What to do in Somerset February half term 2024
Is it me or does February half term always sneak up on us? The school holidays seem especially early this year as well. If you’re looking for half term activities to entertain the kids, I’ve rounded up a whole host of events taking place across Somerset. From scavenger hunts, exciting theatre shows, marshmallow toasting, animal fun, crafts and fascinating museums, here’s a whole load of ideas for what to do in Somerset this February half term 2024.
Things to do in Somerset February half term 2024
Somerset half term trails
Bishop’s Palace, Wells
- When? 10-18 February
The gardens at Bishop’s Palace are starting to wake up from their winter hibernation. Take on the snowdrop-themed February Half Term Trail and win a prize upon completion. Pop by on 15 February for family crafting and make a beautiful ‘nature loom’.
The gardens are carpeted with snowdrops at this time of year, so it’s a great time to visit Bishops Palace. Collect the Snowdrop Walk guide and seek out different varieties of the flower, each weekend in February, little ones can pick up a children’s trail from the Ticket Office with the reward of a small prize upon completion.
February half term trail at Dunster Castle
- When? 10-18 February
Walter, Julian and Penelope are getting restless inside the castle so decide to head outside in seek of fun and games. Answer the questions and complete the activities as you explore the gardens (£3 per trail, prize included).
February half term at The Museum of Somerset
- When? 10-17 February 2024
Complete the Journeys Trail, paint and draw geometric designs in the style of Alexander Hollweg’s current exhibition ‘Journeys in Art’.
February half term spotters trail at Stourhead
- When? 10-18 February 2024, 9am-2pm
Enjoy a wintery walk through the garden and celebrate the return of spring with some of Stourhead’s animal inhabitants. Can you spot them all on the Stourhead spotters trail as they begin to stir from their winter slumber?
The Family Tree Trail, Hestercombe Gardens, Taunton
- When? 10-18 February 2024
Can you spot all 7 members of the ‘Family Tree’ hidden around Hestercombe gardens? Create and make your own fun and colourful shadows, in connection with their current art exhibition ‘Landscapes of Progress’.
NB: When visiting Hestercombe this February, children go free! Offer available from 1–29 February 2024. Applicable for children aged 15 and under.
Brick weeks in Somerset half term
Building blocks at Tyntesfield
Put your building skills to the test at the National Trust’s Tyntesfield and let your imagination run wild. Will you create Tyntesfield’s missing clock tower or our ornate Chapel? The spectacular Gothic Revival House and estate should provide ample inspiration…
Brick Week at Haynes Motor Museum
- When? 10-18 February 2024
Check out Haynes Motor Museum’s amazing collection of all things on 2, 3 and 4 wheels by building your very own car-azy creation as well as helping to build an actual museum to house them.
Half term activities Somerset 2024
Junior Detectives Writing Workshop, Brewhouse Theatre
- When? 16 February, 10.30am
Gather clues and line up our suspects in this interactive workshop. You don’t need to be an amazing writer, just come along with a sense of adventure and the nose for solving crime. Ages 8-11.
Sensational Science Shows at Fleet Air Arm Museum
- When? 12-16 2024
Prepare to be wowed by this collection of fun and unexpected science demonstrations and experiments. The shows will help visitors get to grips with some of the bigger underlying scientific principles, but perhaps don’t try them at home!
Shows are at 11am, 12.30pm and 2.30pm each day and there will be the chance to take part in a workshop afterwards.
What’s on in Somerset February half term
East Lambrook Festival of snowdrops
This little garden contains a whopping 150 varieties of snowdrop – marvel at drifts of snowdrops blanketing the famed ‘ditch’, see the lawn glow purple with crocus, seek out the metal snowdrop sculptures by a local artist, gaze at snowdrop art, buy snowdrops and warm up with tea and cake at the cafe.
Forde Abbey Snowdrop weekends
- When? 4-16 February
Forde Abbey gardens will be open every weekend in February for Snowdrop spotting. Picture swathes of snowdrops on the drive, banks and lawns and scattered in the beds and borders – beautiful.
Shepton Snowdrops 2024
- When? 12-18 February
James Allen, the first person to breed Snowdrops from the wild, was born in Shepton Mallet. The Snowdrop Project celebrates his legacy, the history and heritage of the town and the beauty of the snowdrop. Each year thousands of bulbs are planted on roadsides, roundabouts and public spaces. The Snowdrop Festival features specialist plant sales, workshops, art and craft, and poetry and photography competitions.
ROAM Rangers, near Ilminster
- When? 13 February, 10am-1pm
Woodland rope swings, a slack-line, mud kitchen, log-stacle course, a bug hotel, and plenty of exploring to be done.
Activities include rope swings, slack-line, mud kitchen, a Log-stacle course and water wall, plus den building, marshmallow toasting, crafting, art and exploring the woodland environment with the children (weather depending)
‘GLOW’ Light Festival 2024, Weston-super-Mare
- When? 13-17 February, 5.30-10pm
‘GLOW’ Light Festival features spectacular installations, illuminations, interactive activities, multi-sensory and magical experiences around the Weton’s town centre, The Grand Pier, Princess Royal Square and the Italian Gardens.
Tickets for GLOW in Grove Park are available on a Pay What You Decide basis with a suggested price of £6 (minimum £2) for adults and free for under 16s and carers. Under 16s need to be accompanied by an adult. There will also be local food and drink offerings in Grove Park including hot dogs, crepes and pizza.
Yeovil Lantern Parade & Wassail Event
- When? 15 February 2024. Lantern Parade, 4.30-5.30pm, Wassail Ceremony, 5.30-6.30pm
Join the Penn Hill Lantern Parade and Wassail. Create and bring along your own lanterns to liven up the wintery park and join in with the parade led by beating drums. There’s also marshmallow-melting fires, and ghost-scaring ceremonies. No need to book, just turn up on the day.
The Lantern Parade will take place between Yeovil Country Park, The Octagon Theatre and the Town Centre.
Fairy Folk Craft Morning, Ham Hill
- When? 13 February, 10am-11.30am
Get stuck into a selection of crafts using natural materials to make your very own masterpieces. Decorate a stick to turn into a magical wand, or a mystical wizard from a piece of hazel…
Aimed at children 4-7, booking essential.
Roman Centurion Craft Morning, Ham Hill
- When? 16 February 2024, 10-11.30am
Create a Roman soldier from a piece of hazel, or use paper to make a roman mosaic. Aimed at children aged 7-10.
History Week at Weston Museum
Creating your own Roman coin, dress up in a toga and design your own Roman mosaic at Weston Museum’s History Week. All the necessary equipment will be provided – all you need to bring is yourself. £6 per child, accompanying adults go free.
Workshop times: 10.30-11.15am, 11.30-12.15, 1-1.45pm
Tin Can Wild Bird Feeder Family Activity, Glastonbury Abbey
- When? 13 & 15 February 2024, 11am-1pm
Explore the 36 acres of grounds and 7th-century ruins of Glastonbury Abbey and join in with this fun session making a Tin Can feeder for the wild birds in your garden, a wild bird feeder (15 Feb)
Every visitor gets a free pancake on Pancake Day (13 February)
For every paying adult, you get two free child tickets (under 16s) to Glastonbury Abbey.
A Stone Age Winter at Cheddar Gorge
- When? 10-18 February 2024
A Stone Age Winter is a fun and educational adventure that takes visitors back to pre-historic Britain. Learn how early man lived and survived to combat the freezing temperatures. Discover the ingenious ways they kept warm by making their own clothes, watch mesmerising fire lighting demonstrations and learn how our ancestors adapted to the weather by finding and building shelters in the long dark winter months.
Outdoor adventures at Mendip Activity Centre
There are over 20 activities to choose from at Mendip Activity Centre, all led by fully-qualified instructors. Choose from abseiling, archery, tobogganing, axe throwing, assault courses, canoeing, caving, frisbee golf and more!
Animal-tastic half term activities Somerset 2024
Fun on the farm, Somerset Rural Life Museum, Glastonbury
- When? 10-17 February 2024
Discover life on the farm – meet farm animals and enjoy activities, arts and crafts. FREE with Museum Unlimited/normal admission applies.
The beauty of birds, Chard Reservoir
- 13 February 2024 (10am and 2pm), free event (suggested donation £2 which goes towards future events at the Reservoir).
Soar into the school holidays by taking on Chard Reservoir’s Bonkers Bird Trail. Seek out the Guide in the Hide, who will teach you to use binoculars to spot feathery friends on the water, then have a go at Birdy Brainteasers and build your own bird feeder with natural resources from the reservoir to take home with you.
Half term Pet Extravaganza at Ferne Animal Sanctuary
- When? 12-17 February
Join in with tailor-made activities designed for unleashing creativity and pampering your furry friends, including making masks, bird feeders and DIY pet toys.
Signs of Spring, Noahs Ark Zoo Farm
- When? 9-21 February 2024
Test your detective skills in identifying zoo poos, get stuck in with the crafting activities in the Butterfly Dome, and enjoy a light-hearted game of Whack-A-Poo!
Exciting February half term days out: Somerset attractions
Helicopter Museum, Weston-super-Mare
Looking for fun things to do in Somerset in February half term? The Helicopter Museum houses the world’s largest dedicated helicopter collection, with over 100 exhibits on display in an all-weather undercover hangar.
Somerset Brick and Tile Museum
- When? 13-15 February 2024
Have a go at making your own art prints, explore activities in the upside down world and make a melting monster at Somerset Brick and Tile Museum.
February Half Term at Wookey Hole
- When? 10-18 February 2024
See the beautifully lit famous caves (they’re normally warmer than outside this time of year!), watch a 4D film, walk among the animatronic dinosaurs, see the amazing performers in live circus shows, burn energy in the soft play, meet the Witch of Wookey, have a go on the old Victorian-style arcade, compete in Adventure Golf, or catch a paper making demonstration!
Plus, kids eat free in the restaurant during half term!
Somerset February half term children’s activities: theatre
Trouble on Volcano Island, Brewhouse Theatre Taunton
- When? 12 February, 2pm, 4.30pm
When the island’s ancient volcano becomes active, it spells danger for everyone – including the Dinosaurs! It’s a race against time to help our Rangers and favourite Dinosaurs save Volcano Island from imminent disaster.
Ministry of Science Live, Brewhouse Theatre, Taunton
- When? 13 February, 12pm, 3.30pm
Dive deep into the world of science and look at how science shapes the modern world we live in with a few loud bangs along the way. Expect 20ft liquid nitrogen clouds, exploding oxygen and hydrogen balloons, fire tornados, hydrogen bottle rockets, ignited methane, and even a self-build hovercraft!
The Chronicles of Narnia, Merlin Theatre Frome
- When? 15 February
The film beautifully captures the wonder, courage, and enchantment of C.S. Lewis’s beloved novel.
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