All the way through half term:
🌲Waddesdon Manor: Kids go FREE this half term (closed Monday 17th and Tuesday 18th)
FREE admission to the grounds for the kiddos this half term! And that includes Doodle-Jam, Zoolab Trail and craft workshops, snowdrops and walks. Dogs on short leads welcome! Book your tickets here.
🗺️FREE children’s trail at University Church (big church on Oxford’s High St) Until Saturday 23rd February
A FREE children’s trail on for the whole of the half term, and it includes a prize! Thomas Cranmouse has lost his hat! Help him find it and solve riddles along the way as part of this free family activity for half term. Take your completed trail to the shop to receive a prize!
🌍 Festival of Tomorrow Until 23rd February
Over 150 family-friendly performances, immersive experiences, drop-in activities and hands-on workshops right across Swindon. All of the children’s tickets are FREE, and most adults events too. Some events require booking but many are walk-in. Our highlight? Gaia of course!
🥽FREE swimming for children under 17 who live in OX1 – OX4 at More (formerly Fusion) pools Ongoing
Children go free during the family swim session at More pools including: Barton, Leys and Ferry. Pre-register for a free swim card by bringing proof of age and address into one of the More pools and registering, then you can book on the website into one of the family swim sessions. More info here.
🧱Brick Madness at Banbury Museum Monday 17th February – Friday 21st February
Chuck A LOT of Lego and children together and you get Brick Madness! It’s a free play vibe where children can unleash their creativity. Sounds like a lot of fun! Morning and afternoon sessions (10.30am/ 1.30pm – lasts for 90 minutes) each day. Booking essential.
📚The Story Museum Half Term activities Open everyday in half-term
Galleries, Small Worlds, half term activities and events…stepping into a book at The Story Museum is such a unique experience. And it’s open every day in the school holidays!
🌳Waterperry Gardens Snowdrop Season Until March
Snowdrop season has started at Waterperry! More than 60 different snowdrop varieties carpeting the ornamental gardens and a spectacular show down by the walk along the River Thame. It’s a beautiful show! More pictures and info here.
Here is your day by day guide to half term:
MONDAY 17th FEBRUARY
🦖Museum of Natural History: Dino Discoveries
An exciting journey back in time! Learn how early palaeontologists identified the first dinosaurs known to science and how their discoveries revolutionised our understanding of the natural world. With hands-on activities, crafts and touchable specimens, this family-friendly event is suitable for all ages.
🗓 Monday 17th and Tuesday 18th February⏰1pm – 4pm 💴 Free 🎫 Drop-in ℹ️ Details here.
🪴Didcot Library: Sow and Grow composting activities
Free, fun activities around seeds, worms and compost. Plant your own flower or vegetable seed to take home.
🗓 Monday 17th February⏰2pm – 4pm 💴Free 🎫No booking required 🧒🏽Recommended for ages 6 – 11years old ℹ️ Check out all the great free activities happening at Didcot Library
🏠Bekonscot Model Village
Have you booked your ticket to the world’s oldest model village? It re-opened this weekend for the season and is the perfect half-term outing! ! So quaint, and the perfect place for the little ones to feel like giants.
🗓 Open daily until the 2nd November ⏰10am – 5.30pm 💴Adult: £14, Children: £9 🎫 Booking recommended ℹ️ See all the (very sweet!) pics and info here.
TUESDAY 18th FEBRUARY
🌲Family Forest Day at Hill End
Explore the huge 67 acre site! The theme is bird nesting and you can make your own nesting box or feeder. Create your own giant nest in the den building area, follow a trail for interesting bird facts, visit the bird hide, play and enjoy the space, woodlands and wetlands
🗓 Tuesday 18th/ Wednesday 19th February⏰10am – 2pm 💴 Adult: £11, Child: £9 (Under 2 free), includes lunch and parking 🎫 Book here.
🗺️ Weston Library: Magna Carter Family Fun
Love these FREE events at the Weston Library. This one is all about the Magna Carter and why it matters 800 years on. Lots of crafty fun and the chance to meet Meet a medieval curator, hear exciting stories from medieval storyteller and debate your family charter’s rights and rules (this should be interesting!) The Toddleian has lots of play opportunities for younger visitors too.
🗓 Tuesday 18th February ⏰10.30am – 3pm 💴 Free 🧒Activities aimed at 4+ years 🎫 Drop-in ℹ️ Line-up and timings here.
🐦 The Oxfordshire Museum: Bird suncatcher
So many wonderful FREE events at the Oxfordshire Museum. Make a colourful suncatcher to brighten up your window! Don’t forget the dinosaur garden too!
🗓 Tuesday18th February⏰ 10.30am – 12.30pm/ 2pm – 4pm 💴 Free, donations welcome 🎫 No booking required ℹ️ Details on all the museum’s family activities here.
🦎 Natural History Museum at Tring
4,900 specimens- six galleries – four floors! This museum is quite the experience! It won’t be everyone’s bag – it’s essentially a museum of stuffed animals and replicas – but it is a truly fascinating experience. Life-sized lions, polar bears, penguins, giraffes, elephants, dodo, giant panda. seals, bison, snakes, kangaroos and thousands more! It’s quite something. They also have lots on during half term including ‘Explore Reptiles’ where you can get hands on with their scaly specimens and discover what makes reptiles amazing. This free, drop-in activity is on 18th/ 19th and 20th 10.30am – 12 noon and 2pm – 3.30pm.
🗓 Museum opened Tuesday – Sunday⏰ 10am – 5pm 💴 Free, donations welcome 🎫 No booking required ℹ️ Check out our visit to the museum here and details on Explore Reptiles here.
WEDNESDAY 19th FEBRUARY
🚌Oxford Bus Museum
FREE vintage bus rides included in your entry ticket! This lovely little museum is a must for bus-enthusiasts and is very child-friendly and interactive! Buses depart at 12.15pm and 2.15pm – don’t be late!
🗓 Wednesday 19th February ⏰10am – 4pm 💴 Adults £8, Children £5, Family (2A + 2C) £17 Under 5: FREE 🎫 Drop-in ℹ️ More info here.
🪲Caper Bookshop: Wriggly rhymes and riddles – BOING! time!
The bookshop of dreams also hold dream events too! Best-selling and local poet and musician James Carter will be hosting an utterly bugly hour of wriggly rhymes and riddles, not to mention bouncy bug dancing for the grown-ups, and a fun writing workshop so you can take a way your very own bugly rhyme.
🗓 Wednesday 19th February ⏰2.30pm – 3.30pm 💴 £5 🎫 Booking essential ℹ️ Check out our visit to Caper here and see all the half term shenanigans here.
🚂 Pendon Museum: Junior Model Making
The Pendon Museum is such an interesting place! It’s a glimpse of rural life through extraordinary display scale models and large scenes of the rural countryside. We absolutely love following the railway around; especially as it passes so many places that we recognise! This hands-on model-making session (11am – 3pm) is run by expert modellers who create and maintain Pendon’s world-famous models. Each participant will work on their own small diorama to take home.
🗓 Wednesday 19th February ⏰11am – 4pm 💴 Adults: £8, Children: £6, Under 5: Free 🎫 Drop-in session is free ℹ️ Visit the Pendon website to see what it’s all about.
🦕The Oxfordshire Museum: Flying Dinosaurs
This place really is a hive of dino activity with the dino room, gardens and crafts! Explore the world of Pterodactyls, learn some fun facts and make a model to hang up at home.
🗓 Wednesday 19th February⏰ 10.30am – 12.30pm 💴 Free, donations welcome 🎫 No booking required ℹ️ Details on all the museum’s family activities here.
🪶The Oxfordshire Museum: Feather Art
Fun with feathers. Including mark making using feathers, quills for writing and feather printing. Remember that the first introduction to writing for little ones is mark making so bring everyone!
🗓 Wednesday 19th February⏰ 2pm – 4pm 💴 Free, donations welcome 🎫 No booking required ℹ️ Details on all the museum’s family activities here.
❓Pitt Rivers Museum: What’s on our Drawers?
Explore the drawers at the Pitt Rivers Museum! Pick up the new What’s in our Drawers? family trail, take part in object handling and have a go at a creative craft.
🗓 Wednesday 19th and Thursday 20th February⏰ 1pm – 4pm 💴 Free drop-in, no booking required 🎫 More info here.
🏠Kingston Bagpuize House
Perfect your Dowager of Grantham face as this Downtown Abbey gem is ready for you! You don’t have to be prim and proper here though – run wild in the meadows, spot allllllll the snowdrops and enjoy tea and cake on the lawn. What a delight!
🗓 Sunday 19th February ⏰1pm – 4pm 💴 Garden entry only: Adults: £8, Students: £4.50, Primary school aged children: FREE🎫 Drop-in ℹ️ See one of our visits here and future opening dates for house and gardens here.
THURSDAY 20th FEBRUARY
🌱Earth Trust: Little Acorns on Tour
A special free event at Mowbray Fields, the community reserve in Didcot Earth Trust cares for. At this drop in session, your little ones can come and connect with the natural world with the help of the Earth Trust friendly team. Investigate the season with a variety of activities for little adventurers to discover, from minibeast IDs to a sensory scavenger hunt and a fun robin nature trail.
🗓 Thursday 20th February⏰10am – 12 noon 💴 FREE 🎫 Booking essential ℹ️ Details and booking here.
🪁Soldiers of Oxfordshire Museum: Winnie-the-Pooh Kite Making Workshop
Visit the new E. H. Shepard: Before & Beyond Winnie-the-Pooh exhibition at this fascinating museum in Woodstock (behind the Oxfordshire Museum) and have a go at making your own kite to take home and fly – just like Pooh in Hundred Acre Wood! All of the Winnie-the-Pooh style craft activities are drop-in activities, you can take part anytime between 10am and 12pm.
🗓 Thursday 20th February⏰10am 💴Adults: £8, children 5 -16: £4, Under 5: Free. Kite activity: £4 🎫 Booking required ℹ️ Details and booking here.
🪁Soldiers of Oxfordshire Museum: Whinnie-the-Pooh Teddy Tea Party
Bring your teddy to the afternoon tea party for children 1+, packed with fun activities inspired by E. H. Shepard’s beloved Winnie-the-Pooh illustrations. Dress up and play! There is also a Pooh-themed treasure hunt – get a small prize for finding all the Winnie-the-Pooh characters hiding in teacups around the museum! Finally, make your own friendship bracelet to take home a keepsake from your very own teddy bear tea party! All tea party events run from 1pm – 3pm, drop in anytime during the event to take part.
🗓 Thursday 20th February⏰1pm – 3pm 💴Museum entry: Adults: £8, children 5 -16: £4, Under 5: Free. Tea party activities: £5🎫 Booking required ℹ️ Details and booking here.
🪶The Oxfordshire Museum: Bird Habitats
Explore bird habitats by creating, through colouring and collage, a tree mobile showing birds in their natural habitat.
🗓 Thursday 20th February⏰ 10.30am – 12.30pm 💴 Free, donations welcome 🎫 No booking required ℹ️ Details on all the museum’s family activities here.
FRIDAY 21st FEBRUARY
🔨Oxford Castle and Prison: DIG!
Budding archaeologists unite! At Oxford Castle and Prison this half term you can dig for archaeological finds, create a replica of historical objects and learn about genuine relics discovered right on the Castle grounds.
🗓 17th – 21st February⏰10am/ 12 noon/ 2.30pm 💴£16 for one adult and child 🧒Designed for children ages 5 – 10 years old 🎫 More info here.
🪖Museum of Oxford: Hands on History!
Touch, feel and handle objects ranging from Roman pottery to Second World War helmets. You’ll also get to learn about the stories behind the objects and what they can tell us about our city’s amazing past.
🗓 21st February⏰10.30am – 12 noon/ 12.30pm – 2.30pm 💴Free, drop-in session 🎫 More info here.
🧭Harcourt Arboretum Geocache Trail and Activity Backpack
Find the caches hidden around the Arboretum, enjoy the activities and see if you can solve the puzzle. Geocache trails are recommended for children aged 8+ with their families (£2). For younger visitors grab an Activity Backpack filled with activities. Enjoy games, things to make, spot, and discover on your adventure around the Arboretum. Activity backpacks are ideal for children aged 3-8 (£2). Explore the 130 acre arboretum with trails, maps and give the oldest redwoods in UK a hug whilst you are there!
🗓 ⏰10am – 4pm 💴 Adults £7.20, Concessions £5.90, Disabled with carer: £1, Under 16s, OUP employees and OU students: FREE 🎫 No pre-booking required ℹ️ More pics and info here.
SATURDAY 22nd FEBRUARY
🧒🏽BabyLab Toddler Play Café
Grab a free hot drink and enjoy a free 2.5-hour stay & play session with your toddler, explore toys, meet friends, and join a fun study on child development! March and April dates now on the website too.
🗓 Saturday 22nd February⏰9.30am – 4.30pm 💴 Free 🎫 Boking required ℹ️ Details and more info here and calender to book here.
🪩Dancin’ Oxford:FamJam
Are you asking? Cos I’m dancing! A rave up like no other! Bubbles, lights, great tunes and freedom for little dancing feet. This is so popular that there is two on the same day: 1.30pm – 3.30pm at John Bunyan Hall (formerly Ark-T) and 3.30pm – 5pm at Rose Hill Community Centre.
🗓 Saturday 22nd February⏰1.30pm – 3pm/ 3.30pm – 5pm 💴 Pay What You Can 🎫 No booking required ℹ️ Details on the Dancin’ Oxford website.
🔭 History of Science Museum: How Does it Work (10.45 – 11.45 autism friendly hour)
Get hands-on with the collection and experience fascinating objects in action. There’s SEND-friendly backpacks too which are designed to help children explore science stories through hands-on activities. The morning session is relaxed and quiet for families with members on the autism spectrum to enjoy the Museum displays and collections. More details here on how to book your spot for the morning session.
📅Saturday 22nd and Sunday 23rd February ⏰12 noon – 4pm 💴Free 🎫 No booking required ℹ️ More info on the History of Science Museum website.
🌍Ashmolean: One World Festival
Celebrate the many communities and faiths of Oxfordshire through a dazzling array of activities, performances, talks and crafts for all ages. From a Japanese tea ceremony to a Jewish musical medley and Nepalese dancing to Islamic calligraphy, there’s something for everyone at this fantastic weekend festival.
🗓 Saturday 22nd and 23rd February ⏰11am – 4.30pm 💴 Free 🎫 Drop-in ℹ️ See the full line-up here.
SUNDAY 23rd FEBRUARY
🍵Snowdrop Teas at St Botolph’s Church
An annual event not to be missed! The local snowdrop teas are a celebration of the seriously impressive show in the churchyard. Drop in for oh so twee tea and cakes in the church and then head out on the Swyncombe Circular Walk which takes in some of the Ridgeway. Rinse and repeat for yearly joy!
🗓 Snowdrop Teas are 22nd and 23rd February ⏰2pm – 4pm 💴 Free entry 🎫 No booking required ℹ️ Details here.
🌍Ashmolean: One World Festival
Celebrate the many communities and faiths of Oxfordshire through a dazzling array of activities, performances, talks and crafts for all ages. From a Japanese tea ceremony to a Jewish musical medley and Nepalese dancing to Islamic calligraphy, there’s something for everyone at this fantastic weekend festival.
🗓 Saturday 22nd and 23rd February ⏰11am – 4.30pm 💴 Free 🎫 Drop-in ℹ️ See the full line-up here.
🏠Kingston Bagpuize House
The last jolly of the holiday! Final leg stretch and run around before back to school. It’s the Snowdrop and Spring Plant Fair today too with lots of nurseries attending. Children so very welcome here!
🗓 Sunday 23rd February ⏰1pm – 4pm 💴 Garden entry only: Adults: £8, Students: £4.50, Primary school aged children Free 🎫 No pre-booking required ℹ️ More details here.
💡FREE things to do…
Visit the NEW Minster Lovell playground after it’s revamp.
Take in the glorious windmill views on the Turville 5k circular.
Get on your boardwalk at the Hinksey Heights Nature Trail.
Visit Modern Art Oxford with it’s Rave Café, hands-on studio workshop, activity sheets and sensory backpacks.
Sail the high seas at Little Milton playground.
Search for 22 blackbirds on the Folly Sculpture Trail.
Browse the shelves of Caper, the wonderfully bonkers bookshop of dreams.
👀Give us a read…
There’s lots of rain over the next few days, our Top 5 mud-free pushchair walks may come in handy.
Read our Top 5 places to see snowdrops blog – it includes the UKs best show right on our doorstep!
After all that running around during half term, give yourself a grown up break at Thames Lido – we insist!
