February Half Term: London 2019

Spend the week playing and partying at Battersea Power Station

There's plenty to tempt families all week at Battersea Power Station, from a Sharky & George UV takeover with slime making and face painting, pizza-making club at Mother and interactive storytelling adventure, The King Who Wanted to Touch the Moon. There's even spin class for parents with Boom Cycle while the kiddos head off to do crafts. Later, 'gators.

Enjoy a literary tea at The Langham

Afternoon tea meets literary salon at The Langham, where you can catch an appearance by author/illustrator David Litchfield on February 18^th as part of the Langham’s Children’s Afternoon Tea with Daunt Books. Litchfield will be reading and signing editions of his beloved books, which include The Bear and The Piano and Grandad’s Secret Giant, as the kiddos delight in their tea, which features jigsaw puzzle sandwiches to play with and dog-shaped cake to assemble. The fun doesn’t end with the tasty treats; each child will be able to take home a copy of The Bear and the Piano or a book of their choice from the mini-library, which has offerings for children aged 3-12, in a special Daunt Books tote bag. Booking ahead is required; tea is £55 per adult and £29.50 per child. And block out the whole afternoon - this will delight any avid readers in your life.

Encourage a love of the classics with Icarus at The Unicorn Theatre

The classic Greek myth Icarus - the story of the boy who flew too close to the sun - comes to life in an exciting new production directed by Cressida Brown, which at its heart is a story that will resonate with many: how to fight against injustice when feeling powerless, all to save one's family. The myth gets a thoroughly modern retelling with haze, strobes and flashing lights.

Spend a day at Coal Drops Yard

Coal Drops Yard may be London's coolest destination, but it's also super kid-friendly, with lots of activities in store this half-term, including daily baby bootcamp sessions at 10am, musical see-saws the kids won't want to get off of and daily crafts stations (including slime!). There are also cool workshops for 6-12 year-olds including making your own musical instrument (an ocarina) out of clay, dyeing table cloths and learning to build air bricks. There's even an on-site playgroup for tiny tots called KX Play - drop your little ones in and go listen to an inspiring talk by Jenny Scott from Mothers Meeting for a couple of hours.

Have a cake while your children play in one of these coworking spaces

We can pretend that all parents get the week off work when half-term arrives, or we can accept the reality that many of us are manically having to edit reports and type emails while queuing for the dinosaurs at the Natural History Museum. So this time around, we're looking into coworking space options... You're welcome.

Grab some popcorn and enjoy The Lego Movie 2

Because everything is awesomer. We promise.

Check in to Cirque Éloize's Hotel at the Peacock Theatre

Acrobatics meet theatrics in Cirque Éloize's latest production Hotel, which transports you to an art deco hotel in celebration of the innovative troupe's 25th anniversary.

Photo: Pierre Manning - Shoot Studio

Take the kids bowling at All Star Lanes

Bowling is one of those things you always want to do as a family, but struggle to fit in post school or in between weekend activities. All Star Lanes not only has bowling, but also food, cocktails, karaoke booths, brunch and a kid's deal, which includes a game of bowling, kid's main course, soft drink and a dessert or shake. The White City location is also offering The Incredibles 2 film screenings throughout half-term (from Feb 18 to Feb 22) from 2pm-4pm.

Pop into Hamleys to meet some favourite movie characters - and stave off a tantrum

Hamleys' is getting in on the action when it comes to this year's top movie releases for kids, with Emmett, Wildstyle and General Mayhem from The LEGO Movie 2, as well as Astrid and Hiccup from How to Train Your Dragon: Hidden World popping into the store this half-term.

There will also be LEGO workshops, Quidditch training, a Sorting Hat ceremony, puppet shows and storytime sessions. Perfect for when your kid is having a meltdown in Oxford Street.

Get out of London and go to Hever Castle

There's nothing like a day trip to add some excitement to Feb half-term. An hour's drive from Dulwich you'll find Hever Castle, Anne Boleyn's childhood home. Not only is the castle itself totally stunning, but over half-term you can coax kids away from screens and get them outdoors with Hever's Living With Nature event, which features a Wildlife Detective walk where kids can follow a trail of animal footprints and take part in wildlife workshops.

Celebrate cultures with Commonwealth Day at Westminster Abbey

We'll take any excuse to spend a day at Westminster Abbey, but a family-friendly spectacle with folk stories, crafts, performances exposing kids to different cultures and a family trail teaching them about the Abbey's connection to the Commonwealth sounds like a fabulous morning's entertainment. And you get to enjoy basking in the splendour of the Abbey.

Explore everything during the Imagine Festival at Southbank Centre

The Southbank Centre's brilliant Imagine Festival is back for its 18th year and is as action-packed as ever, with shows like The Singing Mermaid and Captain Flinn: The Magic Cutlass and talks from authors like Lauren Child and Jacqueline Wilson. Also look out for free events - there are plenty of them – and lots to appeal to the under-5 crowd.

Head out for a movie day with The Kid Who Would Be King

Eight years after his directorial debut Attack the Block, Joe Cornish (of Adam and Joe fame) returns with The Kid Who Would Be King. A bullied schoolboy finds Excalibur, then teams up with Merlin (Patrick Stewart) and bounds together his own round table of knights to stop evil witch Morgana (Rebecca Ferguson). Yes, please. Now, where's our copy of The Once and Future King so our kids can have a read-through and brush up on Arthurian legend before we go and watch it?

Theatre date for the family with Mathilda and the Orange Balloon

A fully accessible show featuring a cast with deaf and hearing actors, Mathilda and the Orange Balloon kicks off its UK tour in London in February with a half-term performance at the Greenwich and Lewisham Young People’s Theatre, Suitable for children 3-8, the show from DH Ensemble uses a combination of BSL, spoken English and animations and captions to bring the story of Mathilda the sheep to life and emphasises the importance of self-expression and imagination. Performances in Cambridge, Ipswich, Nottingham, Birmingham and more follow.

Try out one of these child-friendly restaurants in London

Because the last thing you want to do after spending a day at a park/museum/show is to cook a meal. Thankfully there are plenty of restaurants, from pizza to sushi, that you can enjoy. Plus, plenty of these places offer free meals for the kiddos. Bon appétit!

Stop and smell the orchids at Kew Gardens

In February, exotic orchids take over London's favourite botanical garden in a floral extravaganza known as Kew's Orchid Festival. This time around, expect a celebration of the colours of Colombia, with a theme of the Barranquilla Carnival, with flower costume making, drumming, dancing and carnival parades. Kew is also great to visit for active kids to explore the treetop walkway, badger dens and woodland walk.

Let 'em get wet at the Puddle Jumping Championships at London Wetland Centre

Be the parent that isn't stressed about muddy clothes for once and enter your children in the ultimate sporting event: the WWT Puddle Jumping Championships. The contest is free with paid admission to the London Wetland Centre.

Book in to Cirque du Soleil's TOTEM at Royal Albert Hall

Cirque du Soleil's TOTEM is evolution as you've never seen it, with thrilling contortionists, acrobats, roller skaters, unicyclists and more. One for the parents as well as the kiddos.

Shiver 'em timbers with A Pirate's Life for Me at the V&A Museum of Childhood

Everyone knows kids love pirates, and the V&A Museum of Childhood has plenty of pirate-related activities over half-term to accompany their pirate-themed exhibition, A Pirate's Life for Me, including storytelling sessions and craft workshops. Ahoy, mateys!

Get LEGO-tastic with Brick Wonders at the Horniman Museum

LEGO brick models never cease to amaze us (let alone our kids), and the latest Horniman Museum exhibition, Brick Wonders, has plenty to entice young visitors with over 50 models on display using over half a million LEGO bricks. There are plenty of interactive activities, like a graffiti wall and tower-building challenge, as well as a cinema with LEGO animations.

Image: Warren Elsmore

Catch Videogames: Design/Play/Disrupt at the V&A before it closes

This family-friendly exhibition is all about video games, but think of how happy you'll feel when the kids are looking at them in a museum, instead of on a screen at home.

Defend the Tower of London with Knight School

Who says chivalry is dead? Enrol in Knight School at the Tower of London to learn about the valour, chivalric codes, courtly love and jousting tournaments that defined one of the most highly regarded professions in the Middle Ages.

Make their dreams come true at Dreamland Margate

Fancy getting out of London for the half-term but unsure where to go? Bookworms should check out Tracey Emin's hometown, Margate, which launches its first Children's Book Festival this Feb half-term, with appearances from author Julia Jarman and the Gruffalo, as well as creative workshops and film screenings.

Introduce them to Shakespeare with The Winter’s Tale at the National Theatre

Shakespeare's late comedy of love, loss and reconciliation is re-imagined for children in this family-friendly production at the Dorfman, suitable from age 8. 'Exit, pursued by a bear,' should be a fun one to see live.