February Half Term — Day by day inspiration
There’s a lot going on in Oxford over half term, check out our highlights below. Don’t forget though that the simple fun can sometimes be the best; visit your local parks or nature reserves as a family and re-discover adventures right on your doorstep.
Saturday 16th February
Waterperry Gardens: Alphabet ‘I Spy’ in the Gardens
Another half term, another fun trail to look forward to at Waterperry Gardens!
Cost:£2.50 per child (prize guaranteed) plus winter garden fee for accompanying adults.
Waddesdon Manor: Orienteering Week with Thames Valley Orienteering Club
Grab your maps, don your eye patch and make like pirate in the search for hidden treasure! Three different routes of varying lengths suitable for under 5’s to teens. Collect a medal for each route completed. Pirate fancy dress or walk the plank!
Cost: £3 per route plus usual entry fee
Monday 18th February
Earth Trust: Mud Pie Monday 10am-12pm
This does exactly what it says on the tin! Waterproof up and get the Little Oxplorers outside to roll around in the mud or make creations in the mud kitchen. Be prepared to get muddy yourself too! Suitable for children 7 and under, the walk to the woods can be muddy and tricky for pushchairs.
Cost: Suggested donation £4 per child
Cheney School: Indoor Inflatable Play Park Various timed sessions
Forget the kids, how much do I want to go on this?! A huge obstacle course, slides, games and bouncy castles. This event runs from Monday — Friday in half term and has previously sold out so get your tickets ASAP! Suitable for children aged 2–12 years.
Cost: £6.95 per timed session, accompanying adults and children under 2 free of charge.
Oxford Castle and Prison: Archaeological Event 12 noon-1pm
We are totally digging this event at Oxford Castle (see what we did there?!), which runs on the 18th, 20th, 22nd and 23rd of February. A treasure hunt around the 1000 year old site, fossil making and an archaeological dig makes this the perfect afternoon for budding archaeologists. Suitable for ages 5–11. Accompanying adults go free.
Cost: £9.50 for 1 child, £16 for 2 children and £22.50 for 3 children.
Tuesday 19th February
Harcourt Arboretum: Waking up after Winter 1pm–3pm
Come out of hibernation for this nature-inspired seasonal crafting afternoon. Suitable for all ages.
Cost: Donation of £2 per child, entrance fee applies to accompanying adults.
Oxfordshire Play Association: Free Play Ranger Sessions at Rose Hill 11am-3pm
Free, fun, messy play outside, whatever the weather! Appropriate clothing a must!
Wednesday 20th February
Blenheim Palace: Family Forest School 10.30am –12.30pm and 1.30pm –3pm
Superb forest school session set in the beautiful surroundings of Blenheim Palace. Tree-climbing, den building, pond dipping and craft activities make for a busy few hours. There are also a family of ducks who like to pop in for a visit too!
Cost: Park and Gardens ticket or Annual pass required
Oxfordshire Play Association: Free Play Ranger Sessions at Rose Hill 11am-3pm
Free, fun, messy play outside, whatever the weather! Orinoco Scrapstore in attendance so get ready for some imaginative junk modelling!
Cost: FREE
Thursday 21st February
Oxfordshire Play Association: Free Play Ranger Sessions at Rose Hill 11am-3pm
Free, fun, messy play outside, whatever the weather!Sarah’s Adventures in Science in attendance — explosive fun!
Cost: FREE
Friday 22nd February
Earth Trust: Discover and Play 10am–12 noon
Drop in Forest School activities for the under 11’s. Den building, rope swings and general freedom to go wild in the woodlands. An excellent opportunity for child-led play and one of our faves. As always, wellies and waterproofs advised.
Cost: £4 suggested donation per child
Children’s Allotment: Forest School 2.30pm-4pm
Songs, stories, snacks and drinks around the campfire at this newly established forest school on the East Ward Allotment, Cricket Rd, OX4. The Children’s Allotment itself is a co-operative of new parents and community organisers with big ideas for inclusive, parent-run outdoor childcare that’s affordable. We’re right on board with their mission! Suitable for all ages but children must be supervised at all times.
Cost: £2 per family
Insider tips:
Tickets for the Earth Trust Lambing Weekends are on sale now for the 23/24th March and 30/31st March. This event grows in popularity every year and its worth putting it into your diary now! Meet lambs, piglets and goats and join in craft activities. The tractor and trailer rides and bale climbing will also be back this year.
The Botanic Gardens offer a Winter Wonders Trail, suitable for ages 5–9, or a Garden Eye Spy Trail (we LOVE this one), suitable for the very young. Either download from the website beforehand or pick a copy up from the ticket office. Explorers backpacks are also available to borrow from the ticket office, a fantastic way to turn a day out into an adventure.
Looking for adventures a bit further afield? Check out our popular bog ‘Adventures within an hour of Oxford’.
The Woodland Trust — Nature Detectives website has a huge amount of activity ideas to inspire you to get outside.
We hope this inspires you to continue adventuring near and far. Follow us on Facebook for more outdoor adventures!
