February Half-Term Family Activities 2026
It’s almost half-term and that means there’s more on than usual! We’ve pulled together a listing of the family activities that you can enjoy in Richmond Borough and surrounds, and slightly further afield, with the local family activities also featured in our Calendar (the Calendar also features some extra one-off activities). We’re adding more and more as and when things are announced, so do keep checking back! For camps and workshops that children can enjoy on their own please check out our Half-Term Camps & Workshops Guide.
Richmond Borough & Nearby
14th – 22nd February: Blossom Crafts at Ham House.
- Join Ham House for craft activities inspired by the coming season and have a go at making origami blossom. Explore the spectacular 17th-century house, which reopens on 14th February after the annual winter conservation closure, with new opening hours or 11.30am-3.30pm (last entry 3pm). Free but normal admission applies.
14th – 22nd February: A Royal Quest at Hampton Court Palace.
- Escape to a world of mystery, step back in time, join a royal quest and see if you can win over Queen Elizabeth I. Queen Elizabeth I has demanded a gift and the whole palace is desperate to obey! The best gift will gain the greatest reward, the Queen’s favour, so it’s a fight for first place. Four courtiers are already in the running to present their gift, with an intriguing mix of ideas, from dancing and poetry to toilets! Find out what each courtier will gift and gather information about Elizabeth I and her world, then meet her yourself to see if you can beat them with a fabulous gift idea of your own. Discover live performances across the palace throughout your visit. Scenes will run daily from 10.45am-3.:15pm. Don’t miss also exploring the entire palace, 60 acres of gardens, the legendary Maze, and the popular Magic Garden playground – reopening in time for half term. Normal admission applies.
14th – 22nd February: Fantastic Beasts at Hounslow Urban Farm.
- Join a magical adventure to discover real farm animals with super powers. If you’re looking for something special this half-term, discover the real-life skills and talents of the beasts at Hounslow Urban Farm. Normal admission applies..
- No special family events, but Kew Gardens always makes a great family day out, with the Children’s Garden, family kitchen & shop, log trail, treetop walkway, immense glasshouses, the Hive, and of course acres of gardens to run free in and explore. Visiting information can be found here.
London Museum Of Water And Steam (Brentford)
16th – 20th February: Trains Trains Trains at the London Museum Of Water & Steam.
- All aboard! Join the Museum for a week of train-themed activities, including rides on the steam locomotive Thomas Wicksteed; displays of model steam railways with the 16mm Association (Weekend of 21-22 Feb); train-inspired crafting in the Waterworks Gallery. Normal admission applies plus train rides are £1 per ride.
London Wetland Centre (Barnes)
14th – 22nd February: Mudfest at the London Wetland Centre.
- Stomp, splash and squelch with the Wetland Centre’s mud-tastic half-term. Grab your wellies and get stuck in with Mudfest – where messy means fun! Mud isn’t just messy – it’s marvellous. It’s the stuff super-powered wetlands and great family adventures are made of. Embrace the mess and discover just how brilliant mud can be with hands-on activities, including mud kitchen, mud art, brilliant beaks, nest building and more. Normal admission applies.
Until 3rd March: The Very Hungry Caterpillar™️ Trail at Osterley Park.
- Become the world’s most famous caterpillar, from Eric Carle’s best-selling book The Very Hungry Caterpillar™. This charming trail brings to life the best-selling story of the tiny caterpillar who hatches from an egg and is very hungry, so he eats through a variety of fruits and snacks each day. The caterpillar then forms a chrysalis around himself and later, emerges as a beautiful butterfly. Brought to life with beautifully illustrated trail markers, giant food cut-outs, activities and games, children learn about the days of the week, counting, and the life cycle of a butterfly, within the picturesque setting of Osterley’s early spring gardens. Pick up a free trail sheet and discover accompanying QR codes, games and activities to learn fun and fascinating facts inspired by this classic children’s tale. Celebrate completing the trail with a snap in front of our stunning photo opportunity – giant, colourful butterfly wings! Recommended ages 3-6yrs. Normal admission applies.
Further Afield
16th – 22nd February: Valen-Tales At The Zoo at Battersea Park Children’s Zoo.
- Love is in the air at Battersea Park Children’s Zoo! Join them for Valen-Tales week. From otterly romantic otter couples to donkey brotherly love, they’re celebrating all types of love, with crafts, games and activities for all the family. Plus they have even more fabulous keeper talks (including a guinea pig and rabbit feed) so you can learn about the wonderful animals and help to feed some of them some tasty treats! Normal admission applies plus some activities have a small charge.
14th – 22nd February: Farming Week at Bockett’s Farm.
- Enjoy a great day out on the farm with the start of the spring lambing. There are over 50 lambs due, with ‘Meet the Shepherd’ sessions daily and a chance you may get to watch a lamb being born. Plus, children can complete the Little Farmer stamp trail; watch Birds of Prey and watch flying demonstrations; get creative in Craft Corner with badges, colouring & more; and enjoy fun farm activities including Small Animal Encounters, Pony Rides, Tractor Rides and the famous Pig Race. Booking advised to avoid disappointment.
- No special events listed at time of writing, but this is a great day out with the little ones, with animals to see (including meet & greet sessions) and indoor and outdoor play including a sky trail, bouncy pillows, secret sandpit, biplane racing, and a donut slide. For half-term, chef has also designed a delicious specials menu to celebrate Chinese New Year! Tickets can be bought online.
Claremont Landscape Garden (Esher)
Until 22nd February: Tree Tales at Claremont Landscape Garden.
- Head out on a family adventure this half term. Pick up a trail sheet and follow the clues to find some of Claremont’s most well-loved trees, each with its own story to share. From ancient favourites to quirky characters, children will uncover fun facts, surprising secrets and the stories hidden among the branches and roots. Perfect for curious explorers, the Tree Tales audio trail brings the garden’s history to life while encouraging families to enjoy the beauty of the winter landscape. Wrap up warm and see which tree tales you’ll discover. Normal admission applies.
14th – 22nd February: Vets In Action at London Zoo.
- This half-term, children can join London Zoo on an exciting rescue mission, stepping into the role of veterinary nurses to help protect endangered animals. Young animal lovers will take part in a hands-on experience that brings the vital work of ZSL’s vets, veterinary nurses and keepers to life. Through immersive roleplay and interactive activities, children will discover how animals are cared for both at London Zoo and through ZSL’s global conservation work. Don’t miss this unique opportunity for budding vets to test their animal care skills through fun, educational experiences running every day throughout the school holidays. Normal admission applies (don’t miss their 30% discount).
14th – 22nd February: Robin’s Winter Adventure at Morden Hall Park.
- Follow a family‑friendly trail that reveals how these red-breasted birds stay warm, search for food, and defend their territory during the colder months. Along the route, enjoy simple interactive games and spot nature clues that bring the robin’s survival skills to life. Perfect for curious minds and birdwatchers of all ages, this adventure is a great way to enjoy nature and support Morden Hall Park.. Normal admission applies (free entry) plus £2/trail, and the Park also connects to Dean City Farm.
Natural History Museum (South Kensington)
- The Natural History Museum needs no intodcution, but this half-term they have a number of special exhibitions taking place that could be of interest to families: including ‘Space: Could Life Exist Beyond Earth?’; ‘Wildlife Photographer of the Year’; ‘Our Story with David Attenborough’; and ‘Visions of Nature: A mixed reality experience’ (separate tickets required for these). Entrance to the Museum is free but should be booked beforehand to avoid disappointment.
- No special events aimed at families, but a lovely family daytrip in beautiful gardens with lots of follies and a gorgeous lake. Normal admission applies and booking in advance is advisable for non-members.
Polesden Lacey (Great Bookham)
12th – 22nd February: Polesdenopoly at Polesden Lacey.
- Explore the grounds of Polesden Lacey during February half-term by taking part in a fun family trail inspired by a well-known board game. Follow the interactive trail around the grounds to see how much of Polesden Lacey you can ‘own’ by the end of the game. Earn Polesden pounds by completing fun activities and buy your favourite sites. The player who acquires the most property at the end of the trail is the winner. Are you up for the challenge? No need to pre book. Normal admission applies plus the game costs £5/group (max. 5 people), including a special winner’s prize.
Science Museum (South Kensington)
- No special events for half-term, but the Science Museum is always a fascinating day out for the little ones. At the moment there are is also the special exhibition ‘Power Up’ – a hands-on gaming experience featuring the very best video games and consoles from the last 50 years. Plus of course you can fuel your imagination and immerse yourself in a world of wonder at the Museum’s Wonderlab (separate tickets required for these). Plus normal admission applies.
14th – 22nd February: The Wind In The Willows at Wisley Gardens.
- Explore The Wind in the Willows garden adventure trail and enjoy fun family activities this half-term. Join Mr Toad, Ratty, Mole and Badger, and enjoy discovering an interactive garden trail and activities based on the well-loved book. With a brand-new garden trail, storytime and interactive planting sessions, there’s plenty to keep all the family busy this holiday. Normal admission applies, plus some activities incur an additional charge.
.
You can also follow Family Hub on Facebook and Instagram, and sign up for our newsletter.
Main image created using AI on canva.com.
There are more ideas of things to do in our event calendar.
