How to Spend February Half Term in Norwich

23 January 2026

How to Spend February Half Term in Norwich

by Katie Thompson

As we wait in anticipation for the first half term of the year, it’s time to start planning! With so many exciting activities, shows, workshops and more to keep the whole family entertained, you’re sure to make a whole lot of memories. And as it’s February, that means things to do inside as well as outside!  

From young scientists to budding writers to energetic dinosaur lovers, Norwich and Norfolk is packed with things to do. Take a trip on the beary exciting Teddy Express, get involved at Norwich Science Festival or head to Pensthorpe for a fantastic nature-inspired Olympics!  

Take a look below for how to spend February half term!

Image: Norwich Science Festival

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Norwich 

Norwich Science Festival
14 – 21 February, citywide, free & ticketed 

One of Norwich’s most highly anticipated festivals is back for it’s 10th birthday in 2026! This half term sees Norwich Science Festival return to The Forum and venues across the city, bringing with it it’s signature blend of experimentation, creativity, and fascinating science. (This year, there’s even a live dissection!) 

There’s so much to see and do- you can check out their full programme here. Highlights include The Explorium (14 – 21 February, The Forum, 10.30am – 4pm, FREE), the heart of the festival where budding scientists can get stuck into activities that change everyday! Think a magical world of microbes, wonderful local wildlife and more. Elsewhere, The Atom Stage (14 – 21 February, The Forum, 10am – 4pm, FREE) is putting on free performances everyday, with dinosaurs, bubbles, flying canister rockets, colour-changing potions and more to captivate you! 

Embark on a time-twisting adventure with The Great Science Time Tour (14 – 21 February, The Forum, various times, FREE) to discover scientists that  changed the world and meet the puppets promoting the conversation about animal conservation  in interactive show The Zoo That Comes to You (Sunday 15 February, Norwich Theatre Stage Two, 11sm & 2pm, £12pp).

Shows at Norwich Puppet Theatre
14 – 22 February, 11am & 2.30pm, children £11.50, adults £13.50 

As one of only three building-based puppet theatres in the country, Norwich Puppet Theatre is a wonderfully unique venue to visit, especially in half term.  

Enjoy the traditional tale of Thumbelina, cleverly crafted with fun shadow puppets, as she encounters new friends along the riverbank (Saturday 14 February), or escape for a while in a new take on a favourite fairytale: Oldilocks and the 3 Bears (Tuesday 17 February). Join Oldilocks as she sets off to rediscover three breakfast-loving bears in this funny and warm-hearted take. 

Then see where your mind takes you in Cardboard Carnival (Sunday 22 February)! This mash up of Charles Dickens, French compose Camille Saint-Saens and a whole lot of cardboard sees a carnival of animals (and perhaps the ‘ultimate animal’) emerge from trunks, tails, ears, wings and more!

Workshops at National Centre for Writing
17 – 19 February, various times, FREE and ticketed  

The National Centre for Writing is perfect for story-loving children, no matter their age.  

In Medieval Monologues (11 – 13 years) (Wednesday 18 February, 10am – 12pm, from £2.50), you can create your own character from the Middle Ages, no doubt taking inspiration from Dragon Hall around you, before having a go at writing in their voice. Or learn How to Write a Play (13 – 18 years) (Thursday 19 February, 11am – 12.30pm, FREE) in this friendly, interactive workshop with award-winning playwright Tife Kusoro!  

And for the younger ones, there’s the ever-popular Family Activity Day (Tuesday 17 February, 10am – 3pm, FREE), where you can take part in storytelling in the book nook, crafts with local artists and giant games.

Workshops at Norwich Theatre
16 & 17 February, various times, FREE and pay what you can 

One of the best ways to unleash your creativity is with performance. And at Norwich Theatre, you can get involved with a series of theatrical activities.  

Their Sensory Stories for SEND (Monday 16 February, Stage Two, 2pm – 3pm, pay what you can) allow everyone to have a go, welcoming families with children with special educational needs and disabilities (7 – 11 years), including non-verbal children, through a journey of imagination and play. Meanwhile, their Crafty Cafe (Tuesday 17 February, Cafe Royal, 11am – 3pm, FREE) to drop in and create your own puppet! Inspired by The Great Big Bug Show, let your personality shine with a fluttery butterfly or dazzling dragonfly!

Slime Workshop at John Lewis Norwich
Thursday 19 February, 11am – 12pm, children (4 – 12 years) £10, adults FREE  

At John Lewis Norwich, slide into half term with a hands-on slime workshop with Creation Station! 

Get stuck in as your make, play and pass the time with this fun activity. Experiment and explore with giant bubbles and super stretchy slime, before designing your own colours to really make this experience unique.

Brave Bettie at The Garage
Friday 20 February, 11am & 2pm, under 25s £12.50, adults £15 

Join Bettie on a magical woodland adventure as she fights to protect her favoruite tree before it’s cut down! With the help of Paida Moyo, this journey of courage and friendship is a heartwarming tale, perfect for young children (3 – 8 years). 

Bringing to life writer Tatenda Naomi Matsvai’s Zimbabwean heritage, you’ll be engrossed by powerful poetry, live music, uplifting songs and entertaining stories, where positivity and courage take centre stage.

Strangers’ Hall
Wednesday, Saturday & Sunday, 10am – 4pm, children £6.20, adults £7.10 

Reopening in February half term following their annual deep clean, Strangers’ Hall is a wonderful museum in the centre of Norwich.  

As one of the oldest buildings in the city, a former merchant’s house, you cand iscover interiors from throughout history and experience the stories of those living here. Each room is brought to life by authentic period furnishings, whether you’re in the Tudor Great Hall, Georgian Dining room or Victorian Nursery. And on a dry day, don’t forget to take a moment of tranquillity in the Elizabethan Knot Garden.

Norfolk 

The Festival of Little Stories at Holkham
15 – 21 February, 10am – 3pm, FREE (£6 parking) 

Did you know 2026 is a national year of reading? You can celebrate all things books at Holkham’s Festival of Little Stories this half term.  

From The Little Story Trail (solve the clues to reveal the books and collect your prize) to illustration workshops (where you can create your own character). Not to mention immersive storytelling events where local and national authors will bring their tales of medieval magic, fantasy and folklore to life! 

And while you’re here, don’t forget to make the most of Holkham’s sprawling parkland, woodland play area and exciting ropes course.

Winter Olympics of Nature at Pensthorpe
14 – 22 February, 10am – 4pm, £13.95pp 

Surrounded by Norfolk’s natural beauty, Pensthorpe is a destination for all ages, with vibrant gardens, thriving birds, flamingo flock, trails and more. (Not to mention an amazing indoor and outdoor play area!) 

And in honour of this year’s Winter Olympics, Pensthorpe’s Winter Olympics of Nature trail will introduce you to the best of British wildlife. With your own unique number, tackle Olympic-style challenges and learn all about nature’s athletes with fascinating facts and arts and crafts sessions. All this and the rest of Pensthorpe’s 700-acre site is included in admission!

Fantastic February at ROARR!
14 – 22 February, 10am – 4.30pm, £15pp (FREE toy with every full-paying child, FREE hot drink for every adult) 

Fantastic February is a ROARR-some adventure where you can let loose across ROARR!’s incredible indoor and outdoor attractions. Enjoy colourful indoor soft play, packed with slides, ball pits and obstacles, before clambering over the outdoor zip wires, climbing frames, basket swings and more. 

There’s a brand-new meet and greet to say hello to your favourite dino Dippy and loads of activities to take part in, including a silent disco, creative crafts, disco dancing and games, story time and the chance to create your own toy! 

And if you keep an eye out for all the stars on the Dippy & Friends Star Trail, you could win a limited-edition medal to take home!

Teddy Bear Express at Bure Valley Railway
14 – 22 February, 10am – 3pm, children from £7.50, adults from £15 

This fun-filled steam train journey really is for the whole family!  

Full of nostalgia and anticipation, you can bring your teddy along to this bear-y special event, where you’ll chug past stunning Norfolk countryside between Bure Valley Railway’s Aylsham and Wroxham stations. Up to 2 children go free with a full-paying adult! 

See what you can spot out the window, enjoy a teddy bear-themed onboard activity and marvel at teddy bear decorations! And when you reach Aylsham, why not treat yourselves to a tasty Teddy Bear Lunch Box? 

The Bug Parc
Open daily, 10am – 4pm, children £11.95, adults £13.95 

The Bug Parc is the largest invertebrate park in the country. This award-winning attraction is ideal for the unpredictable February weather, with so much to see indoors and out!  

It’s home to hundreds of minibeasts, including tropical insects, millipedes, spiders and tarantulas, and mesmerising butterflies. There are four tropical houses to explore, where you can immerse yourself in these creatures’ habitats and get a real insight into how they live, what they eat and more! There are even bug-handling sessions (additional cost) if you’re feeling brave enough!

Thrigby Hall Wildlife Gardens
Open daily, 10am – 4pm, children £14.60, adults £18.50 

Tucked away in the Broads National Park near Caister and Great Yarmouth, Thrigby Hall Wildlife Gardens is a wonderful day out for all the family and one where you can encounter magnificent animals up close! 

Thrigby is known for its conservation of rare and endangered Asian animals, including tigers, snow leopards, alligators, gibbons and more. Discover the beauty of these creatures with Thrigby’s exciting raised walkways, before an engaging animal feed and lunch in Cockatoo Cafe.

Redwings Horse Sanctuary
Open Friday – Monday, 10am – 4pm, FREE 

There are over 70 four-legged friends to meet you at Redwings Horse Sanctuary in Aylsham. From donkey duo Wiggins and Wacko to real-life black beauty Maya and resident mini Shetland troublemakers the Gangsters.  

Stroll around the paddocks situated in idyllic Noroflk countryside before following Redwings’ nature trail around peaceful wildlife ponds. Then head back to Gulliver’s cafe for a light lunch or slice of cake!

Go Ape
Open daily, from £21.95pp 

Escape the ordinary this half term with an exhilarating treetop adventure at Go Ape in Thetford Forest! With something for every age, from thrill seekers to adventurers taking their first steps, this is a great day out. 

From the family-friendly Treetop Adventure (4 – 6 years, £21.95pp) packed with fun obstacles and exciting ziplines to Treetop Challenge (10+ years, £36.95pp), the ultimate challenge with sky-high crossings and Tarzan swings. And if you prefer to keep your feet firmly on the ground, there’s Forest Segway (10+ years, £38.95pp) to take you through beautiful scenery and across all terrains.

Offers 

Buy One Get One Free at BeWILDerwood
14 – 22 February, 10am – 5pm, 92cm – 105cm £20.95, over 105cm £22.95 

BeWILDerwood’s sell-out offer is back for 2026! With any other paying ticket (which includes their Almost WILD, BeWILD Now and Still WILD tickets), the cheapest is free, meaning unforgettable family memories are even more accessible.  

Immerse yourself into BeWILDerwood’s magical woodland world, where Boggles, Twiggles and more characters await to welcome you into the adventure! While you’re here, whizz down slides, zoom along zip wires, find your way to the centre of the Sky Mazze and more!

Kids Go Free at Banham Zoo
14 – 22 February (book by 13 February), 10am – 4pm, adults £25 

Banham Zoo is always a wild day out for all the family, with 80 amazing species to discover, live entertainment, hands-on activities, keeper talks and more! And if you book before Friday 13 February using the code KIDSGOFREE, up to 2 children can enter the park with a full-paying adult for no extra cost. 

Once inside, encounter incredible animals and make the most of Banham’s new experiences, including an interactive ranger experience, live indoor stage show, free bug handling sessions and an action-packed scavenger hunt!

Kids Go Free at Dunston Hall 

If you’re staying in or around the City of Stories this half term (and we always suggest you do for a memorable February!), why not book a stay at Dunston Hall? 

When you book a family room, under 16s stay completely free when you’re sharing (or with 10% for a second room). And Dunston Hall is rated Family Fantastic by Q Hotels thanks to its dedicate children’s menu, activity packs and foot golf. Children are even able to use the swimming pool at all times!