Things To Do in February Half Term 2026
Image Credit: Alberto Casetta
The February Half Term Holiday is nearly here, and how are you going to keep the kids entertained? February can be wet, rainy and cold which can make it really hard to keep the kids busy during the half term holiday.
Fortunately, there are lots of things going on all around the country, from ancient castles to theatres, from parks and museums to libraries. Here is our round up of some of the best activities happening this half term all over the UK, whether they are big tourist attractions or special events the fun starts here!
Get Organised with a free Printable Half Term Holiday Planner
What Are The Dates of February Half Term 2026?
School holiday dates vary depending on where you live.
In Scotland, February half term may be a week earlier, starting 9th February.
Our top tip is to check with your kid's school or the local authority before booking anything!
Private schools may have longer half term holidays and dates may vary.
Feburary Half Term Events & Days Out Across the UK
From immersive experiences to gardens, vikings to theatre, there is something for everyone this February Half Term Holiday.
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- See The Great Outdoors
- Dark Skies Festival - Various Locations Across The UK
- Check Out What's On At The Cinema
Image Credit: Benjamin Manley
The National Trust has an extensive programme of half term events at many of its properties in England and Wales. Enjoy some fresh air and go wild in the woods, or get creative indoors and discover intriguing stories from ages past.
You can go splashing in your wellies, build a birdbox and tick off some of your 50 things to do before you're 11 3/4 at properties and open areas all over the UK.
Dark Skies festivals are all about discovering, learning and enjoying the dark and the stars you can see as a result, free of the light pollution found in cities and towns. Dark Skies Festival 2026 events are being held during February in the South Downs, Yorkshire, Northumberland and Wales.
There will be special family friendly events for children, along with lectures, astrophotography workshops and night time runs, cycling and canoeing.
Keep up to date with the children's and family movies that are on at the cinema this month with our listings of the latest kids movies, which gives you a rundown all the the current family cinema releases.
There are events that are happening across the UK, then you can find out what is happening where you live.
- February Half Term Events in England
- February Half Term Events in Scotland
- February Half Term Events In Wales
- February Half Term Events in Northern Ireland
February Half Term Holiday Events In England
Family events happening across England during the school February Half Term holidays this year.
- Hampton Court Palace
- Imagine Children's Festival London
- Planetarium Go!
Image Credit: Nick Fewings
If you are in London this half term, take the opportunity to visit the Planetarium Go! Pop-up Experience at battersea Power Station - an immersive pop-up planetarium experience that invites audiences of all ages to explore the wonders of the universe.
Inside a large spherical dome, visitors are surrounded by a 360º screen, where astronomy and science films come to life, creating an unforgettable journey through space. From distant galaxies and planets to extraordinary cosmic phenomena, each projection is designed to spark curiosity, imagination, and a sense of discovery.
If you haven't had a look around the station building - now a huge shopping destination - it is worth visiting just to see it this historic piece of architecture.
Visit from 30th January to 1st March 2026.
- Be An Explorer!
- Triceratops: Eat, Roam, Repeat
- Orchids Festival 2026
- Pirates Take Over Alton Towers!
- Voyage to the Deep at the Horniman
- Brick Days at Legoland Windsor
- Fairytale Scarecrow Festival Cheshire
- JORVIK Viking Festival York
- Making Egypt
in Bethnal Green!
Young V&A is the new name for the Museum of Childhood in Bethnal Green. Completely refurbished and remodelled it is now a bright and welcoming space for kids of all ages.
The Inside Aardman: Wallace & Gromit and Friends exhibition opens on 12th February, just in time for half term and gives you a peek behind the scenes of your favourite stop-motion animations and find out how Aardman brings clay to life, including Wallace & Gromit, Shaun the Sheep and Morph.
It runs until November 2026.
- Festival of Archery at Warwick Castle
Hanry VII's majestic Hampton Court Palace has a mission for February 2026. Make this half term extraordinary, and escape to a world of mystery at Hampton Court Palace. Step back in time, join a royal quest and undertake a top-secret mission!
Plus you can Explore the ultimate playground in the Magic Garden, reopening for February half term. Discover the secret grotto, conquer a scary dragon and besiege the towers, there's plenty of fun for all.
The annual Imagine Children's Festival takes place at London's South Bank Centre from 11th to 21st February 2026. Dive into the best of children’s theatre, literature and music, with plenty of workshops and free events for everyone.
Draw, write, read, play, sing, dance and create with us. With over 50% of the programme free and loads to do for ages 0 – 12, you will have your half-term sorted.
Now in its 23rd year, and with no intention of growing up any time soon, the festival is renowned for inspiring and allowing children from 0-11 years to express their creativity, explore their artistic potential and to celebrate their unique talents.
Image Credit: Kit Ko
Be an Explorer this February Half Term, by joining one of English Heritage's February Half Term Explorer Quests.
At selected locations across England including such iconic locations as Stonehenge, Osbourne House and Bolsover Castle, you can roam around grounds, gardens and countryside to find games and activities inspired by the history of the site, including knights, soldiers, medieval monks or ancient Olympians.
Plus if you share pictures of your day out on social media, you could win a prize too.
Half-term week is your last chance to catch the Triceratops: Eat, Roam, Repeat exhibition at Manchester Museum.
Triceratops: Eat, Roam, Repeat gives you the chance to meet one of the most iconic dinosaurs of all time.
By studying its anatomy, you'll find out its secrets. From the bird-like beak and spectacular frill to its three-horned face and rhino-like body. Learn how it lived, what it ate and how it survived the Cretaceous.
Tickets are free but do need to be pre-booked. Donations are appreciated (and the museum shop is rather wonderful).
Image Credit: Ralph Capri
Visit the annual Orchid Festival 2026 at Kew Gardens this February, which runs from 7th February to 8th March 2026.
This year the festival takes inspiration from China’s remarkable biodiversity, heritage and design traditions, filling the Princess of Wales glasshouse with a dazzling array of orchids and large-scale floral installations.
The infamous pirates of Mutiny Bay are taking over the Alton Towers resort in Staffordshire for February half term for The Pirate Takeover! Batten down the hatches for an unforgettable short break!
Join in pirate adventures from 14th to 22nd February 2026, with all the family favourite rides, sea shanties aplenty and so much more.
London's Horniman Museum is a treasure trove of global cultures and the natural environment
For February Half Term join Voyage to the Deep – Underwater Adventures. Inspired by Jules Verne’s ‘20,000 Leagues Under the Seas’, board the legendary ‘Nautilus’ submarine and embark on an extraordinary underwater adventure.
Explore uncharted waters, encounter fantastic sea creatures, and discover hidden wonders of life beneath the waves. There’s even Captain Nemo’s Bubbly Pipe Organ to play and a galley filled with strange and unusual foods.
Plus fans of Octonauts can Look out for Octonauts’ Creature Reports alongside fascinating fish tanks in the exhibition, and navigate the Museum and Gardens with a free ‘Adventure at the Horniman’ Trail featuring fun, Octonauts-inspired activities.
Image Credit: LEGOLAND® Windsor
Little LEGO fans will be thrilled to discover that from 14th to 23rd February 2026 there are Brick Days at Legoland Windsor and that includes February Half Term.
You will have the chance to meet your favourite LEGOLAND Characters, take part in exclusive LEGO brick building activities or even teaming up in one of the build challenges – there is something for every junior LEGO fan to enjoy during half term!
Plus, try out one of over 30 exciting rides and attractions to including favourites such as Flight of the Sky Lion, LEGO® City Driving School, LEGO® NINJAGO® The Ride, and The Dragon.
Tatton Park in Knutsford, Cheshire is holding their annual Fairytale Scarecrow Festival during half term.
They're getting physical at the gardens and farm this February half-term with a team of sporty scarecrows. There’ll be rowing and throwing, curling and serving, kickflips, backflips, high kicks, and wickets.
So get your shin pads on, tighten your black belt, and step up to the plate at Tatton’s annual scarecrow festival!
How many will you find?
Image Credit: ©JORVIK Viking Festival
Europe’s largest Viking Festival returns to York in February.
This world renowned festival features living history encampments, workshops, tours, traditional crafts, feasts, family events, evening entertainment and dramatic combat performances.
With a parade, re-enactments and lots more viking themed events, the JORVIK Viking Festival runs from 16th to 22nd February 2026.
Image Credit: samborambo
Arrows at the ready… get ready to be a part of the action at Warwick Castle as the Festival of Archery takes over the castle’s 64-acre grounds. The castle’s expert archers put their skills to the test in a series of exhilarating performances as bows bend and arrows soar right in front of your eyes.
Featuring live shows, daring challenges, interactive quizzes, have-a-go archery, and a grand finale shoot-off, Festival of Archery is sure to put the family fun into your February Half Term plans. 14th to 22nd February 2026.
February Half Term Holiday Events In Scotland
Family events happening across Scotland during the school February Half Term holidays this year.
The February half term holiday in Scotland is usually a little earlier than the rest of the UK.
- Get Into The Great Outdoors
Get into the great outdoors at one of The National Trust for Scotland's 88 properties this February, including some of the most magnificent buildings, collections and habitats in Scotland.
You can visit ancient houses, battlefields, castles, mills, gardens, coastlines, islands, mountain ranges, all cared for by The National Trust for Scotland. Famous locations that they manage include Culzean Castle, Robert Burns Birthplace Museum, St Kilda, Culloden and Bannockburn which are just a few.
February Half Term Holiday Events In Wales
Family events happening across Wales during the school February Half Term holidays this year.
- Bathhouse Guessing Game
This February Half Term you can sniff, touch, and guess your way around a real Roman bathhouse - if you visit Caerleon Roman Baths you can get creative with their Bathhouse Guessing Game Trail.
Can you figure out those strange smells? Are you brave enough to take a whiff?
Join the fun children’s trail and find out.
February Half Term Holiday Events In Northern Ireland
Family events happening across Northern Ireland during the school February Half Term holidays this year.
- Science!
Discover all about the world that we live in at the fascinating The NI Science Festival from 11th to 22nd February 2026. Events are held all over Northern Ireland.
With over 250 events across 90+ venues, the NI Science Festival offers a stimulating and wide range of events focusing on the wonders of science, technology, engineering and mathematics.
Family and child friendly events are held during the day, including the festival offers a range of workshops, tours talks and interactive activities for people of all ages.
- It's A Mudfest in Co. Down
Bring your wellies this February to WWT's Castle Espie Wetland Centre. Mudfest 2026. Make it, mix it, mould it and build with it, sling it, paint it and jump in it for muddy activities kids of all ages will love.
Plus you can take part in a whole host of art and illustration activities aimed at all ages and abilities, including making your own binoculars and much more.
33 Places to Visit In Northern Ireland In February Half Term 2026
5 More Quick Ideas For Cheap Days Out This February
- Check out your local library - from story reading to craft afternoons there will be lots of events organised for half term.
- Your local leisure centre will probably be running special half term kids sessions in the swimming pool or may have a play scheme that the kids can join in.
- Are you lucky enough to have an art gallery in your town or city? Many are free and will be running kids activites over half term.
- Go to your local park and enjoy all that free open space, see the grass and the trees. If you are fortunate there could be play equipment, an outdoor gym or a basketball court.
- Lots of museums are free to enter or have special discounted rates for local residents. They may also be holding special half term events, although charges may apply.
If you know of any more special February Half Term events anywhere in the UK - let us know so that we can add it to our listings.