February half-term is here! While we all feel like Christmas was only a week or two ago, with the Christmas Light Bus dazzling the streets, Spring is already coming into view.
If you haven’t entirely recovered from the fever of the holiday season, don’t panic! We’ve put together some suggestions for keeping both kids and grown-ups thoroughly entertained this school holiday!
A walk on the wild side
Head to Millets Farm Centre for some half-term fun. Say hello to all the friendly farm animals on your trip through Millets Animal Walkway then let the little ones burn off some steam at the playground, all within sight of the Farmhouse Kitchen, which serves everything from light bites to full, delicious meals. On wetter days, Sprouts Play Barn is a great option for visitors up to 15 years old. Or you could let their imaginations run wild in the Mini Millets Farmers Market or tap out some tunes together with the floor piano. On top of all of this, Millets also has a jam-packed half-term extravaganza planned, including slime-making workshops and a brand-new WhatNot theatre show, Tea Time with Hatter & Hare.
Want to get up closer with some furry friends? Bishops Court Farm is the perfect spot for Alpaca walks! Set in 300 acres of stunning countryside, you can take an alpaca for a leisurely stroll as you take in the sights and sounds of nature. Alpacas love some attention, so they’re generally more than happy to stop for a snack and a scratch or pose for a photo op! The farm is also home to horses, goats, pigs and sheep for you to greet on your trip. When little (or grown-up) legs are getting tired, the Snug Café is on-site with local, fresh and seasonal delights that are sure to delight even the pickiest eaters.
Are you one of those people who can walk and walk and walk, or do you have little ones with an endless supply of energy? Then head over to the Harcourt Arboretum for a scenic meander through nature. Spot peacocks and woodland deer amongst rare trees and native fauna. Be sure to pick up an activity pack on your way in to make the visit extra special. The Activity Backpacks are stuffed full with fun bits and bobs, from crayons to create bark rubbings worthy of a place of honour on the fridge to stickers that little ones will happily plaster all over their coats. Harcourt also offers geocaching for intrepid explorers with keen eyes and a sense of adventure. Pick up a GPS unit and find the hidden clues to solve activities in your booklet.
Journey Planner: Click here to enter your starting location and find the best bus to get you to Millets Farm Centre, Bishops Court Farm and Harcourt Arboretum.
Exciting educational days out
With over 1001 tales to explore, there’s no better time than half-term to jump into the pages of your favourite book at the Story Museum! Keep an eye out for the adventurous time-travelling mice who’ve left the Mouseum phonebox on Penbrooke Street to seek inspiration and adventure in the Galleries while you immerse yourself in tales and fables.
The museum has a packed programme of February fun for younger visitors. Kids can join skills courses like Story Explorers, where they’ll learn more about the process behind their favourite stories as they invent their superhero personas, design characters for video games and create audio guides for their own magical landscapes. Attend performances that inspire and amaze, like Two Young Dragons on the 19th and Snow White Red Rose Brown Bear on the 21st.
Meanwhile, Small Worlds is the perfect spot for the littlest bookworms to get involved. It’s a patchwork of picture books, nursery rhymes and traditional tales, where kids can join in sing-alongs and storytelling before getting stuck into all the different book-themed zones to explore.
For those with an inclination towards the sciences, the History of Science Museum is a great option to get out and explore, having fun while you learn. Say hello to a nearly 500-year-old Spotfin Burfish, learn about early television and the science behind fighting disease as you wander through the oldest public museum in the world. On 21st and 22nd February, the Science Museum is hosting How Does It Work, a free-entry activity day for younger visitors to get hands-on with some of the museum’s collections. Grab a Light and Space backpack, then join a family scavenger trail to solve clever puzzles, learn new skills and find special treasures.
Art and artefacts come together at the Ashmolean Museum, perfect for both the artistically and historically inclined. Take some time to explore the various exhibits, from local finds to faraway arts. The Ashmolean also has plenty to keep younger visitors entertained for hours on end. On the 14th and 15th of February, the One World Family Festival is returning to bring together communities and faiths in Oxfordshire. With a focus on nature, this free festival is packed with dazzling activities, performances and crafts for all ages to take part in.
For the rest of the half-term, the museum has a whole bunch of things to do that are available year-round. Collect Explorer Packs at the Welcome Desk for stickers and activities to get you started on an exciting trail through the museum’s halls, or have a friendly competition with the Artful Encounters card game.
Journey Planner: Click here to enter your starting location and find the best bus to get you to the Story Museum, the History of Science Museum and the Ashmolean Museum.
Getting creative
The North Wall Arts Centre is a place for artists and audiences to come together to share art and creativity in all its many forms, and this half-term is no exception! Start the break right on 14th February for a Valentine’s Family Dance Party! Kids up to 5, and their families, will have a great time getting out their dancing shoes. With bubbles, balloons, face painting and sensory play, it’s sure to be a brilliant day out. Plus, with an hour of Stay & Play in the middle of the day included, there’s plenty for young ones to get stuck into.
Got a taste for the dancefloor? From 18th to 20th February, the North Wall are also hosting a Dance Masterclass as a part of Dancin’ Oxford’s 20th Anniversary Spring Dance Festival. Join Company Chameleon for a fun, physical and creative intensive dance course. 12- to 17-year-olds will love showing off their new moves when the schools go back.
For those who are less inclined to boogie, Tidy is a lovely puppet show aimed at 3 to 7-year-olds. Based on the much-loved book of the same name, Tidy follows Pete the Badger and his tidying antics. With original music and a healthy dash of silliness, the show is a gentle cautionary tale about looking after the world around us. Between performances, the Drama Studio at North Wall will be hosting a 2-hour Stay & Play session, where little visitors can draw, read about, and dress up as their favourite characters! 8- to 11-year-olds, meanwhile, can get stuck in with NW Inventors: Character Creations. This 2-day workshop lets kids invent and develop their very own characters, letting their minds run wild and their creativity soar. See what happens when their different characters meet and develop them into full-blown personas and fully fledged personalities.
The Museum of Oxford is always worth a visit for those who want to learn all about the local area, and this half-term is jam-packed with things to do for kids and grown-ups alike! Between 14th and 21st February, Art School…in a trail is an exciting introduction to the world of contemporary art for children aged 9 and above, as well as their families. Enjoy an adventure around the museum, with each stop on the trail having a creative mission to complete.
Oxford Opera Company will also be joining the museum on the 18th for Opera in a Day! Based on the famous Gilbert and Sullivan opera HMS Pinafore, this workshop will help visitors between 8 and 12 hone musical and performance skills, ideal for those more experienced with the arts and total beginners. At the end of the day, parents and carers can come along to see what their little sailors have come up with.
Journey Planner: Click here to enter your starting location and find the best bus to get you to the North Wall Arts Centre and Museum of Oxford.
Take a tour
It wouldn’t be a City Sightseeing blog if we didn’t take the chance to tell you more about our tours! Our bus tours are a great way for little legs to take a break while visiting the city while still getting to explore the area. With kids’ narration from Mia Cloo, kids can grab a booklet and uncover a special word on their journey. Rumour has it that this word has special powers. See something you like? Hop on and off at your convenience, making it a great way to explore the Dreaming Spires and see everything they have to offer.
Included in the price of your bus ticket, kids may also enjoy a 45-minute jaunt around the city on a Stepping Through Oxford walking tour. Listen to your brilliant guide as they take you through some of the key sites in the city, film buffs may recognise some from their favourite movies! Upgrade your tickets for the Town & Gown tour to step into the history of the colleges, great for Oxford University aspirants and Harry Potter fans alike.
Combo tickets are also available to visit some other local favourites while on your tour. Kids will love seeing Oxford Castle. With regular, character-led tours and spooky history, it’s great for those who fear nothing. This half-term, they are also hosting Dig! This archaeological adventure will let kids handle relics and take part in fun activities throughout the day. Let them discover how the castle’s lost Norman crypt was uncovered and restored as the 18th-century governor Daniel Harris teaches them all about the history of Oxford Castle and Prison!
Journey Planner: Click here to enter your starting location and find the best bus to get you to Oxford Castle, or our Visitor Information Point for tour tickets on the day.
