Visit Winchester this February half term
More than a dozen events promise a fun-filled family break
Winchester is preparing to host a diverse range of events for all the family this February half term. The city and wider district conveniently have everything families need in one place to entertain young explorers, promising detectives, budding scientists, and arty crafters.
Winchester Cathedral welcomes three monumental sperm whale sculptures, all over three metres long and created by artist Tessa Campbell Fraser. The Cathedral’s immersive art installation sees the sculptures hung from the nave creating a memorable experience for all the family.
Learn how to protect the vulnerable aquatic world through an interactive and educational performance featuring life-size puppets, comedy, and music. ‘The Whale: Plastic Ocean by Circo Rum Baba’ will run at select times from 10am on Wednesday 19th February 2025 and is suitable for children aged 3-10 years old. Tickets cost £10 per person, plus admission. Pre-booking is required.
Following a similar theme, a whale-inspired family trail takes visitors on a fun and informative journey around the Cathedral.
Dance under the whales and bust some moves to sea-themed tunes at Winchester Cathedral’s Silent Disco for Families. The disco is sure to be a hit with all the family from parents and grandparents to aunties and uncles. All attendees receive their own pair of headphones to choose between three different channels of music during the night. The event takes place on Saturday 15th February 2025 at 7pm. Tickets cost £13 for children (under 16 years old) and £25 per adult. Pre-booking is advised.
Winchester Science Centre launches The Slime Show, a brand-new live show this February half term. From Friday 14th to Monday 24th February 2025, visitors are invited to explore the mysterious world of slime through live experiments and daring demos. The show’s grand finale sees the Science Centre team attempt to achieve the impossible and walk on slime. Tickets are free with general admission and show times are listed online.
Additionally, at Winchester Science Centre’s Planetarium, blast off on the coolest family space journey with the live planetarium show, Sub-Zero Space Adventure. Zoom through the stars and planets of the solar system and discover the icy secrets of space. Entry to the Planetarium costs an additional £4 per person on top of general admission.
Winchester College is organising a free family craft morning in its Treasury Museum for children aged five to eleven years old. Participants are given sustainable materials to create crafts inspired by the museum’s objects from around the world. The workshop takes place on Wednesday 19th February for two 1-hour sessions, at 10am and 11am.
‘The Creature Cases’ appears at Marwell Zoo this half term for an interactive and educational detective trail. Join characters Kit Casey and Sam Snow from the hit Netflix show to become junior detectives for the day, cracking clues and uncovering hidden secrets to solve the case of the missing pebble. Entry to the trail is included in the general zoo admission fee and runs daily from Saturday 15th February to Monday 24th February 2025.
Hampshire Cultural Trust brings history to life at four of its heritage venues in Winchester this half term. In the Quest for Camelot at the iconic Great Hall, young visitors undertake a challenge to join the Knights of the Round Table, while at Westgate Museum, there is a mysterious secret to discover in the Escape the Westgate challenge.
A short walk takes visitors to City Museum where the hunt is on to locate stolen Viking treasure, and at the nearby 878 AD, guests must identify the spy who has been passing crucial information onto Alfred the Great’s enemy. All historical mysteries are included in admission to each attraction, more details are available at www.historicwinchester.co.uk .
The Arc’s Invent and Inspire Week promises an abundance of imagination and hands-on creativity throughout half term. Build and decorate your own robot, make a giant eco bubble wand, and meet Britain’s Got Talent semi-finalist, Mama G. Budding artists also have the chance to experiment with acrylics, tools and techniques to create their own cosmic scene in the ‘paint your own galaxy on canvas’ workshop. Specific session times and prices are available on The Arc’s website. Pre-booking is advised.
Families looking for fresh air and a free activity to burn off some of the kids’ energy can download a walking trail, inspired by John Keats. The walk invites explorers to follow in the poet’s footsteps from the city centre to The Hospital of St. Cross. The riverside walk is approximately two miles, with the opportunity to see some of the city’s major landmarks, including Wolvesey Castle, St. Catherine’s Hill, and Kingsgate.
Visit www.visitwinchester.co.uk to see a list of Winchester’s attractions and the latest deals available this February half term. It is also possible to head to Winchester Visitor Information Centre, located on the ground floor of the Guildhall, during a visit to the city.
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