Half Term fun!
There’s so much going on this Half Term. We’ve put together a round-up of the best fun to be had in this neck of the woods and beyond, to ensure you’re never stuck for something to do!
Dip into ancient history
Making faces at Stonehenge
Try your hand at forensic facial reconstruction! Inspired by the work of expert archaeologists, children use clues, clay and creativity to reconstruct a face from the past. Plus, take part in their Explorer Quest running daily throughout half term.
For more information click here.
Taking a trip to the West Kennet Long Barrow
The West Kennet Long Barrow, also known as South Long Barrow, is a chambered long barrow near the village of Avebury in the south-western English county of Wiltshire. Probably constructed around 3,650 BC, during Britain’s Early Neolithic period, it was used as a burial chamber.
For more information click here.
Make a clay beaker at Avebury
While you’re in a neolithic mood, visit the extraordinary standing stones at nearby Avebury, and make your very own replica prehistoric pot. There’s no need to book, just come along between 11am-2.30pm on the day.
For more details please click here.
Let them entertain you! A round-up of half-term theatre
Tweedy’s Lost Property , Pound Arts, Corsham Fri 25 Feb.
The comedy and slapstick legend and star of Gifford’s Circus, Cirque Berserk and the Cheltenham Everyman pantomime is back with a comedy about a clown who decides to follow government guidelines to retrain; so gets a real job in an office. The consequences are hilarious – the lost property in his possession seem to develop lives of their own and allied with his own body rebelling against him he is constantly prevented from answering the ringing telephone.
For more information please click here.
Gemma’s Pirate Party, Trowbridge
Trowbridge’s very own Swashbuckling Pirate is back! Gemma Hunt returns to The Civic again to entertain the children with her Pirate Party. Always a sell out event and a perfect way to keep the kids entertained on a Saturday morning in half term. Gemma will be on stage to have fun and play games and sing songs for a 1 hour show. So don’t miss out on seeing those little faces light up when they see her and get your tickets now. For safety reasons, we are limiting the tickets this year to allow more room in the hall.
For more information please click here.
The Selfish Giant, Malmesbury
The Selfish Giant by Tessa Bide Productions and Soap Soup Theatre, hosted by Bums on Seats and Malmesbury Live Arts, this lovely show will be presented as a matinee performance.
For more information please click here.
Pebble on the Beach, Bath
Featuring a lively mix of dancing, singing and puppetry, Pebble on the Beach will magically transport you to a day at the seaside – a beach hut filled with treasures, sandcastles, seagulls and the waves lapping on the shore – to tell a heart-warming tale that helps us all feel safe in the world and know that we matter.
For more information please click here.
Getting sticky with it – craft ideas
Creation Station, Pound Arts in Corsham, Tue 22 Feb, 10am.
Drop in to this fun filled family craft session and get creating.
For more information please click here.
Funky Art House, Bath, Tue 22 and Wed 23 Feb.
Exploring a variety of arts and crafts in a real artists’ studio centre- drawing, painting, clay, textiles, felt, print, paper crafts and more. A great way to spend the holidays having fun, making new friends & learning new creative skills. All materials included.
For further details please click here.
Museums and Exhibitions
Myths and Monsters at Victoria Art Gallery, Bath Monsters have taken over the Victoria Art Gallery! This family-friendly exhibition is a fun continuation of the 2017 Here Be Dragons extravaganza, which broke attendance records for the Gallery. Myths and Monsters once again links the worlds of literature, art and myth with some of the very best (and worst) you could expect to meet. Please click here for further details.
REME Museum, Lyneham
Half-term fun with a Kids Assault Course with REME soldiers assisting (weather permitting) and Lego engineering activities.
Please click here for further information.
The Holburne Museum, Bath
Explore the museum in a new and playful way with the free family trail, inspired by the museum’s current exhibition Mick Peter: Old Ghosts.
For more information please click here.
STEAM museum, Swindon
Fancy a creative family activity day? Or perhaps would like to design your own personal buzz wire game, or maybe learn about Morse code, semaphore signals and the art of deciphering secret messages in our ‘Psst, pass it on!’ sessions. The STEAM museum at Swindon is holding lots of fun workshops and activities.
Please visit their website here for further details on how to book.
Out and about – a few local ideas
Avon Valley, Keynsham
Come to Avon Valley on Saturday 19th & Sunday 20th February to see half of everyone’s favourite family, Bluey and Bingo! This adventurous and imaginative pup along with her little sister Bingo will be making appearances at intervals throughout the day with storytelling led by a narrator! Or visit the baby lambs being born throughout the half term.
For further information please visit here.
Hope Nature Centre, Trowbridge
Take the friendly and cheeky goats for a walk around the Animal Park. You will also be able to feed them and groom them. The keepers will be on hand to answer questions and give fun facts about these wonderful animals.
Please visit here for further details.
Longleat, Warminster Come to Longleat and see if you can spot the newest arrival – a baby koala known as Joey. The first ever southern koala to have been born in Europe.
Please visit the Longleat website here for further information and prices.
Cotswold Water Park The Cotswold Water Park is an area of over 40 square miles and 180 lakes, with many different leisure providers, and a variety of places to stay. This stunning wetlands landscape hosts tens of thousands of breeding and watering birds and is an ideal destination for watching wildlife all year round.
Visit their website here.
The Farm Cookery School, Bromham Come along for an afternoon of fun in the kitchen, suitable for children from age 8+. The children will make homemade chips, chilli mince and an American cheese topping. For dessert they will make mini pancakes which they will stack with an assortment of fruit and syrups!
For further information and other classes, please visit here.
Roves Farm, Swindon Jump on a tractor around the farm, visit the hens and see if they have left you any eggs to collect, take the sheep and goats for a walk or enjoy feeding the animals. Fun for everyone on the farm this half term.
Please visit the Roves Farm website here for further details.
Superworm Trail at Westonbirt Arboretum Discover the small but mighty creatures in the much-loved story and learn about the everyday heroic feats of minibeasts in the forest. The new self-led trail in the Old Arboretum features brightly illustrated panels and a trail pack full of fun activities, including your very own mask. Set off with Superworm and become a forest superhero! Superworkactivity packs are available to purchase from the Westonbirt shop.
For more information please visit here.
Slip sliding away… walks in the countryside
Pull on your wellies and go puddle jumping this half term. Whilst you are getting muddy, look out for lots of February wildlife that is waking up. See if you can spot any of the following on your walks…
- Snowdrops
- Great spotted woodpeckers
- Frogspawn
- Roaming roe deer
- Catkins
- Sweet violets
Sports fun
Team Bath Tribe, Bath During the school term breaks, Team Bath Tribe deliver academies and camps for talented, developing, aspiring and novice performers. Sport-specific camps in hockey, badminton, netball, trampolining and athletics are run during the year with our qualified coaches providing a fun and progressive environment to learn new skills and attempt new activities.
For details please click here.
Gloucester Ski School, Gloucester Couldn’t get away skiing this winter? Try Gloucester Ski School for some winter sport fun including skiing, snowboarding, laser tag and tubing. Holiday ski school is for children who have never skied before up to children who can parallel ski!
For more details, please click here.
M4 Karting, Chippenham Let your child test out their driving skills around the old hanger in Hullavington, offering the chance for 8-13 year olds to whizz around.
For further information, please visit their website here.
Drama & Singing Fun
Little Voices – Disney’s ENCANTO inspired workshop, Calne and Bath Come and Sing, Dance and Act to the songs including the Family Madrigal, Waiting on a Miracle and We Don’t Talk About Bruno.
For more details please visit the website here.
Further afield
Zipworld, Aberdare Phoenix is the world’s fastest seated zip line, with 4 parallel lines in 2 separate zip zones. This zip line will see you flying across the Welsh countryside. The Tower Coaster is the only of its kind in Europe, boasting a side-by-side kart, making it possible for two people to ride at once. Huge fun for children and adults alike.
Please visit their website here to book and for further information.
Imagine Children Festival, South Bank London’s biggest children’s festival celebrates its 20th anniversary this year with a focus on being unique and wellbeing. More than 50 percent of the programme is free. The festival features some of the biggest names in children’s literature and television including Peppa Pig, Michael Rosen, Jacqueline Wilson and YolandDa’s Band Jam. There’s also musical workshops, yoga classes and classic music of children, as well as performance, poetry readings and live music.
Click here for booking and further information.
The Wave, Bristol The Wave is the first inland-surfing destination of its kind, where people of all ages, backgrounds and abilities can experience the joy of surfing and its many physical and mental health benefits. But it’s not just about surfing. It’s about getting back to nature, improving health and well-being, connecting with other people, enjoying great food and drink, and having a load of fun in the process!
Click here for more information.
Salisbury Inflatable Fun, Salisbury The Jumpin Inflatable Theme park is a brand-new leisure experience, with enough wall to wall inflatable fun for just about anyone, of any age.
For more information please visit their website here.