10 attractions to visit in London with kids for February half-term
Discover Shakespeare’s London at Globe Theatre
From 15 to 23 February, Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre is running family tours, which are designed to introduce younger visitors to Shakespeare’s London and his theatrical world. The one-hour Shakespeare’s Globe family tour is recommended for ages 7 to 11. To introduce children to Shakespeare, I would also recommend the beautifully illustrated book with shortened versions of Shakespeare’s plays – A Stage Full of Shakespeare Stories by Angela McAllister (Frances Lincoln Children’s Books, £12.99).
Explore London with The Original Tours
Starting from 15 February, The Original Tour’s London kids sightseeing tour returns with a 45-minute long non-stop bus tour with a live guide telling stories about history and culture, while you whirl around the streets of London on an open-top bus passing some of the capital’s main sights. The tour will run daily throughout February half-term week, and we’ve been invited on board to review. Look out for the write-up during half-term.
Enjoy music at Wigmore Hall
Concert hall Wigmore Hall in Marylebone is running a Learning Festival over half term, and half term at Wigmore Hall includes a family concert as well as a family day. On 19 February, children aged 7 to 11 can learn about Baroque composer George Friedrich Handel and rock’n’roll superstar Jimi Hendrix, imagining the musical conversations between them before creating their own music (Tickets are available to book online). On 22 February, there’s also a ‘Talking Drums’ family concert at Wigmore Hall, which is recommended for the same age group. (Photo of Wigmore Hall above by Benjamin Ealovega.)
Design with Hey Duggee or explore Mars at the Design Museum
At Kensington’s Design Museum, there’s currently an exhibition about Mars, which is recommended for families with children aged 8 and over, and over half-term there are also Hey Duggee Design Workshops aimed at children aged 6 and under. Tickets are available to book online for both the Moving to Mars exhibition, which features imagery from Mars and a full-scale Mars home to step into, and the Hey Duggee workshops, where there will be soft play shapes and puppet-making.
Be a detective at The Postal Museum
From 17 to 22 February, The Postal Museum near Farringdon is running family activities inspired by their temporary exhibition The Great Train Robbery: Crime and The Post, which explains how post has come under attack from crooks and spies trying to swindle or intercept secret messages. Families can go on a mini detective training trail at the Postal Museum over half-term, or join one of the scheduled workshops, which include detective ID card making and creating a wax sealed letter for extra security.
Discover the Meet Vincent Van Gogh Experience
On London’s Southbank, the interactive exhibition Meet Vincent Van Gogh is opening on 7 February, offering visitors an opportunity to explore large recreations of Van Gogh’s works, take a selfie in his bedroom and learn more about the artist’s life. There will be an audio guide tour for children aged 8 to 12, as well as one for adults (13 and over). The experience, created by the Van Gogh Museum, will be open from 7 February to 21 May at 99 Upper Ground, behind the National Theatre.
Ted’s Space Adventure in the Planetarium at the Royal Observatory
In Greenwich, children can be introduced to our solar system with an animated show called Ted’s Space Adventure, which is aimed at under 7s and tells the story about Ted and Plant who travel to different planets to explore what it would be like to live somewhere else than on planet Earth. The film is projected onto the dome-shaped ceiling of the Planetarium and the theatre features reclining seats. The experience includes live commentary from an expert, and Ted’s Space Adventure is playing at 11am on weekends and on weekdays during half-term. (Read my full review HERE.)
Explore Tutankhamun: Treasures of the Golden Pharaoh at Saatchi Gallery
At Chelsea’s Saatchi Gallery, families have a unique opportunity to learn about Ancient Egypt by visiting Tutankhamun: Treasures of the Golden Pharaoh, an exhibition I’ve been invited to review. The exhibition, which is open until 3 May, showcases 150 artefacts from Tutankhamun’s tomb, making it the largest collection of Tutankhamun’s treasures ever to leave Egypt. Starting with an introductory video about Howard Carter’s discovery of the tomb, the exhibition puts the burial items in context for visitors and explains their meaning. London is the final stop on the world tour before the collection is returned to Egypt to go on permanent display at the Grand Egyptian Museum.
Wonderlab: The Equinor Gallery at Science Museum
Visiting the interactive Wonderlab: The Equinor Gallery at London’s Science Museum, which we were invited to review in autumn, can make for an educational and interesting family day out. The gallery features an array of interactive exhibits that help demonstrate rules of science, and there are also plenty of demonstrations, bringing concepts to life. (Read my full Wonderlab review HERE.) Families with younger children should head to The Garden space for children in the basement at the Science Museum, which is free to enter, and the Pattern Pod on the ground floor can be fun for different ages.
Meet the Characters at Cutty Sark
As part of an event with MBNA Thames Clippers we have previously been invited to visit Cutty Sark, and we went on a family-friendly tour with a character from the past, which is part of the family fun programme at Cutty Sark. The Meet the Characters experience at Cutty Sark can be a brilliant way to introduce young children to life on board the ship, and it’s one I’ve recommended to friends.
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