Natural History Museum
As one of the top museums in the country, I’d recommend that everyone visit the Natural History Museum. I went there myself as a child and was in awe of the scale of the exhibits, which include the biggest mammals in the animal kingdom, such as the epic blue whale.
Entry to the museum is free (with an option to donate) and my tip is to always make sure you’ve booked tickets in advance to ensure you’ll be able to enter when you arrive. There’s something for every age group, from little ones to teens – and I still love visiting the museum as an adult.
The museum always hosts special events during the school holidays and this half-term is no different. In fact, it’s your last chance to experience the Space: Could Life Exist Beyond Earth exhibition, which runs until 22nd February. I’m taking my space-enthusiast niece and nephew to visit the exhibit during half-term and I know they (and I) will love it.
Going to the museum will be the highlight of any trip to London, with the train journey into the capital being equally as exciting for kids. Most train companies around the UK will offer specially priced family tickets for children and guardians travelling together, so you’ll certainly be able to save money on transport when you enjoy a family day out in London.
Chocolate factory experience
An experience that I’ve recently enjoyed with my friend and her daughter is chocolate-making at a small local factory in Suffolk. Moulding your own bars of chocolate and hand decorating them with caramel, marshmallows, smarties, brownie bites, shortbread and meringue is absolutely the best way to spend a Saturday – for kids and for grown-ups! And it didn’t cost much more than the normal price of the chocolate in the factory shop!
It was a magical moment when we were allowed to control the pedal to pour molten chocolate into our moulds. Even choosing the toppings from the wall packed with jars of goodies was a highlight! I made a dark chocolate bar with cranberries and meringue and then went super sweet with milk chocolate sprinkled with crispy caramel shards, sea salt flakes and crushed gingerbread.
Of course, it’s not just about all the sweet treats you can make and samples you can taste; it’s also educational (yes, really!) Kids can learn about harvesting and roasting cocoa and we were even able to try raw chocolate straight from inside the bean. If you search around, I’m sure there will be a local producer near you who will be offering chocolate-making workshops, so why not take your family to enjoy a Willy Wonka session this half term?
At-home activities
The lowest cost options for keeping kids entertained during the school holidays are always at-home activities. I’ve previously shared a list of rainy day ideas for those inevitable wet-weather days during the February half-term break so be sure to check that out in case you get a drizzly day at home.
But, when it brightens up, I’ve got a suggestion for something fun to do at home that costs very little but provides hours of entertainment. When it’s sunny weather, head into the garden and paint terracotta pots together, ready to plant up with spring flowers. I loved doing this with my nephew last year – we all had loads of fun painting patterns on the pots, grown-ups included! Here’s the step-by-step guide to show you everything you need for this fun sunny-day activity.
I hope these ideas have given you inspiration for your own fun days out with the family over the school half-term holidays. Please let me know in the comments below what other suggestions you have for low-cost or free activities you can enjoy with your children during the break – I’d love to hear your plans.
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