Experience family fun activities across our museums, arts centres and galleries
Half term is upon us here in Hampshire and it’s shaping up to be quite the fun-filled week. Events are taking place all over the county within our museums, arts centres and galleries so whether you are visiting for model painting in Aldershot, Minions in New Milton, games in Basingstoke or natural history in Andover, February half term will not disappoint.
878 AD - Winchester SO23 8QY
BOOKING UNTIL JUNE 2023, DURING VENUE OPENING TIMES
Adult £15 Child (5–15) £9.50 Concession £12 Family (up to 5 people,max 2 adults) £46.50
Experience the sights and sounds of Anglo-Saxon Winchester and discover the stories of the people who lived there, brought to life with the spectacular world of Assassin’s Creed Valhalla and Discovery Tour: Viking Age.878 AD is a seamless experience in two parts: an interactive attraction with live performance and an augmented reality, self-led app tour of Winchester.
Suitable for all ages, children must be accompanied.
Aldershot Military Museum – Aldershot GU11 2LG
MODEL MAYHEM
15 – 16 FEBRUARY, 10:30AM, 11:00AM, 11:30AM, 12:00PM, 1:30PM, 2:00PM, 2:30PM & 3:00PM
£3, one model per session
Have a go at model soldier painting, take your finished soldier home and see if you can spot model soldiers on patrol in the museum cabinets. With support from Warlord Games. Suitable for ages 3+, children must be accompanied.
West End Centre – Aldershot GU11 3JD
MINI MONET: WATER LILLIES
TUESDAY 14 FEBRUARY, 10:30AM – 12:30PM
£13 per child with one parent/carer
In this arty activity, children and their parents are invited to explore the work of Claude Monet by recreating versions of one of his most famous works. Suitable for ages 5+, children must be accompanied.
PROFESSOR SLUG’S HOUSE OF BUGS
WEDNESDAY 15 FEBRUARY, 2:30PM – 3:30PM
£8/£28 family of four
Professor Slug is an eccentric expert on invertebrates who helps bugs out with their buggy problems – and you can too! An interactive show packed full of colourful puppets, catchy songs and educational info about the world of bugs. Suitable for ages 3+, children must be accompanied.
DROP-IN CRAFT TABLE
THURSDAY 16 FEBRUARY, 2:00PM – 2:45PM & 3:00PM – 3:45PM
Free
A blast of hands-on art for all the family. Make something amazing in just 45 minutes and take it home for everyone to enjoy. Suitable for all ages, children must be accompanied.
CHILDREN’S POTTERY
FRIDAY 17 FEBRUARY, 10:30AM – 12:30PM (AGES 3 – 7), 1:30PM – 3:30PM (AGES 8+)
£13 per person
Experience clay, a wonderful natural resource, and learn pottery. You’ll use two types of clay to make sculptural creations which will then be fired. Suitable for ages 3+, children must be accompanied.
Allen Gallery – Alton GU34 2BW
MAKE-AND-TAKE
SATURDAY 18 FEBRUARY, 11:00AM – 1:00PM
£3 per person
Enjoy a fun creative making session and take away your own creative project! There will be a range of materials on offer and guidance from our gallery team. Suitable for ages 3+, children must be accompanied.
Curtis Museum – Alton GU34 1BA
MUSEUM BY TORCHLIGHT
TUESDAY 14 FEBRUARY, 5:30PM – 7:00PM
£3 per child
Explore the museum at night! Bring your torch and enjoy our family torchlight trail through the galleries. Suitable for all ages, children must be accompanied.
NURSERY RHYME TRAIL
11 – 19 FEBRUARY, DURING MUSEUM OPENING TIMES
Free
Do you know any nursery rhymes? Join in our free nursery museum trail throughout half term. Suitable for all ages, children must be accompanied.
Milestones Museum – Basingstoke RG22 6PG
PLAY DAYS: GAMES AT THE MUSEUM
11 – 19 FEBRUARY, DURING MUSEUM OPENING TIMES
Included in museum admission
From the fairground to the penny arcade and hopscotch to skittles, join us for fun and games at the museum throughout half term week! Suitable for all ages, children must be accompanied.
Andover Museum and Museum of the Iron Age – Andover SP10 1DP
NATURAL HISTORY-THEMED HALF TERM
11 – 19 FEBRUARY, DURING MUSEUM OPENING TIMES
Suggest donation of £3 per person for craft activities. £1 per trail. Museum admission applies to the Museum of the Iron Age
Join the museum for Natural History-themed craft activities and trails throughout the week. Suitable for ages 3+, children must be accompanied.
The Arc –Winchester SO23 8SB
SUPER SENSORY PLAY
13 – 17 FEBRUARY, 11:30AM – 12:30PM, 1:30PM – 2:30PM, 2:30PM – 3:30PM & 3:30PM – 4:30PM
£3 per person
Perfect for the very young, our sensory activity sessions aim to appeal to all the senses this half term – with a superhero twist! Suitable for ages 2 and under, children must be accompanied.
DIY SUPERHERO PUPPETS AND PUPPET SHOW
13 FEBRUARY, 2:00PM – 3:30PM ANND 15 FEBRUARY, 10:00AM – 11:30AM
£8 per person
This workshop will teach you how to create a character hand puppet step-by-step, taking your vision up, up, and away! Suitable for ages 5-9 years, parents are encouraged to stay and join in.
DIY MASK AND SHIELD
14 FEBRUARY, 10:00AM – 11:30AM AND 16 FEBRUARY, 2:00PM – 3:30PM
£12 per person
Create your own felt hero mask and cardboard shield to get your super senses tingling. Suitable for ages 5-9 years, parents are encouraged to stay and join in.
CREATE YOUR OWN MANGA-INSPIRED CARTOON CHARACTER
THURSDAY 16 FEBRUARY, 10:00AM – 12:00PM
£16 per person
Discover how to design and draw your own cartoon character inspired by Japanese manga comics. Suitable for ages 9+.
KIDS FRIDAY FILM CLUB: MADAGASCAR (U)
FRIDAY 17 FEBRUARY, 10:00AM – 11:30AM
£4.50/£2.50 concession
When four pampered animals from New York’s Central Park Zoo accidentally find themselves shipwrecked on the exotic island of Madagascar, they discover it really IS a jungle out there! Certificate U, ages 12 and under must be accompanied.
WEAVE A SUPERHERO SHIELD
FRIDAY 17 FEBRUARY, 2:00PM – 3:00PM
£16 per person
Create a beautiful, superhero-inspired shield design, incorporating wool, felt, and other sensory textiles. Suitable for ages 5-9 years, parents are encouraged to stay and join in.
Winchester City Museum – Winchester SO23 9ES
ANGLO-SAXON TAKEOVER WITH WEOROD LIVING HISTORY
16 & 17 FEBRUARY, DURING MUSEUM OPENING TIMES
Included in museum admission
For two days, the museum is being taken over by Anglo-Saxons, who will be on hand to tell you more about Saxon life. Suitable for all ages, children must be accompanied.
Ashcroft Arts Centre – Fareham PO16 7DX
STOP-MOTION ANIMATION
14 FEBRUARY (ages 7 – 11) and 15 FEBRUARY (ages 11 – 16), 10:00AM – 4:00PM
£25 per person
Learn movie-making techniques such as claymation and stop-frame animations in this fun and inspiring workshop.
PROFESSOR SLUG’S HOUSE OF BUGS
SATURDAY 18 FEBRUARY, 2:00PM – 3:00PM
£8/£28 family of four
Professor Slug is an eccentric expert on invertebrates who helps bugs out with their buggy problems – and you can too! An interactive show packed full of colourful puppets, catchy songs and educational info about the world of bugs. Suitable for ages 3+, children must be accompanied.
Westbury Manor Museum– Fareham PO16 0JJ
LET’S GO FLY A KITE
FRIDAY 17 FEBRUARY, 10:30AM – 12:30PM
£3 per child
Create your own mini kite. Colour, draw, design and fly! Suitable for ages 5+, children must be accompanied.
Forest Arts Centre – New Milton BH25 6DS
CREATIVE CAMPS: MINIONS
THURSDAY 16 FEBRUARY, 9:30AM – 12:45PM
£10 / £8 for an additional child
A morning full of crafts, perfect for young people who love making, inspired by the film Minions: The Rise of Gru! This activity includes all materials for crafts and admission to the film. Suitable for ages 5 – 12, children aged 6 and under must be accompanied by a parent/carer.
FILM: MINIONS: THE RISE OF GRU (U)
THURSDAY 16 FEBRUARY, 11:00AM – 12:45PM
£3 per person
In the 1970s, young Gru tries to join a group of supervillains. When the interview turns disastrous, Gru and his Minions go on the run with the villains hot on their tails! Suitable for all ages, children aged 6 and under must be accompanied by a parent/carer.
PROFESSOR SLUG’S HOUSE OF BUGS
SUNDAY 19 FEBRUARY, 2:00PM – 3:00PM
£8/£28 family of four
Professor Slug is an eccentric expert on invertebrates who helps bugs out with their buggy problems – and you can too! An interactive show packed full of colourful puppets, catchy songs and educational info about the world of bugs. Suitable for ages 3+, children must be accompanied.
Red House Museum and Gardens – Christchurch BH23 1BU
MUSEUM MAKE: DINOSAUR PUPPETS
TUESDAY 14 FEBRUARY, 10:00AM, 11:30AM, 1:30PM & 3:00PM
£6 per child, accompanying adults go free
Create and decorate your own super-sized dinosaur stick puppet! Suitable for ages 5+, children must be accompanied
MUSEUM MAKE: DINO FOSSILS
TUESDAY 14 FEBRUARY, 10:00AM, 11:30AM, 1:30PM & 3:00PM
£6 per child, accompanying adults go free
Make your own dinosaur fossils using clay and plaster of Paris. Before you get messy, you’ll also have the chance to handle real dinosaur fossils. Suitable for ages 5+, children must be accompanied
For more information about any of the events listed please visit our half term events page.
