Dragons & reptiles & bears, oh my!
Get ready for a week of wild adventures this May half-term at Brighton & Hove Museums!
Families can hunt for dragon eggs inside the Royal Pavilion, meet reptiles and minibeasts at Brighton Museum, and bring their favourite teddy bear to a giant picnic at Hove Museum this May half term.
We have a packed programme of family events and activities running from 24-31 May across our venues, with storytelling, crafts, live animal encounters and outdoor events taking place throughout the holiday.
DRAGONS at the Royal Pavilion
The Royal Pavilion is at the centre of this year’s fun with its new DRAGONS exhibition, transforming the palace into a world of mythical creatures and hidden surprises. Children can follow a dragon trail through the palace searching for carved beasts and hidden eggs, hear dragon roars in the halls and even step inside a dragon’s mouth.
Half-term events at the Pavilion include:
Animals, Crafts and Exhibitions at Brighton Museum
At Brighton Museum & Art Gallery, families can get close to reptiles, minibeasts and furry animals during Jaws N Claws on Tuesday 26 May.
Children can also get involved in more dragon fun with Dragon’s Den: Story Time at Brighton Museum on Tuesday 26 May and then create and paint their own dragon to take home as part of Museum Makers: Dastardly Dragons on 27 May.
Visitors can also discover the newly opened Wildlife Photographer of the Year exhibition with over 100 stunning images of the natural world, and explore the power of blue in the new Into the Blue exhibition curated by Colour Historian, Alexandra Loske.
Teddy bears and hopping good fun at Hove Museum
The half-term programme at Hove Museum of Creativity includes Dragon’s Den: Story Time on 25 May and Museum Makers: Dastardly Dragons creative workshops on 28 May. Take a wildlife walk with Sussex Wildlife Trust on 24 May to discover more about swifts and the amazing efforts taking place in conservation to reverse the decline in the swift population.
The week concludes with a city favourite: The Big Teddy Bears Picnic at Hove Museum Gardens on 31 May. Families are invited to bring a picnic and their favourite teddy bear for an afternoon of games, crafts and storytelling in the museum gardens.
And don’t miss our new FREE family-friendly exhibition Hop! Skip! Jump! that explores the wonderful world of animals from Brighton & Hove Museums’ fine art collection. Hop like a bunny, meow like a cat, and help the animals feel at home in their new habitat. Search through the paintings to find hidden piggies or snoozing foxes and learn about what makes these animals so amazing.
Preston Manor opens new exhibition
Preston Manor will host a special guided tour on Sunday 24 May exploring more than 1,000 years of the site’s history. The tour coincides with the opening of the new Manor in the Making exhibition and the unveiling of a replica model of Preston Manor.
Family activities including dressing up, toys and a trail are around the house throughout the long weekend with Preston Manor and Café Rust inside now open on Mondays including Bank Holidays.
Hedley Swain, CEO of Brighton & Hove Museums, said:
“Half term is always a brilliant time to see our museums come to life. From hunting for dragon eggs in the Royal Pavilion to meeting reptiles, making crafts and enjoying a teddy bears picnic in our green spaces at Hove Museum, there’s a packed programme of activities for families to enjoy together. We’re looking forward to welcoming visitors across all our sites for a week of hands-on discovery, creativity and fun this May half term.”
The programme runs from 24–31 May across Brighton & Hove Museums’ sites, with a wide range of family-friendly activities designed to spark curiosity, creativity and hands-on discovery throughout the school holiday.
Brighton & Hove Museums is a registered charity, and proceeds from admissions, events and donations help support the care of its historic buildings, collections and learning programmes, ensuring they can be enjoyed by present and future generations.
