Enjoy Half-Term In London
February half-term is just a couple of weeks away for most schoolchildren, which means parents need to start making their holiday plans as soon as possible to ensure they aren’t left with a blank schedule during the week-long break. Those hiring a coach to London for their mid-term vacation should check out our list of exciting events taking place in the capital this February.
Discovery Day: Brilliant Birds
Animal fans will love heading to Hyde Park on February 15th, 16th or 17th for the Discovery Day: Brilliant Birds activity. The free event takes place between 1100 and 1500, and has been put on to encourage an interest in birdlife and nature among children.
Among the activities on offer at The LookOut are building a bird feeder to take home, bird watching with binoculars, making a bird’s nest, listening to an exciting story, and exploring a discovery trail to learn more about winged creatures.
Even better, the event is free and does not require booking, so families can drop in while on a trip around the capital without having to commit to a specific time.
The Harry Potter Photographic Exhibition
Thousands of children all over the country love Harry Potter, so a trip to a photographic exhibition celebrating the boy wizard is sure to be right up your kid’s street. Here, you will see behind-the-scene images and production photos to discover more about what it was like during the filmmaking of the iconic series.
There is even the chance to experience green screen technology – just like the actors would have done when filming – and sample the only Butterbeer in London. You can even buy a bottle to take home with you as a souvenir.
The Harry Potter Photographic Exhibition is situated in the heart of Covent Garden, and a family ticket (two adults and two children, or one adult and three children) costs £56 for the one-hour experience.
Imagine Children’s Festival
Families who want to make the most of the capital’s arts and culture scene should head to the Southbank during half-term where they can enjoy Imagine Children’s Festival, the largest event of its kind in the UK.
This year marks the 20th anniversary of the festival, with creators making 2022 bigger and better than ever. There will be 160 events held between February 9th and 20th, including theatre, music, literature, dance and comedy.
Highlights include Fun DMC on February 13th, a party of hip hop tunes for kids; intotheclouds on February 9th and 10th, which has been described as a “sensory and highly visual theatre experience for babies”, Julia Donaldson & Friends: A Pocketful of Songs on February 19th, seeing the legendary author presenting a musical show; Peppa Pig: My First Concert between February 11th and 13th with a live orchestra; and Little Murmur on February 17th, which tells the story of a child’s struggle with letters and words through dance, illustration and technology.
Frozen: The Musical
There are very few parents out there who haven’t watched Disney’s Frozen before, which is why Frozen: The Musical is selling out fast. The West End production transforms the animated flick into a stage show for the first time in the UK, telling the story of Elsa, Anna, Olaf, Christoff and Sven for the whole family to enjoy.
“With incredible special effects, jaw-dropping scenery, and all the songs you know and love, it’s going to be an unmissable experience that will stay with you long after the curtain falls,” according to the website.
The production, starring Samantha Barks as Elsa, has already been nominated for 13 What’s On Stage Awards, including Best New Musical, so you can be sure it’ll be an experience you won’t want to miss!