Warm up in the sunshine

Wondering what indoor activities there are in Winchester this February half-term? Whatever the weather outside, the sun will be shining inside Winchester Cathedral. A giant art installation - a seven-metre sculpture of the Sun - is being suspended inside the ancient space until 1 March. There's also a brand new Sun, Moon, Stars and More! Interactive Family Trail, which is aimed at children aged between 5 and 11. The trail will explore ways the sun, moon and stars decorate the cathedral and includes a series of stellar challenges.

Here comes the Sun at Winchester Cathedral. Open every day in half-term. 
📍Winchester City Centre

See magic tricks on a vintage steam train

Heritage steam railway The Watercress Line is getting a magical makeover for February half-term. Running from 14 to 22 February, Magic of Locomotion will see visitors get to enjoy both the magic of train travel and actual magic tricks. There will be magic shows to marvel at in the Old Goods Shed at Alresford station, as well as up-close tricks from magicians on board the trains. Not forgetting activity and colouring sheets to keep littles busy too.

Magic of Locomotion at The Watercress Line. Saturday 14 February - Sunday 22 February. 
📍Alresford

Watch pancake races outside Winchester Cathedral

Pancake Day falls on the Tuesday of February half-term this year, and there are plenty of ways to celebrate it in Winchester. First up, watch The Shrove Tuesday Pancake Races, organised by Winchester Rotary in partnership with Winchester Cathedral. The event, in the Cathedral Outer Close, will see teams compete for the title of fastest team, best fancy dress and best team name. Afterwards, head to one of the many places in town which serves up great pancakes, like Josie's which serves up kids-pleasing stacks of the fluffy kind. Here's our pick of places to eat pancakes in Winchester.

The Shrove Tuesday Pancake Races, outside Winchester Cathedral. Tuesday 17 February. 
📍Winchester City Centre

Catch a performance at the theatre

When it comes to indoor activities for half-term not much beats a trip to the theatre. A stage adaptation of classic story The Tiger Who Came To Tea is on at Theatre Royal Winchester during half-term, while The Nutshell has puppets and original songs in Tales from the Lighthouse, and a relaxed participatory theatre session with The Last Baguette theatre company called Playtime! The Enchanted Forest for very little ones.

The Tiger Who Came To Tea at Theatre Royal Winchester. Saturday 14 - Monday 16 February. 
📍Winchester City Centre

Tales from the Lighthouse (Thursday 19 February) and Playtime! The Enchanted Forest (Sunday 22 February) at The Nutshell. 
📍Winchester City Centre

Explore Winchester's new soft play

Just in time for February half-term, Thrive & Wild is the newest soft play on the Winchester scene. Featuring three soft play spaces for different ages, all in pleasingly colourful shades, the centre also has a café serving up actually really good coffee. It's run by Flat Whites, with a new brunch and lunch menu (as well as cake, obviously.)

Thrive & Wild. Open now. 
📍Kings Worthy, Near Winchester City

Take a climb for an amazing view

Entertaining older children and teenagers? Why not book onto an adrenaline-filled climb, which will reward you with amazing views of Winchester city and its surrounding countryside. Bonus if the kids learn a little bit of history while they're at it! A Winchester Cathedral Tower Tour might just be the perfect experience this February half-term. Tours are running on 14, 18 and 21 February. Alternatively, head to the Hospital of St Cross, to try a tower tour on 22 February.

Winchester Cathedral 
📍Winchester City Centre

The Hospital of St Cross 
📍Winchester City

Plant a tree together

Plant a tree this year and support life for years to come. These tree planting sessions for families take place on the picturesque Hinton Ampner estate and will introduce kids, parents and grandparents to the hands-on, earthy delight of planting saplings that will hopefully grow into glorious native woodland. Each tree will provide homes, shelter and food for hundreds of species of wildlife, from barbastelle bats to purple emperor butterflies. The session is free but must be booked in advance.

Family Tree Planting at Hinton Ampner. Tuesday 17 and Friday 20 February. 
📍Cheriton, Near Alresford

Visit an art exhibition

Inspire a future artist by taking a visit to one of the amazing art exhibitions on in Winchester during February half-term 2026. Older children will enjoy stepping inside Van Gogh's paintings at immersive experience Van Gogh Alive, which is taking over the planetarium dome at Winchester Science Centre.

Over at The Winchester Gallery you can explore Folding Space, an exhibition about Japanese and UK artists' books, for free during half-term.

Yinka Shonibare CBE RA: Patterns of Power opens at The Arc's Gallery during February half-term. Take in the colourful, playful and complex artworks and see what work of art your little one creates next time the paints come out!

Winchester Science Centre
📍Outskirts of Winchester City

The Winchester Gallery and The Arc 
📍Winchester City Centre

Learn new creative crafts

Join BellaCrafts for their February Half Term Holiday Club, Monday to Friday from 14 to 24 February. They will be offering a variety of projects to suit all ages and interests including salt dough, miniature gardens, mobiles, garlands, bookmarks, painting and more. The Arc are also running a Print a Pop Art Poster workshop, while aspiring writers (8+) might enjoy taking part in a creative writing workshop at P&G Wells, which is being run by childrens' fantasy author Rowan Foxwood.

BellaCrafts, Winchester. Friday 13 February - Monday 23 February. 
📍Winchester City Centre

Print a Pop Art Poster at The Arc. Tuesday 17 February 
📍Winchester City Centre

Children's creative writing workshop with author Rowan Foxwood at P&G Wells. Friday 20 February. 
📍Winchester City Centre

Make love bugs at the zoo

Half-term is the perfect time to explore Marwell Zoo. Get up close to the zoo's hundreds of animals, find out how conservationists are making a difference for future generations, and explore the adventure play areas and cafés on this 140-acre site. There's also love bug crafts on every day between 10:30am and 3pm, where little ones can make love bugs from pinecones and beads. The firepits will be lit over half-term too, so you can toast sweetheart marshmallows over the flames.

Marwell Zoo. Open every day in half-term. 
📍Colden Common, Near Winchester City

Go stargazing after dark

Head to Winchester Science Centre this half-term for a family-friendly, guided stargazing session. Begin your Night Sky Live adventure in the Planetarium. Learn the skills you’ll need to identify what’s above us before following the stargazing host outside into the South Downs National Park. It’s the perfect spot to observe the stars, constellations and planets. This event is part of the South Downs Dark Skies Festival 2026, which is celebrating the 10th anniversary of the South Downs becoming an International Dark Sky Reserve.

Night Sky Live: Family at Winchester Science Centre. Tuesday 17 February. 
📍Outskirts of Winchester City

Step back in time at Historic Winchester attractions

It’s a Norman invasion at City Museum this February half-term. Learn about the weapons used at the Battle of Hastings on the Bayeaux Tapestry trail and add your own entry to our Doomesday Book. Practice your sword and shield techniques and decide whether you’re on the side of the Normans or the Anglo Saxons. Elsewhere in Winchester, The Great Hall and Westgate Museum will also be open for little history fans to explore.

Noble Normans at Winchester City Museum. 
📍Winchester City Centre