Looking for things to do in the February half term in London with kids? In this guide, you’ll find a list of 2024 family events, workshops and activities that are coming up in London over the February half term break.
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When are the February half term school holidays?
The February half term school break for most schools around London is the week from Monday, 12 February to Friday, 16 February 2024.
What’s On February Half Term in London with Kids
Plan your days out with this list of things to do in London over February half term. I will keep adding to this list as more family events and activities are announced, so do check back for more updates in the coming weeks.
London February Half Term Activities Map
I am also pinning the top places in London for February half term family events, activities and workshops in the “February Half Term Activities in London” Google Map Guide. For a direct link to the map to bookmark, click here. To explore the map, click on the door sign with an arrow just before the map title.
Half Term History Makers at Eltham Palace
15 – 23 February 2025
Enjoy a great value day out at Eltham Palace and Gardens in Greenwich. Join characters from the past for historical hijinks and hands-on shenanigans.
This February half term, be transported back in time to the Victorian period by magical lantern shows and stories. Free to visit for English Heritage members.
Book tickets to visit Eltham Palace and Gardens
Light Festival at Battersea Power Station
25 January – 25 February 2024
Explore seven light art installations at Battersea Power Station’s annual free Light Festival. Many of the installations, from British and international artists, are enhanced with soundscapes and interactive elements.
There will also be family-friendly workshops (paid), live entertainment and music throughout the Light Festival. Look for free face painting over the weekends of 10 – 11 February and 17 – 18 February. To celebrate Chinese New Year, there will be special dragon face painting on 10 February and dragon workshops on 10 – 11 February.
Related: Lunar New Year in London with Kids
Family-friendly workshops over February half term include a LED Hula Hoop disco, creating a stained glass window butterfly and creating a personalised heart wooden tealight holder.
See the full Light Festival 2024 programme and book workshops at Battersea Power Station
Imagine Children’s Festival at Southbank Centre
7 – 17 February 2024
Southbank Centre’s annual Imagine Children’s Festival is running over February half term, with a full-on programme of children’s theatre, music, dance and more. 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 and workshops in the Art Makes People Powerful creative zone.
For children aged 7+, there’s a great range of events including Chotto Desh, from the Olivier award-winning choreographer Akram Khan, Rosie Jones: The Amazing Edie Eckhart, Patrick Kane: Human 2.0 and, for children aged 9+, the Stand Up to Racism Writing Workshop with Yassmin Abdel-Magied.
See the full event programme and book tickets at Southbank Centre
Lunar New Year Family Festival at Museum of London Docklands
10 – 11 February 2024
Welcome the Year of the Dragon at the Museum of London Docklands’s weekend family festival. Listen to classic Chinese folktales, learn how to ribbon dance, master martial arts moves and create a dragon mask.
Lion dance performances will be on at 12pm, 1pm, 3pm and 4pm in the Riverside Room. Arrive early to avoid disappointment, as visitors may be turned away if the space is too full.
Related: Lunar New Year in London with Kids
Some events at the Museum of London Docklands Lunar New Year festival will be ticketed and spaces limited. Booking will open soon on the museum’s website.
See the full programme and book tickets at the Museum of London Docklands
Fantasy Worlds at the British Library
10 February 2024
Explore imaginary worlds, discover fantastical characters and embark on your own creative quest at this Family Day at the British Library.
Take part in magical activities across the Library led by artists, musicians, storytellers and illustrators. Perform with Enchanted Cinema; create alongside bestselling authors Harriet Muncaster, Laura Ellen Anderson and Lola Morayo; and draw alongside Manga creator Chie Kutsuwada.
Tickets are free and advance booking is required.
Read the full programme and book tickets at the British Library
Dinosaur rEvolution at the Horniman Museum
10 February – 3 November 2024
Explore the relationship between dinosaurs and birds at the first UK showing of Dinosaur rEvolution. This fascinating, family-friendly exhibition opens just in time for February half term at the Horniman Museum and Gardens.
The Dinosaur rEvolution exhibition will feature five large animatronic models, many accurate cast fossil skeletons and skulls – some touchable, detailed graphics by the acclaimed artist Luis V Rey, dress up, games, and more.
Exhibition tickets cost £9 for adults, £4.50 for children. Free for under 3s.
Book exhibition tickets at the Horniman Museum
Create Your Own Clay Dinosaur or Fossil
12 – 15 February 2024
Over February half term, children can also join in on a Dinosaur Crafting Workshop inspired by the Dinosaur rEvolution exhibition.
In this one hour workshop, each participant will craft their own dinosaur or fossil to take home, using easy-to-mould air drying clay. Tickets cost £12.50 per child. All children must be accommpanied by an adult. Advance booking necessary.
Book tickets for the dinosaur crafting half term workshop at Horniman Museum
Sky’s the Limit! at the Royal Air Force Museum
10 February – 18 February 2024
Experience the thrilling stories of the Royal Air Force this February half term through theatre shows, comic book workshops, book readings and more! The Royal Air Force Museum London will have a dynamic range of activities and workshops on taking visitors through over 100 years of triumphant tales.
Related: Top Museums for Kids in London
Sky’s the Limit activities that cost extra include an interactive one-hour show, Rations, Ascent and Far Away! (Tickets cost £5 for child, £7.50 for adult) and crazy comic book workshops (Tickets cost £5).
Book tickets for the Sky’s the Limit activities at the Royal Air Force Museum
The Big Hide Out at WWT London Wetland Centre
10 – 18 February 2024
Winter is the perfect time to discover the incredible wetland wildlife from the bird hides at London Wetland Centre Barnes. Binoculars and telescopes will be available to borrow, and hideout experts will be on hand sharing top tips to help you explore.
Collect your bird spotter sheet from the entrance to the café (suggested donation £1). Drop-in family bird watching sessions are on daily at Headley Hide (all ages welcome), from 10am to 12pm and from 1:30pm to 3:3pm.
Related: Family Days Out at the London Wetland Centre Barnes
In addition to the Big Hide Out, there are many more outdoor activities for the whole family to enjoy over February half-term around the wetland centre, including den building (suitable for ages 6+), nest-making (suitable for under 6) and playing in the mud kitchen.
Book tickets to visit WWT London Wetland Centre
February Family Festival at the Natural History Museum
10 – 18 February 2024
Discover something new at the daily talks, tours and workshops running over February half term at the Natural History Museum. Explore the variety of homes and habitats that exist on our planet, and the impact we have on them, at the Family Discovery Zone, between 11am to 4pm. Free to visit.
Take a peek behind the scenes and see the museum’s fascinating collection of zoology specimens in the Spirit Collection Tour. Tickets cost £25 for adult non-members and £25 for child non-members.
See full programme and book tickets at the Natural History Museum
Water Warriors at the London Museum of Water & Steam
10 – 18 February 2024
Join the quest to become Water Warriors over February half term at London Museum of Water and Steam. The Museum are running a fun and educational programme of interactive storytelling sessions and hands-on arts and crafts using recyclables.
Families can also work together to create a “climate change pledge”. Each pledge will become a vital piece of amazing collective artwork, just in time for World Water Day.
Book tickets for the London Museum of Water & Steam
Women at Work at the London Transport Museum
10 – 18 February 2024
Plan a day out at the London Transport Museum this half term and discover the stories of pioneering women who paved the way for others in transport and engineering jobs in London.
Activities include a transport heroine zine-making workshop (ages 7+) and guided tours of the London Transport Museum’s new Global Poster Gallery (ages 4+).
Book tickets to visit the London Transport Museum
Elizabeth I’s Spy Mission at Hampton Court Palace
10 – 18 February 2024
Plan a February half term day out at Hampton Court Palace and take part in a spy mission to find out who might be conspiring to take the throne. As you explore the famous Tudor palace and courtyards, you will meet characters of the court and help to decipher mysterious puzzles and codes.
Combine the family activities with the fantastic Magic Garden outdoor play area, which re-opens just in time for half term on 10 February 2024. Read more about the playground in our review: Magic Garden at Hampton Court Palace
Book tickets to visit Hampton Court Palace
Holiday Make Studio at Tate Modern
10 – 18 February 2024
Visit the free Holiday Make Studio at the Tate Modern over half term to explore hanging soundscapes, sound sculptures and create your own “sound art” using a range of materials and inspiration from the art in Tate’s collection.
Open 10am to 6pm daily, note that on 13 February, the studio will be closed between 10:30am to 11:30am for relaxed hours visitors.
Read more about Holiday Make Studio at Tate Modern
Family Activities at the Museum of London Docklands
12 – 18 February 2024
February half term is packed with family activities on the theme of migration at the Museum of London Docklands. Join in on craft activities, cookery lessons taught by a French/Tunisian chef, storytelling with a Caribbean theme, music and folktales inspired by Eastern Europe.
All half term activities are free and require no advance booking. Some popular workshops are first come, first served and you can reserve your places at the museum’s families desk upon arrival.
Read more and check session times at Museum of London Docklands
Colonel Blood and the Crown Jewels at the Tower of London
10 – 18 February 2024
Criminal mastermind Colonel Blood and his audacious gang are up to no good at the Tower of London this February half term. Find out what they’re planning in this fun, family-friendly costumed event.
Colonel Blood and the Crown Jewels will be performed across the main visitor route throughout the day.
Book tickets to visit the Tower of London
February Half Term at the National Maritime Museum
11 – 18 February 2024
Take part in creative and educational workshops to celebrate LGBTQ+ History Month during February half-term at the National Maritime Museum.
Related: London National Maritime Museum Day Out
The National Maritime Museum are running family-friendly activities, from making your own merfolk using oil pastels to dressing up a tiny peg doll to take home.
On Saturday 17 February, join in on the Out at Sea family festival celebrating LGBTQ+ histories through live performances, creative workshops and storytelling.
Check times and the full programme of free half-term activities running at the National Maritime Museum
Family Workshops at Chelsea Physic Garden
12 – 15 February 2024
Chelsea Physic Garden are running several family workshops over the February half-term, from chocolate making to a kids lab discovering plants up close. In celebration of Valentine’s Day, learn to make your own paint to create a special card (13 February) or join in the popular chocolate workshop (12 and 14 February).
Ticket prices vary depending on the workshop, from £10 per adult and £5 per child for the Family Plant Paint Valentine’s Day Cards workshop to £25 per adult and £20 per child for the Valentine’s Day Chocolate Workshop.
Read more details and book workshop tickets at the Chelsea Physic Garden
Rebellious, Revelling, Rotten Romans at the British Museum
12 – 16 February 2024
Over February half term in London, the British Museum will be running five days of free playful and exploratory Roman-themed family activities inspired by their new exhibition, Legion: Life in the Roman Army.
Related: Tips for visiting the British Museum with kids
Help grow their ‘Legion on the Lawn’ installation, hear tales about the Romans or explore the Roman galleries with a time-travelling trolley. Look for Claudius Terattus in the exhibition itself to see what fate you would have met as a soldier in the Roman army!
The February half term activities take place in various locations across the British Museum. Activities are non-ticketed but places are given on a first-come, first-served basis.
Read more about the February Family Festival at the British Museum
Brilliant Birds Discovery Days at Hyde Park
14 – 16 February 2024
Drop-in at the LookOut Discovery Centre in Hyde Park between 11am and 3pm for their bird-inspired Discovery Days over February half-term.
Free activities for the whole family include building a bird feeder, following a discovery trail to learn fascinating bird facts, bird watching in the gardens, crafting an intricate birds’ nest and listening to an interactive story.
Register your interest for the Discovery Days at the Royal Parks
Decoding Pictures at the National Gallery
13 – 15 February 2024
How do we look at pictures, and what can a painting really tell us? Explore the National Gallery with their Gallery Educator team, who will share skills to guide you in asking questions and discovering answers.
The session times are 10:30am to 11:15am, 12:30pm to 1:15pm and 2:30pm to 3:15pm. Recommended for ages 5 – 13 years old, but all ages are welcome.
See full details about the Decoding Pictures sessions at the National Gallery
Video Game Dance Party at the V&A Museum
14 – 16 February 2024
Join in on this family drop-in activity at the V&A Museum and learn how to create your own interactive video dance game, inspired by the music from the museum’s DIVA exhibition.
Suitable for ages 5+. No booking required; places are allocated on a first come, first served basis.
Read more about the Video Game Dance Party at the V&A Museum
Out of this World: Mars Workshop at the Royal Observatory
February 2024 Dates TBA
The Out of this World experience begins in the Royal Observatory’s planetarium, travelling across the solar system to the planet Mars, followed by an interactive workshop exploring this fascinating world that at one time was not so different from our own.
Tickets cost £5 per child and will be on sale soon. Recommended for ages 7+. Note that the Royal Observatory cannot offer free tickets for under 5s with this event.
See latest information about the Out of this World workshop at the Royal Observatory
February Half-Term Kids Theatre Shows in London
Here’s a list of what’s on for kids at London Theatres during the February half-term school holidays.
The Boy at the Back of the Class at Rose Theatre Kingston
3 – 22 February 2024
After learning that he has fled his own war-torn country, Ahmet’s classmates have ‘The Greatest Idea in the World’ – a magnificent plan to reunite Ahmet with his family. An unexpected and often hilarious adventure follows, all topped off with a terrific twist.
Based on the best-selling novel by Onjali Q. Raúf, The Boy at the Back of the Class, highlights the power of friendship and kindness in a world that doesn’t always make sense and reminds us that everyone needs a place to call home.
Running time: 2 hours 10 minutes including interval. Tickets from £15. Recommended for ages 7+
Book tickets at Rose Theatre Kingston
Tidy at Polka Theatre
10 February – 24 March 2024
Based on the much-loved children’s book by author and illustrator, Emily Gravett, Tidy is a gentle but cautionary tale about the value of the world around us and what happens if we don’t look after it.
With beautiful puppets, original music and a touch of silliness, this playful story will delight young audiences, as it explores how everyone needs a little bit of wild chaos in their lives.
Recommended for ages 3 – 7.
Running time: 60 minutes. Tickets from £10
Book tickets at Polka Theatre
This post was updated on 19 January 2024 with the latest information on activities, workshops and events coming up during the 2024 February half term break in London.
Pin for Later – February Half Term in London with Kids 2024
