Here is a list of the best of the free and affordable events going on in London during February half term 2011.
Love Swimming at Dolphin Square
Half-Term Fast Track Availability
The Love Swimming team will introduce new swimming skills while making it really fun for everyone. One to one and shared lessons available. Luxurious pool complete with aromatherapy toiletries and towels service. http://www.loveswimming.co.uk/
week 1: 14th - 18th February, week 2: 21st - 25th February. Mornings from 10 - noon and afternoons from 2 - 6pm. Half hour and hour-long sessions available.
£150(30 min)/£250(60 min) for one to one
£100(30 min)/£175(60 min) two to one.
Royal Albert Hall
Family Ignite concert, noon and 3:00pm, free all ages (but it is a small theatre and very wiggly toddlers do not have much room to wander)
Monday 21st February, in the Elgar Room, come and enjoy a free family concert built around the theme of circus.
More info: http://www.royalalberthall.com/tickets/production.aspx?id=14982
Vauxhall City Farm
Come and participate in free, drop-in, all ages activities at the Vauxhall City Farm.
Wednesday 23rd, Friday 25th and Sunday 27th February
11am: Meet and Greet the animals, 1pm: Interactive Workshop
More info: http://www.vauxhallcityfarm.org/search/label/news
National Gallery
Tuesday 22nd February, Storyscape, 11:30 - noon, under 5′s
Wednesday 23rd February, Drawingscape, 11:30 - 12:30, under 5′s
Thursday 24th February, Storyscape, 11:30 - noon, under 5′s
Take the little ones to bite sized, interactive workshops where they can act out stories in Storyscape, or stay on a bit longer and create a drawing in Wednesdays Drawingscape.
More info: http://www.nationalgallery.org.uk/whats-on/early-bird-sessions/
National Portrait Gallery
Monday 21st - Friday 25th February:
Tour and Draw: 11:00 & 1:30
An interactive storytelling and drawing session for 3+ led by artists and actors
Portraits and People: 11:30 & 2:30
Create an illustrations, painting, or 3D object in this workshop led by artists, ages 5+
More info: http://preview.tinyurl.com/647zggl
V&A:
Monday 21st - Friday 27th February: Half-term activities
All ages, free, drop-in, 10:30 - 5pm
Come to the Sackler Centre to make a puppet or fan inspired by mythical Chinese creatures found on your preparatory gallery walk.
More info: http://www.vam.ac.uk/activ_events/families/families_events_calendar/February/index.html
British Museum:
Monday 21st - Friday 25th: Book of the Dead Holiday Activities
All ages, free, drop-in, 11 - 4pm daily
Come to the bring the kids to take part in several different activities offered daily through out half term. Timed session daily for learning ancient scripts, storytelling and other craft activities for kids to take part in.
More info: http://www.britishmuseum.org/whats_on/events_calendar/february_2011/travelling__netherworld.aspx
Museum of London
Monday 21st - Friday 25th, numerous free, drop in sessions daily; check web site for exact details:
During half-term, the museum offers a variety of hands-on and storytelling sessions for slightly older children. For the very young ones there are craft activities in the learning centre from 11am.
More info: http://preview.tinyurl.com/yer8x3b
Wallace Collection
Thursday 24th February: Entrez Dans la Danse
No age requirement, free, drop-in, 2 - 4pm
Join Harlequin Colombine and their friends at the party, discover the joys of the Fetes Galantes and create puppets for your own puppet theatre with the help of Clemence Piliven
Saturday 26th of February: A Day in the 18th Century
All ages, free, drop-in, 11 - 4:30pm
Visit the world of Madame de Pampadour and Voltaire celebrating 18th century French arts. Includes music, gallery talks, lectures, craft activities, singing and costumed interpreters.
More info: http://www.wallacecollection.org/whatson/activitiesforadultsandfamilies/familyactivities
Transport Museum
Transport Museum recently changed its pricing, adults pay £13.50 for the year. If you keep the ticket and produce it each time you enter, it will save you from haggling with the cashier who for some reason prefers to see the actual ticket, even though he has to look up your information anyway.
Monday 21st February - Friday 25th: Half-term Activities
Transport Tales and Railway Rhymes.
Daily, 11am and 4pm, free, under fives
Rhymes, songs, and storytelling telling sessions based on transport themes.
Paper Dolls and Busses. Organised as part of the Under Attack: London, Coventry and Dresden, children can make toys out of paper, the same way many did during the war.
All ages, daily, free, drop-in, Paper dolls: 12:30 - 1:30 & 2-3pm, Paper war time busses: 12:30 - 1:30 & 2-3pm
More info: http://www.ltmuseum.co.uk/whats-on/families-and-children
Southbank Centre
Monday 21st – Friday 25th February
Book Worm Babies: Dr. Octopus and the Wheels of Steel
Under 2’s, free, drop-in 10:30
Join DJ and poet Charlie Dark as he takes you on an undersea adventure with a soundtrack for babies and toddlers. Movements, laughter, storytelling and hip-hop.
More info: http://www.southbankcentre.co.uk/find/literature-spoken-word/tickets/bookworm-babies-56140
Just for Babies:
Electric Scream, Electric Cinema Noting Hill: New time for this heavenly treat, 11:00 am on Tuesdays.
Love Swimming at Dolphin Square. Double check times, but fabulous morning of splendour in the warm pool with the baby at Dolphin Square. £12 per class, but luxurious, towels included, very, very posh and nice. http://www.loveswimming.co.uk/
Also at Dolphin Square, Mums and Babes Exercise Class. Around £60 for a 12 week course. Contact [email protected] for more details
