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February half term activities 2024: Whats on for kids in Oxfordshire
February half term is the hardest to deal with, not only for parent and kids but also for entertainment providers, as a lot of us have not yet fully recovered from the Christmas fatigue but the half term is already upon us!
As always, I have done all the research and listed different events happening in and around Oxfordshire in this handy guide to make it easy for you. Some venues are not running any specific half term activities, but there are still plenty to choose from to keep your kids entertained. I will keep updating the list as more activities are released.
I have also updated my list of Holiday camps and Half term activities for kids around Oxfordshire, in case you are working like me, and holiday camps suit your needs better.
Farms and Indoor play areas:
- February Half term Fun at Millets Farm comes with a number of different activities and they are all indoors:
- Theatre performance of ‘Flotsam and Jetsam’s Voyage to the Trash Vortex’.£12 adult, £8 child (2+ years)
- Sprouts Dance about Disco: £7.95 – £13.95 per child, £4.00 per adult.
- Showtime Shane Magic Show: Tickets £7.50 per person (12 months and under free of charge)
- Mini Makers baking fun . £29.99 per child – each ticket includes 1 accompanying adult.
- Children’s Brush Party: £23.99 per child (each ticket includes 1 accompanying adult)
- February half term at Cogges Manor Farm 10-18 February 2024:
Cogges Farm springs to life and opens for a new season on Saturday 10th February. Families can visit during half term and say hello to the friendly farmyard animals, have a go on the Adventure Play and find minibeasts with our Cogges Explorer packs. See Cotswold sheep and ponies in the meadows – with 17 acres of open space to explore, create your own adventure!
Read our review from previous HERE.
Price:6£ child, £9 adult, under 3s Free - Animal Encounters went at Hogshaw farm: 10-25 February 2024
Join us this February half term for a fun family event packed full of hands-on animal experiences! Featuring gorgeous new lambs, loads of petting sessions, curious critters, feeding encounters, fun facts from our team & much more
Price: Adults £12.50, Child (2 to 16) 12.50£
We have been to Hogshaw farm many times. Read our review HERE and HERE - Love and Lambs at Odds Farm from 10th – 18th February 2024
Read our review about Odds Farm park HERE
Experience new-born lambs take their very first steps at Little Hooves Lamb Nursery! Be sure to keep a close watch on the ewes for signs of labour during your visit, as you may even be lucky enough to see a lamb being born! Plus plenty of hands-on crafts and outdoor adventures! Price from £16.95 for over 2 year olds - Stargazing at the Earth Trust on 13th Feb:
Explore the incredible dark skies above Wittenham Clumps and take in the wonders of the universe, at our stargazing event led by the friendly and enthusiastic team of astronomers from Newbury Astronomical Society.
Tickets: £9 per person (+ booking fees) and includes a hot drink. Advance booking is essential - Family Trail: Wild Welly Hunt at Sutton Courtenay Environmental Education Centre, 12/13 February:
Join us for a fun packed day exploring the nature reserve with the help of our friendly learning team – follow the wild welly trail, complete the challenges, and design your own bird feeder to take home.
Price: £8.00 per child (plus booking fee) Supervisory adults free. - Animal Antics at Roves Farm: Details not available yet.
Read our review from previous visits HERE
Price: Adults and child (3+) £10.80 (online), Toddler (1-2) 4.50£ (online) - Embark on a Prehistoric Adventure in Once upon a dinosaur at Fairytale Farm:
Taking place from Saturday, 10th February to Sunday, 18th February 2024, it promises a week-long celebration filled with interactive activities, educational exhibits, and a roaring good time for all ages.
Price: Adults and Children (2 to 16) £7.19 to £8.99. Read our review from the previous visit HERE - Lambing and kidding returns to Cotswold Farm park 9th Feb – 14th Apr 2024
Over 900 lambs and kids expected to be born on the farm. You’ll be able to see live births up close and personal, as well as enjoy talks from the Farm Park’s team of experts about all things lambing.
Adults: £13.50, child 4-16 £11.5o, 2-3 years old 8.50£
Read our review from previous visits HERE
- Farmer Gow’s is open every day of the week during school holidays to welcome families to ‘hands on’ farm fun.
Adults: £10.80, child 3-16 £9.80, 2 years old 5£ - Step into the enchanting realm of WonderWorld, an extraordinary event unfolding at the Magic Alley in Stratford. This unique puzzle-based adventure is perfectly tailored for children over 6 and adults alike, promising an unforgettable journey through a fantasy world where imagination knows no bounds.
Read review of our Christmas visit HERE which was done when Ay was age 4 (The current event is suitable for over 4 but they recommend it over 6s)
Adults and children £8.00 - Bouncy Lambs at Thrifty’s Farm: Details not available yet
Ticket price: 18 months and over £7.95, adults 8.95£— read our review of the previous visit HERE - Beale Wildlife Park: Details not available yet
ADULT £14.50, CHILD (>2 years) £11.50
Read our review from previous visits HERE
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Museums and education centres:
- Frosty Friends (on 12, 13 February) and Science Saturdays at Natural History Museum: Join us for an afternoon with frosty friends from the North and South Poles. Take part in fun craft activities and specimen handling. Make a walrus mask to take home and search for penguin poo on our Antarctica map! On science Saturdays, Meet scientists to investigate real natural history specimens from the collection.
Price: FREE (read our review of the museum HERE)- Insect adventure workshop for ages 10-14 on 14th February. We will have some exciting museum specimens to look at and handle, as well as microscopes to take a close look at their amazing features. You’ll also get the chance to do some arts and crafts inspired by insects. Young people need not be accompanied by an adult but please book your place in advance by emailing education@oum.ox.ac.uk
- How grim were the Grimms?: An Opera in a Day Workshop at the museum of Oxford on 15th February
Join Oxford Opera at MOX at an all-day children’s workshop through the timeless, magical and often very grim tales of the Brothers’ Grimm! Price: £39
Read our review of the Museum of Oxford itself HERE - One World Family Festival at the Ashmolean Museum: Sat 10 – Sun 11 Feb 2024, 12–4pm
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. FREE
Read our review of the Ashmolean Museum HERE - Earth Colours Workshop at Museum of Modern Art, Oxford on 14th February, 11am-3pm:
Get creative with familiar ingredients like coffee, tea, spices, fruits and flowers to create compositions with natural stains. Learn about the longer process of working with natural dye and take resources home with you. Be inspired by the themes and motifs in Monica Sjöö: The Great Cosmic Mother. All ages and abilities are welcome. These activities are offered on a free drop-in basis. At busy times, you may be asked to wait for a space at our making table. - The Oxfordshire Museum: are offering Medieval toys session, make your own puppet, create your own jumbo, Teddy bear masks etc. Its a really fun place anyways, especially if you have a dinosaur lover, so is worth a visit. Read our review HERE
- The Story Museum: The immersive exhibition Brilli-ANT: How someone small changed a big story is running until spring 2024. Brilli-ANT gives children and their families the opportunity to put on a pair of ant antennae, before they travel through anthill tunnels, searching for clues and stories. On the way, you’ll meet a host of giant insects voiced by some of the UK’s best known actors and activisits. Each insect has a story to tell about how their species has adapted to climate change. Tickets: £12 per person
In addition, there are various activities on offer for additional prices such as Comic Draw along and Lego Masters Builders Club. Please see website for more details - Half term Heritage bus rides on Sunday 11th February (12.15 & 2.15pm) and Wednesday 14th February (12.15, 1.00 & 2.15pm) from Oxford Bus Museum
Price: Adult £8, Child (aged 5 to 15 years) £5, Family (2 adults & 2 children) £17) - DIG! FEBRUARY HALF TERM at Oxford Castle and Prison: 10 – 28/02/2024
Kids will love digging for genuine items found on the Castle site and making a replica coin or mosaic tile, all under the tutelage of Daniel Harris, the 18th governor of the Castle & Prison.
PRICE 14£/child, under 2s free and Accompanying adults go free. - Banbury Museum also has some some crafty activities in the holidays
Brick madness: 12th-16th February, 3£/child- booking essential
Make your own football table 12th Feb, 4£/child- booking essential
Nature wall art: 13th February, 3£/child- booking essential
Owl and the Pussy Cat (Toilet Roll Figures)– 14th Feb, 3£/child- booking essential
Make a Seed Garden 15th Feb, 4£/child- booking essential
Make Your Own Slime and Monster Jar 16th Feb, 4£/child- booking essential
Family Theatre, Puppets and Live Music
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“Rapunzel”- a traditional family pantomime suitable for all the family!: There will be 7 performances from Wednesday 14th February to Saturday 17th February 2024 in Cooper School Performance Hall, Bicester. Tickets from £12.00 + £0.94 booking fee and £6.00 + £0.47 booking fee for for Children
- The Mills centre, Banbury is showing family theatre “shark in the park” on 10th Feb
- Kenton Theatre in Henley showing Alice in the wonderland on 17th February
- The Theatre Chipping Norton showing Alice’s adventure in the wonderland on 17th February
Trains:
- Paddington™ will be paying a visit to Buckinghamshire Railway Centre on 11th February 2024! Come and meet everyone’s favourite bear at intervals throughout the day. Your entry tickets to The Railway include everything our heritage railway has to offer, including unlimited steam train rides, entry to our Railway Museum and Visitor Centre with Railway Café and gift shop. Plus, ride on our miniature railway (£1.20 per person, under 3s free) and teacup rides (free)
Tickets: Adults: £14.50, Child: £10.50, Under 3s: FREE - Unlimited steam train rides; 200 years of railway heritage & more at Didcot Railway Centre on 10/11, 14& 17/18 February 2024. Adult £15, Child (3 – 18) £11. Discovery days on 12/13 February when no trains are running
Gardens and Stately homes:
- Blenheim Palace: 10th – 18th February 2024
Hop aboard the miniature train, wind your way through the amazing Marlborough Maze where you can wind your way through our amazing Marlborough Maze and get ‘mooo’-ving on the Woodland Trail to help Delilah the cow find all of her animal friends. Get outdoors and explore the 2,000-acre ‘Capability’ Brown landscaped parkland. If you’re venturing out for a family winter walk, why not pick up one of Blenheim Bird Bingo sheets and try to get a full house of feathered friends? Pop into the Palace if the weather’s unpredictable to spot the magnificent Marlborough mice hiding in each State Room – check your mouse map to see whether you have found them all!
Tickets: Free with Annual Pass, no need to pre-book.
Read our family/ children focussed review of Blenheim palace with all details HERE - Spectacle of Light at Compton Verney 26 Jan-18 Feb 2024
Discover this beautiful new illuminated trail around the spectacular grounds of Compton Verney. Explore the wondrous woodland before crossing the bridge onto the grand lawns of this great park. Read our review of last years lights HERE and of Compton Verney in general HERE
Tickets: Adult £22-24.00, Children (aged 3+) 11- 12- Book by 25th January for 10% discount
- Snowdrop season at Waterperry Gardens 1-29 February 2024:
One of the highlights of spring – the arrival of snowdrops and with more than 60 different snowdrop varieties carpeting the ornamental gardens and a spectacular show down by our walk along the River Thame, there’s no better place to enjoy these little heralds of spring (normal garden entrance fee applies- ).
Read our review of Water Perry gardens HERE - BLOW AWAY WINTER COBWEBS at Tumblestone Hollow:
Tumblestone Hollow’s impressive outdoor playground, which features slides, zipwires, high level walkways, look-outs and climbing nets, will reopen between Saturday 10th and Sunday 18th February with plenty of opportunities for youngsters to run off steam and blow away those winter cobwebs. Half term visitors to Tumblestone Hollow will also be able to enjoy Stonor’s formal gardens, spot the snow drops and spring bulbs along The Ladies Walk, and admire the deer herd and stunning natural parkland, featuring the ancient Stone Circle which gives the valley its name.
Ticket includes access to the Tumblestone Hollow Adventure Playground and the Gardens at Stonor. Read our review from before HERE
Tickets for anyone over 105cm £12 and Child – 92-105cm £10 (save 2£ if prebooked online) - Evenley Wood garden– Show a little love to the birds and the bees on 14th and 21st February 2024
Then follow one of our woodland hunts and see what treasures you can find. Woodland hunts available throughout February. Read our review of Evenley Wood garden HERE
Usual admission prices apply Adults: £9.00 Children: 4-16 £1.50. Activities: £1
National Trust properties:
- Whose Poo? Fun nature trail at Stowe Gardens: FHalf-term ecology fun at Stowe Gardens. Solve puzzles and search for poo clues. Identify what sort of creatures live at Stowe, what they eat, where they live, and what they need to thrive. Free trail sheets. Dogs welcome. Read our review from before HERE
Don’t forget to look at the “Stowe Drops” - Tweet Tunes – Bird Song Trail at Hughenden:
Using your phone, scan the QR codes at each station to listen to the unique songs of our feathered friends.
Read our review from before HERE - Spring and February half term at Waddesdon Manor: Sat 10 – Sun 18 Feb (closed Mon 12 & Tue 13)
Get creative with a giant colouring board in the Coach House, play in the woodland playground and enjoy a hot lunch at the Stables Café. Free for NT members, otherwise, Watch our posts from previous years HERE and HERE . - February Half term at Upton House and Gardens near Banbury. Have fun and help to protect minibeasts by making them a safe and cosy home. Discover which minibeasts live in our outdoor spaces and which materials attract different insects. This activity takes place under the gazebo in the plant centre. £2 per child. All materials are supplied. Free for NT members, otherwise
- Take part in Finding art in nature trail at Basildon Park (4-26 February) to find colours, shapes, and patterns in the natural world around you. See if you can find something stripy, create a shape with sticks and leaves, and go cloud watching! Follow the trail sheet and find the prompts along your way. This event is free, but normal admission charges apply for the venue (Free for NT members). Read our review from before HERE
Holiday Camps and other activities:
If you are looking for Holiday camps and other activities for kids around Oxfordshire, then check our post HERE
What else could you do during half term?
- Go on a FREE family friendly walk
- Enjoy a FREE day out from Oxfordshire
- Visit a local park: For a list of all the bigger/country parks in and around your area, CLICK HERE, or for smaller but more local choices, CLICK HERE
- Some ideas for FREE things to do in Oxfordshire
- Bounce around in an indoor Soft play.
