February half-term family fun in London is coming soon, full of activities kids of all ages will love! After a long wet January we could all use some play, creativity, and colour. We’ve rounded up a guide of five family-friendly activities we think look brilliant to try this half term. If you try any tag us on social media and share what you thought of the experience!
Imagine Children’s Festival: Southbank Centre
The big mama of half-term family fun in London returns once again, offering 11 days of theatre, comedy, music, literature, poetry, dance and family fun designed for children aged 0-11. This festival always has an impressive assortment of activities that suit a variety of ages and budgets (many are free!)
The week before half term focuses on early years fun: sing and dance along with The David Gibb Big Band or at a free Wondergig, and see Tom Fletcher’s book ‘There’s a Monster in Your Show’ come to life on stage.
Half-term highlights include dance circus fusion from Motionhouse’s Starchitects: A Cosmic Adventure, talks by Children’s Laureate Joseph Coelho and Michael Rosen, a new performance from YolanDa Brown, CBeebies Ocean Adventure with the BBC Symphony Orchestra, and workshops in the Art Makes People Powerful creative zone.
When: 7-17 February
Where: Southbank Centre
Age guidance: all ages
Cost: free entry, some activities require pre booking and payment
More info: website
Rebellious, revelling, rotten Romans family festival: British Museum
Inspired by the museum’s major new exhibition Legion: life in the Roman army there will be five days of playful and exploratory Roman-themed activities for families of all ages over half-term.
Kids can help grow the museum’s ‘Legion on the Lawn’ installation, travell back in time to explore the Roman galleries with our time-travelling trolley, handle objects and play Roman games, meet storytellers and hear tales about the Romans. Don’t forget to visit Claudius Terattus in the exhibition itself to see what fate you would have met as a soldier in the Roman army!
Art educator Christina Brown will be running workshops at this event. Check website for event schedule.
When: 12–16 February
Where: British Museum
Age guidance: 5+
Cost: free
More info: website
Explore new art exhibitions recommended by art expert mums
We interviewed three mums who regularly canvas the London art scene with their children to find out which art exhibitions of 2024 they were most excited to visit with their family. Many of their recommended exhibitions open during half-term, lucky us! One of these would be a day trip to Margate – a great idea for half term. (Did you know Emmy of @bablands wrote a new guidebook to Margate for Hoxton Mini Press?)
Check out their recommendations for 2024 art exhibitions and give them a go. Be sure to look at the websites of each venue first to see if they are running any workshops or events for families to further enhance the experience.
One of the mums we spoke with has previously shared her top tips for visiting art exhibitions with children, she has visited art shows for years with her three. This is a must read as it will greatly improve your art experiences with kids!
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Bounce House: Big Penny Social
This very popular (book in advance) bouncy good time event is back for half-term. A huge event space is taken over by massive inflatables, including an inflatable assault course! Sessions are one hour long, with accompanying adults and children under 6 months old FREE. On the Wednesday there will be a relaxed session at 12:45pm adapted for children with autism, learning difficulties and/or sensory sensitivities.
When: 12-16 February
Where: Big Penny Social, 1 Priestley Way, E17 6AL
Age guidance: all ages (10am sessions are for under 3s only)
Cost: £7 per child participating
More info: website
Two Family Shows at Unicorn Theatre
Not one but TWO family theatre shows are on at this lovely children’s theatre on the southbank near Tower Bridge. You are so well situated here to take in a show and then visit one of the brilliant attractions nearby such as Tower of London and Tower Bridge.
Ready Steady Lift Off! is an immersive theatre show combining live performance, music, storytelling and painting into one interactive theatre show. Join the weird and wacky astronaut programme through the seven stages of training, from working as a team in a space station to piloting your own rocket around this galaxy. This fun, craft-based theatre experience will get the family colouring and creating together.
In The Three Billy Goats Gruff you’ll meet Baby, Middle and Big – three very hungry goats with no grass left to eat on their side of the valley. Come on their adventure as together as they hatch a plan to cross the bridge to the lush green grass on the other side, they just need to outwit that horrible tricksy troll first.
When: Both on until 18 February
Where: Unicorn Theatre
Age guidance: Rocket 3-8 years / Billy Goats 3-years
Cost: Under Rocket: 18s £10.50 – £12.50 / Adults £12.50 – £15.50. Billy Goats: Under 18s £11 – £18.50 / Adults £16.50 – £27.50
More info: website
