the neighbouring Cotswold Cottages, meaning you can get 20% off the price of your stay.

Join Boundless for a fun day

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Speaking of history, there’s a Boundless Member’s Day at the end of half-term week (30 May), when we’ll be at Belvoir Castle  in Leicestershire. The ancestral seat of the Duke and Duchess of Rutland for over a thousand years, this majestic stately home is hugely popular with families, who love exploring the stunning interiors, Capability Brown-designed gardens and meandering woodland walks.

With adventure playgrounds, picnic areas and a shopping village also on the menu, there’s very little chance of anyone getting bored.

Boundless offer

For our Member’s Day, you can make a 57% saving on adult and child tickets when compared with public gate prices. A family of five (two adults and two kids) would save a total of £44.80.

Take the biscuit

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You may not know, but 29 May is National Biscuit Day here in the UK – an annual opportunity to celebrate those delicious crunchy snacks we enjoy with a cuppa. Whether you prefer a chocolate cookie or a piece of shortbread, why not head to your local coffee shop for a biccie or two? With your Boundless membership, you can save money on your drink (and obviously you’ll need one to dunk your biscuit in!).

If you’re feeling ambitious, you could even bake your own biscuits at home – an activity that the kids are sure to enjoy. Take some inspiration from BBC Good Food's biscuit recipes – and don’t forget to use your Boundless membership to save on the ingredients.

Boundless offers

Members get free access to tastecard including Coffee Club, which enables you to get 25% off barista-made drinks at hundreds of chain and independent coffee houses across the UK.

Members can save money at a variety of supermarkets by buying a discount shopping card. To find out more, visit our Daily Discounts  page.

Boundless Group

Bring your love of food to the table with our Cooking and Baking Group. Perfect for everyone from beginners to seasoned chefs, this friendly online community lets you swap recipes and tips, enjoy quizzes and competitions, and share your biccie bakes with fellow food lovers in our exclusive members‑only Facebook group.

Meet some animals

Most kids love animals, and the May half-term gives you a great chance to get out and meet some of the creatures that were hibernating over the colder months. Major attractions such as Chester Zoo and West Midlands Safari Park enable young ones to discover a huge variety of species, from big cats to birds, providing an enthralling and educational day out.

Or, for a slightly different experience, head for one of the sites cared for by the Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust (WWT), where you can observe, and in some cases interact, with all creatures great and small.

Boundless offers

Members get free access to Kids Pass, which enables you to unlock discounts at many UK attractions, including both Chester Zoo and West Midlands Safari Park.

Members get free, year-round access to all nine WWT sites  across the UK for themselves and up to five children per visit. An additional adult can also enter for  half price.

Go away for a few days

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Finally, the May half-term provides a great opportunity to enjoy a family break, and you can make some amazing savings here using your Boundless membership. Whether you fancy a caravan in Cornwall, a cottage in the Yorkshire Dales or something a little further afield, you’ll be able to keep costs down, enabling you to keep some money back for your main summer holiday.

Boundless offers

UK breaks: Members get 5% off at Hoseasons, up to 20% off selected breaks at Haven, 5% off at Cottages.com, 8% off at Hotels.com, up to 20% off at Boundless-owned properties Whitemead Forest Park  and Cotswold Cottages, and 10% off motorhome hire with Swift Go.

International breaks:

See our full list of discounts on foreign holidays by visiting our Travel page.

^{This article was accurate at the time of publication. Please note information and offers shown may change over time.}