Spark your child’s creativity and curiosity this February half term with these fun, out-of-school learning activities across the Capital
Imagine that!
Stimulate their little grey cells by heading to the South Bank Centre’s Imagine Children’s Festival. It features over 100 theatrical, musical, and literary events for under-11s and their families – from beatboxing workshops to adventure trails. Or, book them into The 100 Story Hotel, an immersive world of play and storytelling with an intriguing mystery for them to solve.
southbankcentre.co.uk/whats-on/ festivals-series; discover.org.uk/event/story-hotel
The art of the outdoors
Take to the streets for some Insta-worthy urban art, from Banksy stencils to massive murals and quirky installations. Organise your own art crawl or join a guided tour for the lowdown on the artists behind the works. If wildlife and watercolours are more your child’s thing, the London Wetlands Centre is hosting nature-themed art activities inspired by Quentin Blake’s distinctive drawings.
ldngraffiti.co.uk; wwt.org.uk/
Hollywood comes to Greenwich
A star of more films than Meryl Streep, Greenwich’s Royal Naval College is one of the world’s most popular film and TV locations. Take a Blockbuster Film Tour to discover the unforgettable movie moments filmed in and around this architectural masterpiece, from Four Weddings and a Funeral to Thor: The Dark World.
ornc.org/plan-a-visit/talks-and-tours
Full STEAM ahead
For budding scientists and inventors, there’s no better place to seek inspiration than the Institute of Imagination, where imagination is the superpower of the 21st century. Explore a range of activities including My Big Idea, a series of science, technology, engineering, arts and maths (STEAM) workshops where families can play, learn, and invent together.
ioi.london
Space odyssey
Join Tom Hanks for a walk on the lunar side with The Moonwalkers, an immersive experience giving new insights into past and future voyages to the moon. Narrated by the Apollo 13 star, you’ll hear all about the Apollo missions through interviews with the astronauts themselves. You’ll also be transported to the lunar surface via remastered NASA footage and cutting-edge film and audio technology.
lightroom.uk
You’ve got mail
Discover the fascinating history of the UK’s postal system at London’s Postal Museum. Explore galleries full of interactive games and activities including a chance to sort the mail and see the first postage stamp, ‘The Penny Black’. Then board a miniature rail car for a 15-minute ride through the long-hidden tunnels of the Post Office railway.
postalmuseum.org
The life aquatic
Dive into seven underwater worlds at the Horniman Museum’s acclaimed aquarium and see aquatic life from around the world. Wonder at the strange structure of the moon jellyfish and watch the reef fish interact with their coral home. All while learning about their lives and wild habitats through a range of interactive games and activities.
horniman.ac.uk/event/aquarium
Grisly ghosts and gruesome tales
Learn about the Capital’s dark history at the ‘frightfully’ entertaining London Bridge Experience. Deep in the bridge’s haunted vaults, travel through 2,000 years of the city’s bloody past to meet gruesome characters including Jack the Ripper. Experience the sight, sounds and smells of old London Bridge, listen to ghastly tales on your audio guide and brave the London Tombs maze with its marauding zombies.
thelondonbridgeexperience.com
Bowling’s cooler cousin
Here’s your chance to try out that curiously engaging Olympic sport, curling. For 45 minutes of family fun on the ice, book a lane with Club Curling, a pop-up outdoor arena amid the restaurants and bars of Coal Drops Yard. Teams of up to six can play on each lane, rolling the curling stone (on tiny wheels, so no sweeping involved) to land on the target. Children under 12 play for free if accompanied by an adult.
kingscross.co.uk/event/club-curling
A taste of Tudor life
Bring history to life through food with Hampton Court’s Tudor weekend cooking courses. Explore what life was like working in the huge royal kitchens that provided around 1,000 meals daily to Henry VIII and his court. You’ll leave knowing how to roast Tudor-style and create delicious 16th-century dishes, from tasty stews to sweet treats.
hrp.org.uk/hampton-courtpalace/whats-on
