Fun Family Activities for February Half Term

February half term is just a few weeks away, making now the perfect time to start planning how you're going to spend the school holiday. While it's nice to have some quieter days at home, it's also a great opportunity to pack in some fun family activities that you can't cram into your average weekend.

To help with your half term itinerary, we've put together a list of some family-friendly activities and events throughout February.

English Heritage Half Term Explorer Quests (UK wide)

English Heritage has countless castles, abbeys and historic houses for you to explore, but during the school holidays, they'll also be running Half Term Explorer Quests. With clues and puzzles to solve and a whole host of games inspired by the history of the site you visit, there's plenty to keep the kids entertained.

Half Term Explorer Quests are taking place at the following English Heritage sites:

• 1066 Battle of Hastings, Abbey & Battlefield
• Carisbrooke Castle
• Dover Castle
• Osborne House
• Audley End House & Gardens
• Eltham Palace & Gardens
• Framlingham Castle
• Wrest Park
• Goodrich Castle
• Kenilworth Castle & Elizabethan Garden
• Stokesay Castle
• Pendennis Castle
• Stonehenge
• Beeston Castle & Woodland Park
• Belsay Hall, Castle & Gardens
• Bolsover Castle
• Whitby Abbey
• Brodsworth Hall and Gardens

The Half Term event is free if you're an English Heritage member. However, you will need to pay an admission fee for the site you visit if you are not a member. We recommend booking online to secure the best ticket prices, which vary depending on the site you visit. It's also worth seeing if you can save money by purchasing a family ticket.

Forestry England’s Superworm Trail

If you're looking for a budget-friendly kids activity, why not head to one of Forestry England's Superworm trails?

Forestry England has teamed up with Magic Light Pictures to create the Superworm trail, based on the children's picture book by Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler. The family-friendly activity trail can be found at 26 of the nation's forests across England and features the unsung heroes of the Superworm story, including toad, beetle and Wizard Lizard.

The self-led trail has lots of fun activities to complete, encouraging children to become superheroes of the forest themselves. Entrance is free, but Superworm trail packs are available to buy on-site for £3.50 and include additional activities, stickers, a superhero mask and creature fact sheets.

RHS Gardens Under Your Feet Garden Trail

This February half term, RHS wants families to discover the diverse wonders found beneath their feet, with fun family activities to enjoy at RHS gardens up and down the country. The 'Under Your Feet' garden trail teaches children (and adults) the importance of soil, with opportunities to meet some of the fascinating creatures that live underground. What's more, children can participate in inspiring art and craft workshops and even have a chance to create their own wormery!

Visit the webpage for your nearest RHS garden to find out what's going on this half term. Your garden entry admission (free to RHS members and children under 5) includes access to the self-led trail. However, there is a small extra cost for some events, such as the Animal Encounters sessions at RHS Rosemoor.

Code Breaker Sessions at Bletchley Park, Milton Keynes

Up for a challenge? Head to Bletchley Park, the former top-secret home of Britain's WWII Code Breakers and try your hand at some code-breaking games and challenges. Bletchley Park runs free drop-in sessions for children aged 7-14 during the February half term. Adults will need to pay the admission fee, but the good news is under 12s go free!

AR exhibition at Eden Project, Cornwall

If you are lucky enough to live in Cornwall or are planning a Cornish staycation in February half term, don't forget to take a trip to the Eden Project! Explore the world's largest indoor rainforest, witness the beauty of the Mediterranean Biome and discover the extensive Outdoor Gardens.

There is plenty to see and do in February at the Eden Project. For example, it's hosting the 'Seeing the Invisible' art exhibition - an impressive collection of contemporary artworks created with augmented reality technology.

The Eden Project ice rink is also open until 27th February, so book a slot and enjoy a fun afternoon on the glittering ice.

Imagine Children's Festival, London

Are you spending the February half term in London? Then, visit the South Bank Centre for their annual Imagine Children's Festival between 9th - 20th February. The festival encourages families to experience and enjoy all kinds of art and culture together, with a vast programme of children's theatre, comedy, music, literature and dance events, 50% of which are completely free!

Little Angel Theatre, London

Another great place to visit this half term in London is the Little Angel theatre. The theatre is putting on several child-friendly shows during the holidays, including Handa's Surprise (aimed at children aged 2 - 5 years), The Singing Mermaid (aimed at children aged 3 - 8) and JINA and the STEM Sisters (for anyone over the age of 7). Book tickets via the Little Angel Theatre website.

Free Art Galleries & Museums (UK wide)

While the half term holidays are all about having fun as a family, you can still infuse your days with learning experiences. Visit one of the many UK art galleries and museums offering free admission for a fun, educational and affordable day out. Some of the best free UK museums and art galleries include:

• The British Museum, London
• The Tate Modern, London
• The Natural History Museum, London
• Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum, Glasgow
• National Museum of Scotland, Edinburgh
• Coventry Transport Museum
• Yorkshire Sculpture Park, Wakefield
• World Museum, Liverpool

Visit your local beach

While we can't guarantee good weather in February, that doesn't mean you can't still enjoy a fun family day out at your local beach. So wrap up in warm clothing, pack a picnic (even if it is a car picnic) and get some fresh air!

One of the best things about visiting beaches in February is that they tend to be at their quietest, so you can enjoy the beautiful surroundings without fighting through the crowds. Some of our favourite family-friendly beaches include:

• Polzeath Beach in Cornwall - See if you can spot dolphins in the clear waters
• Charmouth Beach in Dorset - An excellent place for fossil hunting
• Horsey Beach, Norfolk - See how many seals you can spot on the sands

February half term hotel deals

Are you planning a staycation in the February half term? Don't forget to check out our Resale Deals page and keep your eyes peeled for half term hotel rooms at amazing prices.