School’s almost out (again!) but don’t despair. Muddy has rounded up some brilliant Berkshire activities for all ages this half term – from exploring the great outdoors, trying something new, and getting creative.

OUTDOORS

walking through the rope net on the high rope adventure course Go Ape Berkshire

Make tree-hugging hippies out of your pre-teens and teens (and maybe tire them out too!) Sign them up for the Teen Rangers Wildlife Club at nature reserve Woolley Firs in Maidenhead, which offers hands-on conservation experiences. Sat 10 Feb, 1-3pm, £7 per person (age 11-17 years).

For younger nature lovers, check out the Love Bugs Family Trail around Great Windsor Park Mon 12 – Wed 14 Feb – packed with games, activities, and crafts to spread the bug love. £8 per child, ages 3-12. For an escape room al fresco style try Natural Mystery at Woolley Firs Maidenhead on 14 Feb – a thrilling menagerie of puzzles and games that puts your history knowledge to the test. For ages 8 – 12, £12 per child.

For fresh air, fitness and a fabulous setting The Swan at Streatley is running an Outdoor & Active half term kids’ club – a mash up of imaginative games, fitness and activities. Suitable for ages 5-14, the club runs at 2pm on Mon 12 Feb – £10pp for 1hr. They’re also offering Kids’ Yoga on Tue 13 Feb (£10pp) to zen out your crazy kids and then it’s lights, camera, action at the Indoor Kids’ Cinema on Fri 16 Feb for a screening of the The Lion King at 5pm. Tickets £8, including popcorn and a drink. A cheeky Coppa Club pre or post film dinner, will round off the week nicely.

If you’re balancing a troupe of all ages (I see you), Go Ape (Swinley Forest in Bracknell and Black Park Country Park in Slough) is a sure bet to fire off a bit of pent up energy for a few hours. It offers a multi-level high ropes course and zipwire which will challenge the whole family.

Winter waggle dog walk Waddesdon Manor Estate

There’s more happening at the local National Trust sites than you can shake an umbrella at this Feb. Hop over the border to Waddesdon Manor Estate for their inaugural Winter Waggle dog walk around the grounds – all to raise money for children’s charity Pace. Choose from two accessible routes – 3k and 5k – and get your four pawed pals and little terrors into nature (Fri 16 Feb).

There’s a half term trail with a movie mystery theme at Basildon Park, nr Pangbourne (plus check out the stunning snowdrops), or hop over to Henley for Greys Court a different trail about some very special objects. Both on 10 – 17 Feb.

Head to Lightwater Country Park for their Heart Trail (10 – 18 Feb) organised by children’s charity First Days. Follow the path around the lakes to collect letters that spell a secret word. You’ll find fun facts along the way about the heart and spot a number of crochet creations too. Be rewarded with a sweet treat for your efforts. Maps £3. Why not finish up with a spot of Crazy Golf too?

Grab your 12 and overs and beeline to Reload Laser Clay Shooting Range in Reading – the UK’s first of its kind. Book ahead and get your own individual bay big enough for five people, pick up the gun and see who can hit the most targets. Lots of different games to choose from. £50 per bay.

BE INSPIRED

A wonderfully wiggly adventure for all the family, join Snug and Grub in their earthy heap as they navigate the seemingly dangerous world around them. Plenty of clowning, a beautifully crafted set, colourful puppets and foot tapping music at Shaw House on 12 Feb. Adults £10, kids £7.

Look at this stuff, isn’t it neat? The Little Mermaid is what fairytales are made of, and following Disney’s hit film in 2023, the next generation have been introduced to the magic in a whole new way. This February half term, the Corn Exchange Newbury brings the story to life in a new stage production with irresistible songs, staging, and costumes. Not to be missed. On 14 – 17 Feb.

Sooty! Celebrating a whooping 75 years in the business, it’s a wonder he’s still ticking along. But of course he’s not going anywhere before he’s thrown one epic birthday party, that in true Sooty style, is unlikely to actually go to plan. Expect messy cake making, Sweep practicing his best dance moves, and a turbo charged water pistol that reaches even the very back of the theatre (yep, bring a raincoat). At The Hexagon Reading on 11 Feb.

Also popping up in Berkshire is kids’ fave The Bubble Show at The Corn Exchange Newbury (11 Feb). With a Guinness World Record under his belt in entertainment, he’s a surefire winner for capturing the attention of little fidgeters with his rocket-shaped and flying saucer bubbles.

Roarrrsome fun at Norden Farm for the The Great Big Dinosaur Show (13 Feb). Join poet Simon Mole and musician Gecko for a family show full of poems, raps and songs about all your favourite prehistoric protagonists (and some you haven’t heard of yet!). Expect spine-tinglingly funny scares and get your groove on to some Jurassic Classics! Suitable for 4 – 11 year olds.

For the older, more hard to please in your house, School of the Rock is a surefire crowd pleaser. Does it get any more feel good than Jack Black hurtling himself into a crowd only to crash land to the floor? It’s coming to South Hill Park for three nights only between 15 – 17 Feb with rocking magic that will have you in stitches. Rock on!

FOODIE

Nothing like food to keep them quiet for 5 minutes. On Pancake Day (13 Feb) the Narrowboat Reading are doing kids eat totally free for every adult portion ordered.

After you’re done stuffing back your 10th Nutella crepe, why not join in with these charity pancake races – belting along the pavement with a frying pan and raising money for charity while you’re at it. The Maidenhead pancake race is at Nicholson’s shopping centre, the Windsor, Eton and Ascot one at Windsor Royal Station, and Reading’s on Broad Street. All on Shrove Tuesday (13 Feb).

Wonka’s back in vogue now thanks to a little help from good old Timmy Chalamet. Join the Wonka Tea Party fun at Crocus at Dorney Court on 15 Feb for a delightful assortment of Wonka-inspired sweets and savoury surprises, plus a visit from Mr Wonka himself. Nope, it’s not Timothee. You wish. £19.95pp.

Move over Wonka, 2023 was Barbie’s year, and it’s not up for debate. Think pink over at Chocolate Café Club in Wokingham. Barbie afternoon tea takes place on Fri 16 Feb with sweet treats, fun, songs, glitter tats, and dancing. Oh, yeah, hi Barbie. She’ll be there too. £25 per child, adults free.

GET CREATIVE

Take a break from Half Term, let your kids enjoy a crafternoon at Norden Farm on 15 – 17 Feb. Book ’em in for the Arts and Crafts and you can slope off and enjoy two hours of alone time. Enjoy coffee and cake, go shopping, sit in your car and mindlessly scroll on Instagram, the world (or Maidenhead) is your oyster. (Suitable for ages 4 – 11, £4 per child).

A ton of zero spend activities over at IKEA Reading. From 10 – 18 Feb join the quest to find a bunch of sneaky soft toys who are hiding out in the store. Find them all and you’ll be rewarded with an entry to win your very own jungle goodie bag. Half term colouring takes place 12 – 16 Feb too.

City Arts Newbury have lots to get the creative juices flowing with Connect with Clay on 15 Feb (suitable for teens and older kids) or Children’s Easy Printing on 17 Feb.

Head to ritzy The Retreat at Elcot Park and leave your little ones with the resident craft teacher Laura for a couple of hours while you hit the spa (much needed). The snakes and reptiles session is on 13 Feb, with Aliens taking place on 16 Feb. £10 per child. Kids eat free during half term so why not treat yourself to a supper afterwards? A proper pamper day if you ask us. Fitness and tennis bootcamps also taking place in the hols.

Head to the King’s pad in Windsor for plenty of half term shenanigans. Creative crafting takes place at the Castle’s Learning Centre with children able to create a momento to take home, perhaps a rocking lifeboat or a winter sea collage in honour of the 200th anniversary of the Royal National Lifeboat Institution. There’s a family trail around the state apartments too. On 10 – 18 Feb.

BURN OFF ENERGY

Ready, set, skate! RollaDome is offering a special Learn to Skate program, perfect for kids aged 4 to 12, at Windsor Leisure Centre this half term (12 – 14 Feb). The three day camp will be structured, fun and dynamic – appealing to the imagination, while also burning a bit of half term hyper off. £31pp.

Once they’ve got the hang of it, take them down to Braywick Leisure Centre in Maidenhead for Roller Disco on 17 Feb. Scoot and Skate sessions for beginners are 3-4pm, Family and Friends Roller Disco early session is 4:15pm-5:15pm, and the late session is 5:30pm-7:30pm.

Headbanging, fist bumping, and a whole load of throwing shapes, not toys. Say hello to Raver Tots – the ultimate indoor family dance party playing the best in house, garage, and drum and bass. It’s the place all the cool kids go in Windsor now apparently and there will be dancers, performers, cold pyro, bubbles, festival sized confetti blasts, multi coloured lasers and muchhh more. A fully loaded bar for the adults too. Winning. On Sun 18 Feb, suitable for all ages.

If your kids like a challenge, head to Newbury’s Northway Climbing Centre. Children from the age of 4 can join a rope taster session, which allows them to climb high (might be best to head to the café at this point!) They can also try bouldering, which takes place lower down but without ropes and harnesses. Book online, or, if you’d prefer a bespoke session, that can be arranged too. Reading’s The Climbing Hangar offers bouldering plus a fab café featuring homemade food and an exclusive coffee blend. Or book a spot at Reading’s Clip ‘n Climb, with cool gaming inspired walls for kids of all ages.

Let them run totally and utterly wild at Wild Days Holiday Club, Mon – Fri during the hols (suitable for 8 – 13s). It’s at Dinton Pastures Country Park with four activities per day including archery and orienteering. Take to the land for climbing or test your Bear Grylls skills on the survival session. £32 per session.

Want something a bit different? Check out Bracknell’s state-of-the-art Ozone Ice Rink, home to the Bracknell Bees ice hockey team. Children can learn to skate in small groups or try 1-2-1 lessons from the age of 3. Or book them into ice hockey camp (for inspiration the Mighty Ducks is on DisneyPlus!).

For top tier sports camps look no further than Kings Camps – pitching up at Queen Anne’s School this half term from 12 Feb for five days. It’s a multi-active programme designed to get kids moving through sports and games (over 30 of them). Suitable for 5 – 17 year olds so you can keep the older ones out of trouble too. From £50.

Get your zoom on at TeamSport Indoor Karting Reading. There’s two monster tracks over three floors for 8 and overs that will fuel the fun for hours, plus a new Combat Karts track too. See you on the flipside.

BLOCK OUT BOREDOM

If you’ve got a couple of days to fill, let LEGOLAND Windsor take the strain. New for 2024 is a (slightly trippy) adventure gold course, they’re running Brick Days for young builders and don’t miss out on the half term offer, which includes a night in a Lego-themed family room at the onsite hotel, entry to the park, and a swim in the pirate-themed pool. For parents, there’s breakfast, free parking and wifi. There’s also Brick Week half term deals for day trippers.

FIND A FLUFFY FRIEND

Half term also means lambing season and Willows Farm is gearing up for the cutest event of the year. Come and see the newly born lambs being bottle fed, and you might even be lucky enough to witness a birth. Peter Rabbit and friends are also putting in an appearance with four different shows a day in the theatre. You can also meet the furry stars and grab a selfie to prove it! 17 – 12 Feb, tickets from £19.95 per person.

More lambing magic at Odds Farm in High Wycombe from 10 – 18 Feb too where you can watch newborn lambs take their very first steps at Little Hooves Lamb Nursery. Stacks more fun around the farm too.

Check out Muddy fave Bucklebury Farm Park, home to rare breed Berkshire pigs, deer, goats, alpacas, and Shetland ponies. There will be LEGO at the farm during half term with two hours of creative fun, plus kids yoga on 15 Feb. Or if your kids need space to run, visit the 160 wildlife species at West Berkshire’s Beale Wildlife Park. With 350 acres to explore, there’s a miniature railway too.

Reopening on 10 Feb, just in time for half term fun, is the fantastic Wellington Country Park. Offering adrenaline-filled adventure with a giant zip wire, huge bouncing pillow, dinosaur trail, mini golf, animal farm, pirate ship and more. If the weather isn’t kind, there’s indoor soft play too.

CRACK THE CONUNDRUM

For something truly immersive, book an Escape Room adventure in Reading. Suitable for ages 8 and up (when accompanied by an adult), you choose your room – themes include Doctor Who, the Wild West, and the Vikings – and then you’ll be set your task and the clock will start ticking. You might have to defeat a rogue Dalek or save your gold from a bloodthirsty gang. Good luck!

CULTURE VULTURE

Reading Museum Silchester Gallery glass displays deer head stair case

Add some culture to your half term by taking the kids to Reading Museum – a number of workshops and experiences including science experiments that consist of making hedgehogs buns (13 Feb). Umm, cute. £4 per child. There’s Life on Land Stop Motion Animation Workshops on Mon 12 Feb too where kids can create their own mini movies totally free. Pre-booking essential.

Dash it to the West Berkshire Museum in Newbury and hunt down the famous faces dotted around the place. The Armadillo Art Experience will teach all the skills needed to draw caricature portraits of heroes and villains from across the Ages. On 13 Feb, £13 per child for 7+.

Queen Mary’s Doll House Windsor Castle Exhibition

It’s officially 100 years of Queen Mary’s Doll House – the largest and most famous dolls’ house in the world on permanent display at Windsor Castle. Dip in for a visit to see a special centenary exhibition for 2024 where you can get up close to some of the tiny treasures usually contained within the Dolls’ House. There’s a tiny concert grand piano, fully strung with functioning keys, a miniature Crown Jewels inset with real diamonds, rubies, sapphires, emeralds and seed pearls, plus a mini vacuum cleaner, and sewing machine.

FREE HISTORY LESSONS

Turns out you’re never too old to draw some wonder from drawers of preserved beetles and butterflies and the occasional stuffed deer. Reading Museum, with its full size Victorian copy of the Bayeux Tapestry, has more than its fair share of stuffed animals, art and biscuits. Eton College’s Natural History Museum (17,000+ exhibits) and the West Berkshire Museum with its Greenham Common Peace Camp collection and Woolly Mammoth tusks are a fascinating and free way to spend an hour (donations are welcome).

Image: Greenham Control Tower/ Lee Sainsbury /Oxygen Photography

Greenham Control Tower is under the radar (pardon the pun) attraction well worth a visit. After sitting unused for almost three decades, the 1950s Military Control Tower has been restored as a visitor centre and community café. See the history of the tower, visit the observation deck, before grabbing a cuppa and cake. Open Wed-Fri, 10.30am-3pm and Sat-Sun 10am-4.30pm.

A little further afield, The National History Museum‘s outpost in Tring is a fascinating and free way to spend an hour (donations are welcome). Head to Oxford for the The Ashmolean and Pitt Rivers Museum, both packed full of ancient treasures and fine art. Great Missenden’s Roald Dahl Museum is free for children under five and if you can stomach a train journey into London, the Wellcome Collection and Science Museum offer floors of entertainment for zero pence.

LONDON

Headed into the Big Smoke? Don’t forget to check out these two big hitters while you’re there.

Totally bonkers balloon fun that’s a visual feast for the eyes. Kids will go nuts for the Balloon Museum currently taking London by storm which is totally immersive meaning you can touch and interact with its contents. It’s taken over a hugeee 78,000 square feet space at Old Billingsgate in the City and is only on until 18 Feb so be quick. Tickets from £15. See you in the ball pit.

Imagine Children’s Festival, running at the Southbank Centre from 7-17 Feb, boasts a line-up of over 100 family shows, exhibitions, live music, play experiences and literature talks for all ages from 0-11 years – 50% of which are totally FREE. Events are selling out quick so book pronto if you want to go.

Half term saviour! 65+ things to do with the kids this February

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