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Easter holiday fun
What's on at the museums!
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H. H. Lines
Architecture, Archaeology and ArtUntil Sunday 8 June
At Worcester City Art Gallery and Museum -
Eduardo Paolozzi
General Dynamic F.U.N.Until Sunday 30 March
At Worcester City Art Gallery and Museum -
Oak Apple Day
Living history at The Commandery
Bank Holiday Monday 26 May -
The Worcestershire
Conquest HoardAt Worcester City Art Gallery and Museum
Until Sunday 30 March -
ESCAPE ROOM
Commandery Quest
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What’s on in the May half-term holiday 2025 at the museums!
From a day of living history at The Commandery to celebrating National Children’s Gardening Week at Hartlebury Castle, there’s something for everyone to get stuck into this May.
Here’s what families can enjoy in the May half-term holiday at The Commandery, Worcester City Art Gallery and Museum, and Worcestershire County Museum at Hartlebury Castle…
At Worcestershire County Museum, Hartlebury Castle
It’s National Children’s Gardening Week this May half-term holiday!
This week’s family activities are inspired by the wonderful nature and wildlife all around Hartlebury Castle.
Celebrate the fantastic bees and bugs that live in the grounds and gardens as you explore with this fun family trail. It’ll take you both inside and outside the Castle and Museum, so be ready for an adventure!
When you’re finished, head back to the shop to collect a special bee sticker.
Whole-site admission + 50p for Bees and Bugs trail (or included with family activities – £3.50). Book online in advance at hartleburycastle.com or drop in on the day.
Tuesday 27 to Thursday 29 May, 11am – 4pm.
It’s National Children’s Gardening Week this May half-term holiday!
Inspired by the wonderful nature and wildlife all around Hartlebury Castle, children can make their very own mini bee hotel during the holidays.
You’ll make your bee hotel from a terracotta pot which you can decorate, some clay and bamboo sticks.
Discover the history of Worcestershire as you explore the Bishop’s Palace and County Museum with the May family trail too! And be sure to save some energy for the woodland adventure playground.
Whole-site admission + £3.50 for crafts (includes the Bees and Bugs family trail). Book online in advance at hartleburycastle.com or drop in on the day.
At The Commandery
Step back in time to 1660 and celebrate the restoration of the crown on Bank Holiday Monday in a fantastic day bringing history to life in Worcester.
Oak Apple Day marks the historic moment when King Charles II returned to the throne following the English Civil War.
Where better to commemorate this historic moment than at The Commandery, the Royalist Headquarters in the final battle of the Civil War?
Delve into an exciting day of living history for all the family – there’ll be:
- Fantastic reenactors to encounter as you make your way around The Commandery
- Living history camps to explore
- Musket firing in the gardens
- Pike and cannon drills for children (and grown-ups!) to get hands-on with
- History talks about Oak Apple Day and the English Civil War
- Wonderful refreshments available at Little Al’s Kitchen at The Commandery
Plan your visit
Usual admission applies; free admission to those with a season or residents’ pass. Find out more.
Book day tickets to The Commandery. Advance booking is not essential, you can just turn up, pay in the shop, and get stuck in!
What is Oak Apple Day?
The Commandery is one of the only places in the UK to still celebrate Oak Apple Day, also known as Restoration Day.
This spring tradition marks the anniversary of the restoration of the monarchy in 1660 following the English Civil War – and has a special connection to the city of Worcester, the scene of the deciding battle in 1651.
Nine years after Charles II hid from Parliamentarian troops in an oak tree following the loss of his Royalist cause at the Battle of Worcester, he returned to the throne on his thirtieth birthday, 29 May 1660 – which became the annual celebration of Oak Apple Day.
Tuesday 27 – Friday 30 May, 10.30 – 11.30am.
What was life like for a Civil War soldier? Follow in their footsteps at The Commandery, which was the Royalist battle headquarters in the English Civil War in 1651…
Have a go at pike and cannon drills, play games soldiers would have played, and see if you can identify the smells of the battlefield!
Join soldier school sessions from 10.30 – 11.30am Tuesday to Friday during the May half-term holiday.
Admission info
£4. The sessions are drop in so no booking is required.
General admission to The Commandery applies to all visitors and can be either booked online in advance or purchased on the day of your visit.
Head to the Plan Your Visit page for further admission options – including discounts for Worcester residents (if you pay Council Tax to Worcester City Council), season passes, and membership. These can be purchased when you visit and aren’t currently available online. Your ticket can be upgraded on the day of your visit.
At Worcester City Art Gallery and Museum
Navigate your way around the Art Gallery and Museum to find all 8 animals and plants from under the sea – can you spot them all?
Once you’ve found them all, head to the Activity Space where you’ll see the painting ‘A Song of the Sea’ by Albert Julius Olsson. Draw your own sea creature inspired by the seascape – real or imaginary!
£1; purchase from the shop. Free entry to Worcester City Art Gallery and Museum. Plan your visit.
Be inspired by the snappiest animals in the Easter holidays!
Pick up your activity bag to make a cracking crocodile, a paper-plate hippo, and create your own version of the museum’s ichthyosaur fossil!
Each activity bag has multiple themed activities inside along with colouring and puzzle sheets. The Art Gallery and Museum is fully equipped for young creatives to get going on their making.
£2.50; purchase from the shop. Free entry to Worcester City Art Gallery and Museum. Plan your visit.
Be inspired by the sunny weather at the Art Gallery and Museum as you get arty in the May half-term holiday with artist Inner Knowings!
Make your own suncatcher to take home with you, and work together to create a big suncatcher to go on display in the Activity Space.
There are creatures from the sea in the museum’s natural history collections – and you can create your own using paints and straws to blow shapes.
Aimed at children ages 5 – 11 years old; older siblings welcome.
This workshop runs twice on Wednesday 28 May at 10 – 11am and 11.30am – 12.30pm in the newly refurbished Activity Space.
£5; limited spaces – please book online here.
About Inner Knowings
Inner Knowings is an emerging local artist whose projects (including the Big Worcester Doodle and the penguin Doodle McZenguin featured on the Waddle of Worcester trail, summer 2024) aim to highlight the benefits of using creativity to increase mindfulness and improve wellbeing.
Have fun!
