16 family friendly activities perfect for February half term

Half term takes place between Monday, February 17 and Friday, February 21 in Liverpool and Wirral in 2025 - and it can often be a struggle to find enough activities to fill the days without breaking the bank. Especially when the weather is damp and disappointing, parents can find themselves scrambling to find things to do each day.

Thankfully there is plenty going on in our region to help occupy the kids - and some of it is even free to do. We rounded up some of the best family friendly activities you can join in with, to offer a bit of inspiration. The list includes plenty of indoor and outdoor ideas, so there should hopefully be something to entertain your family regardless of the weather.

From finding Liverpool's own Paddington Bear to following an interactive nature walk, families also take part in a tiger trail or get messy at a mucky play day. Here are some of the activities on offer in Liverpool and beyond this half term.

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Knowsley Safari tiger trail

Knowsley Safari is inviting kids to enjoy the Russian-inspired tiger trail for free with every paying adult. From February 15 to 23, the whole family can enjoy tiger talks, touch tables, storytelling, or write a postcard to an Amur tiger in the wild.

During the February half-term, as well as enjoying a fun family day out and taking part in a range of tiger-themed activities, visitors will be able to see an Amur tiger in real life through the tiger trail’s viewing windows. Following their visit, guests can also complete a quiz to win another family tiger experience.

There are around 450 Amur tigers left in the wild of largely Eastern Russia. Despite a slight increase in their population, the tigers are still under threat of poaching, declining prey populations, and habitat loss caused by logging.

Knowsley Safari's Amur tiger Makari is part of a vital European Breeding Programme, which runs alongside the safari’s conservation partnership with Wildcats Conservation Alliance. Visitors will learn more about the endangered species and how we can help protect them in their native habitat.

Nicola Watson, LDRC operations manager at Knowsley Safari, said: "We’re really excited to welcome families to the tiger takeover during the February half term. There’ll be interactive activities for all ages, and visitors will be able to enjoy the fun, knowing they’re also doing their bit to protect the future of Amur tigers."

Knowsley Safari’s tiger takeover occurs daily between February 15 and 23 and is free of charge with regular admission tickets. Kids go free with every paying adult during the same period. You can book your tickets here.

Knowsley Safari is also helping the tigers with its fundraising campaign, Roar for Amur, which aims to raise awareness of the plight of the Amur tiger and highlight how we can protect them. Visitors can support the campaign on site by using the QR codes at the donation stations, and everyone can support it by donating online.

Blue Planet Aquarium 'Kid for a Quid' deal

The Blue Planet Aquarium is offering families a discounted underwater adventure this half term with the 'kid for a quid' promotion. The aquarium will also be hosting 'colourful and camouflage' events each day during half term, including arts, crafts and new educational talks.

Between February 15 and March 2, families can visit the aquarium, observe an 'aqua-theatre' show in front of the ocean display, and enjoy shows, feeds and talks scheduled throughout the day from 10am. The offer ends on Friday, February 14 at 5pm and tickets are valid until Sunday, March 2.

Arts and crafts at Liverpool Cathedral

On Wednesday, February 19, Liverpool Cathedral is hosting a series of arts and crafts activities for families. Each session is completely free and lasts up to 45 minutes. All sessions must be pre-booked and each person attending is required to have a ticket. Sessions start at 11:00am, 1:00pm and 2:00pm. The activities will be themed around the Cathedral's 'Threads through the Bible' exhibition.

Liverpool Cathedral is free to enter and families can also explore the amazing building if they wish to extend their time there. You can book a free space here.

Visit the Paddington Bear Statue

Everyone’s favourite bear has taken a seat at Liverpool ONE as part of Paddington Visits, a trial of Paddington statues across the UK. Fans, friends, and family can step into Mr. Gruber’s shoes, sit with Paddington for a spot of tea, a sandwich or two, or even write a postcard to Aunt Lucy. Find him on College Lane, near Waterstones.

Liverpool ONE Nature and Heritage Trails

Pick up a booklet from the Liverpool ONE Information Centre and get close to nature in the heart of the city. The Nature Trail is self-guided tour available all year round and offers kids aged 4 to 11 a chance to interact with Chavasse Park’s natural environment.

The free trail is self-guided by a map available online or at the Tourist Information Centre on Wall Street and it takes around 60 minutes to complete. For more information visit the website.

The shopping complex also has a Heritage Trail, which shares fascinating stories and hidden gems across the city centre while teaching children about the rich history of the area. It’s a fun and educational activity for the whole family to enjoy together. During half term weekends, characters will appear throughout the trail.

Both free and fully accessible, the self-guided audio tour takes between 60-90 minutes to complete. To follow The Heritage Trail, download the Liverpool ONE MyONE app or alternatively collect the printed map from the Information Centre on Wall Street.

Seaside Explorers at the World Museum

Liverpool's World Museum hosts a weekly 'Seaside Explorers' group at 10am every Thursday - including Thursday, February 20. Families can join the group in the aquarium at the museum for a range of fun activities and games linked to underwater animals. This session is ideal for parents with preschool age children and babies or nursery groups. This is a relaxed drop in activity and no booking necessary. Older siblings are welcome too.

Big Art Special at the Walker Art Gallery

For just £2 per child, families can take part in a 'big art' activity at the Walker Art Gallery in Liverpool city centre. Visitors will work together to make a marvellous masterpiece to take him, and have time to explore the dedicated 'Big Art' area of the museum, with a range of wonderful resources all to yourself. Art Sparks sessions take place subject to availability on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Saturdays and Sundays. During half term, the sessions will take place on February 18 and 19.

Animal adventures at the Museum of Liverpool

The Museum of Liverpool has a dedicated kids' area called Little Liverpool, and every Tuesday the attraction hosts an 'animal adventures' session at 11.15am. Tickets cost £2 per child (aged 5 years and under) with a maximum of two accompanying adults and can be booked here or in person at the Museum of Liverpool. A limited number of tickets are available for each session, with animal-themed activities for younger museum visitors to enjoy.

Aquarium behind the scenes tour

Liverpool's World Museum is offering a behind the scenes tour of the aquarium for adults and children aged six and over. Due to the nature of the behind the scenes environment, the age requirement this is to ensure the safety of visitors. The 20 minute guided tour is led by a member of the aquarium team and costs £4 per child and £5 per adult.

You'll be taken into the museum's back of house facilities to see how staff look after the animals in their care. From From February 18 to 21 the museum will be running 10 tours a day starting at the following times: 11.00am, 11.30am, 12.00pm, 12.30pm, 1.00pm, 1.30pm, 2.00pm, 2.30pm, 3.00pm, 3.30pm.

The Reader at Calderstones

On Thursday, February 20, The Reader is showing a retelling of classic fairy tale Rumpelstiltskin, with performances at 11am and 2:30pm. The show is best suited for children aged between three and 11, with younger siblings welcome to join the show in the theatre room.

Wirral Libraries craft events

Libraries across Wirral will be hosting half term stories and craft sessions, with Wallasey Central Library, Moreton Library, Greasby Library, Eastham Library, Upton Library and West Kirby Library all hosting events throughout the week. Many of the sessions are aimed at children aged four and over, with materials provided for kids to unleash their inner artists. You can find a full list of events here.

Craft and create at the Lady Lever Art Gallery

On February 18 and February 19, the Lady Lever Art Gallery is hosting craft and create sessions, offering families to spend time together making memories and creating something special to take home at the end of the day. The sessions run from 1-4pm on each day, but they can get very busy and operate on a 'drop in' basis so at busy times you may be asked to come back later on in the session. There's plenty to see around the rest of the gallery while you wait and you may enjoy following one of our trails.

The Old Dock Tour

Families can step back in time with the Old Dock Tour. Perfect for curious kids and adults alike, this fascinating tour uncovers the secrets of Liverpool’s fortune, buried right underneath the streets of Liverpool ONE. The Old Dock Tours are available on Wednesdays, Fridays and every other Thursday and Saturday at 10.30am, 12pm and 2.30pm. Each tour lasts up to an hour. For more information and to book tickets, visit the website.

'When I Was Little' at the Museum of Liverpool

‘When I was little’ is a free activity for children aged between 3 to 7 and their families, where you can discover museum objects together and share stories and memories using a special activity backpack.

The activity is available to families, children, grandparents and those living with dementia. Take a walk around the Museum of Liverpool with other families, accompanied by a 'When I was little' bag pack and a member of the museum team.

You will journey together through Liverpool’s history as you explore memories of older relatives and family lives. Children can be inspired by what they’ve seen and talked about and get creative in a ‘When I was little’ album, included in a backpack filled with objects and toys. You can take the album away with you as a keepsake of the day. The activity takes place at 11am on February 21.

Splash Tours

See the city like never before with an amphibious adventure at Splash Tours. This one hour tour takes visitors around Liverpool to see some of its most iconic sights and buildings, before splashing into the Royal Albert Dock. Children under two are free, with tickets starting from £17.

Happy Hedgehog camps

Working parents can often find it difficult to book activities to keep their little ones busy during half term if they have to juggle childcare alongside work commitments. That's why many parents opt to book a half term activity camp, like Happy Hedgehog, for their children to join each day.

Happy Hedgehog has camps dedicated to dance, cheerleading, gymnastics and other sports, with locations at two Childwall primary schools. The clubs run every weekday in half term between 8:30am until 3:30pm, with additional 'twilight camp' running between 3:30pm and 5pm. The twilight camps include activities like colouring, quizzes, crafts and puzzles.

Full week tickets for the all-day camps cost £77.50, with week-long twilight tickets priced at £24. You can find out more here.