pavot

I have just realized to my horror that the week we have booked in a flat in London next May will be a half term holiday period.

I innocently visited the Tower during an October half term several years ago, and my head throbs at the very memory.

How bad will this be? No British Museum, National Gallery, or Tower redux? How about more far-flung sites like Kenwood House or the Wimbledon museum?

NB: I will have my 11-year-old with me, so it's not as though I hate kids. I just hate vast throngs of them.

flanneruk

Why would half-term be any worse than term time? The one thing about half term is that there aren't any school parties being crocodiled around. And I've never met a crocodile of schoolchildren being one tenth as ghastly as a sulk of French teenagers or a flounce of their Italian peers

London's crowded, and free museums attract young people - or at least those responsible for them. Get used to it.

Just avoid the Natural History and Science Museums on wet Sunday afternoons.

Tulips

If you have an 11-year old you'll be used to taking holidays during weeks when kids are off from school.

Whose half term is it in May? Not all of Europe has the same holidays. If it's the ascension day long weekend, it may be busier than usual with Europeans.

pavot

(I looked at the school calendars for a bunch of counties in Southeast England, and stopped after about the sixth one.)

I'm not trying to sound hysterical about this, but during the two months my family spent in London, there was a distinct difference in crowd levels at big venues during that half term week compared to other weeks. I can't believe I neglected to check the half term dates; it's been a running joke ever since.

Hello, Hampstead.

janisj

>>I have just realized to my <i><red>horror</i></red> . . .<<

>>I'm not trying to sound hysterical about this, but during the two months my family spent in London,<<

You actually are sounding a bit hysterical

Half term would not make anything more crowded except maybe the Tower of London because of more family visits. In fact I'd think most museums and such it wouldn't make any difference at all. More families visiting during half term and more school groups visiting the rest of the time, so it would all average out.

pavot

Gulp. You're perfectly right. And I am turning into my mother.

My family will be in Edinburgh for four months before this London week. I think we'll simply take the train down some earlier weekend for visits to the British Museum and the Tower.

Thanks, guys.

Heimdall

The London Airports might be busier, with so many families taking short holidays abroad. Other than that, apart from attractions popular with families, life will go on as normal.

Alec

A few points:
* UK half-term holiday per se has little overall effect on London. You will find as many Londoners with a family OUT of London as an influx of family visitors from elsewhere in UK.
* Half-term holiday dates aren't uniform throughout the country.
* By end of May/beginning of June, London will be getting into the peak tourist season and there will be more visitors from across the world. It's also the start of US vacation period with Memorial Day.
* Half-term often coincides with continental Ascension/Pentecost holidays, where in some regions schools close for a whole week. Ascension Day next year is 29th May.

franciemr

Is there ever an "off season" where sights to see are open yet crowds are less?

pavot

I found November to be ace.