It’s the first half term of the year and this year everything is open, yay! Half term activities for families in London are abundant, creative and fun. With wet weather predicted we’ve put together a guide to primarily indoor ideas, appropriate for a range of ages. Go get em!
Imagine Children’s Festival – Southbank Centre
The big mama of February half term, the Imagine Children’s Festival offers 12 days of family-friendly fun. There are free drop-in activities, free book in advance activities, and pay bookable activities. From babies to teens, Southbank Centre is great at offering fun for range of ages. Outside the main entrance, the free, fantastically fun Family Activity Trail by artist Anna Bruder sets the tone perfectly for this festival. There’s music, art, storytelling, games and dance inside… jump in!
When: 9 Feb – 20 Feb
Where: Southbank Centre
Cost: varies, there is some free stuff!
More info: website
Waste Age: What Can Design Do? – Design Museum
We all know waste is a big problem. So how are we going to fix it? This exhibition showcases how a new generation of designers is rethinking our relationship to everyday things. Pick up the free Family Trail and follow a journey around the exhibition to redefine, reflect and commit to what you can do about waste as a family including fun interactives, thought provoking talking points and perfect selfie moments. The museum is also holding a couple half term workshops for children including coding and screen printing.
When: Until 20 Feb
Where: Design Museum
Cost: Family ticket from £24
More info: website
Vets in Action – ZSL London Zoo
My daughter took part in Vets in Action at London Zoo during a half term a couple years ago and she absolutely LOVED it, and has talked about it many times since. Basically kids get to take part in a variety of hands-on activities that make them feel like junior zoo animal doctors and it’s really cute and fun, with a good dash of education thrown in!
Read our review of the experience HERE.
When: 12 Feb – 20 Feb
Where: ZSL London Zoo
Cost: Included in entry ticket
More info: website
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Free Play Sessions at Mudchute Farm (plus – donkey rides!)
Mudchute Park and Farm is a 32 acre site in the middle of the Isle of Dogs that is free to visit and often has fantastic family activities. Their weekly play session brings out the creative, adventurous side in all kids, and good news is they have extra sessions schedule over half term. Plus… donkey rides!
When: Play – Saturday sessions 11am-3pm, plus during half term play is on Monday, Tuesday, Friday and the following 11am-3pm. Donkey rides – Tuesday, Thursday, Sunday; 10:30am-12:30pm and 1:30pm-2:30pm. The cafe is not open on Monday and Tuesday so they suggest you bring snacks and a thermos!
Where: Mudchute Farm
Cost: Free entry, free play. Donkey rides £3.
More info: Insta page
Cats and Dogs – Horniman Museum & Gardens
From studying animal behaviour to examining human relationships with our feline friends and devoted doggos, visitors to Cats and Dogs at the Horniman can enjoy games and simulations to better understand them and their behaviour. This immersive exhibition explores the scientific, social and cultural role that cats and dogs play in our world, and invites visitors to go on a sensory journey, exploring what it’s like to be a cat or a dog.
When: 12 Feb – 30 Oct
Where: Horniman Museum & Gardens
Cost: Family ticket £19
More info: website
Beano: The Art of Breaking the Rules – Somerset House
Have any Beano fans in the house? Then a visit to this exhibition is a must-do. It’s a bright colourful comic journey that will brighten any day.
Step into the pages of the comic and take a trip into Beanotown to explore how this icon of British comics has fired up successive generations to break the rules, while discovering artists who push boundaries in their own original and wonderful ways.
Read about our family visit to this exhibition HERE.
When: Until 6 March
Where: Somerset House
Cost: Family ticket £38 (2 adults, 2 kids aged 6-11); 5 and younger are free.
More info: website
Featured photo from the touring exhibition Cats and Dogs.
