Blink and the first school holiday of 2022 is already here. Time to entertain the kids, again! If you’ve left it all a bit last minute and are not sure how to keep the children occupied, we’ve got you covered! Our top picks for this February 2022 half-term features a series of interactive, educational and free events for the whole family.
Imagine Children’s Festival
Trap your trotters along to orchestral music alongside your favourite porcine friend and her alliterative friends in Peppa Pig: My First Concert, befriend darkness and enjoy a thrilling soundscape of live music in The Dark or have a little chill with the calming Slumber Stories. Dance along with FUNDMC and take part in a Palaver party or have some fun with the free floor games. Whatever you’re into, there’s plenty to keep you and your family entertained at this year’s Imagine Children’s Festival.
When: 9 – 20 February 2022
Where: Southbank Centre
How much: various with plenty of free options. More info and booking here.
Handa’s Surprise
Inspired by Eileen Browne’s famous book you can follow Handa on her journey through her home village as she aims to bring some fruit back to her friend Akeyo. Expect plenty of audience participation, puppetry and live music in this performance suitable for ages 2-5.
When: 9 – 16 April 2022
Where: Little Angel Studios, London N1 2EH
Price: Adults £13.50 and Children (ages 1-17): £11.50. More info and booking here.
Zog and the Flying Doctors
Zog, super keen student turned air-ambulance, still lands with a crash-bang-thump. Together with his Flying Doctor crew, Princess Pearl and Sir Gadabout, they tend to a sunburnt mermaid, a unicorn with one too many horns and a lion with the flu. However, Pearl’s uncle, the King, has other ideas about whether princesses should be doctors, and she’s soon locked up in the castle back in a crown and a silly frilly dress!
When: 10 – 19 February 2022
Where: The Rose Theatre, Kingston
How much: from £15 more info and bookings here.
The Singing Mermaid
The singing mermaid is tempted away to join a travelling circus, with the promise of a life of excitement (and her own swimming pool!). The audience loves her singing but soon she finds she’s been tricked by the dastardly circus master. Will she ever escape? And who will help her along the way?
When: 11 – 20 February 2022
Where: Polka Theatre
How much: from £10 more info and bookings here.
It’s a Wild Life
Encourage a love of the great outdoors for your little folks with a trip to the London Wetland Centre where you can play in mud kitchens, enjoy the educational workshops and explore the on-site wildlife.
When:12 – 20 February 2022
Where: London Wetland Centre
How much: £13.40 for adults and £8.13 for kids plus the cost of some of the workshops. More info and booking here.
Legacies: London Transport’s Caribbean Workforce
Explore the latest exhibition at the Transport Museum through a fun flag exhibit and family-friendly labels that help children to think about the experiences of the people that made London their new home. There are also plenty of other activities to enjoy throughout half-term such as storytelling and crafts.
When: 12 – 17 February 2022
Where: London Transport Museum
How much: £18.50 (an annual pass) and children go free. More info and bookings here.
Tate Play: Holiday Make Studio
Get modeling with junk and other recycled materials to create your own futuristic life-size artwork inspired by the work of Anicka Yi and her mystical floating forms in the Turbine Hall who asks us what a ‘natural history of machines’ might look like. With a mix of large recycled and reused materials, work together to create a 3D world of life-size sculptures for everyone to enjoy or get inspired and add your stamp to a creation someone else has made.
When: 12 – 20 February 2022 daily 10am til 6pm
Where: Tate Modern
How much: free – more info here.
A Love Letter to Nature
Roses are red,
Violets are blue.
Plants are amazing,
We’ll look after you!
In support of The Climate Coalition’s ‘Show the Love’ campaign, Kew Gardens are putting on a fun-filled family day out in our wild botanic garden. Perfect for nature lovers of all ages to discover the ways that plants are so special. Whilst there you can enjoy a trip to the Children’s garden playground, a visit to the current Zadok Ben-David exhibition that explores the fragility of the natural world and the Orchids exhibition.
When: 12 – 27 February 2022
Where: Kew Gardens
How much: included in the price of entry. More info here.
Rainbow Week
Celebrate LGBTQ+ history through a series of creative workshops at the museum including making a Disability Pride flag, make protest posters and join the Out at Sea festival celebrating queer maritime history and culture throughout the ages.
When: 13 – 20 February 2022
Where: National Maritime Museum
How much: free, more info here.
Samsung Digital Family Activities
Try your hand at creating a mask inspired by Peruvian objects, or develop your photo editing skills using green screen technology to see your family next to ancient Egyptian artefacts.
When: 14 – 18 February 10am til 4pm
Where: British Museum
How much: free more info here.
Green Hearts Everywhere
Do something positive to tackle climate change at the South London Botanical institute as you make little green paper hearts filled with native wildflower seeds that are not only cute to look at but can be planted in unloved places to create new little wildflower patches. You can give them to your loved ones or, using the cards we put together in the workshop, send them to your local MP asking them to take action on climate change. Suitable for ages 5 – 11
When: 14 February 2022 2 -3.30pm
Where: South London Botanical Institute
How much: £5 more info and bookings here.
Future Explorers
What might you eat for breakfast in 30 years’ time? Will we still use plastic? How will we cope with hotter, wetter weather? Discover what the future has in store from experts through a series of interactive games, exhibits and demonstrations. There is also the free children’s garden and Wonderlab is open daily.
When: 14 – 18 February 2022
Where: Science Museum
How much: free more info here.
Art Courses
This 4 day course over February half term offers children a fun, playful and creative environment to express themselves using a range of techniques and processes to create their own artworks guided by artists, Rudy Loewe and Lyson Marchessault.
When: 15 – 18 February
Where: Camden Arts Centre
How much: £195 more info and bookings here.
Upcycling Workshop
Make art alongside sustainable brand Coco and Kiki out of recycled materials. Bring some of your recycling and get creative painting funky record bowls, making musical instruments, making your own paints from materials out of our kitchen and lots more.
When: 14- 25 February 2022
Where: Art Play London, 56 Middlesex Street
How much: £9.20 more info and bookings here.
Robin’s Winter Tale
A young boy’s incredible journey with a feathered friend. But will facing his fears turn out to be the greatest adventure of all? This is an uplifting tale of change, bravery and friendship told with puppetry, poetry, music and magical design, for ages 4+ and their families. Join Pied Piper Theatre Company for a new play celebrating 30 years of outstanding children’s theatre.
When: 15 – 19 February 2022
Where: Lyric Theatre, Hammersmith
How much: £10 more info and bookings here.
Anansi Tales
Meet storyteller Wendy Shearer and hear tales of Anansi, the part-spider part-man African folk hero that inspired the emblem of a black tarantula formation badge of the 81st West African Division from Nigeria.
When: 16 february 2022 (various times)
Where: National Army Museum
How much: Free more info here.
Imagined Spaces
Explore, make and build outside Pitzhanger with AssemblePlay, take part in junk modeling in the Manor and sketch your own ideas inspired by John Soane’s designs.
When: 16 & 17 February 2022
Where: Pitzhanger Manor & Gallery
How much: free more info and bookings here.
Chocolate workshop
Learn how cacao beans grow, how it is made into chocolate, and design your own chocolate treats with a provided selection of herbs, flavourings, and spices. Suggested for children aged 5 and above.
When: 17 February 2022 (11am til 1pm or 2pm til 4pm)
Where: Chelsea Physic Garden
How much: £20 more info and bookings here.