Mon. Dec 23rd, 2024

Battersea Park Children’s Zoo 

Monday 18th – Mouse Story Time 11.45am + 2.15pm Drop in between 11-12.30 + 1.30-3.30 to make a set of Mouse ears and we’ll add a face painted nose and whiskers! See Harvest Mice on display.

Tuesday 19th – Feed the Birds!  Make your own bird feeder and encourage birds in to your garden: 11.00-12.30 + 1.30-3.30. Cost £1 Spot the bird challenge – As kids make their way around the zoo, they must see how many wild birds they can find and tick them off on the challenge sheet. Sticker prizes! Meet Muckle the Barn Owl in the afternoon

Thursday 21st – Earthy, Mucky Fun! Drop in between 11-12.30 + 1.30-3.30 to Children can come and make their own plant pot out of newspaper and sow the seeds of a plant that will encourage wildlife into their gardens or window box. Handle and learn about wriggly earthworms.  Battersea Park

Museum of London Docklands 

February 16 – 24, 11am – 4pm Enjoy a great day out and celebrate the East End’s unique culture with free activities taking place daily at the Museum of London Docklands. The East End of London has a rich history with its own unique part to play in the story of London. With storytelling and workshops running throughout each day for both children and U5s, families can enjoy a full day out at the museum this half term. London Dockland

 

Gatton Park Events

Monday 18 – Friday 22 February Snowdrop Week Park and gardens open every day during February half term to view the snowdrops. Bird hide open, free guided tours and free activities for children, including the Wild Things play trail. Tea and cakes are available to purchase.1-5pm. Cost: adults £5 children free

Sunday 24 February Snowdrop Day Park and gardens open to view the snowdrops. Bird hide open, free guided tours and free activities for children, including the Wild Things play trail.

Tea and cakes are available to purchase.1-5pm. Cost: adults £5 children free. Gatton Park 

 

Eltham Palace

Globetrotters Safari: Mon 18 – Fri 22 Feb 2019 11am-3pm Court Yard, Eltham, Greenwich, London, SE9 5QE

Explore the palace as you search for the exotic animals (and pets!) that the Courtaulds loved. We know they loved their Madagascan pet lemur Mah-Jongg, but what other exotic animals did they see during their exciting world travel? Discover the palace with us this summer.  Family: £39 Eltham Palace

 

Royal Observatory Greenwich

Image of the home of time

See an incredible selection of Hubble Space Telescope images on display at the Royal Observatory

Out of this World: Moon Our Moon-themed morning includes a planetarium show, interactive quiz and virtual reality activity. Join our Royal Observatory Astronomers for a series of activity packages for older children that include a brain-bending Moon quiz, the chance to feel what it’s like to step onto the lunar surface and a rock handling demonstration to show what features to expect on the Moon.18, 19, 20 February 2019 Astronomy Centre 10.00 – 12.30 £8.20 Age: 7+

Holiday to Space The morning starts in our planetarium with our fun filled Space Safari show, filled with spectacular close up views of the planets and a chance to sing along to help space travelling teddy bear, Ted, find the great big bear. Learn more about Ted’s adventure in this workshop by choosing which planet would make a good holiday destination and helping our brave teddy bear prepare for his stay. 21 and 22 February 2019 Peter Harrison Planetarium, Royal Observatory Greenwich 10.00 – 11.30 £8.20 4 – 7 Royal Observatory 

 

Greenwich National Maritime Museum and Queen’s House.

Rainbow Week Each February half term the Museum celebrates LGBT history month. This year families can visit for a week of themed workshops drawing these stories out of the collection.  

Ahoy Mate! Explore the realities of life on board a pirate ship in the eighteenth century and the relationships the sailors formed on board.17 and 22 February 2019  11.00-13.00 | 14.00-16.00 National Maritime Museum, Learning Space  Suitable for all ages Free, drop in

Raising my flag Join us in this arts and crafts workshop to celebrate who you are. Get inspired by the colours, designs and individuality of the ship badges and figureheads at the Museum and create flags, hats and badges that represent you. 18 and 20 February 2019 11.00-13.00 | 14.00-16.00 National Maritime Museum, Learning Space  Suitable for all ages Free, drop in

HMS Rainbow The rainbow flag is a symbol of pride and unity for the LGBTQ+ community. Join us to create one big rainbow flag made up of hundreds of origami boats and talk about LGBTQ+ histories around the Museum. 19 February 2019 11.00-13.00 | 14.00-16.00  National Maritime Museum, Learning Space Suitable for all ages Free, drop in

Mermaid Magic Learn why the Mermaid symbol resonates strongly with the LGBTQ+ community and be inspired by one of our new busts in the Sea Things gallery, Deity created by the artist Eve Shepherd to think about your own identity and representation. 21 February 2019 11.00-13.00 | 14.00-16.00 National Maritime Museum, Learning Space  Suitable for all ages Free, drop in

Express through dress Discover how sailors in the past have used clothes to create a new identity for themselves. 24 February 2019 11.00 – 16.00 National Maritime Museum, Learning Space Suitable for all ages Free, drop in More info see

 

Cutty Sark

Heave ho and away we go Join us this half-term for an engineering themed arts and design experience. Build winches and learn about how the precious cargoes were loaded on to the ship. Or you can help keep our oceans clean by building and coding a mini LEGO sea cleaner (hour long workshop, book in advance).18 – 23 February 2019 Cutty Sark, Sammy Ofer gallery 10.30 – 16.00  5+ Free with admission to the ship Cutty Sark

 

How to Train Your Dragon at Shrek’s Adventure!

 Join Toothless, Hiccup and the Light Fury at the only place in the UK to meet characters from How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World this Half Term (18 – 22 February)  

The London South Bank attraction is the only place in the UK to meet characters from DreamWorks’ How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World, where guests will enjoy ferocious fun as they are transported to the island of Berk and a luminous dragon utopia.

Guests who visit the attraction this February Half Term will also enjoy a Shrektacular journey through Shrek’s Adventure to the world of Far Far Away.

Advanced booking is recommended for more information visit

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By Penny McCarthy

Penny McCarthy is a seasoned entrepreneur and co-founder of Parents News UK, a pioneering publication launched in 1993 to serve the needs of busy parents in Southwest London. Alongside her husband, Fergus McCarthy, Penny played a crucial role in the rapid expansion of the printed edition, which grew from a local startup to a widely circulated monthly publication with a reach of 192,000 copies across Kent, South London, and beyond. Under Penny’s leadership, Parents News quickly became a trusted resource for families, providing valuable information on education, entertainment, sports, and family-friendly events. Her vision helped the publication extend its influence with franchises in Northern Ireland and Cornwall, catering to a growing demand for accessible, family-oriented content. In 1997, recognising the importance of digital media, Penny spearheaded the launch of Parents News UK Online. The website initially mirrored the content of the printed editions and has since evolved into a comprehensive online resource for parents, achieving significant popularity with up to 700 daily hits. In 2017, the publication transitioned fully to an online platform, continuing to inform and engage families across the UK. Today, Penny remains deeply involved in the ongoing success of Parents News UK, focusing on innovative advertising opportunities and future growth plans. Her dedication to supporting families through accessible and practical content has made Parents News a cherished name in households across the country.

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