Half-term plans, Riverside crafts and rail works
Published Thursday 21 May 2026
This week: Bromley half-term dates, Reception waiting-list timing, free local activities, rail engineering and Orpington roadworks.
Top Updates
Half term starts after Friday for Bromley maintained schools
Bromley gives the summer half-term break for maintained and voluntary-controlled schools as Monday 25 to Friday 29 May, with term resuming on Monday 1 June. Academies can set their own dates, so check your school calendar before booking childcare or days out. Check Bromley school term dates.
Reception waiting-list reallocations begin from Tuesday
Bromley's primary admissions brochure says places that become available are reallocated from waiting lists from Tuesday 26 May until 31 December. If you are hoping for a higher-preference Reception, infant or junior place, keep an eye on messages from admissions and individual school appeal timetables. Read the primary admissions guidance.
Riverside Gardens family crafternoon closes booking on Monday night
Thames21 and South East Rivers Trust are running a free London Rivers Week family crafternoon at Riverside Gardens, Gardiner Close, on Wednesday 27 May, noon-3pm. It is aimed at young people aged 6 and up with an adult, with nature art, a river-themed scavenger hunt and river sampling; booking closes at 11:30pm on Monday 25 May. Book or check the Family Crafternoon details.
Three To Put In The Diary
Sunday 24 May, noon-4pm
Orpington Summer Food Festival
A free Sunday afternoon at Poverest Primary School, Tillingbourne Green, with food, non-food and art stalls, music and a Bollywood DJ set. Visitor entry is free. Check the Orpington Summer Food Festival details.
Wednesday 27 May
Chimps and Chums at The Walnuts
Orpington 1st is hosting a free half-term craft and brick-building activity at its Unit 24 BID office in The Walnuts Shopping Centre, opposite Shoe Zone, with the Chimps are Family exhibition alongside it. See the Chimps and Chums details.
Wednesday 27 May, 1-3pm
Tea and Toys at Christ Church Orpington
The under-fives drop-in runs in the large hall at Christ Church Orpington, Charterhouse Road, with toys, playdough, a baby area, songs and ride-on toys. It costs £1.50 per family and 27 May is included in the Spring and Summer 2026 dates. Check Tea and Toys.
What's On
Friday 22 May
Border Crossing and Kaz Langridge at Orpington Liberal Club, 7:30-10:30pm. A local evening music option on Station Road for anyone arranging a low-key night out before half term. See Orpington Liberal Club music listings.
Tuesday 26 May
Orpington Acoustic, 7-9:45pm. The regular acoustic night runs at Orpington Liberal Club on Station Road. See the club's music calendar.
Wednesday 27 May
Orpington Library children's activities. Orpington Library includes Baby Bounce & Rhyme for under-fives, Storytime for ages 2-4, Chatterbooks for ages 8-11, Pictures Alive for ages 4-7 and LEGO club; several activities are marked booking essential, so check availability before setting off. Check Orpington Library what's on.
Electric Jam Night, 8-10pm. Electric Jam Night runs at Orpington Liberal Club on Wednesday evening, useful if you are planning an adult evening after the first half-term days. See Orpington Liberal Club music listings.
Roadworks and Transport
- Southeastern bank-holiday engineering: Southeastern says there will be no services to or from London Cannon Street or via Greenwich from Saturday 23 to Monday 25 May, and the Maidstone East line is closed from Saturday 23 to Sunday 31 May. Orpington-line journeys may still be possible, but check planners before cross-London or Kent trips. Check Southeastern planned engineering.
- Goddington Lane and Tubbenden Lane: Scotia Gas Networks works include a Goddington Lane road closure through Tuesday 26 May. Tubbenden Lane has a closure until Thursday 21 May, with separate Bromley works continuing into the bank-holiday weekend, so allow extra time around school, station and park trips.
- High Street and Court Road: Bromley works are scheduled on Orpington High Street and Court Road across the issue week, including High Street works running beyond the bank-holiday weekend. Expect possible slow patches around the town centre and A224 approaches.
- Petersham Drive and Sevenoaks Way: Petersham Drive has a Scotia Gas Networks closure continuing into June. Sevenoaks Way also has longer-running gas works with a lane closure in the wider Orpington/St Mary Cray area.