Welcome to the February 2025 edition of our posts on free things to do in London with kids! Here we round up a selection of free things to do in London in February 2025, including that all-important half term week!
Before we dive in, please note that while all activities listed here are free to attend, some may require advance booking or free tickets to manage capacity. We strongly recommend checking the official websites of any venues or events you’re interested in before making your journey, as opening times and entry requirements can change.
Please be aware that we are not affiliated with any of the venues, organisations, or events mentioned in this guide. We don’t specifically endorse any particular activity – every family is different, and what works brilliantly for one might not suit another. This guide aims to help you discover new possibilities, but the final choice of activities should always be based on your family’s interests, children’s ages, and comfort levels.
We know that lots of events require pre-booking and can fill up quickly, particularly during school holidays, which is why we’ve published this post early. We will keep adding to it as more free things to do are released. So do keep checking back!
Let’s explore what London has to offer for families exploring London in February!
What: Music and dance from the Silk Roads
Details: In the final weeks of the British Museum’s exhibition, Silk Roads, this event will showcase performances from communities linked to these early networks.
Where: Great Court, British Museum
When: Saturday 1 February, 11.00–16.00
Who: All ages
Find out more here.
What: Winter Lights 2025
Details: The Winter Lights Festival trail will take you on a journey through 12 spectacular temporary installations, as well as our ever-popular permanent light artworks.
Where: Canary Wharf
When: Until Saturday 1 February, 17.00-22.00
Who: All ages
Find out more here or see our post A look at: Canary Wharf Winter Lights Festival.
What: Chinese New Year
Details: Camden Market is coming to life to welcome the year of the snake. Join to celebrate in partnership with local community groups, featuring a parade, music, dance and workshops.
Where: Camden Market
When: Saturday 1 February, 13.00-17.00
Who: All ages
Find out more here.
What: Lunar New Year Festival
Details: Welcome the Year of the Snake with mesmerising dragon dances, enchanting folktales, vibrant crafts and lively community-led events.
Where: Museum of London Docklands
When: Saturday 1 – Sunday 2 February, all day
Who: Families
Find out more here.
What: Lunar New Year 2025 at Greenwich Peninsula
Details: Welcome the Year of the Snake in style with Greenwich Peninsula with energising Dragon and Lion Dances in Peninsula Square.
Where: Peninsula Square, Greenwich Peninsula
When: Saturday 1 February, lion dances at 13.30, 14.15 and 15.00, and dragon dances at 13.45, 14.30 and 15.15
Who: All ages
Find out more here.
What: Chinese New Year Parade
Details: Celebrate the Chinese New Year of the Snake in London’s Chinatown and the West End. Experience the festivities with dragon and lion dances, a grand parade, and cultural performances.
Where: Trafalgar Square, Leicester Square, Dean Street, and other surrounding locations
When: Sunday 2 February, from 10.00
Who: All ages
Find out more here.
What: Design Baby: Play Build Play
Details: Play with unusual and experimental materials and mix them up with your little ones! Explore the space and sensory areas. Share your experience with other families and create new connections. Children will take the lead and make a space to create in, play in, meet in, or just be in!
Where: V&A
When: Wednesday 5 February, 11.00-14.00
Who: Children aged 0-3 and their families
Find out more here.
What: Relaxed early morning event: Exploring Mesopotamia
Details: Selected parts of the Museum (Rooms 4, 6–10 and 53–59) will open before the Museum opens to the public. This event is designed to be more accessible for families including children and adults who are autistic, learning disabled, or have mental health conditions.
Where: British Museum
When: Saturday 8 February, 08.00-10.00
Who: Families with children from ages 5–15
Find out more here.
What: Drop-in: Crafting with Colours & Screening
Details: Take part in a creative drop in where you’ll get to make and dance inspired by the Naomi exhibition, mindfulness, and fashion. Each session will include a workshop and the screening of short dance films.
Where: V&A
When: Saturday 8 February, each session is approximately 60 minutes long, starting at 11.00, 13.00 and 15.00.
Who: Ages 5+
Find out more here.
What: Sensory Friendly: Design and Draw with Light
Details: As a family you’ll get to design, make and draw using lightboxes and overhead projectors. Play with light and dark, reflections, shadows, and colours. Create and experiment using a mixture of different art materials to make colourful projections in the space.
Where: V&A
When: Saturday 8 February, 11.00-16.00
Who: Ages 5+
Find out more here.
What: SENsory Sailors
Details: Disabled children, children with additional needs and their families are invited to a monthly session at the National Maritime Museum led by disabled creatives. Explore the Museum’s collections, enjoy the opportunity to be creative together as a family, and meet other local families.
Where: National Maritime Museum
When: Saturday 8 February,11.00-12.30
Who: Sessions are tailored to children under 13 years. Siblings under 13 years old without SEND are welcomed.
Find out more here.
What: Second Saturday – Family activities at Guildhall Art Gallery
Details: Second Saturday brings you a fun range of activities for all the family, exploring the Guildhall Art Gallery and its inspiring collection of paintings. This session’s theme is Valentines Day responding to paintings in the main gallery, especially those symbolising love.
Where: Guildhall Art Gallery
When: Saturday 8 February, 11.00-16.00.
Who: Ages 3 to 11 and their families.
Find out more here.
What: Saturday Sessions with Club Origami
Details: Club Origami invites audiences to rip, fold and scrumple, to see what can happen with a single piece of paper. Following a short piece of Club Origami’s original, interactive dance show, audiences are invited to rip, fold and create their own worlds entirely from paper in a magical origami workshop.
Where: Southbank Centre
When: Saturday 8 February, 13.00-15.30. There is also a relaxed session from 10.30
Who: Ages 5-11
Find out more here.
What: Family Design Challenge
Details: Family Design Challenge is an opportunity for the whole family to get hands-on and creative with a variety of materials. Learn how to fold a zine and use collage to cut, stick and draw your ideas. This workshop is inspired by our designers in The Shed who are exploring everyday collections through playful printed matter and DIY publishing.
Where: Young V&A
When: Saturday 8 February, 12.00-16.00
Who: Families with children aged 3-14 years old
Find out more here.
What: Explore the Silk Roads
Details: Inspired by the Silk Roads exhibition, you and your under-fives can traverse these early routes with multisensory activities.
Where: British Museum
When: Monday 10 February, 10.30-12.00
Who: Under 5s
Find out more here.
What: Southwark Music: Orchestral Playing Day
Details: Hear young musical talent as secondary schools from across Southwark showcase a programme of music from composers including Florence Price and Antonín Dvořák.
Where: Southbank Centre
When: Tuesday 11 February, 17.00
Who: All
Find out more here.
What: Lantern Festival
Details: Celebrate the beauty of new beginnings, hope, and unity. Write your heartfelt wishes, dreams, or messages of gratitude on a floating lantern, then release it onto the canal, creating a stunning display of glowing lights reflecting across the surface. NB. Numbers for floating lanterns are limited.
Where: Fountain Maze, Merchant Square
When: Wednesday 12th February, 17:30
Who: All ages
Find out more here.
What: LEGO® Biodiversity Super Builders
Details: Use your imagination, creativity and LEGO® bricks to construct your own solution to one of the biggest challenges facing nature in this building challenge workshop.
Where: Natural History Museum
When: Saturday 15 – Friday 21 February, 11.00-16.00
Who: Ages 6+
Find out more here.
What: Out at Sea
Details: A range of fun creative events for families inspired by LGBTQ+ History Month! From storytelling and singing workshops to maritime crafts and marvellous history, there’s something on every day (full programme here).
Where: National Maritime Museum
When: Saturday 15 February – Sunday 23 February, 11.00-16.00
Who: All ages
Find out more here.
What: HOLIDAY MAKE STUDIO: THE JOY OF FEELING
Details: Joyful colours transform the South Tank into a soothing environment that encourages rest and play. You can sway, slide and spin to a dreamy soundscape specially composed to delight the senses. Or wrap yourself in soft, weighted objects that echo the shape of Tanning’s sculptures for a moment of calm.
Where: Tate Modern, South Tank
When: Saturday 15 February – Sunday 23 February, 10.30-18.00 (Last entry 45 minutes before event finishes. Event starts at 11.30 on Tuesday 18 February due to the Relaxed Hour event)
Who: Families
Find out more here.
What: Family Activity Hub: Home Front Volunteers
Details: Learn about the important roles played by ordinary people, from the Women’s Land Army to the Timber Corps. Find out what life was like on the Home Front. Once you’ve learned about people’s roles, decide which you like the best and design a fabric armband to take home.
Where: International War Museum
When: Saturday 15 February – Sunday 23 February, 10.00-16.00
Who: All ages
Find out more here.
What: Face painting
Details: Become fully immersed in the Battersea Light Festival and get your face painted with bright neon colours.
Where: Battersea Power Station, South End, Upper Ground Floor, Turbine Hall B
When: Saturday 15th – Sunday 16th February & Saturday 22nd – 23rd February, 11.00-16.00
Who: All ages
Find out more here.
What: Hands on Armour: Venice the Menace
Details: Learn how Venetians made their money and splashed their cash on looking flash in etched and painted armours. Try on real and replica pieces of our handling armour with the help of our Hands-on Armour volunteers and make your own handsome helmet for your chance to join the Wallace Household Guard.
Where: Wallace Collection
When: Saturday 15 February, 13.30 – 16.00
Who: Ages 5+
Find out more here.
What: Early Birds
Details: Early Birds is a sensory friendly event for families with members who need a quieter environment to enjoy the museum.
Where: Science Museum
When: Saturday 15 February, 18.30-21.30
Who: Families with children aged 4–15. Siblings are welcome to attend, but all children and adults attending the event will need to book.
Find out more here.
What: Meet the Scientist
Details: From birds and butterflies to evolution and climate change, explore the natural world with Natural History Museum scientists. Come along to hear about cutting-edge research and to see incredible specimens from the collections.
Where: Natural History Museum
When: Monday 17, Tuesday 18 and Thursday 20 February, 15.00-15.30
Who: Ages 11+
Find out more here.
What: Pet Sounds
Details: Use an iPad to create a soundscape inspired by the creatures of the Animal Emporium – a Victorian-era exotic pet shop – and design a digital collage to illustrate it.
Where: Museum of London Docklands
When: Monday 17, Tuesday 18 and Friday 21 February, 11.00-13.00 and 14.00-16.00
Who: Ages 4+
Find out more here.
What: February half-term: Inside the Picture
Details: Find out about the everyday lives of the Victorians who visited or worked at the Bank of England. Follow a trail which uncovers some of the hidden stories about the men, women, and children who would have visited the Bank of England during Queen Victoria’s reign.
Where: Bank of England Museum
When: Monday 17 February – Friday 21 February, 10.00-17.00
Who: Families.
Find out more here.
What: Art Explorers: Craft Your Own Textile Art!
Details: Join London Mithraeum Bloomberg SPACE for a fun, free and creative family day, inspired by 0.1% by Jonathan Baldock. Craft a piece of art, explore the exhibition and the Temple of Mithras below.
Where: London Mithraeum
When: Tuesday 18 February, 10.00-16.00, 15.30–16.00 is Quiet Hour. This session has a smaller capacity to ensure a quieter experience for those with sensory needs.
Who: Aimed at children aged 5 – 11, but all ages are welcome.
Find out more here.
What: Lunar New Year Family Day 2025
Details: Join for a vibrant day of creativity, connection, and celebration, to explore the snake and welcome the Lunar New Year.
Where: Museum of the Home
When: Tuesday 18 February, 10.30-15.30
Who: Families
Find out more here.
What: Paper Puppets
Details: Make and take home an animal hand puppet in this simple papercraft activity inspired by animals from Docklands’ past.
Where: Museum of London Docklands
When: Tuesday 18 and Thursday 20 February, 10.30-12.30 and 13.00-15.00
Who: Ages 5+
Find out more here.
What: Paws, claws and tiger tales
Details: Step back in time with this interactive storytelling session inspired by the beasts of Docklands’ past. With tales of escaped tigers, mummified cats and more, the session will be packed with fun, lots of facts and plenty of audience participation for both children and their grown-ups.
Where: Museum of London Docklands
When: Tuesday 18 – Friday 21 February, 11.00-11.30, 12.00-12.30, and 14.00-14.30
Who: Ages 5+
Find out more here.
What: Imagine’s Giant Chalkboard
Details: The Giant Chalkboard returns to Imagine Festival – pick up a piece of chalk and get creative!
Where: Queen Elizabeth Hall Foyer, Southbank Centre
When: Tuesday 18 February – Sunday 23 February, 10.30 onwards
Who: Ages 3+
Find out more here.
What: Afro Dance With HomeBros
Details: Drop in to this free session with dance duo HomeBros to learn some new moves and routines, and watch incredible short performances.
Where: Southbank Centre
When: Tuesday 18 February, 10.30 and 13.30
Who: Ages 5-11
Find out more here.
What: Digital Kids: Listening Garden
Details: Explore the hidden sounds around you, take a moment to reflect, and design your very own garden-inspired sound mix.
Where: V&A
When: Tuesday 18 – Friday 21 February, 11.00-16.00
Who: Families
Find out more here.
What: Decoding pictures
Details: Explore the Gallery with our friendly Educator team and learn fun tips and tricks to unlock secrets hidden in plain sight, even if you’re seeing a painting for the first time. Discover how to decode pictures by looking, questioning, and discussing together in this interactive session.
Where: National Gallery
When: Tuesday 18 – Thursday 20 February, 11.00-11.45 and 13.00-13.45
Who: Families, ages 5 – 13
Find out more here.
What: Family Day: picture yourself
Details: Explore photography, sculpting and collage to make your own artworks inspired by self-portraits on display throughout the Gallery.
Where: National Portrait Gallery
When: Tuesday 18 February, 11.00-16.00
Who: Families
Find out more here.
What: Family lute tour: music and stories around the Gallery
Details: Bring your friends and family along to join lute player, Andrew Maginley, and Gallery educator and storyteller, Fiona Alderton, for a musical adventure around the Gallery. Through repetition, rhythm and rhyme, Fiona Alderton invites you to help her tell a story as you explore a selection of paintings.
Where: National Gallery
When: Tuesday 18 February, 12.00-12.45 and 14.00-14.45
Who: Families, for all ages
Find out more here.
What: Family Event: Museum of Imagination with Mustafa
Details: The Petrie Museum are hosting a guest from the future – Mustafa Chaudhry, Museum of Imagination curator. Help re-discover some objects within the collection, the stories they hold and imagine how future civilisations may think about them.
Where: The Petrie Museum of Egyptian and Sudanese Archaeology
When: Tuesday 18 February, three sessions starting at 13:00, 14:00 and 15:00
Who: This is an intergenerational workshop, suitable for all ages and abilities. Everyone is welcome but young children will need adult help.
Find out more here.
What: The Meditation Station
Details: All aboard at the meditation station! Journey through sound, movement and story to land softly after a busy day.
Where: Southbank Centre
When: Tuesday 18 February – Saturday 22 February, 15.30-16.00
Who: Ages 5+
Find out more here.
What: Dawnosaurus
Details: Neurodivergent children and their families have the opportunity to explore the museum before anyone else and enjoy activities around different themes.
Where: Natural History Museum
When: Wednesday 19 February, 8.00-10.00
Who: This event is best for children aged five to 15, and siblings are welcome.
Find out more here.
What: Gorgeous Gargoyles: Family Drop-In
Details: Join artist and educator Caroline Dorset to create your own gorgeous gargoyles from clay.
Where: Sir John Soane’s Museum
When: Wednesday 19 February, 14.00-16.00
Who: Activities are aimed at children aged 4+yrs but younger siblings are very welcome.
Find out more here.
What: Singing All Over the World
Details: Throughout the day hear performances from different choirs and learn songs in different languages to celebrate all voices across the world.
Where: Southbank Centre
When: Wednesday 19 February, 10.30-12.30 and 13.30-15.30
Who: Ages 5+
Find out more here.
What: February Half Term: How Food Shapes Us
Details: Express yourself through collage, drawing and sewing! Watch a screening, get involved in making fruit preserves and unwind in workshops for the whole family.
Where: V&A
When: Wednesday 19 – Friday 21 February, 11.00-16.00
Who: Families of all ages
Find out more here.
What: February Half Term: Making Egypt
Details: Hear tales about some of the well-known ancient Egyptian gods and goddesses in our storytelling session, design and play inspired by architecture or craft of ancient Egypt, or book onto one of the age specific workshops.
Where: Young V&A
When: Wednesday 19 – Friday 21 February, 12.00-16.00
Who: Families of all ages
Find out more here.
What: LEGO Group spring workshop
Details: Join for an inventive workshop provided by the LEGO Group. This workshop will combine learning with play through creative and innovative activities. This fun and educational session is perfect for children of all ages.
Where: Shoe Lane Library
When: Wednesday 19 February, 11.30-12.30
Who: Families
Find out more here.
What: SEND: Relaxed Family Morning
Details: Join for an autism-friendly morning visit, tailored for neurodiverse children and their families. Inspired by the artist Canaletto, journey across cities and landscapes with engaging, multisensory activities and storytelling. Create a unique building to add to our city or take home. The activities will be suitable for all skill levels and abilities.
Where: Wallace Collection
When: Wednesday 19 February, 09.00-12.00 (Please note that the rest of the museum will open to the general public at 10.00)
Who: Ages 5+
Find out more here.
What: The sound of paintings
Details: Artists have hidden many clues in the Gallery’s paintings to encourage us to look closer into their fantastic worlds. It’s incredible how many details you can discover just by exploring with your eyes, as you search for sounds and noise in the hills and across the sea. During the activity, an educator will assist in drawing different sounds through mark-making and help you create your own listening chart to interpret other paintings in the collection.
Where: National Gallery
When: Wednesday 19 and Thursday 20 February, 12.00-12.45 and 14.00-14.45
Who: Families, for all ages
Find out more here.
What: When Stories Come Alive!
Details: Words jump off the page, images come alive and music fills the silence as we bring an entire book to life in a day. Come and be part of the story!
Where: Southbank Centre
When: Thursday 20 February, 10.30-12.30 and 13.30-15.30
Who: Unspecified
Find out more here.
What: Double Bass Dan
Details: Bounce, clap and sing along to a host of beastly bops with east London under-5s’ favourite, Double Bass Dan.
Where: Museum of London Docklands
When: Thursday 20 February, 10.30-11.00, 11.30-12.00, and 14.00-14.30
Who: Ages 5+
Find out more here.
What: Big Laughs for Little Bellies
Details: Laugh yourself silly at a comedy show hosted by cabaret performer, comedian and magician Ada Campe with an assortment of all-round funny people.
Where: Southbank Centre
When: Friday 21 February, 10.30-12.30 & 13.30-15.30
Who: Ages 5+
Find out more here.
What: Family Event: Dr. You’s Case Notes – The Starling and the Echidna
Details: Meet Research Assistant Alex Vector, who needs help to complete Dr You’s case notes. Unravelled through a series of stories, tasks, play and creative thinking, Alex invites you on an interactive adventure around the Grant Museum as part of Dr You’s research team.
Where: Grant Museum of Zoology
When: Friday 21 February. This event comprises two sessions: a bookable session at 13:00 and drop-in session from 14:00-16:00 where booking is not required.
Who: This is an intergenerational workshop, suitable for all ages and abilities. Everyone is welcome.
Find out more here.
What: LPO Showcase: Junior Artists
Details: Hear from talented young musicians who’ve taken part in the London Philharmonic Orchestra’s Junior Artists Programme at a free concert.
Where: Royal Festival Hall
When: Friday 21 February, 18.00-18.45
Who: Ages 7+
Find out more here.
What: Family Nature Talks
Details: Join short, family-friendly talks and learn surprising facts about the natural world through stories, specimens and science.
Where: Natural History Museum
When: Saturday 22 and Sunday 23 February, 12.00–12.30 and 14.30–15.00
Who: Not specified
Find out more here.
What: ZooNation’s Hip-Hop Half-Term
Details: Get your groove on with ZooNation dancers in workshops introducing families to a range of styles influenced by hip-hop culture.
Where: Southbank Centre
When: Saturday 22 February, 10.30-15.30
Who: Ages 5-11
Find out more here.
What: Hands on Armour: Armour and Arrows
Details: Can armour stop arrows? Get the answer to this question and discover how bows and arrows changed armour over the centuries in this month’s Hands on Armour session. Join this free opportunity to handle and try on real and replica pieces with the help of our team of Hands on Armour volunteers.
Where: Wallace Collection
When: Saturday 22 February, 13.30-16.00
Who: Ages 5+
Find out more here.
What: Battersea Power Station Light Festival
Details: A free interactive art trail for all to enjoy, explore eight must-see light installations from British and international artists, a number of which are making their UK or London debut.
Where: Battersea Power Station
When: Until Sunday 23 February, 08.00-23.00
Who: All ages
Find out more here.
What: Prancer the Dancer’s DanceDanceDiscoParty FunShow
Details: Prancer the Dancer invites you to tear up the dance floor and power the disco with collective electric dance energy at a fun-filled party.
Where: Southbank Centre
When: Sunday 23 February, 10.30-12.30 and 13.30-15.30
Who: All ages
Find out more here.
What: Wonderful Wildlife Weekends
Details: Explore the ponds and surrounding areas to discover the wildlife that lives at Camley Street Natural Park.
Where: Camley Street Natural Park
When: Sunday 23 February, 13.00-15.00
Who: All ages
Find out more here.
What: Tots at the Docks
Details: Dive deep in the river, stack cargo, put on a puppet show or build the tallest tower! Tots at the docks is an unticketed, drop-in play session,
Where: London Museum Docklands
When: Wednesday 26 February 10.30-14.00
Who: Under 5s
Find out more here.
And don’t forget to also check out our post The ULTIMATE list of free things to do with kids in London which provides plenty of ideas of things to do in London that are free and always available.
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