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Until Friday, February 17, kids can join the Betteshanger Basecamp and try awesome activities, make new friends and have fun outdoors, for £25 per day. For details go to betteshanger-park.co.uk
BLUEWATER
It’s not just shopping on offer at Bluewater this half term. Kids can get creative for free at a Make & Do puppet stand, outside EAT on the Lower Rose Gallery, throughout the week.
Demonstrators will be on hand from 9am to 5pm to show children how to make fun hand characters out of socks. Visitors can head to Splat, the soft play zone, where children up to the age of seven can leap about to their heart’s content. There is also a Splat play area for under threes. For details go to Bluewater.co.uk
There's loads going on at Brogadle this week incluing the new Children’s Orchard Explorers' trail that runs until Friday, February 17. Alternatively, try the Wildlife Day on Wednesday, February 15, learning how to track animals, the important part they play in nature and getting to meet hedgehogs, rabbits and frogs, plus a craft session. For details go to brogdalecollections.org
Dragons are descending on The Canterbury Tales for half term for Dragonfest, between Monday, February 13 and Friday, February 17. There will be themed activities through the week between 11am and 3pm, a fun dragon puppet show, Dragon Slaying School and crafts. Entry is £9.95 and £7.95 for children. For details and to book canterburytales.org.uk.
There's a family trail for half term, linked to the Child of the Commons exhibition, which ends on Sunday, February 19. Discover fascinating facts about Sir Winston Churchill’s political career around the garden and pop in to the exhibition. Open daily 10am to 4pm. For details go to nationaltrust.org.uk/chartwell
DOVER CASTLE
Open the book on the characters from England’s story and explore the tales of a fairytale castle this half term, with storytelling brought to life. Events run until Friday, February 17, between 10am and 3pm. For details go to english-heritage.org.uk
Mario Kart fans can battle it out to be in with a chance of winning the latest innovative console set for release, the Nintendo Switch at GEEK, a festival of play and gaming, celebrating Mario Kart’s 25 anniversary from Friday, February 17 to Sunday, February 19. Visitors can race their way through the entire 25-year Mario Kart franchise, from 1992’s classic Super Mario Kart to Mario Kart 8 today. An official Nintendo Mario Kart Anniversary Tournament will be held on Saturday, February 18. Entry is £7 for children and £12 for adults, with under fives free. For details go to dreamland.co.uk/geek.
Unleash your inner Tarzan with Go Ape! at Leeds Castle and Bedgebury Pinetum. Youngsters can try a Tree Top Junior course while older children can choose from the Forest Segway experience or a Tree Top Adventure. Between Monday, February 13 and Friday, February 17, you can get 20% off when booking using the code FEBPR For details go togoape.co.uk.
There are seven packed days of free activities at the shopping centre from Monday, February 13 to Sunday, February 19. On Wednesday, February 15 and Thursday, February 16, Gary, a street magician will be conjuring up some tricks. Activities will be next to Pandora and Thomson between 11am and 4pm daily. For details visit hempsteadvalley.com.
The castle and gardens are teaming up with the RSPB to celebrate British garden birds for Living With Birds, which follows on from the RSPB’s Big Garden Birdwatch. Running until Sunday, February 19, children can learn how to help birds nest, survive and thrive in their gardens. There will be a bird box building workshop, a bird feeder workshop, a bird spotting trail in the grounds and at 11.30am and 2pm join RSPB experts for a bird spotting tour. Some events are additional to normal entry fees. For details visit hevercastle.co.uk or call 01732 865224. You can also follow a trail through the thousands of snowdrops in the gardens.
HOP FARM FAMILY PARK, PADDOCK WOOD
There's a daily entertainment timetable for half term at the family park until Sunday, February 19, and the chance to try the rides and inflatables, indoor soft play, 4D cinema, driving school, animal farm and giant jumping pillows. For details go to thehopfarm.co.uk
Explore a world of conservation and see adorable baby rhino, Mizi and her older sibling, Kasungu as they play in their paddocks this half term at Howletts. The site has the largest herd of African elephants in the UK, as well as gorillas, tigers, monkeys and leopards. Test yourself with a Treetop Challenge or an Animal Adventure Challenge, and there are free talks about the animals, plus crafts and a Valentines Trail where you can win a Howletts goody bag. Visit aspinallfoundation.org/howletts for details.
KENT LIFE, MAIDSTONE
There’s a packed programme to keep the children entertained until Sunday, February 19, with a variety of shows on offer in the Big Top including Bubble Jo’s Bubble Show and Flip the Clown, plus daily flying displays by the Kent Owl Academy. You can also meet the animals, see lambs being born and take part in animal feeding sessions, or go wild in the large indoor soft play area. Entry is £6.95, £5.50 for three to 15-year-olds and under threes are free. Call 01622 763936 or visit kentlife.org.uk.
Led by a qualified ranger, join the Wiggly Wild Show at Tyland Barn in Sandling, Maidstone, on Friday, February 17, at 2pm and 3.30pm, to learn about exotic animals such as stick insects, beetles and giant millipedes, with a handling session giving visitors the chance to hold or touch them. It costs £6 per person. To book online go to kentwildlifetrust.org.uk.
Wander beneath the monumental trees in Knole Park on a guided walk on Saturday, February 18 at 2pm, exploring the woodland and learning about the trees. Those wanting a short stroll can head to the Brewhouse Café while the walk continues for those wanting a brisk ramble. There is a suggested donation of £2.
The castle will keep your children entertained and enthralled with Birds, Bugs and Beasts, running until Sunday, February 19. Come face to face with owls and stroke their soft feathers, and meet a host of reptiles and learn more about the lives of creepy crawlies. There will be workshops for children of all ages. The usual host of activities include the Yew Maze and the Knight’s Realm and Squires’ Courtyard adventure playgrounds, plus daily free flying falconry displays. For entry and further details visit leeds-castle.com
To mark the release of the Lego Batman Movie, there are free Batman mask workshops between 1pm and 5pm on Wednesday, February 15, Thursday, February 16 and Friday, February 17.
Become an art detective for the day and hunt down missing illustrations and solve riddles in the Great Illustrators and Character Trail, running until Sunday, February 19 between 10.30am and 5pm daily. Collect a trail sheet at the visitor centre and step through the walled gardens for the trail with children’s book illustrations, and hidden riddles. The cost is included in standard garden ticket admission. For detials go to Penshurst Place.
Explore more than 600 acres to discover where the wild things are, jump on board a safari truck to journey through Asian and African plains, see rare and endangered animals, plus travel back in time to see life size prehistoric creatures in Dinosaur Forest, all between Saturday, February 11 and Sunday, February 19. There are free talks taking place at locations around the park, and there are craft activities. Plus for those having a go at the winter trail there's a chance to win a goody bag. And keep an eye out for new arrivals, including a baby rhino and giraffe. Visit aspinallfoundation.org/portlympne
There are a host of half term activities through the week to mark the 180th anniversary of the first stone being laid for the new house. Visitors can see the original plans for the building and the architect’s model. Between 11am and 4pm daily.
SISSINGHURST CASTLE GARDEN
Brighten up your half term with a visit to the International Garden Photographer of the Year exhibition, with amateur and professional garden photography from across the world, brought to life by the Sissinghurst gardeners using plants from the garden.
Kids can travel in style for just £1 throughout this month, including half term, on the Spa Valley Railway. Enjoy a ride on board the classic heritage train from Tunbridge Wells to Eridge on Wednesday, February 15, Saturday, February 25 and Sunday, February 26 or a steam train ride on Thursday, February 16 (Groombridge only), Saturday, February 25 and Sunday, February 26. To book and for train times, visit spavalleyrailway.co.uk
Based on The Tin Woodman Of Oz by L Frank Baum, journey to Oz for a new tale exploring the adventures of the Tin Man. Brought to the theatre by the team who created 2015’s The Princess And The Pea, it is a story of how love and friendship can triumph over any obstacle. Running from Wednesday, February 15 to Sunday, February 19, to book call the box office on 01892 678678 or visit trinitytheatre.net
