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LittleBird’s Top Picks

30 January - 31 May

LittleBird rounded up plenty of family days out, fun activities and cool events to help you and the kids stay inspired, entertained and active throughout this February Half Term. There’s tons to do indoors and outdoors plus multiple celebrations with Chinese New Year, Pancake Day and Valentine’s Day too!

THINGS TO DO IN LONDON 

Imagine Children’s Festival, Southbank Centre, 7th – 17th February

The Imagine Children’s Festival is the largest festival of its kind in the UK dedicated to families experiencing and enjoying all kinds of art and culture together. There are over 160 events jam-packed into12 days and over 50% of the festival is completely free.

To find out more & to book tickets, click here.

Workshops & Storytelling at Shakespeare’s Globe, Southbank,  11th – 17th February

Head to Shakespeare’s Globe for some exciting Storytelling performances to uncover famous plays in new ways, or bring Shakespeare’s characters and stories to life together in creative Family Workshops.

Aimed at ages 5+, tickets from £10

To find out more & to book, click here.

Lunar New Year, Museum of London Docklands, 10th & 11th February

This family-friendly weekend is the perfect way to introduce the little ones to the different traditions of Lunar New Year. Listen to classic Chinese folktales, learn how to ribbon dance, master martial arts moves and make crafts inspired by this celebration. There are ticketed events and drop in sessions including Silent Disco, Dragon’s lair sensory space, and Dragon Puppets.

To find out more, click here.

Create your own sound art, Tate Modern, Southbank, 10th – 18th February

Explore hanging soundscapes, sound sculptures or even make your own sound by moving your body.

Head to the South Tank to fill the space with echoes, rattles, hums, donks and bops. Why not work with others out loud or listen quietly by yourself. What noises can you make with found objects, recycled card and your own body? What does each sound remind you of? Can you recreate a familiar sound? Tate Modern has materials, microphones, headphones and speakers, all ready for you to get noisy, listen in and create your own symphony.

This is a free drop in activity for children of all ages.

To find out more, click here.

Brilliant Birds at The Lookout, Hyde Park, Tuesday 13th – Thursday 15th February

Head to Hyde Park for these free bird-inspired interactive activities in the fresh air. As we all emerge out of winter and the days get longer, you will find that birdsong increases and preparation for the nesting season begins. Follow a discovery trail, dissect owl pellets and craft an intricate bird’s nest.

To find out more and to book your free place, click here.

Women at Work, London Transport Museum, Covent Garden, 10th – 18th February  

Learn about the women who paved the way in transport and engineering jobs in Londonl.

Activities will be celebrating the women drivers, conductors, mechanics, engineers, designers, and artists who have kept London’s transport moving for over a century.

Follow a self-guided trail to explore the museum, take part in craft sessions, and join a guided tour of the new Global Poster Gallery.

Tickets: Adults £24 and are valid for a whole year and kids go free.

To find out more & to book tickets, click here.

Rebellious, reveling, rotten Roman’s Family Festival, The British Museum, 12th – 16th February

Exciting, playful and exploratory Roman-themed activities for families of all ages inspired by the major new exhibition Legion: life in the Roman army are promised at the British Museum. Get stuck into some hands-on activities – from helping to grow the ‘Legion on the Lawn’ installation to traveling back in time to explore the Roman galleries with their time-traveling trolley. You can handle objects and play Roman games, meet storytellers and hear tales about the Romans.

A free event – you can drop in any time. Activities are non-ticketed but places are given on a first-come, first-served basis.

To find out more, click here.

Light Festival at Battersea Power Station, until 25th February

Battersea Power Station’s annual Light Festival is returning brighter and more interactive than ever before to illuminate the winter nights. Follow this free light art trail and explore seven light art installations from British and international artists.  There’ll be family-friendly workshops (Paid, book here) live entertainment and music throughout, including live weeknight performances, live ‘glow shows’ from specialist LED performers, and Silent Discos will be held in Turbine Hall B for the first time plus free face painting (Sat – Sun 11, 12th, Sat – Sun 17th, 18th)

The installations will be lit daily from 8am – 11pm. View the Light Festival map here.

To find out more, click here.

Quentin Blake: Now, Cromwell Place, Kensington, until 18th February

Sir Quentin Blake presents a selection of works created over the past 12 months.The exhibition includes pen and ink drawings, plus new explorations in different formats and mediums, from ballpoint pen to the Stabilo Woody.  Blake presents his stunning large-scale portraits and imaginary compositions in his inimitable style, full of movement, humour, and pathos. The free exhibition also launches his latest book, ‘The Art of the Ballpoint’.

To find out more, click here.

Imagined Storytelling, National Gallery, 13th – 15th February

Take a seat at an imaginary breakfast tea party and become part of a story, inspired by Liotard’s ‘The Lavergne Family Breakfast’. Take your place at the family breakfast as they invite you to pass the tea with our Gallery Educator and storyteller Fiona Alderton. A free event for all ages.

To find out more, click here.

The Three Billy Goats Gruff, Unicorn Theatre, London Bridge, until 18th February 

Baby, Middle and Big are three very hungry goats, but there is no grass left to eat on their side of the valley. Come on their adventure with Little Bo-Frilly as they hatch a plan to cross the bridge to the lush green grass on the other side. They just need to outwit that horrible tricksy troll…

This magical fairy-tale show is the perfect first musical for young families.

For ages 3 – 7. Tickets; Adult from £16.50, Childs from £11

To find out more & to book tickets, click here.

Create your own clay dinosaur, Horniman Museum, Forest Hill, 12th – 15th February

Join Peckham ceramic studio Maison S. Sommet to create your very own clay dinosaur or fossil to take home with you! If your child is a budding paleontologist or a creative, explore, ignite their imagination and transport them back to the Jurassic era with the museum’s exciting Dinosaur Crafting Workshop, inspired by the Dinosaur Evolution exhibition!

Tickets: Adults are free, Child tickets £12.50

To find out more, click here.

Video Game Dance Party, V&A, Kensington, 14th – 16th February

Join this family drop-in activity to learn how to create your very own interactive video dance game, inspired by the music from the DIVA exhibition. Use a simple visual programming tool to drag and drop colourful coding blocks to create your dance sequence, then test your moves on our interactive dance mats!

A ticketed free event for ages 5+

To find out more, click here.

The Boy at the Back of the Class,Rose Theatre, Kingston, 3rd – 22nd February

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.

Told from a child’s perspective, 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.

Aimed at ages 7+ Tickets from £15

To find out more & to buy tickets, click here.

London Brick Festival, The Royal National Hotel, Russell Square, 18th February, 10am – 4pm

A LEGO fan event with lots to see and do including speed building competitions, large scale displays, activities, traders selling loose bricks, new LEGO sets, retired LEGO sets, minifigures & accessories plus a dedicated building area.

Tickets: Adults from £7 and Children from £5

To find out more & to book tickets, click here.

Valentine’s Day Chocolate Workshop at Chelsea Physic Garden, 12th & 14th February, 11am – 1pm

Learn about the way chocolate is grown and made into the bars we all love today and then create your own chocolate treats and experiment with a variety of botanical ingredients.

Tickets are £25 for an adult and £20 per child and includes entry to the Garden that day.

Aimed at ages 5+

To find out more & book tickets, click here.

AI and problem solving, Royal Institution, Saturday 17th February, 11am – 4pm

Discover how scientists use innovation, invention and creativity to help solve a whole host of problems! Whether it be with the help of Artificial Intelligence or not, we’ll have a packed day of demonstrations and activities for you to try.

Aimed at ages 7+, tickets from £10

To find out more & to book tickets, click here.

February Family Festival, Natural History Museum, Kensington, 10th – 18th February

Each day enjoy talks, tours, events and workshops. There’s lots to get involved in: enjoy the free Family Discovery Zone and discover the extreme and surprising places life finds a home through fun creative activities and science shows. Or visit the Spirit Collection Tour and take a peek behind the scenes and marvel at the fascinating collection of zoology specimens preserved in spirit.

A mix of free and paid for events that require booking.  Aimed at ages 8+.

To find out more, click here.

Malorie Blackman, The Power of Stories, British Library, Euston, until 25th February

Take an inspirational journey through the career of one of the nation’s most important authors, Malorie Blackman.

Explore Malorie’s impact on the world of children’s literature. Discover how this library-loving girl grew into one of the UK’s most popular authors, and how her enthralling books shine a light on different ways of seeing the world. Find out how she defied expectations to become a literary icon and a trailblazer for inclusivity and representation in publishing. See the original synopses of her landmark series, Noughts & Crosses, artwork from her novels, the work of some of her biggest inspirations as well as the authors who have followed in her footsteps.

A free exhibition, to find out more, click here.

The Twitchers Museum Adventure, Brunel Museum, Rotherhithe, 10th – 25th February

Investigate a surprising wildlife at the Brunel Museum as part of The Twitchers Museum Adventure, organised by Kids in Museums and Walker Books. The egg-citing national family trail celebrates the release of Feather, the latest book in the Twitchers Series from bestselling children’s author M. G. Leonard.

Tickets: £8 each Family (includes up to 2 adults and 4 children) £13.00

To find out more & to book tickets, click here.

Chinese New Year, Central London, 11th February

Celebrate Chinese New Year in Chinatown London. On Sunday 11th February, London will take to the streets to celebrate. Visit Chinatown where you can celebrate with some auspicious salad tossing with Yu Sheng at Rasa Sayang or learn about the hidden history of the area with Chinatown Stories from China Exchange.

Find out more here.

Can Bears Ski?,  the Lyric Hammersmith Theatre, 13th – 17th February

Little Bear can’t hear Dad Bear calling, but feels the floor vibrate with heavy footsteps… Join them as they learn how there are many ways to communicate love, and to find your place in the world.

Told through BSL and English, Can Bears Ski? is based on the book by poet Raymond Antrobus, who draws on his own experience as a deaf child in a hearing world.

Aimed at ages 3+ Tickets £10
To find out more & to buy tickets, click here.

Hot Wheels Monster Trucks Live: Glow Party, 02, Greenwich, 17th & 18th February

Hot Wheels Monster Trucks Live Glow Party brings fans’ favorite Hot Wheels Monster Trucks to life. Event performances will also feature a dazzling dance party, spectacular light shows and Hot Wheels toy giveaways. Plus, the fire and frost-breathing, transforming dragon ARCTICGON, and the electrifying high-flyers of Hot Wheels Monster Trucks Live, Freestyle Motocross! Special kids’ pricing is available for all shows providing BIG value for the whole family!

Tickets: Adult from £52.73, Child from £46.95

To find out more & to book tickets, click here.

The London Bookshop Crawl, 16th – 18th February

With online and in person events happening throughout the weekend, there’s lots to do and many ways to get involved. There’s a quiz, a crawl, a drawalong and a story making event plus a scavenger hunt, a crawl and more.

To find out more, click here.

Vets in Action, ZSL London Zoo, 10th  – 18th February

Let the kids step into the role of a vet at ZSL London Zoo and report for duty at the specially created animal hospital reception. Junior vets will pop on their white coats and join the team in the Zoo’s hands-on clinic to experience first-hand the huge variety of work carried out by the Zoo’s vets, vet nurses and zookeepers – from microchipping crocodiles to caring for a wounded lion. Discover giant-sized animal x-rays on the Zoo’s main lawn and don’t forget to get hands-on with crafts at the Conservation Station.

Standard tickets, Adult £32.50,  child £21.12

To find out more & to book tickets, click here.

THINGS TO DO UK WIDE 

Jorvik Viking Festival, York, 12th – 18th February

Meet vikings camped out in York City Centre in the Viking Encampment, then head to the Arena, for saga-themed storytelling sessions, exciting combat displays and live music performances throughout the day, or try Staging the Vikings, Berserker Boot Camp, Family Crafting, Soundmarks, Nalebinding and so much more.

Tickets: prices vary & events are age dependent.

To find out more & to buy tickets, click here.

South Downs Dark Skies Festival, 10th – 18th February

Running throughout the half term, the festival promises a host of events including the popular “Walk the Planets” trail with the planets laid out to scale, stargazing (weather-permitting), storytelling and nocturnal wildlife encounters at Queen Elizabeth Country Park and Seven Sisters Country Park, and Star Parties on Brighton seafront, Goodwood and at Hogmoor Inclosure in Bordon.

To find out more, click here.

Sky’s The Limit, Royal Air Force Museum, Midlands & London, 10th – 18th February

Experience the thrilling stories of the RAF in new and exciting ways. With theatre shows, comic book workshops, book readings and much more the RAF Museums have something for everyone as they take you through over 100 years of triumphant tales!

There are ticketed paid for activities here. London here. Midlands here.

To find out more, click here.

Oxygen Activeplay Indoor Freejumping | Oxygen Freejumping

Oxygen Activeplay is the ultimate indoor leisure park for families with seven high-energy Oxygen parks across the UK. Book for their action packed fun this half-term with their big-time fun Super Heroes and Princesses event!

Oxygen Activeplay opens in York on the 12th of February, just in time for half-term!  To celebrate the launch, get 25% off a family ticket for the York venue throughout half-term, use the code: YORKFAM25 at the checkout here.

Cavalier Crew Challenge Historic Dockyard Chatham, 10th – 18th February

Celebrate the 80th Anniversary of HMS CAVALIER, the last surviving Royal Navy Destroyer from the Second World War, which holds a significant place in history as part of the National Destroyer Memorial. You’re invited to step aboard HMS CAVALIER and embark on an exciting journey to become honorary members of the ship’s crew. Throughout the event, you’ll have the opportunity to learn various skills that were vital to the crew’s daily operations.

Tickets: Adult £28,50 – giving access for one year, Child £18

To find out more & to buy tickets, click here.

The Festival of Archery, Warwick Castle, 10th – 19th February 2024

Get ready to be 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!

Tickets from £25
To find out more & to book tickets, click here.

Ninja Warrior, UK wide

Inspired by the hit ITV show, Ninja Warrior UK offers  supervised activity and fitness venues throughout the UK. You can climb, balance, jump and swing across different obstacles using and developing your Ninja skills. A great place for supervised family activities and for keeping fit.

Aimed at ages 5+, tickets from £12

Find out more here.

Half Term History Makers, English Heritage, 10th – 18th February

Join characters from the past for historical hijinks and hands on shenanigans at our sites across the country this February half-term. Various events at locations for more information see here.

Find out more here.

Brick Days at LEGOLAND® Windsor Resort, Selected dates 10th February – 11th March

Get set for a February half term of LEGO® fun with Brick Days at the LEGOLAND® Windsor Resort!  Whether you are meeting your favourite LEGOLAND Characters, taking part in the exclusive LEGO brick building activities, or conquering awesome build challenges, there is something to spark every junior builder’s imagination!

Tickets from £35, To find out more & to book tickets, click here.

Cheddar Gorge and Caves Frozen February – A Stone Age Winter, 10th – 18th February

Visit Cheddar Gorge and journey back in time where you’ll be transported to a Stone Age winter. Interactive talks from hunter-gatherers will bring your Stone Age winter adventure to life and you can learn how early man lived and survived and combated the freezing temperatures. Brrr.

To find out more, click here here.

The Big Winter Wander, WWF, 12th – 25th February

Organise a sponsored walk this February to fundraise for wildlife everywhere. Pick your date between 12th – 25th Feb,  complete a 5k or 10k walk in your local area, using the spotter sheets and activity guides to get closer to nature.

To find out more, click here.

MAKE THIS 

Make An Origami Heart with Maths on Toast

Make an origami heart with a special message inside. Discover some origami magic by transforming a 2D flat surface into a 3D shape made up of many different polygons. Just by folding paper!

Pop your creation in an envelope then post or deliver it to someone!

Get folding here.

Pancake recipes for kids

With Pancake Day on 13th February, find plenty of inspiration and yummy recipes with BBC Food.

Get mixing here.

How to make a LEGO bird table with WWT

WWT home learning make it videos, gives you step by step instructions that will show you how to make your own Lego bird table.

Watch the video here and download the activity sheet here.

DO THIS

Fun Kids Radio Time Machine

Fun Kids Radio is building a time machine – a high-tech time capsule – and they’re putting you inside! You can find instructions on how to record your message here. On February 29th, they’ll lock the time capsule and leave it in the care of one of the country’s leading science museums for everyone to visit.

Take part here.

Weekend Make: Valentine’s Day, Derby Museums

Create a Valentine’s gift for somebody you love inspired by the Objects of Love from the World Collection Gallery. This online session is free of charge. You’ll find materials you will need and can also download an activity sheet here.

Aimed at ages 5+

Watch here.

Build Your Own World Heritage Site with the National Trust

Why not build your own version of a World Heritage Site, monument, or your favourite historical place? Get some ideas for what you might build and read tips and tricks for making your masterpiece.

Start building here.

World Book Day, 7th March

World Book Day provides a fantastic opportunity to focus on reading for pleasure, supporting children’s autonomy in book choice, and embedding a habit of reading that brings a wide range of benefits. Find more reading for pleasure resources, ideas and activities that can encourage a love of reading throughout the whole year.

Get prepped here.

LOOKING AHEAD 

British Science Week, 8th – 17th March

British Science Week is a ten-day celebration of science, technology, engineering and maths. You can get started by getting stuck into STEM fun now with British Science Week activity packs. They include loads of fun and educational activities based around the theme of ‘Time’.

Get prepped here and choose your activity pack here.

Bear Snores On, Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre, 23rd March – 21st April

Grab your backpack and join Mouse on a magical theatrical journey as she finds fun, courage and a whole bunch of new animal friends.

Aimed at ages 4+.

To find out more & to book tickets, click here.

Where’s Wally Fun Run, National Literacy Trust, Battersea Park, 24th March

Join hundreds of runners, families, and book lovers to support the National Literacy Trust for their annual Where’s Wally? Fun Run to raise money to transform children’s lives through literacy.

To find out more, click here.

Wallace and Gromit: The Wrong Trousers Turn 30! The Cartoon Museum, Fitzrovia until 16th April 2024

Don’t miss celebrating the iconic animated duo Wallace & Gromit and the 30th birthday of the classic film The Wrong Trousers!

The  exhibition invites you to make your own piece of plasticine history and walks you through a one-of-a-kind collection of the full production process of Wallace & Gromit: The Wrong Trousers. Promising  never-before-seen behind the screen shots showing the artists and studio as the film was made, once believed lost set pieces and models and every surviving piece of original artwork.

Tickets; Adults £9.50, Under 18s Free.

To find out more, click here.

Spirited Away, London Coliseum, 30th April – 24th August

Studio Ghibli’s Oscar-winning Spirited Away is re-imagined for the stage. The original Japanese cast perform this production with wildly imaginative puppets, dazzling set and costume designs and a live orchestra playing the magnificent original film score by Joe Hisaishi.

A masterpiece of storytelling and stunning visuals Spirited Away tells the enchanting tale of Chihiro who while traveling to a new home with her family, stumbles into a world of fantastic spirits ruled over by the sorceress Yubaba.

Aimed at ages 7+. Tickets from £24.75

To find out more, click here.

The Paddington Bear Experience, opening soon 2024

This large-scale interactive experience is inspired by everyone’s favourite bear! It’ll be taking up residence in the iconic County Hall on the Southbank unfolding across 26,000 square ft. Audiences will be thrown into the thick of the action as they help Paddington and the Brown family prepare for a special day. A feast for the senses, visitors will step into the world of Paddington and become immersed in some of the most iconic locations, culminating in a Windsor Gardens extravaganza!

To find out more, click here.

NG200, UK wide, 12th May onwards

On 10 May 2024 the National Gallery’s Bicentenary celebrations begin – 200 years of bringing people and paintings together.

For the entire year, the National Gallery will celebrate their past and look forward to their future with a year-long festival of art, creativity and imagination.

To find out more, click here.

Barbie®: The Exhibition, The Design Museum, Kensington, 5th July

Opening to coincide with the 65th anniversary of the Barbie brand, the exhibition will map the Barbie legacy that started in 1959 when Ruth Handler wanted to craft a different narrative for her daughter, Barbara. It will explore the story of Barbie through a design lens, including fashion, architecture, furniture and vehicle design.

To find out more, click here.