TREAT the kids to a fantastic half-term day out this week without breaking the bank.
There are superb free and low-cost events across the UK promising a lot of laughs at festivals, farms, forests, castles and animal parks. Trisha Harbord has selected a dazzling dozen.
FESTIVAL FUN
WITH a name like Super Duper, it is bound to be a great family festival.
For four days in half-term, Manchester is transformed into a giant playground with free activities in public spaces, cultural venues and landmark destinations such as the Central Library and Great Northern Warehouse.
There is storytelling with CBeebies, crafts, dancing, music workshops, shows and sports. Get a photo beside a Formula 1 car, or try the Lego workshop.
There will also be a carnival with a Victorian carousel and stalls, in St Ann’s Square.
GO: From February 18-21. Free. See visitmanchester.com
MARITIME MARVEL
EXPLORE 300 years of fascinating maritime heritage for free.
Pick up a pass from Portsmouth Historic Quarter’s Visitor Centre to access the boathouse, exhibitions and beautiful gardens.
Fantastic artwork installations include the new Standing With Giants — silhouettes of military figures, including Winston Churchill — to celebrate wartime sacrifice.
You can also see iconic vessels including the aircraft carrier HMS Queen Elizabeth, currently docked here.
GO: Free. See portsmouthhq.org.
BRICK SAFARI
THERE’S a new destination for Lego fans — Longleat Safari Park.
The Wiltshire estate is celebrating its 60th anniversary with a Brick Week, including tiny versions of animals, from lorikeets to giraffes.
Families can build creatures, structures, trees or plants, to become part of the brick safari.
Longleat’s Scott Ashman said: “It’s 60 years since the first drive-through safari outside of Africa.
“The brick safari will grow throughout the week.”
Enjoy adventure playgrounds, the railway or lake’s jungle cruise before driving to meet the real animals.
GO: Until February 22. Adult from £39.95, children £29.95, under-threes free. See longleat.co.uk.
FABULOUS FORESTS
RAIN or shine, get the kids outside with Forestry England.
There are trails, cycle courses, play areas and stargazing in woodlands across the country, including Hicks Lodge, Leics; Gisburn Forest, Lancs; and Kent’s Jeskyns Community Woodland.
A highlight is the Room On The Broom trail, based on Julia Donaldson’s famous story, at sites across the country, with themed activities to help the witch find her hat and wand.
An adventure pack costs £4 and includes a lanyard, stickers and spell cards.
Many forests also have a Gruffalo orienteering course, with giant sculptures littered among the trees.
GO: For free and low-cost events, see forestryengland.uk.
HORSING AROUND
MARVEL at the magnificent 100ft horse head sculptures that are the pride and joy of Falkirk.
The Helix: Home Of The Kelpies offers tours to learn about the engineering and how they represent the country’s history and industry, with horses having played a huge role in the development of the area.
There are exhibitions about the steel horse heads — the largest in the world.
And the surrounding Helix parkland has an adventure zone and splash play.
It is also perfect for walking and cycling.
GO: Tour for adult £8.50, child £3.50 (free with an adult ticket), under-fives free. See thehelix.co.uk.
ANIMAL KINGDOMS
LET the kids play at being vets, with a third off zoo tickets.
Vets In Action runs throughout this week at London Zoo and Whipsnade, Beds.
Youngsters will be shown how to do a health check on real animals while practising on cuddly toys.
At London, they will join a rescue mission to save precious Darwin’s frogs from extinction.
And at Whipsnade — a 600-acre site with 11,000 animals — kids can learn about the conservation and well-being of the chimpanzees.
GO: Until February 22. Adult tickets from £29 and children £20.30, under-threes free. Use code WEB30 at londonzoo.org and whipsnadezoo.org.
ADVENTURE TRAILS
NATIONAL Trust properties have a huge selection of events for little outdoor adventurers.
Croft Castle, near Leominster in Herefordshire, has a Wildlife Detectives trail where kids track down clues among the trees.
The 17th century manor house, complete with turrets and towers, has a secret garden and play area with rope swings and balance beams among 1,500 acres of parkland.
There is a welly hunt at Charlecote Park, Warks; orienteering at Wentworth Castle, South Yorks, and a Winnie the Pooh exhibition at Nymans, West Sussex.
GO: Croft Castle family ticket costs from £42.50. Detective trail with a prize costs £3. See nationaltrust.org.uk.
MAGICAL RESORT
HAVE a spell-binding time in Blackpool as the resort bursts into life for the February Festival of Circus and Magic.
There are free spectacular shows, live performances and hands-on workshops for four days at venues including the Blackpool Tower.
Street entertainers roaming through the town centre include singer Elton
Wrong driving a white piano. Try your hand at puppetry and circus skills.
Last year’s Britain’s Got Talent winner, magician Harry Moulding, headlines a show at the Pleasure Beach Resort.
GO: From February 19-22. Festival free. Harry’s show from £12.50. See visitblackpool.com/febfest.
PERFECT PASS
PACK in a host of attractions in York, there is something for all the family.
Most famous sights are just a short walk from one another and you can take your pick from 35 with a one-day pass.
They include the 7th century Minster — one of the world’s most magnificent cathedrals — the Jorvik Viking Centre, which is a fascinating journey back in time, and The Cocoa Works — a yummy lesson in chocolate-making.
Why not take a sightseeing tour down the River Ouse to hear about York’s history with City Cruises?
GO: A day’s Visit York Pass costs from £65 per adult, child £40. See yorkpass.com.
BARGAIN GARDENS
HERE is an offer you can’t refuse — pay what you can afford to enjoy a major attraction.
Throughout February, Cornwall’s Lost Gardens of Heligan, which normally cost £28 an adult and £12.50 a child, are letting families choose their own admission price.
The Neon Jungle roller rink is a highlight this half-term — skate to a playlist of retro hits.
Meet the Home Farm animals, including piglets, goats and donkeys, take part in question-time sessions and try horse tail-braiding. There’s a shop and cafe, too.
GO: Skate session £10. See heligan.com.
CUT PRICE FUN
BUTLIN’S is slashing day visit prices until February 26. There is 20 per cent off at Minehead and Skegness, and ten per cent off at Bognor Regis.
Families have access to the Skyline Pavilion at all resorts, with a packed schedule of shows and activities including Dino Expo, where kids come face-to-face with pre-historic predators.
There are fairground rides, Splash Waterworld pools with slides and flumes, football, plus arts and crafts sessions.
Bognor Regis has a four-storey soft play centre for 200 children, and the sister parks have playgrounds with climbing towers and trampolines.
GO: Adult day pass now costs from £29, child £12. See butlins.com.
CUDDLY ENCOUNTERS
IT always feels like spring is on its way at a lambing festival.
Get up close to the cuddly newborns at Park Hall Countryside Experience, Shrops, and, if you are lucky, see a birth.
The team will be on hand to educate youngsters on the new arrivals.
There are lots of other animals too including ponies, pigs, alpacas and chinchillas, on the farm near Oswestry.
And there are fun activities galore, with indoor play areas, science and music rooms, tractor and barrel train rides, go-karts, an adventure course and a 130ft zip wire.
GO: Until February 22. Ticket £14.95. See parkhallfarm.co.uk.