Activities in London for kids to enjoy this February half-term, from fascinating exhibitions to vivid floral experiences
All products are independently selected by our editors. If you buy something, we may earn an affiliate commission.
From things that are just beginning to things that are just ending, there are numerous exciting experiences to be had this half-term to keep the kids upbeat. Whether they want to Moonwalk with Tom Hanks, save a sloth, or hang out in a giant ball pit surrounded by balloons, we’ve rounded up the best things to do in London and the UK this February half-term.
Picture This at the National Portrait Gallery
Best for all ages
Free drop-in photo workshops on Tuesday, 13 February will generate memorable family images to brighten up your home walls. You can dress as a ‘reclaimed rock star’, involving all sorts of chopping up and re-fashioning of recycled plastic bags – which may not sound very glamorous, but once you combine the influences of Moroccan artist Hassan Hajjaj’s photo portraits, it will all come together. There are also ‘Make a Statement’ workshops in the Art Studio and chances to experiment with merging images in ‘Wonder Wheels’ in the Clore Studio. However, note that the workshops are on a first-served basis, and spaces are limited.
Address: National Portrait Gallery, St. Martin’s Place, London WC2H 0HE
The Balloon Museum: EmotionAir
Best for all ages
The ‘biggest inflatable art event in the world’ was founded in Rome in 2020, and has been floating around the globe ever since. This half term is the last week to catch it in its London home. Here, twenty balloon-related installations connect art with the senses, including the centre-piece Hyperfeeling by visual artist Kissmiklos, where you can immerse yourselves in a ‘swimming pool’ of small yellow balls, with a ceiling of sky balloons. It’s a sophisticated take on a kids’ chaotic play pit, where teens and adults can also feel comfortable joining in. Giant inflatable bunnies and suspended spheres fill other spaces, along with corridors of mindblowing colour.
Address: 1 Old Billingsgate Walk (Riverside, 16 Lower Thames Street, London EC3R 6DX, United Kingdom)
Mat Collishaw: Petrichor at Kew Gardens
Best For ages 10+
There’s still time to catch these striking works by Mat Collishaw, one of the groundbreaking Young British Artists who emerged from Goldsmiths College in the Eighties. The show, entitled Petrichor (an ancient Greek word for ‘the smell of rain on parched soil’), is a series of paintings designed to emphasize all the wonder and strangeness that nature brings and the alarming effects that climate change may have. This is conveyed through the use of virtual reality and AI tools, which are increasingly shaping our digital future. It is thought-provoking for teens and mesmerizing for younger kids. Moreover, Kew Gardens always makes for a wild holiday hang-out.
Address: Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, Richmond
DIVA drop-in workshops at the V and A
Best for ages 5+
These drop-in sessions should be high on any budding fashionista’s half-term list. They are inspired by the museum’s current Diva exhibition, with its stories of iconic diva outfits (from Maria Callas and Tina Turner to modern-day head honcho Elton John) and the evolving definition of the role across popular culture. The ‘Diva Style’ activity allows experimentation with outlandish outfits, with the help of designer Matthew David Andrews, while the Video Game Dance Party is all about creating your own video dance game using color code blocks and interactive dance mats (note places are on a first-come, first-served basis).
Address: Victoria and Albert Museum, Cromwell Road, London SW7 2RL
Children Imagine Festival at the South Bank
Best for ages 0-11
The annual festival at the South Bank is back and bursting with over 130 events, shows, and a chance to delve deep into your creative skill set. Highlights include Chotto Desh from inventive choreographer Akram Khan’s company and a London premiere of the award-winning piece Starchitects by Motionhouse, which stays true to its circus dance style. The Sticky Dance, meanwhile, is an interactive installation born from a collaboration between The Place and the Southbank Centre, along with storytelling events led by greats such as Michael Rosen and a live version of CBeebies for toddlers.
Address: Southbank Centre, Belvedere Road, London, SE1 8XX
Dinosaur rEvolution at Horniman Museum
Best for ages 3+
A new exhibition explores how dinosaurs may have related to birds, according to recent scientific discoveries indicating that feathers and vivid colors were present among the T. rex community. The five animatronic models are sure to be giant crowd-pleasers, plus there are dinosaur dressing-up opportunities and themed games. Kids can then take inspiration from this experience and create their own take-home dinosaur or fossil sculpture in a half-term, hands-on workshop (advanced booking advised), with accomplished ceramicists and air-drying clay.
Address: Horniman Museum and Gardens, 100 London Road, London SE23 3PQ
Family workshops at Shakespeare’s Globe
Best for ages 5+
The history of Shakespeare’s Globe is still prominent in many English school curriculums, serving as an example of how nobility (in seats) and the ‘groundlings’ (standing) were separated during theatre performances, emphasizing the lack of toilet facilities for those on the ground – a fun fact for schoolchildren. These workshops offer a whirlwind glimpse into the theatre’s history and engage with Shakespearean language through games and activities based on the words and characters of his plays. Activities include The Tempest (ages 5-8) and Macbeth (ages 9-12).
Address: Shakespeare’s Globe, 21 New Globe Walk, London SE1 9DT
Wildlife Photographer of the Year exhibition at the Natural History Museum
Best for all ages
It’s much easier to persuade your children to visit an exhibition featuring fascinating photographs of animals in engaging environments, rather than a retrospective of abstract expressionism. This newly redesigned show continues to showcase wide-reaching and captivating photographs, exploring the beauty of the planet and the nature that resides within it. The exhibition sets a high standard for both the quality of photographs, technically and truthfully, with insights provided by scientists from the museum.
Address: Natural History Museum, Cromwell Road, South Kensington, London SW7 5BD
Moonwalkers: A Journey With Tom Hanks at Lightroom
Best for ages 7+
Coal Drop Yard’s Lightroom opened last year to great applause with David Hockney’s Bigger and Closer all-enveloping digital show. It has now transitioned seamlessly from art to Space to present Moonwalkers – showcasing original blown-up footage from NASA’s Apollo Moon missions (1969-1972). Narrated and co-created by Tom Hanks, who played astronaut Jim Lovell in Apollo 13, this spectacle is not only educational, but also immersively thrilling.
Address: Lightroom, 12 Lewis Cubitt Square, London, N1C 4DY
Half Term at Leeds Industrial Museum
Best for all ages
On Saturday, 17 February, there is a discovery day for aspiring inventors linked to the Engineery: Building Better Futures exhibition, highlighting the history of ideas by eminent civil engineer John Smeaton. Participants can meet university researchers and partake in interactive activities. Additionally, from 13 to 15 February, painting will be the crafty order of the day, taking inspiration from the museum’s printing collection. Families can also enjoy half-term ‘Mystery Matinees’ of family films daily from 2pm at the museum’s 1920s 24-seater cinema.
Address: Leeds Industrial Museum at Armley Mills, Canal Road, Armley, Leeds LS12 2QF
Valentine’s Trail at the Vyne, Hampshire
Best for all ages
Combine a visit to this handsome National Trust-owned Tudor house with a heart-hunt throughout half-term as a charming nod to Valentine’s Day. The Vyne has a rich history of Tudor kings and queens gracing its halls, and although it has undergone several transformations, it remains steeped in history and grandeur. After obtaining a trail sheet at the visitor reception, visitors can explore the Grade II listed walled garden and grounds, completing a heart-themed quiz.
Address: National Trust – The Vyne, Vyne Road, Sherborne St John, Basingstoke RG24 9HL
Power Up at Science Museum Manchester
Best for ages 5+
Power Up is still thriving at the Science Museum. After exhausting all forms of arts and crafts entertainment, the failsafe backup plan is gaming. Kids can explore scientific topics of interest before reaching the consoles, offering a chance to play everything from vintage Pacman to modern Minecraft, spanning a 50-year gaming history. Moreover, there are half-term games and challenges for all ages throughout the museum.
Address: Science and Industry Museum, Liverpool Road, Manchester M3 4JP
We’re Going On a Bear Hunt, Chichester Festival Theatre
Best for ages 3+
The under-five children’s classic by Michael Rosen, with iconic illustrations by Helen Oxenbury, is coming to the stage this February half-term at Chichester Festival Theatre. The production follows a family as they navigate through a forest and snowstorm to catch a bear in a cave. The returning show, directed by Sally Cookson, features a score by Benji Bower and numerous loud, uplifting songs along with vivid scenes.
Address: Chichester Festival Theatre, Oaklands Way, Chichester PO19 6AP
Sloth Savers at Wakehurst Gardens
Best for ages 5+
Embark on a planet-saving Nature Hero mission at Wakefield this half-term, allowing kids to don a stylish yellow cape and earn a badge in recognition of their nature skills. In this case, they become Sloth Savers through a woodland trail and mission pack that provides all necessary information. Sloths are endlessly fascinating, and there’s plenty to learn about the challenges they face, which will be highlighted here. Furthermore, artist Fernando Laposse has designed cute sloths to hang out with before the mission is completed.
Address: Wakehurst, Selsfield Road, Haywards Heath RH17 6TN
Techniquest, Cardiff
Best for ages 5+
While much fun awaits at Techniquest, it also serves as a serious science and technology centre for schools. It features five zones, ranging from Space to biomedical science, covering world issues, chemistry, and the environment. This half-term, enjoy Don’t Do This At Home (ages 5+) – a live science show using household objects to demonstrate what not to do, along with DNA Decoded (ages 7+), exploring genetic diversity through the investigation of human DNA compared to that of fruits or animals. Additionally, attendees can engage in double-helix model construction and DNA extraction from a strawberry.
Address: Techniquest, Stuart Street, Cardiff CF10 5BW
Farm Trails and Camp Fire Experiences at Drovers Rest Farm, Hay-On-Wye
Best for all ages
For a wild outdoor experience filled with tree-climbing, den-building, and campfire-making, head to Drovers Rest organic working farm. There will be Epic Camp Fire experiences, where kids can gather all the necessary campfire essentials, including S’more ingredients. Guided Safaris will run on Mondays, Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays throughout half-term (advanced booking recommended), allowing kids to learn about and feed the farm animals as well as participate in a mini-lesson on rewilding, wildflower projects, and meat-to-table ethics.
Address: Drovers Rest, Llanerch Y Coed Farm, Hay on Wye, HR3 6AG
