Things to do over February half-term

Creative Tourist

Looking for things to do with the family this February half term? You’re in the right place.

Check out what’s on, from huge family festivals, to sense-sational science-themed museum trips, fairytale ballet productions, robot-building and more.

As you’ll see there’s loads to do to make the upcoming half term a special one – whatever the weather, and whatever the budget!

And if the below isn’t enough, sign up to our newsletter for a weekly round-up of Manchester and the North’s best events.

Our top picks

The Super Duper Family Festival

The Super Duper Family Festival at Great Northern, Manchester (and other venues), 18 February 2025, free entry - Find Out More

Manchester’s Super Duper Family Festival is transforming the city into a gigantic super duper playground throughout February half-term. And it’s free.

The Super Duper Family Festival
Lizzie Coombes

Super Duper Family Festival – The Party

Super Duper Family Festival – The Party at Aviva Studios, Manchester, 15–18 February 2025, free entry - Find Out More

Littlest ravers – rejoice! As part of the Super Duper Family Festival is ‘The Party’, pop-up rave/party sessions throughout half term where you can get your boogie on, amongst other fun activities.

Two young girls dance with a human disco ball
Shaheda Choudhury

Operation Ouch! Brains, Bogies and You at the Science and Industry Museum

Operation Ouch! Brains, Bogies and You at Science and Industry Museum, Manchester, 15 February 2025–4 January 2026, from £10.00 - Book now

Get ready for a sense-sational adventure packed with super-sized science and brilliant biology!

Operation Ouch! Brains, Bogies and You Dr Chris, Dr Xand and Dr Ronx sitting on a hospital bed
Science Museum Group

Northern Ballet’s Hansel & Gretel

Hansel & Gretel at Stanley & Audrey Burton Theatre, Leeds, 15–22 February 2025, from £8.25 - Book now

A magical family adventure awaits at Northern Ballet’s brand-new children’s production, Hansel & Gretel.

An illustration of Hansel & Gretel standing on a hill with a city scape behind them Northern Ballet's Hansel & Gretel
Image supplied by Leeds Inspired

Wild About Birds at Manchester Museum

Wild About Birds at Manchester Museum, Manchester, 15–23 February 2025, free entry - Find Out More

Explore the wonderful world of birds at the Manchester Museum this February half-term.

A heron in the Wild exhibition at Manchester Museum.
Manchester Museum

Half term Junkbots at People’s History Museum

Half term Junkbots at People’s History Museum (PHM), Manchester, 15–23 February 2025, free entry - Find Out More

Enjoy an awesome family activity, where little inventors and big ones too can build their very own robot.

Two colourful 'robots' made from kitchen rolls and different coloured paper. Half term junkbots at people's history museum
© EvaMur - stock.adobe.com

Horrible Histories: Awful Egyptians

Horrible Histories: Awful Egyptians at Manchester Opera House, Manchester, 13–15 February 2025, from £15.00 - Book now

Get ready for a hilarious and educational adventure that makes history fun for the whole family – kids, parents, grandparents included!

Horrible Histories: Awful Egyptians
Image supplied by ATG Tickets

LEGOLAND Discovery Centre

LEGOLAND Discovery Centre, Manchester Barton Square, The Trafford Centre, Manchester, M17 8AS - Visit now

The ultimate indoor playground! LEGOLAND Discovery Centre is an immersive indoor attraction where iconic sites from Manchester’s skyline and other famous UK buildings can be enjoyed by both kids and adults

LEGOLAND Discovery Centre

2025 Banner Bingo at PHM

2025 Banner Bingo, Until 29 December 2025, free entry - Visit now

Explore the People’s History Museum with your banner bingo card in hand as you navigate their galleries through the lens of craftivism. 

Two young visitors looking up at a banner in a case, holding pencils and an activity sheet.
People's History Museum

The Parent Agency at Storyhouse

The Parent Agency at Storyhouse, Cheshire, 15 February–2 March 2025, from £23.50 - Book now

David Baddiel’s best-selling children’s book – The Parent Agency – will be brought to Storyhouse’s stage in a brand-new musical.

The Parent Agency at Storyhouse
The Parent Agency at Storyhouse

Wild at Manchester Museum

Wild at Manchester Museum, Manchester, Until 1 June 2025, free entry - Visit now

Manchester Museum’s Wild exhibition focuses on all things wild! A great day out that you’ll enjoy whether you’re 1 or 100!

Wolf in Yellowstone
Jacob W. Frank

40 Things to See, Do and Discover at the Science and Industry Museum

40 Things to See, Do and Discover at Science and Industry Museum, Manchester, Until 30 September 2025, free entry - Visit now

A true gem in Manchester’s cultural crown, the Science and Industry Museum is celebrating its 41st birthday with a myriad of things to see, do and discover on your half term visit.

40 Things to See, Do and Discover at the Science and Industry Museum
Science and Industry Museum © The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum

Power Up at the Science and Industry Museum

Power UP at Science and Industry Museum, Manchester, Until 30 March 2025, from £8.00 - Book now

Yes, okay, we know a cultural day out with the family really shouldn’t involve staring at screens. However, the ever-popular Power Up at the Science and Industry Museum offers avid gamers the opportunity to play their way through five decades of the best video games, and always demands an exception.

Boy playing retro arcade games in Power Up.
Image courtesy of the Science and Industry Museum.

Bees: A Story of Survival at World Museum Liverpool

Bees: A Story of Survival at World Museum Liverpool, Liverpool, Until 5 May 2025, from £0.00 - Book now

Both kids and grown-ups will get a lot out of this educational exhibition in Liverpool, which takes a closer look at the lives of bees and their vital role in human existence.

Bees: A Story of Survival at World Museum Liverpool
© Photo by Pete Carr - Render by Battlecat and Wolfgang Buttress Studios

The Little Prince at Waterside Arts

The Little Prince at Waterside, Manchester, 21 February 2025, from £7.50 - Book now

Experience the magic of The Little Prince as this curious, beautiful story is brought to life through puppetry and songs.

The Little Prince at Waterside Arts
Lyngo Theatre and Norwich Puppet Theatre

Stephen Hawking at Work at the Science and Industry Museum

Stephen Hawking at Work at Science and Industry Museum, Manchester, Until 30 September 2025, free entry - Visit now

Explore incredible objects from the world-renowned theoretical physicist’s office in this special display.

Stephen Hawking at Work
Science Museum Group - © The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum.

Black Friar

Black Friar, Blackfriars Rd, Salford, M3 7DH - Visit now

The perfect spot for a nice meal out after half-term shenanigans with the family! A delicious, wide-ranging menu will keep everyone happy.

Discover and Explore at the Science and Industry Museum

Discover and Explore at the Science and Industry Museum at Science and Industry Museum, Manchester, Until 30 September 2025 - Book now

Whether you’ve half an hour or a full day, you’ll always find something new to discover at Manchester’s Science and Industry Museum.

Discover and Explore at the Science and Industry Museum
State of Mind installation at the Science and Industry Museum. Image courtesy of Orbie Pullen Photography.

Yorkshire Sculpture Park

Yorkshire Sculpture Park, West Bretton, Wakefield, Yorkshire, WF4 4LG - Visit now

Brighter days mean more outdoor adventures. Set over 500 acres, you’ll find art trails, scavenger hunts and all manner of family fun happening at this stunning open-air gallery over the hols.

Yorkshire Sculpture Park
Image courtesy Yorkshire Sculpture Park.

Manchester Museum

Manchester Museum, The University Of Manchester, Oxford Rd, Manchester, Greater Manchester, M13 9PL - Visit now

A place of wonder packed full of incredible stories and family-friendly activities, you can’t go wrong with a trip to Manchester Museum.

Manchester Museum Tours at Manchester Museum

Eureka! Science + Discovery Merseyside

Eureka! Science + Discovery Merseyside, Victoria Pl, Seacombe, Wallasey, Merseyside, CH44 6QY - Visit now

Discover how Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics are a part of everyday life at the North’s newest children’s museum, sister of the much-loved Eureka!

Dunham Massey

Dunham Massey, Altrincham, Greater Manchester, WA14 4SJ - Visit now

The perfect place to experience the first hints of warmer days. Whatever the weather, Dunham Massey in Altrincham takes our number one spot for a fun outdoorsy day out.

Dunham Massey
Dunham Massey

People’s History Museum (PHM)

People’s History Museum (PHM), Left Bank, Spinningfields, Manchester, M3 3ER - Visit now

There is always something stimulating and creative for big and little kids alike at this national museum of democracy. It’s never too early to learn about past struggles and that ‘there have always been ideas worth fighting for’.

People's History Museum Manchester
People's History Museum Manchester

World Museum Liverpool

World Museum Liverpool, William Brown Street, Liverpool, Merseyside, L3 8EN - Visit now

Family-focused and hands-on, it’s all here at The World Museum with treasures from around the world, the bottom of the ocean and even outer space.

Exterior of World Museum Liverpool, home to Dino Ranger Day

Stately Homes in the North

Explore some of the North’s most stunning buildings and learn about the families that once lived there. Stroll through the picturesque grounds, take in the fresh air and let the kids run free.

Adventure Activities in the North

The North of England is home to the longest high wire bridge in Europe, over 1,000ft above the Honister Pass in Keswick, and one of the UK’s largest outdoor inflatable water assault courses near Sheffield. This part of the world, then, has no shortage of incredible adventure activities.

Treetop Adventure Manchester
Treetop Adventure Manchester.
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