FREE February Half Term Activities 2024

The coldest half term of the year just got a lot cheerier - whatever your budget!

This newsletter brings you 5 free things to do EVERY day of the half term holidays, 10 highlights of Imagine Children’s Festival, and 5 last-minute ideas for this weekend.

Flowers have been brightening our days out - from the tropical paradise Orchids at Kew Gardens, to the seas of snowdrops at Anglesey Abbey. And me and Museum Girl enjoyed busting some moves in the Hello Kitty and playing independent video games at Cute in Somerset House.

Whilst I’m working the first half of the week, I’d love to enjoy some vicarious visits. Hit reply or tag/DM me on Instagram to let me know what I’m missing out on.

[AD] 10 Imagine Children’s Festival 2024 Highlights

Imagine Children's Festival returns, bringing the UK’s premier arts festival for children aged 0–11 and their families back to the Southbank Centre.

From 7 to 17 February 2024, join in with 130 events, including music, storytelling, dance parties, comedy, art workshops, and adventure trails. Plus 40% of events are free!

Here’s 10 half-term highlights, still with spaces or drop-in:

1. Art Makes People Powerful: Imaginative arts activities inspired by Bob and Roberta Smith and Jessica Voorsanger. 9-15 February 2024. Free, drop in. Ages 3-11.

2. The Instrumentals: Comedy and puppetry with soulful sounds and 1970s grooves. 10-11 February 2024. From £10.50, book.

3. The Intergenerational Game - Lunar New Year Edition: Celebrate the Year of the Dragon with dance-offs, quiz rounds and mass participatory fun. 10 February 2024. Free, drop in.

4. ZooNation's Hip Hop Half Term: Dance workshops followed by high-energy DJ jam and ZooNation Youth Company performance. 11 February 2024. Free, drop in. Ages 5+.

5. YolanDa's Band Jam and Friends: Live version of the hit CBeebies TV show, dubbed ‘Jools Holland for kids’. 12 February 2024. From £9, book. Ages 3+.

6. Mendelssohn and Moving Machines: Take a trip on different engines of history in Aurora Orchestra’s brand-new immersive storytelling performance. 12-13 February 2024. From £8, book. Ages 0-5.

7. CBeebies Ocean Adventure: Underwater experience led by the BBC Symphony Orchestra featuring TV favourites JoJo and Gran Gran. 13 February 2024. From £9, book. Ages 3+.

8. Little Big Sing with Trans Voices: A day of singing and beatboxing workshops. 14 February 2024. Free, drop in. Ages 5+.

9. Grooving with Pirates: Join pirate friends on a treasure hunt, blending animation, live action, and UK jazz and contemporary music. 14 & 15 February 2024. From £10.50, book. Ages 3-7.

10. Starchitects - A Cosmic Adventure: Dance meets circus with gravity-defying choreography and digital projections. 15-17 February 2024. From £9, book. Ages 3+.

And you can find the full programme here!

FREE February Half Term 2024 Activities

Without further ado, here's my pick of completely FREE family activities in London this half term!

I’ve shared up to 5 suggestions a day and indicated if they run on other dates. All currently have space or are drop in. For times and any booking information, click the link. Go quickly - some will book out.

If you need more ideas, take a look at my February Half Term post, with 100+ activities across London (paid and free!)

Monday 12 February 2024

1. Explore ancient Rome with author Chae Strathie and songs, dancing, drawing, and fascinating facts at the British Museum, WC2. 11:30, 13:30, and 15:00. Book museum entry. Part of Family festival: rebellious, revelling, rotten Romans, 12-16 February 2024, activities vary daily.

2. Migration Celebration! at Museum of London Docklands, E14 features Middle Eastern cooking, Caribbean storytelling, energetic toddler parties with world music and craft activities. 12-18 February 2024. Drop in/first come first served. Activities vary daily.

3. Enjoy special guests and learn dance routines in Prancer the Dancer’s DanceDance DiscoPartyFunShow at Royal Festival Hall, SE1. Drop in. Part of Imagine Children's Festival.

4. Build a neighbourhood from LEGO bricks that birds and people can call home together at Natural History Museum, SW7. Runs 10-18 February 2024, drop in. Part of February family festival.

5. Learn merfolk myths and make your own with pastels at National Maritime Museum, SE10. 11:00-13:00 and 14:00-16:00, drop in. Part of February half term, 11-18 February 2024, different activities daily..

Tuesday 13 February 2024

1. Create recycled outfits, express statements, experiment with optical toys, and explore collage at Family Day – Picture This at National Portrait Gallery, WC2. Drop in on first-come, first-served basis.

2. Build a bird feeder, follow the feathered friends trail, hear interactive storytelling and craft a birds nest at Discovery Days: Brilliant Birds at The Hyde Park Learning Centre, W1. Drop in. Also 14-15 February 2024.

3. Join in with collective clay building and textile placemat making in Around the Table Family Day at Museum of the Home, E2. Drop in.

4. Craft your own Royal Guard at National Army Museum, SW3. Drop in. Ages 5+.

5. Using colourful perspex and a Cricut machine, make a dragon light catcher for Chinese New Year at Artizan Street Library & Community Centre, E1. 14:00-15:00. Book. Ages 5+.

Wednesday 14 February 2024

1. Code your own dance, then test your moves on interactive dance mats in Video Game Dance Party at V&A South Kensington, SW7. Drop in. Also 15-16 February 2024.

2. Make your own stethoscope, create a beating origami heart and learn how to take a pulse in Got a Pulse? at Museum of the Order of St John, EC1.

3. Take a park tree trail then fashion up a Victorian puzzle purse with a hidden love message in Family Day: Tell it to the trees at William Morris Gallery, E17. Drop in, ages 5+.

4. Create your own rag-rug mythical creature with recycled fabric and felt at London Mithraeum, EC4, with alternative activity for under 6s. Book.

5. Taking inspiration from the wonderful rooms, paintings and objects at Sir John Soane's Museum, WC2, create an original Valentine's day card. Drop in/book.

Thursday 15 February 2024

1. Interactive storytelling with quirky props at an imaginary breakfast tea party in Imagined stories at the National Gallery, W1. 11:30 and 13:30. Sign up on arrival, limited places. Also runs 13-14 February 2024.

2. Rip, stick, cut, and shape-make to protect animals and organisms of the future in Imaginary Habitats with Collage Club at Grant Museum, WC1. Drop in 13:30-15:00.

3. Design Yokai monsters and create kimono patterns at One Hundred Yokai Parade at Young V&A, E2. Drop in. Also 14 & 16 February 2024.

4. Embellish a fabric square with designs, shapes, and motifs that mean something to you in The Grandest Coat at Art in the Docks, E16. These will be turned into a collective artwork. Book.

5. Take a sensory Journey to the Northern Lights with Drama Hub at Finchley Church End Library, N3 at 10:30. Book. Ages 3-6.

Friday 16 February 2024

1. Author Peter Bently reads his wonderfully wacky children’s book Those Magnificent Sheep in their Flying Machine at RAF Museum, NW9. 11:00, 13:00 and 14:30. Free, drop in. Also 12 February 2024.

2. Help a time-traveller get back home in the immersive Blitz Storytelling Trail at National Army Museum, SW3. 11:00, 12:00, 13:45 and 14:45. Free, drop in. Ages 5+.

3. Fold paper boats, decorate them with pottery-inspired patterns, and bow or sterns with paper collage in Model Boat Making at Petrie Museum, WC1. Drop in 13:00-15:00.

4. Join the Little Angel Theatre team for Crafts and Sensory Storytelling at Angel Central, N1. Book, ages 4+.

5. Create a light-up hotel for bugs from your old plastic bottle in the Upcycle Lantern Workshop at Kilburn Grange Park, NW6. Book. Part of Light Up Kilburn.

Daily free drop in events

1. Fill the South Tank with noises, explore hanging soundscapes and sound sculptures in Uniqlo Tate play: Rhythm Holiday make studio at Tate Modern, SE1. 10-18 February 2024.

2. Battersea Power Station Light Festival 2024 features 7 light installations including a playable light piano and cycling light battle. Until 25 February 2024.

3. Play studio at Tate Britain, SW1. Daily in school holidays plus weekends.

Sharing is also free! If you like what I do, please forward or mention this newsletter to your friends to help me reach more people.

What’s on this weekend, 10-11 February 2024

Finally, here’s a few ideas for this weekend. Click the links for timings and any booking info before heading out.

1. Tree Sapling Planting Day: Hyde Park, W2, with nature activities 10 February 2024. Free.

2. Valentine-themed Second Saturdays at Guildhall Art Gallery, EC2. 10 February 2024. Free.

3. Children's Valentines Card Workshop with Sakina Saidi at Crystal Palace Bowl, SE19. 10 February 2024. Free.

4. Build a LEGO heart, at Westfield Stratford City, E20, Leicester Square, W1, and Westfield, W12. 10-11 February 2024. Free.

5. Lunar New Year Family Festival at Museum of London Docklands, E14. Free.

And you can find more Lunar New Year events, this weekend and beyond, in this post.

I’ll be back in your inboxes in a couple of weeks to share what’s on in March. Until then, have a great half term.

Bye for now,

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