Take your family on a perfect half-term outing in London

From festivals to inspire little imaginations to dino-themed mini golf, there’s loads of off-peak family fun to be had in London over the school holiday
by Time Out in association with Transport for London
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Need some ideas for entertaining the little ones during half-term? We’ve selected a bunch of exciting, hands-on activities – many of which are free. You can get to them all during off-peak hours (that’s during the day, evenings and weekends), which means you’ll be saving on travel too. For grown-ups, Transport for London’s off-peak fares start at just £1.50 for a single adult pay as you go fare. All kids under 11 can travel free at any time on buses and trams. Up to four kids under 11 can travel free at any time on Tube, DLR, London Overground, and TfL Rail services when accompanied by an adult.

Remember to check TfL Journey Planner before you travel.

  • Things to do
  • Exhibitions
  • Bethnal Green

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.

Where is it? Young V&A. 

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.

  • Things to do
  • Exhibitions
  • King’s Cross
  • 4 out of 5 stars
  • Recommended

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).

Where is it? Lightroom. 

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.

  • Things to do
  • Events & Festivals

What is it? A chance to stroke a capybara – the world’s biggest rodent.

Where is it? Hobbledown Heath, Hounslow.

Why go? The capybara has been knocking around for something like nine million years. What have they been up to all this while? Just sort of hanging out really, grazing away on the vegetation of Latin America. Now Hobbledown Heath is the first place in London to offer a feed-the-capybaras experience. There are five capybaras in the venue’s petting zoo, which you can scratch and feed vegetables. 

  • Musicals
  • Soho

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.

Where is it? Gielgud Theatre. 

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 FoodConsider Yourself and I’d Do Anything live again during their childhoods. 

  • Things to do
  • Exhibitions
  • Forest Hill

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.

Where is it? Horniman Museum. 

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. 

  • Kids
  • Olympic Park

What is it? Got a little one with restless twinkle toes? These free dance classes at Sadler’s Wells new east London outpost will help them channel their energy into a wide range of dance styles.

Where is it? Sadler’s Wells East, Stratford.

Why go? Led by professional dance artists, the workshops made for children aged two to four will help develop their co-ordination, creative thinking and social interaction – all with as much involved as possible. 

  • Eating

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.

Where is it? Science Museum. 

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?

Get there for less!

Get there for less!

TfL’s off-peak pay as you go fares mean that you’ll save more pennies this half-term. Off-peak fares apply on all Tube, DLR, London Overground and TfL Rail services. You can tap into the wonderful world of off-peak every weekday before 6.30am, between 9.30am and 3.59pm, and after 7pm. Off-peak fares also apply all day at weekends and on public holidays. Always touch in and out with the same card or device to pay the right fare. Touch in only on buses and trams. To check a fare, visit TfL’s single fare finder.

Kids travel free!
All kids under 11 can travel free at any time on buses and trams. Up to four kids under 11 can travel free at any time on Tube, DLR, London Overground and TfL Rail services when accompanied by an adult. An adult is anyone 16 and over using an adult rate ticket (but not a Group Day Travelcard), pay as you go or travel concession.

Travel in Zones 2-6 for £1.50
Fare shown is for an adult off-peak pay as you go journey not going via Zone 1 on Tube, DLR and most London Overground services.

Travel into Zone 1 from £2.40
Fare shown is for an adult off-peak pay as you go journey from Zone 2 into Zone 1.

Travel by bus and tram for £1.50
TfL’s Hopper fare lets you make unlimited bus and tram journeys within one hour of first touching in for just £1.50.

The Cultural TfL Map is your key to finding more of London's family friendly hidden gems. This interactive map reveals more than 500 Time Out-recommended museums, galleries, street art and more, all within a short walk or bus ride of each station. Many of these experiences are free!

We know that affordable, convenient public transport is the key to accessing the best that London has to offer – and thanks to TfL’s affordable off-peak fares and other discounts across the network, the possibilities for adventure are wider than ever. Here, you'll find plenty more unexpected and exciting off-peak outings.

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