Things to do this February half term in Bristol 2024
Take the kids to the city’s top family-friendly attractions this February half-term in Bristol. With exciting museums, animal encounters and brilliant theatre shows on across the city, you’ll find plenty of February half term activities to suit all budgets and ages.
I’ve put together a family-friendly list of things to do in half term around the city to help you keep the kids entertained.
Table of Contents
What to do February half term Bristol
Bristol Light Festival 2024
- When? 2-11 February, 5-10pm
Mark your calendar as Bristol Light Festival returns, bigger and brighter than ever before! This year’s free-to-attend event will fill the city with light and colour in the heart of winter, showcasing Bristol as the vibrant, playful and creative city we know and love. At each spot, visitors will be able to experience and play with installations.
New for 2024 is an exciting collaboration with BBC Studios Natural History Unit – WILDLIGHT – lifesize projections of incredible animals using archived clips from iconic BBC Studios wildlife shows which have been transformed into light-based art for the festival.
Several never-before-seen-in-the-South-West artworks will take centre stage, including PULSE and Emergence. Festival favourite Swing Song will also make a return, produced by Bristol Light Festival and Tired Industries.
Wake The Tiger’s OUTERverse
From the world’s first Amazement Park®, Wake The Tiger’s much-awaited expansion, called OUTERverse officially open its doors on 2 February 2024!
Known for being a fantastical, immersive, interactive experience – think secret doors, hidden rooms, glowing neon worlds, we can’t wait to see what they’ve built now.
What they’ve said so far: Deep in The Dream Factory, a new dimension has opened. Before you transcend, mind the gap and pass through the all-new Transition Station. Careful as you go, or you might just get pulled straight into the OUTERverse.
Feb half term Bristol: animal encounters
Bristol half term activities at Bristol Zoo Project
- When? 10-18 February 2024
Calling all Zoo detectives! A mystery animal has travelled through the zoo and Bristol Zoo Project need to find out who the culprit might be.
Follow the trail and keep your eyes peeled for bears, wolves, lynxes and wolverines waking up from hibernation as well as many other amazing animals. There’s also 50 acres of outdoor space to explore, playgrounds and a Fun Fort.
Shipwrecked at Bristol Aquarium
- 10-18 February
Discover more about the wonderful world of island creatures from around the globe. Why do some species end up huge and others very small? Why is it that some birds lose the ability to fly? How do animals get to islands in the first place? Bristol Aquarium has the answers!
Cattle Country
A huge range of activities for children of all ages; indoor and outdoor play equipment and farm animals to meet, a huge play-barn perfect for rainy days, plus a cafe.
Chew Valley Animal Park
This family-run ‘zoo’ is one of the most joyous places to visit outside Bristol with young animal lovers, especially in spring when little lambies and tiny piglets have just been born.
There’s also an outdoor play area, lots of other animals to see and beautiful views over Chew Valley lake.
More info about Chew Valley Animal Park
Noah’s Ark Zoo Farm
Home to big zoo animals including tigers, rhinos, giraffes, bears and elephants as well as smaller animals, like bunnies, goats and guinea pigs.
As well as wildlife, there are adventure playgrounds, agiant maze and ginormous indoor soft play complete with beehive maze, slides, ball pit and ride-on tractor area.
Check ticket prices at Noah’s Ark Zoo Farm
Fairfield Animal Centre
Find alpaca, donkeys, emus, goats, sheep, wallabies, pigs, a rabbit and guinea pig village, plus play areas at this family-friendly visitor attraction in Southwick, near Trowbridge.
More information about Fairfield Animal Centre
Free city farms:
- St Werburghs City Farm
- Windmill Hill City Farm
- Hartcliffe City Farm
- Grimsbury Community Farm
- Lawrence Weston Community Farm
Family theatre: whats on this half term?
Redgrave Theatre, Clifton
Child-friendly performances at Clifton’s Redgrave Theatre this children’s February half term include:
- The Gruffalo’s Child (10-11 February)
- The Amazing Bubble Man (12 February)
- Exciting Science (13 February)
- Charlie Cook’s Favourite Book (16-18 February)
The Wardrobe Theatre, Old Market
- The Great Big Dinosaur Show (12 February)
- Woodland Tales With Granddad (14-20 February)
Tobacco Factory Theatres
- Boxville (13-15 February)
- Midnight Mole (13-17 February)
Bristol Old Vic
Feb half term at Bristol Old Vic will see:
- The Farmer and the Clown (14-17 February)
Bristol Hippodrome
- Wicked (23 January – 25 February)
- February Half Term: Musical Theatre! (12–16 February)
Arty things to do in Bristol for families
Street Art Spray Sessions, Where the Wall, Stokes Croft
- When? 13, 14 & 17 February
Encourage your miniature buddy Banksy with a stencil art session with graffiti experts, Where the Wall at Hamilton House. Suitable for all ages and abilities, it’s a great opportunity for kids to ‘get their hands on the cans’ and take home some self-made artwork.
Childrens Scrapstore half term activities for kids
Children’s Scrapstore are a reuse charity dedicated to helping businesses divert reusable waste away from landfill/energy recovery to art and play opportunities for children, young people and adults.
February events include: ✨Messy Play: Under 5s Taste Safe ✨Messy Play: Under 5s ✨Messy Play For All ✨Winter Windows Family Crafting ✨Kaleidoscope Magic!: Over 8s ✨Mini Worlds: Stay and Play ✨Wearable Art: Stay and Play ✨Fidget Toys: Stay and Play ✨Puppets: Stay and Play
Free half term activities in Bristol
Scribble and Sketch with RWA (various locations, once a month)
Get creative at a free morning of fun and informal art and drawing activities at Easton Community Centre, Faithspace, Redcliffe and Greenway Centre Activity Room, Southmead. These free, monthly creative drawing workshops are run by RWA (Royal West of England Academy) and designed for adults and kids of all ages to do together. No pre-booking required.
What to do in half term in Bristol when it rains
Miracle on the Severn at Aerospace Bristol
If it’s tipping it down outside and you’re in need of half term indoor activities, this aviation museum is perfect for plane-mad and engineering enthusiasts on a rainy day. This February half term, discover the incredible story of the Miracle on the Severn. Find out why the pilot of a Bristol Britannia was forced to attempt a daring emergency landing on the Severn Estuary 70 years ago, and how his bravery and skill saved the lives of everyone onboard.
>>SEE ALSO Indoor activities Bristol: rainy day fun for kids<<
Wildlife Photographer of the Year at Bristol Museum & Art Gallery
- Until 21 April 2024
From curious underwater species to majestic soaring birds, immerse yourself in this year’s most prestigious nature photography and photojournalism event. The 59th Wildlife Photographer of the Year exhibition and its incredible 100 photos give a deeper understanding of the issues facing nature today and the actions we need to take to protect it.
More information about Wildlife Photographer of the Year in Bristol
Ships at MShed
Ships, arts, crafts, activities sailors got up to at sea, trails and more. Afterwards, follow a map to navigate your way around the M Shed galleries in search of treasure and historical finds.
February half term ice skating at Planet Ice Bristol
As far has half term things to do go, this one’s pretty fun! Your kiddo can learn how to skate in just three or five days – Planet Ice lessons run for 30 minutes each morning over three or five consecutive days during Bristol February half term 2024. Once the lesson is finished, they will then have access to the public skate session to practice the skills they have learnt.
Family sessions are also available throughout half term.
February half term days out near Bristol
Fun things to do in half term at Dyrham Park
- When? 9-18 February 2024
Get yourselves over to the spectacular grounds of the National Trust’s Dyrham Park for outdoor half term kids activities. Young explorers can take a nature spotter sheet to track down and tick off a selection of objects that can be found onsite.
Half price February trains at Avon Valley Railway
- When? February 10, 11, 14, 17 February 2024
Choo choo! All aboard for half the price at Avon Valley Railway! Take a ride on a heritage steam hauled trail along three miles of scenic track. All tickets this week are discounted by 50%, so you can enjoy a ride for just £5.50 for adults, £5.00 for concessions and £3.50 for children.
Hidden Westonbirt
- When? 13-15 February 2024
For wholesome, outdoorsy half term days out, head to Westonbirt and learn something new about Westonbirt’s animals and plants that hide away in winter.
Have fun using a microscope to investigate the hidden world of moss. You can also get creative using leaves to make a smelly winter potion. We’ll show you how to make wax and ink ‘reveal’ pictures and some ‘crafty catkins’ and there will also be some winter wildlife colouring-in to enjoy. Don’t miss the natural wood children’s play areas, tree top walk way and Gruffalo characters hidden in the woods.
Drawn to water: winter, WWT Slimbridge
- When? Until 24 February
To make the most of winter activities in Bristol and the surrounding area, head to WWT Slimbridge. Pick up a Quentin Blake ‘Drawn to Water’ illustrated guide, and get involved with:
- Wintry art activities, inspired by Quentin Blake’s distinctive drawings.
- Hone your photography skills surrounded by skies filled with beating wings.
- Enter a wetlands-inspired artwork into a competition to win a one-off framed print.
- Wild Bird Feeds at 4pm, daily in the Peng Observatory.
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