Looking for things to do in the February half term in London with kids? In this guide, you’ll find a list of 2023 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, 13 February to Friday, 17 February 2023.
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. Explore Romeo and Juliet or Macbeth at Shakespeare Globe, step into the role of a vet at London Zoo or enjoy the best of children’s theatre at the Imagine Children’s Festival at Southbank Centre.
This post was updated on 11 February 2023 with more activities, workshops and events coming up this February half term break in London for kids. Note that the British Museum have cancelled their half-term activities due to industrial action taking place next week.
Imagine Children’s Festival at Southbank Centre
8 – 18 February 2023
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 a modern retelling of Rapunzel by BalletLORENT, talks by Cressida Cowell and Michael Rosen, the return of YolanDa’s Band Jam and a daytime rave with the world’s youngest DJ.
Part of the Imagine Children’s Festival, BalletLORENT will be performing Rapunzel on 17 February at 6pm and 18 February at 11am and 4pm. For older kids, 17 and 18 February also have a special focus on ages 7 – 11, with shows including Everything Has Changed, which playfully explores the impact of change.
See the full event programme and book tickets at Southbank Centre
Street Food Pop-Ups at Covent Garden
9 – 26 February 2023
Planning to visit the London Transport Museum or watch a West End theatre show this half term?
Stop by Covent Garden for their street food pop ups, with a wide variety of family-friendly takeaways to choose from, including Gully, MyPie and Blondies Kitchen. Open 11am – 8pm daily from 9 – 26 February at the East Piazza.
Read the latest updates at Covent Garden
Brick Dinos at the Horniman Museum
10 February – 29 October 2023
Step back in time with Brick Dinos, the new family-friendly exhibition at the Horniman Museum and Gardens, opening just in time for half term. See dinosaurs and other prehistoric giants – including the raptor-like Masiakasaurus and a life-sized flying pterosaur – recreated in miniature form by artist Warren Elsmore and his team.
The Brick Dinos exhibition will also feature rarely seen specimens from the Horniman’s stores, and a range of hands-on activities for children to enjoy including build your own dinosaur and digging for fossils. Tickets cost £9 for adults, £4.50 for children. Free for under 3s.
Book exhibition tickets at the Horniman Museum
STEM Week at the Royal Air Force Museum London
11 February – 19 February 2023
Throughout February half-term, the Royal Air Force Museum London will have a dynamic range of STEM activities and workshops available. Free family activities that will be running through the day, including a robot coding workshop, a radar maths challenge, an aircraft design challenge and tote-bag making activity. Places on the free workshops are limited and can be booked in advance online.
Related: Top Museums for Kids in London
Activities that cost extra include an additional Airfix workshop taking place on 11, 12, 17, 18 and 19th of February (SOLD OUT – tickets cost £2 per kit) and exclusive access to the cockpit of the Hawker Siddeley Buccaneer which flew in service during the Gulf War (tickets cost £5 per person).
Book tickets for the STEM workshops at the Royal Air Force Museum
Make History this Half-Term at Eltham Palace
11 – 19 February 2023
Enjoy a great value day out over February half-term at Eltham Palace and Gardens in Greenwich. Join characters from the past for historical hijinks and hands-on shenanigans, discover life in a Victorian school and enjoy Victorian stories. Free to visit for English Heritage members.
Book tickets to visit Eltham Palace and Gardens
The King and the Commonwealth Family Days at Westminster Abbey
11 – 18 February 2023, selected dates
The Family Days at Westminster Abbey over February half-term will be celebrating His Majesty The King’s role as Head of the Commonwealth. Family activities include making and creating crowns, exploring the Abbey’s commonwealth links and joining games throughout the Abbey to challenge you and your family. Activities are suitable for children aged 3+.
On 15 February, Westminster Abbey will hold a special Family Commonwealth celebration, featuring vibrant and exciting performers representing countries from around the Commonwealth and special storytelling sessions. The performances on that day will be at 10:30am, 11am and 1:45pm. Join Debbie Guneratne, a third generation Sri Lankan storyteller, for tremondous tales at 11:45am and 1:15pm.
See the full programme and book tickets to visit Westminster Abbey
Vets in Action at the ZSL London Zoo
11 – 19 February 2023
Kids can step into the role of a veterinarian with Vets in Action at ZSL London Zoo over the half-term break. At the specially-recreated zoo vet centre, junior vets will be prepped with hairnets and masks before helping experts examine, diagnose and carry out treatments on soft toys, experiencing first-hand the huge variety of work carried out by the Zoo’s vets, vet nurses and zookeepers.
Related: Family Days Out at ZSL London Zoo
Additional demonstrations and talks throughout the week will take families further inside the exciting world of the Zoo, explaining everything they do to keep their residents in tip-top condition.
Book tickets to visit the ZSL London Zoo
The Big Hide Out at WWT London Wetland Centre
11 – 19 February 2023
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.
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 nest-making, bird hide building and playing in the mud kitchen.
Related: Family Days Out at the London Wetland Centre Barnes
Book tickets to visit WWT London Wetland Centre
Find Your Sea Legs at HMS Belfast
11 – 19 February 2023
Drop in from 10am to 4pm for the family activities running every weekend and through February half-term at HMS Belfast. Get to grips with the science and skills needed to survive on HMS Belfast, solve nautical puzzles and discover for yourself what life was like for the ship’s company during the Second World War.
Recommended for ages 7+ and included in general admission. This family activity directs you around different areas of the ship and lasts approximately 45 minutes.
Book tickets to visit HMS Belfast
Family Fun at the London Transport Museum
11 – 19 February 2023
Plan a day out at the London Transport Museum, with lively games and craft activities running from 10am to 4pm over the February half term break.
Activities include a giant game of Connect 4, hands-on interactive exhibits in the Future Engineers gallery and testing your puzzle solving skills with a trail through the museum galleries.
Book tickets to visit the London Transport Museum
Holiday Make Studio at Tate Modern
11 – 19 February 2023
Work together to create a big cylinder-shaped artwork, using colourful threads and textiles, on the large looms in Turbine Hall, part of the Uniqlo Tate Play Holiday Make Studio over February half-term.
Inspired by Knitting Nancy, there will also be giant versions of the classic knitting tool for young children to enjoy. Open 10am to 6pm daily, note that on 14 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
11 – 19 February 2023
Join in on a number of family activities and workshops on at the Museum of London Docklands over half-term. Every day from 11 to 19 February, join in on origami-inspired crafts workshops or sensory object handling from the museum’s collections. No need to book, just drop in at the 10:30am or 1:45pm sessions.
On 14 and 16 February, there will be sensory storytelling sessions, The Story of Water, at 10:30am, 12pm and 1:30pm. Family yoga are also on at the museum between 14 – 16 February, with sessions for ages 3+ at 10:30am and sessions for ages 5+ at 1pm and 2:30pm. Sign up on the day to take part in the free well-being activities.
Read more and check session times at Museum of London Docklands
Isaac Newton and the Mystery at the Mint at the Tower of London
11 – 19 February 2023
Meet Isaac Newton, the new Warden of the Royal Mint, over the half-term school holidays at the Tower of London. On dry weather days, find Isaac Newton on the South Lawn at 11am, 1pm and 2:30pm. At other times, or in wet weather, head to the Lower Bowyer Tower where you will find him adding the final touches to his new office.
Book tickets to visit the Tower of London
Sailing Out at the National Maritime Museum
12 – 19 February 2023
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
Each day, the Museum are running family-friendly activities, from constructing costume hats and creating a magnificent rainbox fish decoration to learning about the heroes from the LGBTQ+ maritime community.
Check times and the full programme of free half-term activities running at the National Maritime Museum
Family Workshops at Shakespeare Globe
12 – 16 February 2023
Shakespeare Globe are running a series of family workshops and storytelling sessions over February half term. Explore Romeo and Juliet, Macbeth and The Winter’s Tale through fun and practical workshops for 5-8 year olds, 9-12 year olds and ages 12+, or join in on a storytelling session for the whole family.
Workshop tickets cost £10. Storytelling session tickets cost £15.
See the full programme and book tickets at the Shakespeare Globe
Family Workshops at Chelsea Physic Garden
13 – 16 February 2023
Chelsea Physic Garden are running several family workshops over the February half-term, from chocolate making to rainbow plant drawing. In celebration of Valentine’s Day, learn to make your own paint to create a special card (13 February), join in the popular chocolate workshop (14 February) or learn to make your own floral arrangement (16 February).
Also over half-term, Chelsea Physic Garden is collaborating with Queer Botany for LGBTQ+ History Month to look at plants and the Garden through a queer botanical lens. Take part in a family friendly plant drawing session (15 February) at the Chelsea Physic Garden that celebrates the diversity in plants through art with Edward Luke Thrush.
Ticket prices vary depending on the workshop, from £10 per adult and £5 per child for the Valentine’s Day card making workshop to £25 per adult and £20 per child for the Chocolate Workshop.
Read more details and book workshop tickets at the Chelsea Physic Garden
Make It: Korean Calligraphy at the V&A Museum
13 – 14 February 2023
Join artists Kilchan Lee and Taeyoung Lee for a family-friendly Make It session at the V&A. Experiment with Korean calligraphy, have a go at mastering the Korean alphabet (Hangeul) and create your own bookmark. Kilchan and Taeyoung will guide you in how to use traditional brushes and inks and explain what it takes to make the perfect brushstrokes.
Each Make It workshop is 120 mins long. There are two sessions: the 10.30am workshop is recommended for ages 7 – 10 and the 2pm session is recommended for ages 10 – 13.
Tickets cost £15 and booking in advance is required.
Book tickets for the Make-It family workshop at the V&A Museum
Make Your Own Dinosaur Tail at the Horniman Museum
13 – 17 February 2023
Also at the Horniman during the February half-term, join Make Mee Studio for a beginner sewing project to turn an old clothing and scrap fabrics into a dinosaur tail.
Tickets cost £10 per child, £0 for adults (maximum 2 free adults per child). Workshop times are at 10am, 11:30am, 1:30pm and 3pm.
Book workshop tickets at the Horniman Museum
Family Art Activity Tour at the Natural History Museum
14 February 2023
Part of the Wild Escape, a series of free events and activities at the NHM, inspired by the artwork and wildlife specimens in the museum’s collection. Join a fun guided family tour of the NHM’s best artworks, and along the way, hear exciting stories of escapee animals and take part in games that will inspire you to create your own artwork.
Tickets are free. Booking in advance is advised, but if there is capacity, the guides will take walk-up visitors at the meeting point in the Images of Nature gallery. The Family Art Activity tour times are 11:30am – 12:15pm and 1:30pm – 2:15pm.
Book free tickets for the Family Art Activity Tour at the Natural History Museum
Family Printmaking Workshop at Postal Msueum
14 – 15 February 2023
Join in on a printmaking workshop at the Postal Museum to design your own stamp, sign or image. Workshop times are 11am – 1pm and 2:30pm – 4:30pm.
Recommended for ages 8+. This family workshop is included in museum admission. Note that space is limited and the activity is offered on a first come, first served basis.
Book tickets to visit the Postal Museum
Out of this World: Mars Workshop at the Royal Observatory
14 – 15 February 2023
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. Recommended for ages 7+. Workshops are from 10.30am to 12pm. Note that the Royal Observatory cannot offer free tickets for under 5s with this event.
Book tickets for the Out of this World workshop at the Royal Observatory
Explore, Build, Play at the National Gallery
14 – 16 February 2023
Celebrate architecture and materials with Play Build Play in free creative sessions at the National Gallery this half term. Seek out decorative details throughout the Gallery, from floor mosaics to colourful motifs, and play with scale, shapes and sensory materials to create new structures.
The drop-in sessions are open from 11am to 4pm in Room 36 and suitable for all ages.
Read details about the Creative Sessions at the National Gallery
Brilliant Birds Discovery Days at Hyde Park
14 – 16 February 2023
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
Albert’s Band Presents: The Big Top at the Royal Albert Hall
15 February 2023
Join the Royal Albert Hall’s colourful troupe of musicians from Albert’s Band for some musical acrobatics on an action packed trip to the circus. The mini-orchestra is led by ringmaster Kevin Hathway in what promises to be a musical extravaganza for all the family. Tickets available for performances at 12pm and 2:30pm.
Recommended for ages 4-11 but babies and budding musicians of all ages are welcome.
Tickets cost £12.50 for adults and £6 for children ages 2+. Under 2s go free.
Book tickets at Royal Albert Hall
Family Day: Alexander the Great at the British Library
15 February 2023
[SOLD OUT] Explore the fantastical stories surrounding Alexander the Great at this Family Day at the British Library. Join author Jamila Gavin as she shares amazing stories about Alexander. Enjoy an interactive performance with writer and storyteller Sally Pomme Clayton from her book The Phoenix of Persia.
Create a heroic puppet and act in a shadow puppet theatre, or build your own inventions from junk materials. Tickets are free and advance booking is required.
Read the full programme and book tickets at the British Library
Drop In Design: Digital Talnori at the V&A Museum
15 – 17 February 2023
Digital Talnori is a free, drop-in workshop for families created by Seoul-based digital and design studio, Commoners. Get inspired by the Hallyu! The Korean Wave exhibition at the V&A, K-Pop and Korean TV as you design a traditional Korean mask, called Tal-nori or Tal.
You can then interact with your Tal using augmented reality and learn about traditional and modern Korean culture along the way.
Free event, suitable for ages 5+.
Read details about the Drop In Design family workshop at the V&A Museum
Festival of Hieroglyphs at the British Museum
[CANCELLED] The British Museum have cancelled their half-term activities due to industrial action taking place next week.
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.
Mary Anning and the Sands of Time at Lyric Hammersmith Theatre
11 February 2023
Join Mary Anning, one of the great pioneers of fossil hunting, and her little dog Tray on this wonderful adventure of science and discovery. Live actors and prehistoric puppetry bring the Jurassic world to life. Meet Ammonites, Pterosaurs and Ichthyosaurs and help Mary and Tray uncover amazing creatures from another time. Suitable for ages 3+
Running time: 40 minutes. Tickets from £8.
Book tickets at Lyric Hammersmith Theatre
Jack v Giant at Polka Theatre
11 February – 26 March 2023
Jack v Giant is an exciting new musical based on the classic fairytale, enchantingly brought to life through beautiful puppetry and music. Join Jack, a brave young girl who embarks on a giant adventure when she sells the family cow in return for magic beans. Recommended for ages 4 – 8.
Running time: 60 minutes. Tickets from £10
Book tickets at Polka Theatre
Burglar Bill at Lyric Hammersmith Theatre
14 – 18 February 2023
By arrangement with Penguin Books Ltd, a Penguin Random House company, the Pied Piper Theatre Company present a retelling of the classic story Burglar Bill, adapted from the charming picture book by Janet and Allan Ahlberg. Suitable for ages 3+
Running time: 50 minutes. Tickets from £10.
Book tickets at Lyric Hammersmith Theatre
Room on the Broom at Rose Theatre Kingston
14 – 19 February 2023
Jump on board the broom with the witch and her cat in Tall Stories’ fun-filled adaptation of Room on the Broom, the best-selling picture book by Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler. This magical Olivier Award-nominated show is suitable for ages 3 and up.
Running time: 55 minutes. Tickets from £15. All children over the age of 18 months require their own ticket.
Book tickets at Rose Theatre Kingston
Pin for Later – February Half Term in London with Kids 2023
