FEBRUARY half-term is already here and you might be looking at the week ahead thinking – what do I do with the kids?
Well, many places across the UK are hosting special half-term events and activities at no cost.
With so many different activities you can ensure the kids will have fun without having to spend any money.
The Super Duper Family Festival, Manchester
The Super Duper Family Festival starts on February 18 and runs through until February 21.
Across four days, families can explore Manchester‘s public spaces that will be transformed into free Play Zones with games, dancing, activities, crafts, movies and performances.
For example, The Carnival zone will feature a Victorian carousel, Hook a Duck, Spin the Wheel, a Coconut Shy and Ferris Wheel Hoopla.
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Family Day: impasto studio, National Portrait Gallery, London
On February 17, families can head to the National Portrait Gallery between 11am and 4pm for fun-filled activities.
Between 11am and 1pm and 2pm and 4pm, families can take part in a sketcher’s session, where you get to make your own sketchbook.
At the same times, there will be two relaxed workshops where you can draw from still lives.
Or head to animal attire, to draw and collage an animal accessory to wear.
Across the day there are also free activity trails to explore.
Pancake Day races, various
This year, Pancake Day falls within the half-term holidays which is ideal to enjoy some pancake-themed fun.
For example, you could head to Leadenhall Market in London to see the Pancake Race at 12:30pm, where teams of four run a 20 metre relay flipping pancakes.
In Devon, you could head to Dartmouth between 2:30pm and 4pm to see an afternoon of pan-flips.
There is also pancake making of course…
Search ‘Pancake Day race near me’ to find your local event.
February Festival, Blackpool
Between February 19 and 22, there will be a festival of circus, live entertainment and family activities in Blackpool.
Events include Elton Wrong, who will be roaming the town centre with his mobile white piano.
There will be dancers on the streets too such as ballerinas.
Railway family fun day, Clitheroe Castle in Lancashire
On February 16, Clitheroe Castle Museum is hosting a family fun day to celebrate 200 years of the modern railway.
Across the day, there will be hands-on fun, creative activities and immersive railway heritage.
At the castle, visitors will be able to see a working ‘Rock and Roll’ model railway, meet Lancashire children’s author Susan Brownrigg who will read extracts from her book Wrong Tracks, play train spotting games and decorate your own train wagon.
In addition, there’s the ‘Tracks of Life: Trains, People and Place’ exhibition, which celebrates the life and work of Ken Roberts (1928–2024) who was a local railway enthusiast and photographer.
Nottinghamshire Festival of Science & Curiosity
Nottinghamshire Festival of Science & Curiosity returns for another half-term full of activities.
Running until February 20, you can get involved in a number of different activities that are designed to inspire curiosity and imagination.
These include geology workshops, bath bomb making, Lunar New Year celebrations and Lego sessions.
Ikea events, various
Ikea is a great day out in itself, but did you know each store often hosts free events too?
For example, you could head to the Hammersmith store this week for Lunar New Year Fun sessions.
Or perhaps visit Ikea Exeter for spring flower garden canvas painting.
Just head to Ikea’s website and then to the events section and explore the activities at the store near you.
Seven Stories – The National Centre for Children’s Books, Newcastle
If your kids love reading and are good with their imagination, then head to Seven Stories – the UK’s National Centre for Children’s Books.
Inside, visitors can explore children’s stories through exhibitions, performances and workshops.
Cotswolds Designer Outlet
Across this week, the Cotswolds Designer Outlet will have special guests from Scrubditch Care Farm.
Kids can meet therapy farm animals, which include baby lambs and goats.
There will also be a farmyard trail where little ones can spot colourful animals around the shopping outlet.
There’s an indoor soft play area and adventure playground too.
Waterstones stores treasure hunts, various
Over this half-term, Waterstones stores across the country host scavenger and treasure hunts.
For example, at Waterstones York Monks Cross, there are events themed on Winnie the Pooh’s 100th birthday.
Every day at 11am there will be a storytime session, then there are themed colouring sessions and a picture hunt as well.
Or at Waterstones Carlisle you can browse the bookshelves to try and find Dav Pilkey’s Dogman.
For more inspiration on things to do during half-term, here’s 12 of the best free or budget activities across the UK to keep the kids busy in half term.
Plus, here’s how to have a fun half term entirely for FREE – from tennis lessons to kids’ meals and epic days out at the zoo.