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Family Fun February Half Term
Looking for things to do with the family this Half Term? The River Thames has plenty to offer from wonderful walks to fascinating exhibitions. Enjoy the fresh air and take a walk along the Thames Path National Trail or keep dry if it’s raining outside.
Things to do in & Around London during February Half Term
Big Ben, The London Eye, Tower Bridge and more with City Cruises
See the best views in London with our River Thames sightseeing cruise, with City Cruises’ boats departing every 30 minutes and tickets starting at £10.00. We offer a range of ticket types, from single journeys to a hop-on, hop-off 24, hour river pass. Boats have café-bars with sandwiches, snacks, soft drinks, wine, beer and more. Live or recorded commentary is usually available. Not yet decided on what to do with the kids this half term? Spending a day on the River Thames with your children is brilliant fun, a proper day out.
High speed aquabatics on the Thames with Thamesjet
50 unforgettable minutes as you experience high speed aquabatics.
Your experience starts as you pass some of London's most iconic sights; the Capital's great bridges including the most modern, Millennium Bridge, as well as the world-renowned Tower Bridge on our way to the fast zone. Once past Tower Bridge we are heading for speed, the only jetboat ride on the river that stops harder, turns tighter and nothing's faster.
Houses of Parliament
The Houses of Parliament is a fantastic place for a family day out in London with the children. What’s On - Ever wondered where Guy Fawkes hid before he tried to blow up Parliament? Want to see the very spot where Charles I was tried and found guilty of treason? Take a journey through the historic Houses of Parliament where these questions and many others will be answered. There is a family version of the audio tour in English in the style of a ‘live’ news broadcast with time travelling reporters! All kids under 5 go free and a 5-15 year-old will go free with a paying adult.
We are surrounded by some of the most beautiful parks and open spaces in London, such as the Victoria Tower Gardens and St James's Park, alongside some spectacular river views. Ideal for a picnic and for the kids to run around!
Hampton Court Palace
Family activities - There's lots for families to see and do together at Hampton Court Palace Families have always lived and worked at Hampton Court Palace, from princes and princesses to guards and servants. Now you can join them for an amazing day out. Whatever your age, there is plenty to see inside or out. Family tickets- Discover the value for money family ticket at Hampton Court Palace and enjoy your visit to this fascinating historic attraction for less. Your ticket includes access to the palace, maze and gardens, plus a multi-language audio guide, costumed guided tours, children's activity trails, the Tudor Kitchens, the Young Henry VIII exhibition and much more. What's on for families - Enjoy a wide range of events and activities designed for families to make the most of their visit to Hampton Court. Explore the grounds with our Great Garden Game or try a digital mission and go on a interactive adventure around the palace. Pick up a family trail or burn off some energy in the Magic Garden. Please remember that children under 16 need to be accompanied by an adult at all times.
Things to do in Berkshire during Half Term
Family Fun in the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead
Keep the family happy, come rain or shine, and you’re on to a winner! Read on for some great ideas for days out, things to do and activities – indoors and outdoors. Tickets for many local attractions and events can be purchased via our online shop or picked up from the Royal Windsor Information Centre. Don’t forget to check our What's On pages for our seasonal programme of Windsor and Maidenhead town centre events.
Indoors:
- Windsor Castle, Easter Egg-splorers | Easter holiday activities at Windsor Castle
- Windsor Leisure Centre - Leisure Pool with wave machine, giant slides, water features, interactive water play feature and Spa Pool
- Cinema - Check out the films and show times at the Odeon Maidenhead, Norden Farm Centre for the Arts and The Firestation Centre for Arts and Culture, also offers Kids’ Club and workshops.
- Museums - The Windsor and Royal Borough Museum is an accredited, family-friendly small local history museum in Windsor’s impressive 17th-century Guildhall. During the school holiday there are drop-in family activities for children ages 5+. For budding David Attenboroughs, the Eton College Natural History Museum is a family-friendly museum of British Birds and other collections. It now houses over 15,000 specimens. Or how about flying a spitfire simulator at Maidenhead Heritage Centre? It’s part of a superb permanent exhibition called ‘Grandma Flew Spitfires!’.
- Tenpin Bowling or Absolute Karting in Maidenhead.
Inspiration for Easter events in Windsor.
Outdoor Activities
- Braywick Nature Centre, Maidenhead offers a variety of scheduled events and workshops as well as daily activities that are both fun and educational. Learn about the environment surrounding the Thames and all parts of the ecosystem
- Windsor Great Park - walk down Park Street through the gates into the Long Walk – a beautiful, wide, tree-lined avenue that runs miles from Windsor Castle to the Copper Horse statue. Windsor Great Park covers 4,800 acres, parts of which are open to the public. There are refreshment points at the Savill Building and the Virginia Water Pavilion plus mobile cafes at various stops on popular visitor routes. T
- A family day out The Savill Garden offers beautiful gardens with buggy-friendly paths - if you’d like to consider combining a trip to the Obelisk Lawn play area with an afternoon in The Savill Garden for a fun family day out. It’s free for children under 6 to visit The Savill Garden, and we also have excellent offers for families and children under 16. Keeping the little ones entertained Our children’s play area offers a good selection of low level play equipment which is perfect for children of pre-school age. It is located close to the picnic tables on Obelisk Lawn, with views overlooking the nearby Obelisk Pond - where there are plenty of ducks and swans which your children will enjoy feeding. Drinks, snacks and coffees are available from the kiosk on Obelisk Lawn, or the play area is also just short walk from the restaurant, baby changing facilities and toilets at The Savill Building. In the gift shop here you can also buy duck and swan food, which is healthier for our resident feathered friends. The Savill Building has easy access for pushchairs and wheelchairs from The Savill Garden car park, and is often a hub for exciting child-friendly events and trails during school holidays. See our Events page for more information on all the latest children’s activities taking place at Windsor Great Park
- Bray Lake Watersports offers sailing, windsurfing or kayaking
- River Thames - From feeding the swans at the water’s edge to climbing aboard a Windsor Duck Tour, paddling a kayak, or taking a boat trip with French Brothers, there’s plenty of ways to enjoy one of the most beautiful stretches of the River Thames
- Carriage rides - Slow down the pace and take a horse-drawn carriage ride from either Windsor Town Centre or The Savill Building. Windsor Carriages and Ascot Carriages will take you and the family on a relaxing tour to remember.
- Bus Tours - A great way to see the local area with children in tow is to take a City Sightseeing Open Top Bus Tour
- Guard March - one of the highlights of a visit to Windsor and children will adore watching and marching alongside the soldiers and their band (weather permitting) as they travel between Victoria Barracks and Windsor Castle. Best place to view this ceremony is along the High Street or on the Corn Exchange (the covered part of Windsor Guildhall). Check the guards are marching by looking at the Guard March schedule.
- Theme Parks – Legoland, Chessington World of Adventures and Thorpe Park are all nearby.
- Extreme Motion, Alexandra Gardens - the adventure park offers a skate park, bike hire, adventure golf, bungee trampoline and Zorbing excitement in Sphere World.
- Liquid Leisure includes an aqua park – an inflatable playground guaranteeing endless fun for all the family.
- Cliveden National Trust Gardens
- Nestled high above the River Thames with far-reaching views, the National Trust's gardens at Cliveden offer colourful planting schemes which give way to miles of woodland and riverside walks, whilst the giant maze and storybook themed play area are a favourite with families. Check out the programme of events. National Trust Members and under 5s go free.
Things to do in Oxfordshire & Buckinghamshire during Half Term.
This section of the Thames Path is between two charming market towns – allow plenty of time in the day to explore either, or both. Leaving Henley, you follow the length of the regatta course along a very straight stretch of the river to Temple Island, the starting point for the races. The views across the river near Hambleden Lock are picturesque; the lock, a series of weirs across which you can walk and Hambleden Mill. Hurley, a few miles further downstream, is just a small village but has a tremendous history and many fine buildings to see. Your approach to Marlow starts with a lovely view of Bisham Church on the opposite bank. A little further on you enter Marlow's Higginson Park just before the fine bridge. Here you can picnic, feed the ducks, or just sit and rest your feet. You can return by train to Henley.
- Stonor Park, Near Henley
Tumblestone Hollow at Stonor, where children up to the age of 15 will have hours of entertainment swinging, jumping, sliding and learning.
A 2.5 hour round trip taking in views of Iffley Lock and Port Meadown including gourmet picnic lunch. Depart Folly Bridge at 12.30. Adults £30,00, Children £20. Book in advance 01865 243421.
River Thames Family Attractions | River Thames Family Friendly Towns | River Thames Family Events