Things to do for February half-term in London

South London's Horniman Museum and Gardens is a quirky destination with a huge variety of sites and exhibits to explore. There's a museum, aquarium, and lots of outside space. During half-term there are lots of fun activities on for kids, including hairstyling workshops and storytelling sessions.

To celebrate the return of its Light Festival, Battersea Power Station is hosting a week of creative February half-term activities for all ages. Families can join workshops to craft glow-in-the-dark bracelets, 3D wooden spiders, dreamcatchers, and stunning Northern Lights-inspired artwork, as well as LED hula disco sessions. In addition, award-winning musical “The Lion King” will be hosting a free pop-up exhibition in celebration of its 10,000th performance and 20 millionth guest.

Kids will be entertained at Flip Out, a trampoline park and indoor playground with a few locations in London. Vibrant and full of colour, they're great for keeping children busy for a few hours. There are various zones to explore including trampolines, obstacle courses, and soft-play spaces for the youngest children. Hours are extended for school holidays too.

Vibrant attraction Bubble Planet takes you into a world of bubbles, with 11 themed rooms that allow big and small kids to let loose. This multi-sensory experiences uses bubbles, lasers, lights, colours, and advanced technology to create a dreamy and immersive experience. The experience takes 60-90 minutes and is suitable for every age group.

Get creative with pottery at Clay Time, which welcomes children and adults. At this North London ceramics studio, there are sessions for kids to make their own clay pot or paint a pre-made ceramic tile with an original design. You can also hire out the venue for kids' birthday parties.

Get back to nature in East London at Hackney City Farm. This working farm is open to visitors. Families can meet farmyard animals like pigs and donkeys, explore the garden and grounds, and visit the restaurant. Various activities take place, including weekly clubs for under and over 12s that include working with animals.

Take young thrillseekers to the ArcelorMittal Orbit. Designed by artist Anish Kapoor, it's the world's longest tunnel slide, measuring 178m long and including 12 twists and turns. The slide is suitable for those aged eight and over. You'll get to take fab photos of London from the viewing platform before hurtling down the slide. The opening hours are slightly extended for the school holidays too.

Located in Trafalgar Square, The National Gallery is one of the most famous galleries in the country. It houses works from the 13th to 20th centuries and has free activities during half-term. Let the gallery's team of educators guide you through the gallery as you learn to decode pictures, or join a family lute tour.

With modern style and tons of interactive features, the Science Museum is popular with every age group. During February half-term, kids can explore loads of exhibits covering different scientific topics, from the history of aircraft and space travel to the climate crisis. There's a gift shop too, full of novelties that'll entertain young people.

February half-term means the Imagine Children's Festival returns to Southbank Centre. Dozens of events are happening to suit kids of all ages, with many of them being free to join. The festival is designed to stimulated kids' imaginations and includes performances, workshops, and activities covering music, poetry, dance, comedy, and much more.

Wimbledon's Polka Theatre has been putting on children's theatre since 1977. It's an inclusive, imaginative, and vibrant space designed especially for kids. During half-term in February there are productions suitable for toddlers and children of ages up to 7, as well as soothing sensory workshops. The venue also has spaces for reading and playing.

London's transport network is a huge part of life in the city and you can discover more about it at the London Transport Museum. During February half-term the museum is celebrating iconic London Transport posters through the decades. There are poster printing workshops, drama and dance sessions, family-oriented tours, and more.

Kids can get up close with aquatic creatures at Sea Life London Aquarium. It's a popular attraction for all ages and houses the largest coral reef in the UK. Species here range from penguins to sharks and rainforest creepy crawlies, but the focus during February half-term this year is on turtles, with challenges and fun activities exploring the world of these fascinating creatures.

Don't stay at home playing board games – visit Monopoly Lifesized instead. This unique immersive experience involves moving around a life-sized board and letting your competitive side out. There are several different boards to choose from. It's suitable for kids aged 9+ and there's an on-site restaurant to relax in afterwards.

London Zoo is the oldest scientific zoo in the world and a big hit with children. A huge range of animals live here, from otters to lions. During February half-term, there's an events programme dedicated to the zoo's vets; kids can learn about their work through role-playing, talks, and demos.

Kids can work out pent-up energy at Tumbling Bay Playground, set in Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park. The goal of this space is to let kids play in a natural environment. At this lively spot, they'll discover treehouses, rock pools, bridges, and slides that work with the park's natural landscape.

At The Postal Museum you'll discover more about Britain's postal system and heritage. There's interesting stuff for all ages – kids will enjoy the interactive exhibits and the chance to ride on the below-ground Mail Rail train. As well as regular play sessions for under-fives, during half-term there are creative sessions focusing on different themes each year.

Check out Champions Wharf Play Beach for outdoor play by the Thames. Opened in 2013, this is a fun park for all ages and offers great views of the river. It’s sandy underfoot, there’s a viking boat and a Victorian water taxi, and it’s enhanced with artwork and places to sit down.

Next to the Thames you'll find Shakespeare's Globe, a reconstruction of the original Globe Theatre. Regular performances take place, including shows for children, and family-friendly tours of the building are available too. During February half-term, kids and families can join acting workshops, storytelling sessions, demonstrations, and tours suited to different age groups.

North London’s Finsbury Park is great for families who need some fresh air. There are spacious grounds to wander, a pond that’s a hotspot for birds and wildlife, sports facilities, a zip wire, a kids’ playground, and a café with child-friendly menus. A walk here is perfect for burning off some energy.

In North London there’s a zoo you can visit for free – Golders Hill Park Zoo. It’s been in situ for more than 100 years and lets you get close to various animals including lemurs, wallabies, kookaburras, and donkeys. Located in Golders Hill Park, there’s lots of space nearby to walk and play.

Take the kids to Kensington Gardens and visit the Diana Memorial Playground, themed on Peter Pan. This staffed playground is hugely popular, welcoming over a million kids every year. Explore the pirate ship, teepees and totem pole, and sensory trail. This magical spot was designed so kids of all abilities could play together.

Get some fresh air when you explore Crystal Palace Park. This expansive green space in South London is home to the famous Crystal Palace Dinosaurs, historical dinosaur sculptures you can explore on foot or by pedalo. Kids can also have fun at the skatepark, playground, and one of the country’s largest mazes.

Since 1936, kids in London have been playing at Coram's Fields, a seven-acre playground in Bloomsbury. It's open to everyone aged under 16 and is a great place for some lively fun. There are multiple play areas, including a sensory zone and adventure playground with a zip wire, plus a paddling pool.

Right at the tip of North London there's Chickenshed, an inclusive local theatre with lots on for all ages. Workshops, film screenings, live music, and theatre performances are on here regularly, including lively theatre shows aimed at children this half-term. They're made for kids from babies up to age seven.

The WWT London Wetland Centre spans 105 acres of scenic open spaces and is home to diverse wildlife such as otters and water birds. During February half-term, the centre is hosting Mudfest, a festival taking advantage of the wetlands' copious supply of mud to organise all sorts of fun activities, including mud painting, a mud kitchen, nest building, and more. Don't forget your wellies.

Foundling Museum in Bloomsbury has a range of great activities going on during half-term. This museum explores London's history through the story of the UK's first first home for children at risk of abandonment. It has an impressive art collection too. During the February half-term, families can get involved with a number of creative workshops inspired by the museum's exhibitions.

During February half-term, the Design Museum is hosting a week-long series of workshops called Design Camp. Children can learn about stop-motion animation, coding, interactive storytelling, worldbuilding, and more in workshops designed to stimulate their creativity and educate them about the basic principles of quality design.

The Golden Hinde was the first English ship to sail around the world but today it's a museum permanently docked on the Thames. Visitors can explore the ship or enjoy special events like talks and live music. Throughout February half-term there are guided tours taking place regularly, where the whole family can meet the crew and find out what being a 16th-century sailor was really like.

North London theatre Artsdepot is staging a play during half-term that's suitable for one-year-olds and above. Take the kids along to this modern venue to see an adaptation of the much-loved children's book “The Very Hungry Caterpillar”. The show brings the story to life through puppets, songs, and costumes.

This February half-term, step into the shoes of the workers who built the Thames Tunnel with Tunnellers' Tales, an interactive experience at the Brunel Museum. Families can handle Victorian-inspired props and explore the tough, grimy, and sometimes dangerous conditions faced by the tunnel diggers.

This half-term, the luxurious Broadwick Soho hotel has partnered up with The Wands & Wizard Exploratorium to offer a special package for families. In addition to a discounted family-friendly stay at the hotel, the Wizards in Residence package includes a an immersive wand-making adventure at the Exploratorium, with kids kept busy in the interactive workshop while parents relax with a glass of bubbles.

Royal Museums Greenwich are hosting a  number of fun events and activities across their venues this February half-term. Kids can enjoy a special planetarium show at the Royal Observatory, meet the crew of the Cutty Sark, engage in LGBTQ-friendly workshops at the National Maritime Museum, and more. Coupled with the big park on the Royal Museums' doorstep, there's everything you need for perfect family day out in Greenwich.

Somerset House is currently hosting a fascinating exhibition on soil and its vital importance to life on Earth. During half-term, a series of workshops and activities, including seed bomb making, a drawing club, a screening of “The Lorax”, and storytelling sessions, will help children understand what's going on beneath their feet.

It's never too early to start practicing the art of crafting dumplings, and anyone who's tried Din Tai Fung's carefully folded morsels will tell you the payoff is well worth the initial effort. The renowned restaurant group is letting kids in on the secret this February half-term, with a Kids' Dumpling Masterclass taking place at its Centre Point branch.

The Gravity Max entertainment centres offer all sorts of family-friendly fun that's sure to keep both parents and kids entertained during February half-term. In the neon-tinged setting, families can go bowling or karting, play exciting arcade games, bounce around on trampolines, and more. On-site food and drink vendors make sure no is lacking energy, and there are various discounts and special packages you can take advantage of.