May half-term is officially upon us, and keeping the kids entertained for a whole week can often feel like a serious workout for your wallet. But don’t panic! You don’t need to blow the budget to have an unforgettable week of family fun in the capital.
From scaling historical Spanish galleons to hunting down virtual sheep, we’ve rounded up 10 fantastic activities in and around Cardiff that will keep the kids grinning and cost under £10 per child ticket. Pack the snacks, grab your calendar, and dive into your ultimate budget-friendly holiday checklist.
The Ultimate Budget Half-Term Guide
Feast On, Bute Park
Cardiff’s brand-new independent food festival is making its grand debut in Bute Park! While it’s a massive celebration of local restaurants and street food traders for the grown-ups, it’s also packed with family-friendly live music, open-fire cooking displays, children’s entertainment, and chef demos.
When & Where: 29th – 31st May | Bute Park, Cardiff City Centre
Price: General child tickets (ages 5–15) are just £7.50 (+ booking fee), and under 5s are completely free. (Adult entry is £9.00 for Friday sessions)
More Info & Booking: Secure your entry slots online via the official Feast On Cardiff Website
Shaun the Sheep: Fun with the Flock AR Trail
Aardman Animations has brought a brilliant interactive adventure right into the heart of the city’s favourite shopping centre. Families can download the “Fun with the Flock” Augmented Reality app and use the special location code 2403 to hunt down nine hidden markers. Scan them to unlock animated farmyard scenes, complete fun challenges set by Bitzer the dog, and snap some fantastic family selfies.
When & Where: 1st – 31st May | St David’s Dewi Sant, Cardiff
Price: FREE! Plus, if you complete the trail, you can collect an exclusive Shaun the Sheep sticker from Guest Services and enter a draw to win a £100 gift card
More Info & Booking: No booking required. Learn more on the St David’s Cardiff Event Page
St Fagans National Museum of History
You can never go wrong with a classic day out at St Fagans. Spread across 100 acres of gorgeous parkland, it features over forty authentic historical Welsh buildings that have been carefully rebuilt on-site. From old-fashioned schoolrooms to traditional sweet shops and working farms, it’s the ultimate spot to pack a picnic, enjoy the fresh air, and let the kids step back in time.
When & Where: Open daily, 10 am – 5 pm | St Fagans, Cardiff
Price: FREE entry (On-site parking is £6.50 for the day)
More Info & Booking: Plan your visit at Amgueddfa Cymru / Museum Wales.
Lido Ponty (The National Lido of Wales)
Take a quick, scenic bus or train ride just north of the capital to Pontypridd’s Ynysangharad War Memorial Park. Lido Ponty features a stunning, beautifully preserved Art Deco design with three outdoor pools, a main pool, an activity pool, and a dedicated splash pool with a water umbrella fountain for little ones. Best of all? The water is heated to a lovely, warm 28°C.
When & Where: Open daily for half-term sessions | Pontypridd
Price: Kids aged 16 and under swim completely FREE (though a 50p booking fee applies). Adults are just £3.50 (+ 50p booking fee). You can also add an optional activity ticket for the inflatable obstacle course or aqua peddlerz for an extra £3
More Info & Booking: These sessions are incredibly popular and sell out quickly. Book your slot on the Lido Ponty Ticket Portal
Take to the Seas on the Galeón Andalucía
Prepare to be amazed down in the Bay as an imposing, 55-meter-long historical replica of a 16th-century Spanish galleon docks at Britannia Quay. Acting as a spectacular floating museum, kids can climb aboard to explore its six massive wooden decks, view interactive exhibits, and chat with the live-on-board crew to see what life was truly like for historic high-seas sailors.
When & Where: 29th May – 7th June, 10am – 8pm daily | Britannia Quay, Cardiff Bay
Price: Online child tickets (ages 5–10) are exactly £7.00, and children under 5 are free. (Adult tickets are £12.00, making it a budget-friendly family day out)
More Info & Booking: Secure the cheapest rates by booking online in advance at Fundación Nao Victoria Tickets
Visit Paddington Bear at Cardiff Castle
A quick heads-up: While you might look for a cultural icon inside the National Museum, everyone’s favourite marmalade-loving bear is actually taking a break over at Cardiff Castle! Placed as part of the UK-wide Paddington Visits trail to celebrate the Paddington in Peru movie, you’ll find a life-sized bronze statue of Paddington sitting happily on a bench. It’s the perfect spot to sit down, have a chat, and take an adorable family snapshot.
When & Where: On-going | The Public Square / Castle Green, Cardiff Castle
Price: FREE! It costs absolutely nothing to enter this public section of the castle grounds
More Info & Booking: No tickets or bookings required; find out more at the Cardiff Castle Events Page
Recycled Spring Tulip Crafts at IKEA
If you need a creative indoor escape from the unpredictable Welsh weather, IKEA Cardiff is hosting fantastic green-themed workshops this half term. Their signature drop-in session invites children to roll up their sleeves and craft beautiful spring tulips out of entirely recycled materials.
When & Where: Drop-in sessions run from 1 pm – 4 pm on select half-term dates | IKEA Cardiff, Grangetown
Price: FREE! Even better: if you’re an IKEA Family member, kids can enjoy a hot meal in the Swedish Restaurant for just 95p
More Info & Booking: No registration is required for the drop-in craft, but you can view their entire holiday itinerary on the IKEA Cardiff Events Hub
Cardiff International Swimming Pool
Head over to the International Sports Village for the ultimate indoor water playground. The fantastic Leisure Pool features full-throttle flumes, a space bowl, a winding lazy river, and a bubbling whirlpool. For toddlers, there’s a wonderful, safe interactive play structure complete with a mini slide and tipping water buckets.
When & Where: Open daily (Check the schedule for ‘Full Features’ vs ‘General Splash’ times) | Olympian Drive, Cardiff Bay
Price: Junior tickets (ages 4–15) for the action-packed Full Features sessions are £7.35, and babies/toddlers under 3 swim completely FREE. (Adult tickets are £9.35)
More Info & Booking: Grab your swim times directly at LeisureCentre.com
Parc Play, Grangetown
Forget dark, stuffy indoor soft-play zones. Parc Play offers a unique, all-weather combination of indoor, undercover, and outdoor timber play structures. Tailored for kids up to age 12, the park boasts zip wires, a massive double slide, a timber castle, and a giant sand-and-water play area featuring a pirate ship. Parents can kick back on a deck chair with a coffee while the kids let off steam safely.
When & Where: Open daily throughout school holidays, 10 am – 5 pm | Curran Embankment, Grangetown
Price: When booking online, adults are £2.00, toddlers (ages 1–3) are £6.50, and older children (ages 4–12) are £8.50
More Info & Booking: Sessions are capped to ensure plenty of room to play. Book your 2-hour slot early via Parc Play Cardiff
Under 7s Session at Spit & Sawdust
Kick off the half-term holiday a little bit early on Sunday morning! Cardiff’s incredibly welcoming community skatepark completely clears out the big kids to let the tiny tearaways (ages 0–6) take over the ramps. It’s a wonderfully relaxed, supported environment, and it is the only time that balance bikes, plastic toy scooters, and tiny wheels are allowed on the skate floor. Parents can walk out on the ramps to assist or relax in the brilliant on-site café.
When & Where: Sunday, 24th May, 10 am – 12 pm | Rhymney River Bridge Road, Cardiff
Price: £7.00 per skating child
More Info & Booking: Pre-booking is strictly essential as spaces fill up fast. Secure your spot at Spit & Sawdust Skate
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