Essex is bursting with family-friendly activities and events, especially during February half term. The February half term holiday for Essex schools is Monday 17th February to Friday 21st February 2025.
If you're a local or just visiting, 2025 holds exciting options for children and parents. This guide will help you explore the best family-oriented events in Essex, ensuring you create unforgettable memories with your loved ones during the school holiday. Explore one of our wonderful parks, playgrounds, nature reserves or gardens. Just remember to wrap up warm. Read on to find out What's on in Essex for February Half Term 2025.
Free Events and Things to do in Essex - February Half Term
Jaywick Martello Tower: Origami Workshop for Young People 18th February - This hands-on workshop is perfect for young people who are interested in crafts and looking to try something new. No prior experience is necessary, just bring your enthusiasm and we'll provide the rest! Free event - prebooking required.
Free Character Trails
Stick Man Trail - The Stick Man Trail is at Weald Country Park. There are a series of wooden, sculptures located close to the car park and around the lake.
Peter Rabbit Trail - There are a series of wooden characters along the trail at Langdon including all the Peter Rabbit favourites such as Jemima Puddleduck and Benjamin Rabbit.
Wind in the WIllows Trail - you can find the Wind in the Willows Trail at the beautiful Hanningfield Reservoir. There are a series of wooden sculptures and brass rubbings along the woodland trail.
Abberton Reservoir is home to the Bralmey Hedge woodland trail.
Eastbrookend Country Park is home to Artys Sculpture Trail. The trail starts and ends at the Discovery Centre. The trail starts with Robin Rue’s sculpture next to the Discovery Centre.
The longest play trail in Essex can be found at Great Notley Country Park. The Great Notley Play Trail is a 1.2km loop with various pieces of play equipment and playgrounds along the route
Playgrounds are great for letting children burn some energy and sometimes you just need an indoor playground. Indoor play areas are great if you are looking for things to do on a rainy or cold day in Essex. Our Guide has over 30 listed by area.
Family Friendly Events in Essex - February Half Term
Essex Wildlife Trust Abberton Reservoir is a great Nature Discovery Park. As well as the great wildlife spotting, kids will also love natural play area and the Bramley Hedge woodland character trail.
16th - Nature Tots Sunday Special - As the seasons change, discover and learn through a range of fun wildlife-themed activities from bug hunting and leaf spotting to natural painting and stick creatures. £7
18th - Brilliant Birds - Make a bird box, toast marshmallows on the fire and complete our bird-based trail round the reserve. £7 plus £8 per bird box kit.
21st - Nature Adventures - Excited to learn some unique outdoor skills? We are providing crafts and activities that allow you to use tools, sticks, and mud to make some fabulous creations, including, dens, woodcraft, and natural art. £7
There are plenty of amazing ancient woodland to explore at Belfairs Woods in Leigh-on-Sea! Children will love den building, splashing in the streams and puddles.
15th - Winter Tots & Saturday Forest School - £7
There are plenty of regular events at the Bedfords Park Nature Discovery Centre. There is also a wooden play area, visitor centre, cafe and you can feed the deer!
18th - Bird Boulevard Trail - explore the Frosty Forest, on a journey to find the bird eggs scattered throughout. Then claim your rewards, and have a go making your own bird from the provided materials. £4
Daws Hall is a 25 acre private nature reserve on the Essex/Sussex Border.
19th - Pond dipping, Minibeast Hunt + Craft - Take part in some minibeast hunting and pond dipping with a picnic and marshmallows by the fire at Lunchtime. Have fun, get out and about and maybe even learn something new! £8
There are amazing birdwatching opportunites at this Essex Wildlife Trust Nature Discovery Centre. Explore bird hides with estuary views. There is a great play area and there are regular family friendly events hosted by EWT.
19th - Code Breakers - Calling all aspiring secret agents! We have received intelligence that some top-secret messages have been hidden around the nature reserve. Can you find all the messages, crack the codes, and complete the challenges? £7
21st - Winter Warm-Up - Discover your way to our wintry woodland site, and then build a shelter to protect yourself from the elements,. Cook tasty treats over the campfire and learn to light fires. £8
16th - Poo and Other Clues - What animals are at Fingringhoe? What do they eat and where do they live? Find out by looking at their poo and other clues!. Dissect some owl pellets to reveal the bones within, make a plaster cast of the animal prints we find, and do a spot of bug hunting. £7
There are so many things to do at Hainault Forest Country Park! You can find Foxborrows Farm (which is free to enter), the Hainault Thomas Train Ride and a great adventure playground at Hainault Country Park. The playground was renovated in July 2023 and is a great addition to the park.
18th - Forest Explorers - Have a go at making different designed shelters using branches and debris from the forest and learn how to put up a tarp shelter. £5
14th - Forest Explorers - Can you make a natural water filter? Next make your own pine needle scrub and learn about the other trees and plants in the forest that can help you get clean! £5
The Royal Horticultural Society's Hyde Hall has a variety of stunning, seasonal gardens. There is plenty of open space and also a children's play area. This February half term at Hyde Hall explore the Guess How Much I Love You garden adventure trail and more family friendly event.
From 15th - Starting on Saturday 15 February and continuing all year, explore the Guess How Much I Love You™ – A Garden Adventure trail. Bounce, hop and stretch like Little Nutbrown Hare, investigate colours, textures and shapes found in the garden, and learn about nature, growing and the changing seasons.
17th and 19th - Craft Workshop (prebook, £2.50 + admission)
17th and 19th - Face Painting (£5)
18th - Story telling walk
21st - Planting Workshop (prebook, £2.50)
Entrance to the gardens Adults £15.85 (£17.45 with gift aid), Children £7.95 (£8.75 with gift aid ), Under 5s Free
Hanningfield Reservoir is home to the Essex Wildlife Trust Nature Discovery Centre. The Wind in the WIllows Trail starts at the visitor centre - there are a series of brilliant wooden character sculptures and brass rubbings along the woodland trail. There is also a great play area on the other side of the wood at Hanningfield Waterside Park.
19th - Bird Box Building - Come and build a bird box to help the feathered friends in your garden! £10
20th - Famiy Forest School - Join us for a session spent in the woodland as it slowly starts to wake from winter £7
21st - Nature Tots - Enjoy exploring the woods with your toddler and looking for signs of early Spring in our forest! £8
19th - 22nd - Springtime crafty activities for all through the half term holiday - stone painting, make a paper flower, make a puppet, springtime Hunt, experiments and puzzles and more. On Thursday 20th Feb ONLY, Astaria Model Village will be open and the miniature steam train (at extra cost). Entry to museum Adults £8, Children £5, Children 1 - 5 years £1
19th and 20th - Magical Madness & Kids Rave with Skittleman! - Skittleman’s Comedy Magic Show—packed with tricks, laughs, and surprises! Then crank up the tunes and hit the dance floor! Dance, sing, and show the kids how real ravers roll, all under dazzling party lights! £10 per child and £6 per adult.
21st and 22nd - Meet The Farm Animals - Come meet and learn about your favourite farmyard friends— curious, and full of charm. Tickets £5 each and available by prebooking only.
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