school holidays
 

we may be in London the first week in June and I notice that the children have that week off for vacation.

any opinion on how that affects one as as tourist?

There will be more munchkins about than usual. Otherwise, life goes on.

I'm hoping it doesn't make too much difference since I am planning to be in London the first week of June too!

I believe that Monday 31st May is a holiday; some shops may be closed.

Most schools in England and Wales have a week off around the end of May (half term). It's usually the week beginning with Spring Bank Holiday, which falls on 31st May this year, so most schools will be out till 4th June. There will be more families at tourist attractions, but the real crush will be outdoor attractions popular with locals like Thorpe Park, Alton Towers, zoos and Centre Parcs (bungalow and chalet complex). London will be busy with overseas visitors anyway so won't make much of a difference. Trains will be more crowded, and there will be more British families staying in hotels (including London), so book well in advance.

Joanel and Jame,

We'll be there then, too. Glad you posted, as I didn't realize this. Not that I'm going to change my plans, but it's good to know.

Just out of curiousity, what holiday is May 31st?

Just thought I would add that I am going to be in England from May 22-June 13, looks like we are all going at the same time! ;) I can't wait!!!!

ttt

Hi there,
Does this break flow through to Scotland as well? I will likely be in either France or Scotland by that time. My husband and I were planning to travel by the "seat of our pants" and have no real plans or hotels booked that week. SHould we be worried?

Thanks

May 31st is Whit Monday.

Whit Monday is a holiday everywhere in Europe (as far as I know). Many people go on a long weekend, so hotels could be fuller than normal.

I had to look this up for bellairgirl:

Like Easter, the Christian festival of Whitsun (which takes place 50 days later), has its origins in a Jewish celebration.

The Apostles were gathered in Jerusalem for the Feast of Pentecost (a day of thanksgiving for the first fruits of the harvest) and to commemorate the receiving of the Ten Commandments by Moses on Mount Sinai (Acts 2:1-4).


    And when the feast of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the houses where they were sitting. And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy
Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the spirit gave them utterance. Fired with evangelical zeal, the Apostles sought to spread the 'good news' throughout the world, and the birth of the Christian Church is often said to date from that first Whitsun.

To be homest, I can't think of anyone who actually treats it as a religious holiday. It's more seen as the first bank holiday of summer.

Schools in Wales break up for 2weeks at Easter from 5th to 19th of April. Half term is then 31st May until 7th June. The schools then break up on 19 July for the summer usually 6weeks.

Thanks, Kate!

It doesn't really matter if there are school holidays or not. We discovered long ago that there are no school buildings at all in Europe. Students are on a perpetual field trip going from one learning experience to another -- in large groups. Sometimes they interfere with the traffic flow a bit but most of the time they don't pose a problem for us tourists.

It's always crowded in London - school holidays or not! The sights that are popular with children (such as Natural History Museum, the Science Museum and the Tower) will probably be busier as will things such as the London Eye (which can be booked in advance anyway).
Then again, it's not as if it will be any quieter the week after just because the kids are back in school. As Ira quite rightly points out - life goes on.