Looking for family friendly half term activity ideas in London this February? After a bit of a quiet patch London museums and other attractions are ready to unleash a wide array of kid-friendly half term activiies. We’ve put together a half-term activity guide for families, many of them start this weekend – check it out and enjoy!
Imagine Festival at Southbank Centre
This annual 12-day art and culture festival for families always offers so much – including daily FREE activities. This year you can feed and interact with dinosaurs, celebrate the Harry Potter books and go on adventures with Pippi Longstocking or jam with CBeebies’ star YolanDa Brown and her YolanDA’s Band Jam – a live music show created for kids. Featured speakers include Michael Rosen, Dermot O’Leary, Cressida Cowell and Konnie Huq. There will be international performances, literature, comedy and creative activities. Not forgetting the enormous floor chalk board and trippiest sandbox experience (READ OUR REVIEW) you’ve ever had.
When: 12-23 Feb
Where: Southbank Centre, Belvedere Road, SE1 8XX
Age guidance: varies by activity
Cost: varies by activity – some free
More info: website
Workshops at Pickled Pepper Books
This gem of a local bookshop has some amazing sounding workshops coming up. Character Design Workshop; Childrens’ book author and illustrator Emily Snape will help kids develop their own unique characters, focusing on expression and movement and invent original drawings to take home. Underwater Puppet Making and Drama Workshop; Children will use recycled materials to make their own sea creature puppet and learn how to bring it to life. As a group they’ll use their puppets to create a magical underwater scene. Lego Workshop; Kids will create their own fantasy worlds with two hours of non-stop fun. At the end of the session they’ll share their builds giving participants the opportunity to talk about their creations.
They’ll also be author events with Alex Milway, Gabby Dawnay and Alex Barrow.
When: 17-21 Feb
Where: Pickled Pepper Books, 10 Middle Lane, Crouch End, N8 8PL
Age guidance: varies by workshop
Cost: varies by workshop
More info: website
Animal Hospital at London Zoo
Playing vet is a favourite role-play game for many kids, now they can practice at the zoo! At London Zoo’s ‘Animal Hospital’ kids will be able to truly step into the role of a vet during a packed week of interactive family events celebrating their incredible work. After reporting for duty at the hospital’s reception, junior vets will pop on their white coats and pick up their schedules before joining the team in the Zoo’s specially-recreated zoo vet clinics. Becoming part of the action, children will help experts examine, x-ray and carry out treatments on toys, experiencing first-hand the huge variety of work carried out by the Zoo’s vets, vet nurses and zookeepers – from microchipping meerkats to removing plastic from the tummy of a sea turtle.
When: 15-23 Feb
Where: ZSL London Zoo, Regent’s Park
Age guidance: primary school aged kids
Cost: free with admission
More info: website
RELATED CONTENT – Animal Adventure Zone at London Zoo
Richer Education Science February Half-term camps
Fun and educational camps for children participating in a variety of demonstrations, group activities and practical experiments and will learn about exciting and enriching topics. Students learn through a hands-on approach and are welcome to take home any objects they have made throughout the week. Choose between Science Camp and STEAM (science, technology, engineering, art, and mathematics) Camp. A full list of activities can be found on the website.
When: 17 – 21 Feb; 9am-3:30 pm (registration opens at 8:40am).
Where: Science camp – Baden Powell House, 65-67 Queens Gate, SW7 5JS. STEAM camp – The Hampshire School, 15 Manresa Road, Chelsea, SW3 6NB.
Age guidance: Science: 4 to 11. STEAM: 8-14. Minimum age 8, no exceptions.
Cost: £390 / £395
More info: website
Junior Detective Activities at The Postal Museum
From crime-fighting gadgets to secret messages: The Postal Museum hosts activities for mini detectives this half term. A programme of fun and interactive activities is planned; from making a wax sealed letter for extra security, to sensory storytelling and a unique detective training trail around the museum. There are activities for all ages inspired by The Postal Museum’s temporary exhibition The Great Train Robbery: Crime and The Post. For centuries the post has come under attack. From pirates on the seas and highway men on the roads to robbers, spies, crooks and thieves – all trying to swindle the service and intercept top-secret messages.
When: 17-22 Feb
Where: The Postal Museum, 15-20 Phoenix Pl, WC1X 0DA
Age guidance:
Cost: free with admission
More info: website
‘Music and Your Baby’ with Monkey Music
A free baby development music workshop during which you’ll learn how to support each milestone through music at home. The workshop will focus on how through singing, cuddling, rocking, dancing, talking and clapping you can encourage the pathways of your baby’s brain to make new connections, playing an vital part in the future emotional and intellectual development of your child. Expect a lovely nurturing environment with specialist tracking instruments, imaginative sensory and absorbing activities, specialist hand held baby percussion instruments, super puppet ideas, amazing giant parachutes, lullabies and lots of bubbles!
When: 21 Feb; 10:20am
Where: The Hollywood Arms, 45 Hollywood Road, SW10 9HX
Age guidance: 0-8 months
Cost: free, booking required
More info: website
‘Cars: Accelerating the Modern World’ at the V&A Museum
Vroom vroom into this exhibition that brings together a wide-ranging selection of cars that have never been on display in the UK, each telling a specific story about their impact on the world. Showcasing 15 cars and 250 objects across three main sections, the exhibition examines how the car changed our relationship to speed, how it changed the way we make and sell, and how it altered the landscape around us, from countryside to cityscape.
