With everyone looking forward to the first half-term of 2024, it’s time to plan out some family activities to make sure you make the most of the half-term break! And this February, there’s plenty of fun events and offers for activities to give you a school holiday to remember – read on for our recommendations!
Back for another year, and this time with over 180 events across both the city and county, Norwich Science Festival shows off the best bits about the field – the stuff worth getting excited about! It has inspirational talks, fascinating experiments, engaging exhibitions, and heaps of fun for the whole family! So, you really don’t want to miss it.
Whatever fascinates you about science, you’ll find it in this year’s programme. There’s talks, activities, and exhibitions on wildlife, space, biology, chemistry, physics, and so much more! You name it, chances are the Norwich Science Festival has it.
As always, it’s a fantastic chance for both the children and the parents to get out and about and learn more about the world around them, while having fun doing it! The best bit? Many of these events are FREE or low-cost, so everyone can enjoy and learn a bit more about science this year!
You can view and download the full brochure for this year’s Norwich Science Festival here.
Who’s the best bowler in the family? Whether it’s a competitive game of ten-pin, or a good bit of fun between the family, there’s nowhere better to find out than an afternoon or evening spent at Bowling House! With their shorter lanes and lighter balls, it’s a level-playing field for everyone to get their strikes in!
And this half-term, they’re making the deal even sweeter. Throughout the February holiday, Bowling House will be opening earlier on weekdays (from 12:30pm) and, if you fancy a bite to eat, you can book the ‘Eat & Bowl Deal’ – which includes a game of bowling and a main from their tasty menu from only £10.95 for kids! (Food is served from 12:30pm – 3pm and 5pm – 9pm.)
So, if that offer has bowled you over, be sure to book your slot on the Bowling House website before it all fills up. See you on the lanes!
The Bowling House is the perfect day out this half-term!
If anyone in the family loves reading, writing, and history, they’ll absolutely love any and all of the three half-term events on at the National Centre for Writing at Dragon Hall this February! Best of all? They’re all FREE or pay what you can from £2.50 – £7.50, meaning you don’t have to break the bank to enjoy these days out.
The first half-term activity coming up is ‘Stepping into Dragon Hall’s Story – Family Activity Day’ (FREE Tuesday, February 20, 10am – 1pm), which will see you discover the fascinating stories of Dragon Hall, it’s one of Norwich’s most iconic medieval buildings! Pick up a map and an activity pack, explore the site, and let your creativity flow. This activity is suitable for families with children up to 13 years old, drop-in to get started!
Or, if creating writing is more of your child/children’s interest, be sure to check out the ‘Witch Marks & Dragon Scales Workshop’ (Pay what you can, £2.50 – £7.50, Thursday, February 22, 10am – 12pm). In this exciting workshop, your child can discover 600 years’ worth of stories among the very timber and brickwork that make up Dragon Hall, and even add their very own chapter to the tale.
Led by the award-winning Avani Shah, it’ll be a day of discovering tales of witches, dragons, and past inhabitants, before crafting protective spells! It’s perfect for getting creative and meeting new friends. Places are limited to 15 participants, so get booking your child’s space quickly!
Last but not least is the ‘TOASTies Family Poetry Show’ (Pay what you can, £2.50 – £7.50 – Thursday, February 22, 2pm – 3pm). Designed for families with children aged five and over, TOASTies producers, Lewis Buxton, Daisy Henwood, and Kate Wakeling present a fun, interactive poetry experience where rules are broken, and new ideas are brought to life! Book your slot in this fantastic workshop here.
The National Centre for Writing is great for learning while having fun this half-term!
If you or anyone in the family loves a visit to the theatre, these half-term treats from Norwich Theatre are for them. Keep the family entertained with these events inspired by the smash-hit musical SIX, a whole array of FREE activities, and a weekend treat before the kids go back to school!
From Monday, February 19 – Tuesday, February 20, you’re invited to immerse yourself in Tudor Britain and take part in some arts and crafts in the Norwich Theatre Royal Café. Be inspired by the music and get drawing/crafting with mindful colouring and origami! You’ll also find costumes and props to get into character! No booking required, simply visit the café upstairs and enjoy for as long as you like.
There are some exciting take-part activities going on too, like their Dance Day and Drama Day, where you’ll choreograph, play games, and perform as a group! These are broken into half-day sessions on Monday, February 19 and split by age group, so every participant can enjoy the perfect creative day! (Dance Day Ages 7-10 and 11-14 here, Drama Day Ages 7-10 and 11-14 here).
You can even finish the week on a high with two amazingly entertaining shows on the weekend at Norwich Theatre Playhouse!
The first show stars CBBC’s Danny and Mick, as they embark on an adventure in a faraway land that time forgot in ‘Danny and Mick: Temple of Delusion’. Join these hapless heroes for a journey of mistakes, pitfalls, and, of course, danger! Book your ticket here. (Saturday, February 24)
Or you might like to join Luna and her Dad for an adventure among the library shelves in the exciting new musical for families ‘Luna Loves Library Day’. Based on the critically acclaimed book by Waterstones Children’s Laureate Joseph Coelho and illustrator Fiona Lumbers, this exciting show will discover the magic among library shelves, from dinosaurs to mummies, unexplained mysteries to monsters and magic! Book your ticket here. (Sunday, February 25)
Join Luna in this fantastic family show at Norwich Theatre!
All aboard the Teddy Bear Express with Bure Valley Railway! Take your teddy along with you and enjoy a magical journey on Norfolk’s longest narrow-gauge steam railway, within easy reach of Norwich and the coast. The best bit? Kids go FREE this half-term!*
The journey will take around 45-minutes each way, running nine miles through the beautiful countryside between the historic market town of Aylsham and the bustling town of Wroxham, right beside the Broads National Park. It’s all very picturesque, and the kids will love the train journey!
To add to this teddy bear themed event, Bure Valley will be decorating the Whistlestop Café and Teddy Bear Lunch Boxes will be available to purchase, so lunch is sorted too! Book your ticket aboard the Teddy Bear Express here!
*Free travel for every child with a full fare-paying adult. Max 2 children (0-15 years old) per adult.
Don’t forget to bring your own teddy from home to the Teddy Bear Express!
So, that’s the activities sorted (with even more available in our ‘What’s On in February’ blog and our ‘What’s On’ page), but there’s just one thing left… where to find breakfast, lunch, or dinner! Lucky for you, we’ve also got plenty of recommendations for where to find the best treats this half-term.
Whether you’ve got a sweet tooth, or you’re all about savoury, The Waffle House has it all. With a huge menu of different waffle combinations, from Norfolk Mushrooms in Garlic Butter to their Dark Belgian Chocolate & Honeycomb Mousse, everyone in the family will find something to enjoy here! To book your table, call 01603 612790.
The Waffle House has something for everyone to enjoy!
To treat the family to a wonderful half-term meal out, The Cosy Club is the perfect choice. Inside this gorgeous renovated National Provincial Bank, you’ll find tasty dishes for all. The kid’s menu is available all day, from breakfast to dinner, and includes buttermilk pancakes, cheesy beans on toast, macaroni cheese, 100% beef burger, and fish fingers (with vegetarian and vegan options available too). Book your table at The Cosy Club here!
The Cosy Club has dishes for any time of day for any age
If you’re looking for a tasty meal without the hassle of booking or cost, look no further than Cluck’d. Here, it’s all about grilled chicken however you like it. Do you brave the spice, or go for something a bit tamer? Either way, Cluck’d have got you covered. There’s wraps, wings, strips, burgers, a whole heap of sides and snacks, and even Cluck’d Juniors, their tasty kids meals, which come with a main, side, and a Fruit Shoot for just £5. That’s half-term, sorted.
If you’re looking for good, tasty food, Cluck’d is the place to be!
