The best February half-term activities in London

What is it? A little shorter than in previous years and with its name for some reason changed from the previous Imagine Children’s Festival,  Southbank Centre’s sprawling celebration of all things kids is nonetheless back back back for 2025.

Why go? It’s no exaggeration to say that there is something for every child at Imagine, from talks with favourite authors – Dog Man creator Dav Pilkey, Billy and the Beast writer Nadia Shireen and Supertato’s Sue Hendra are all on board this year – to a host of children’s plays and numerous fun additional concerts, workshops, activities and other events, many of them free.

What is it? Following its excellent inaugural temporary exhibition Japan: Myth to Manga, 2025 sees Young V&A host temporary exhibition number two. Making Egypt will look at creativity in Ancient Egypt and its enduring influence on contemporary society, and will gather together over 200 items from the V&A archives, with the oldest around 5,500 years old, and many never having been displayed before.

Why go? Myth to Manga was a lively, thoughtful and accessible exhibition with something for everyone and Making Egypt looks to be more of the same, combining thousands of years old ancient artifacts with pop cultural works influenced by the long gone civilization, from an ancient sarcophagus to a Lego pyramid of Giza. Although the exhibition is suitable for all (including solo adults) there is an emphasis on children aged eight to 12.

What is it? The Princess of Wales Conservatory at Kew Gardens is getting a Peruvian makeover this February, courtesy of the latest annual mind-bending orchid display that takes over the iconic glasshouse each year. 

Why go? You never need an excuse to take the kids to Kew, but the orchid festival really is a sight to behold, a blaze of astonishing colour that lights up the February gloom. Don’t forget to check out the alpaca sculpture, made entirely of the tropic blooms.

What is it? The latest megabudget spectacle from Cirque du Soleil to hit these shores is Corteo, which takes inspiration from the lost world of Italian traditional circuses.

Why go? The Quebecois giants’ awesome circus spectacles are perfect family shows, with the goofy humour probably more appealing to kids than adults, but the stunning set pieces a delight for all. Running post-Christmas and pre-Easter, half-term is the perfect time to see it. Corteo is set at a clown funeral – but a very fun clow funeral. 

What is it? The latest incarnation of Lionel Bart’s all-singing Dickens musical adaptation Oliver! recently arrived in town in a glossy new production that was in previews over Christmas and just formally opened.

Why go? Arguably the great family musical of all time, it’s been 15 years since it was last of the London stage, and while it’s booking through the summer, there’s no telling if your wee ones will get to experience the likes of Food Glorious Food, Consider Yourself and I’d Do Anything live again during their childhoods. 

What is it? This delightful exhibition explains the wonders the animal world via robots made from household objects. Last seen here in 2017, the Robot Zoo return to the Horniman in a new incarnation, with a new set of robo-animals.

Why go? Because it’s cute, because it’s interactive, because you’ll learn something, and it’s just that perfect way to pep up a trip to the Horniman while the walrus remains oit of bounds for its 2025 refurb. 

What is it? Mike Leigh’s 2015 production of Gilbert & Sullivan’s immortal operetta about a group of kind-hearted pirates getting up to amusing romantic shenanigans.

Why go? Whether or not you’re particularly bothered about getting your kids hooked on high (ish) culture, the 1879 comedy is a pure, undemanding delight, and The Major General’s Song is a banger for the ages. The show is suitable for ages five plus.

What is it? Showing that it’s never too late to teach an old, er, museum new tricks, the venerable Science Museum is launching its first ever afternoon tea, just in time for half-term.

Why go? Well on the basic level because afternoon teas are yummy, but the Science Museum being the Science Museum it has a few tricks up its sleeve. There is science-based fun literally on the menu, with snacktivities including cupcakes with a ‘blood’ syringe and a test tube rack filled with various sweets like fizzy sherbet, chocolate popping candy, crushed coloured moon rocks and edible soil.  Because what kid doesn’t want to eat mud?

What is it? Returning to the rep at projection-based performance space The Lightroom for half-term, this is your penultimate change to see Tom Hanks’s spectacular immersive space documentary (it’ll leave for good after a final return for the Easter hols).

Why go? Narrator Hanks’s yearning reminiscence of the Apollo landings of his childhoopd is utterly infectious, but really The Moonwalkers is all about experiencing archive footage and photos of the landings on a colossal scale. At best it lets us experience Hanks’s awe at man’s struggle for the stars – and that is a lot of awe.

What is it? Reuniting cardboard-based kids theatre makers Sam Wilde and Ian Nicholson – after their sublime I Want My Hat Back trilogy – Boxville sees the duo collaborate with their young audience, who will help them build the titular land as the show wears on.

Why go? Combining kids theatre show with a good old fashioned crafternoon, you’re promised the chance to meet and even make ‘paper dragons, corrugated crabs and cardboard space robots’. Running at Polka over half-term, it’s aimed at ages six to ten.