There are some fantastic activities for families in the North East to enjoy during the February half term, without breaking the bank! The events below are free (or just a few pounds) and don’t need to be pre-booked – perfect for those last minute plans. There’s fun for all ages, from activity trails to arts & crafts, Metrognomes to Morph, ice sculptures to a star-lit festival of fire, and more!
This list will be updated as more events are announced so do check back. If you have any recommendations to add to the list, please do get in touch here
Details are subject to change, please check with organisers using the links below for the latest updates.
BALTIC – Family Days
📌 Gateshead Quays, NE8 3BA
📆 Wed 23rd Feb & Thurs 24th Feb 2022
💜 Two free days of creative activities, with art workshops, fun activities and family tours.
–Wonder & Wander tour at 10.30am & 11.30am (suitable for toddlers).
–Toddler Time imaginative play in Front Room 10am-6pm, with a free hot drink or squash available.
–Meet & Make drop-in to sessions 11am-1pm & 2-4pm. Make something to take home with the help of an artist.
–Creative Workshop 11.30am-1.30pm in Learning Lounge, led by pupils from Carr Hill Community Primary School.
–ArtMix Open Studio 12pm-2pm on Level 2. Chat with ArtMix members about their work (recommended ages 13-19).
–Hula Time 10am-6pm on Level 1. Borrow a hula hoop and play!
Plus, throughout the week visit…
– Albert Potrony’s Equal Play interactive exhibition on the Ground Floor.
-Ad Minoliti’s colourful exhibition Biosphere Plush in the Level 4 gallery.
–Learning Lounge & Sensory Room on Level 2, with games, toys, books and more.
-Level 5 viewing gallery and Level 4 viewing terrace.
👉 Free. No booking required.
Discovery Museum – Build a Town Hutch
📌 Blandford Square, Newcastle, NE1 4JA
📆 Tues 22nd Feb & Thurs 24th Feb 2022
💜 Part of the Ways to Play programme, families can build their own secret store box in the exciting Play+Invent space. Free crafts also available. 10am-12pm and 12.30-3pm. Plus, enjoy the interactive displays in the Science Maze, free Festival of Sound trail, Climate Change trail, and Red Arrows Flight Simulator ride (£3.50pp).
👉 Town Hutch craft £2.50. No booking required.
Durham Cathedral – Celebrating Venerable Bede
📌 Palace Green Town Centre, Durham, DH1 3EP
📆 Sat 19th – Sun 27th Feb 2022
💜 Various activities celebrating Venerable Bede. Dress up as a monk in the Cloister, create your own calligraphy, pick up a shell trail sheet and find the scallop shells around the cathedral, and more. On selected days (22-24 Feb) join printmaker Suzie Devey in the portable retro printing studio to create a bespoke Bede print. 11am-3.30pm.
👉 Free. No booking required.
Durham BID – Fire & Ice Trail
📌 Durham city centre
📆 Fri 25th & Sat 26th Feb 2022
💜 An exciting science themed trail of Ice Sculptures, with live demonstrations, interactive displays and entertainment, along with an exciting finale at 6pm. 10am-6.15pm (weather dependent – the ice will begin to melt particularly in warmer weather, arrive early to avoid disappointment!).
👉 Free. No booking required. Look out here for a full timetable nearer the time.
Gateshead Children’s Centres – Play Time
📌 Centres across Gateshead
📆 Selected dates Mon 21st – Thurs 24th Feb 2022
💜 Themed Play Time sessions with Baby Bugs sessions from birth to 1 years, and Mini Beasts sessions from 1 to 4 years. Older siblings welcome.
👉 £1 per child. No booking required but places may be limited.
Gem Arts – Mini Mela
📌 Gateshead Central Library,NE8 4LN
📆 Wed 23rd Feb 2022
💜 Packed full of family fun, with arts, music and dance from around the world. 11.30am-3.30pm, with a relaxed session 10-11am for visitors who may benefit from a quieter, relaxed environment.
👉 Free. No booking required apart from 10-11am session, email info@gemarts.org or call 0191 440 4124.
Great North Museum: Hancock – Half Term Events
📌 Newcastle, NE2 4PT
📆 Wed 23rd & Thurs 24th Feb 2022
💜 ‘Voyage and Home’ Day – travel back to ancient cultures to discover home life in Ancient Greece and about Ancient Egyptian afterlife. Also, meet a real-life Roman. 11am – 3pm, Wed 23rd Feb.
💜 Science Fair – a day full of activities and research to celebrate 150 years of Science, Agriculture and Engineering at Newcastle University. 11am – 3pm, Thurs 24th Feb.
💜 Plus, the Planetarium and newly refurbished Mouse House gallery for under 5s have now reopened (Planetarium tickets bookable at Welcome desk on arrival). There are also free bookable story sessions available, ‘A Journey North.’
👉 Free. No booking required.
Hamsterley Forest – Superworm Trail
📌 Hamsterley, Co Durham, DL13 3NL
📆 From 21st Jan 2022
💜 New self-led Superworm trail, with activity pack available from cafe/Info point – including trail leaflet, superhero mask, creature facts cards, stickers, activity sheet and more. Plus Gruffalo trail with free augmented reality app available.
👉 Superworm activity pack £3.50. No booking required.
Land of Oak & Iron – Crafts & Kindness Week
📌 Heritage Centre, Winlaton Mill
📆 Sun 20th – Sun 27th Feb 2022
💜 Craft Club – use a range of materials to create something to take home with you. Self-led activity on Sun 20th & Sun 27th Feb, 9am-3.30pm.
💜 Kindness activities – to celebrate Random Acts of Kindness Week there will be a range of activities with all proceeds going to local charities, including a litter pick, painted pebbles, bake sale, bug hotel building and a table top sale. 21st – 27th Feb, details tbc.
👉 Suggested donation for Craft Club: £3. No booking required.
Metrocentre – Metrognomes Show
📌 Metrocentre, Gateshead (Lower Exhibition Square, near Primark)
📆 Mon 21st – Fri 25th Feb 2022
💜 An exciting new show from Herbert, Sherbet, Maggot and Rusty, ‘In Search Of Hidden Lands, A Metrognome Adventure.’ Join the Metrognomes as they search for hidden lands, but finds Hadrian’s Wall instead and learn all about the Romans 12pm, 2pm, 4pm and 6pm.
👉 Free. No booking required.
North of the Tyne, Under the Stars Festival
📌 Various locations North of the Tyne
📆 Selected dates Fri 18th Feb – Sun 13th March 2022
💜 Neighbourhood events will take place Fri-Sat evening outdoors in six local parks, with a beautiful fire installation, evocative soundtrack and the appearance of a larger-than-life mythical being made of stars! The Festival Finale will take place 10th-13th March in Newcastle City Centre.
👉 Free. No booking required.
North Tyneside – Morph Art Trail
📌 Various locations across North Tyneside
📆 29th Jan – 3rd April 2022
💜 Twenty colourful life-sized Morph sculptures can be found in and around town centres, including Whitley Bay, Wallsend, Killingworth, Forest Hall, Tynemouth, North Shields and Cullercoats. Download and print a map booklet here, or the interactive app ‘Morph’s Epic Art Adventure’ on Android and Apple devices. A limited number of printed maps are also available from local Customer First Centres.
👉 Free. No booking required.
Royal Quays – Meet & Greets
📌 Royal Quays Shopping Centre, North Shields, NE29 6DW
📆 Sat 19th Feb & Sat 26th Feb 2022
💜 Meet Snow White and the Sleeping Princess on Sat 19th Feb, 11am-3pm. On Sat 26th Feb visit Star Wars characters raising money for Young Lives vs Cancer (times tbc).
👉 Free, donations welcome. No booking required.
Souter Lighthouse – Sports & Crafts
📌 Coast Road, South Shields, South Tyneside, SR6 7NH
📆 Mon 21st – Fri 25th Feb 2022
💜 Build a bird box from scratch and learn about the birds it may attract to nest in your garden. Any profit goes back into caring for the coast and its wildlife. 11am-4pm on Mon 21st, Wed 23rd & Fri 25th Feb, in the Education Room (upstairs from the admissions area).
💜 Outdoor games and mini-sports activities for all the family including football, badminton and archery. Tips and encouragement given if you’re trying an activity for the first time. 11am-3pm on Tues 22nd & Thurs 24th Feb, in the Foghorn Field.
👉 £5 per bird box (sports free). No booking required.
Suitable for ages 4-11 (must be accompanied by an adult)
South Tyneside Libraries – Half Term Crafts
📌 Various venues across South Tyneside
📆 Mon 21st Feb – Fri 25th Feb 2022
💜 Create a Roman Numeral Scroll – create a scroll using wax and water-based paints with wax crayons or oil pastels, with help from local artist Gaynor.
💜 Arts and Crafts – plant wildflower seeds and make a little chick craft, with Williby Rocs.
💜 Rainbow Project – ‘bring back the rainbow’ and create hot air balloons, hearts and rainbows to decorate your home and windows. With Singing Elf and Cultural Spring
💜 ‘My Town’ crafts – using a range of drawing and collage materials, create a town for kids where the first priority is fun! With Sue Loughlin and Cultural Spring.
👉 Free (donations welcome for Rainbows and My Town). No booking required. Full timetable here.
Stephenson Steam Railway – Crafts & Trail
📌 North Shields, NE29 8DX
📆 Thurs 24th Feb 2022
💜 Explore the collection of vintage trains and get involved in craft activities. Pick up an activity bag for a Shape Quest around the museum, then make your own collage picture. 11am – 3pm. Heritage train rides are also available to book here on 20th, 24th & 27th Feb.
👉 Free. No booking required.
Tyne Bank Brewery – Baby Social
📌 Walker Road, Newcastle, NE6 2AB
📆 Sun 27th Feb 2022
💜 Relax with your little ones and socialise with other mam’s and dads. Sweet treats will be available, plus clothes and accessories by Little Oeuf. Please bring your own mats and toys.
👉 Free. No booking required.
Ushaw Historic House – Activity Trails & Science Story
📌 Durham, DH7 9RH
📆 19th – 27th Feb 2022
💜 Activity Trails – A new ‘Room on the Broom’ activity trail launched on 21st Jan to find the popular characters around the grounds of Ushaw. Plus, a Spring Bingo Trail and an indoor Stamp Trail throughout half term.
💜 Science Story – join the lab technicians for a special science story at 2pm from Tues 22nd – Fri 25th Feb. Plus, bookable 𝐒𝐮𝐩𝐞𝐫 𝐒𝐜𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐇𝐚𝐥𝐟 𝐓𝐞𝐫𝐦 workshops available.
👉 Trails & Science Story free with regular admission charge*. No pre-booking required.
*Under 5s free, Day Pass from £4pp.
Wallsend Library – Peter Rabbit™ Storytime Trail
📌 Wallsend, North Tyneside, NE28 8JR
📆 Sat 12th Feb – 20th March 2022
💜 A brand new storytime trail based on The World of Peter Rabbit™. This interactive exhibition will be a walkthrough experience where little bunnies can crawl under the garden gate, hide in a watering can and more, with photo opportunities and activities along the way. 9am-5.30pm Mon-Fri & 9am-1pm -Saturdays.
👉 Free. No booking required.
There’s plenty on Gateshead Mumbler to help keep little ones (and big ones!) busy, check here for more ideas and info for playgroups, classes and fun days out from tots to teens!
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