Across the country, many National Trust places will be hosting fun family events during the half-term week, from trails and craft activities to building dens. You can even tick off some of your 50 things to do before you're 11 ¾ with cooking on a campfire and wild art making on offer.
Here are the top family places for a fun day out this half term:
Bodiam Castle, East Sussex – 01580 830196
The household returns: half-term trail, 15 to 23 February, 11am to 4pm
Join in some half-term fun with trails and craft activities around the castle as the Bodiam household comes to life again after the winter. Our half-term activities centre around the re-opening of the castle as it would have been in medieval times, when the family returned from their winter residence.
Normal admission charges apply: a small additional charge applies for activities.
Carding Mill Valley and the Shropshire Hills, Shropshire – 01694 725000
Kite chaos! 17 to 21 February, 11am to 3pm
Come along and make a kite to fly in the valley. Watch it soar over the heather-covered hills with stunning views of the Shropshire Hills - Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.
Normal admission charges apply – ticket price £2 per item.
Cherryburn, Northumberland – 01661 843276
Bewick's boredom busters! 24, 25, 27 & 28 February, 11am to 3pm
Discover the birth place of Thomas Bewick, perhaps one of Northumberland’s greatest artists. Enjoy Cherryburn as Thomas Bewick did as a young lad with free outdoor adventures, including toasting marshmallows at the campfire!
Normal admission charges apply.
Claremont Landscape Garden, Surrey – 01372 467806
February half term children's trail, 15 to 23 February, 10am to 3.30pm
Join us for some activities suitable for children of all ages and guaranteed fun, whatever the weather. Get some fresh air as you walk around this green oasis in the heart of Surrey and enjoy the garden with our children’s trail during the half term holiday. Remember to look out for the thatched cottage, a Victorian refuge filled with fun toys, games, picnic rugs and dressing up clothes.
Normal admission charges apply - trail price 50 pence.
Clumber Park, Nottinghamshire – 01909 511092
Winter wassailing craft activities, 15, 18, 20, 22, 25, 27 February, 12pm to 3pm
Help us prepare for our winter wassailing in the walled kitchen garden. Make a wassailing wand or a rosy red robin to hang in our orchards, then come back on Sunday 2 March and help us bless our orchard trees with a traditional Wassailing ceremony.
Normal admission charges apply.
Cotehele, Cornwall – 01579 351346
50 things: make some wild art, 18 February, 11am to 3pm
Explore the Tudor house and gardens, perched high above the River Tamar. Get creative by gathering natural materials from the garden and woodlands to create some wild art. Not only will you have lots of fun, you’ll be able to tick off number 18 of your "50 things to do before you're 11 ¾". Why not create a visual diary and collage to remind you of your trip to Cotehele.
Normal admission charges apply.
Cotehele, Cornwall – 01579 351346
February half term fun, 18, 19 & 20 February 11am to 3pm
Explore the Tudor house and gardens, perched high above the River Tamar. Pull on your wellies and have some fun in the outdoors. You'll be able to tick off some of your "50 things" with wild art making, cooking on a campfire and bush craft activities. For cooking on a campfire: bring your own food and help make a fire to cook a campfire feast for yourself.
Normal admission charges apply.
Fountains Abbey and Studley Royal Water Garden, North Yorkshire – 01765 608888
School holiday fun, 15 to 23 February, 10am to 4pm
Follow the clues around the abbey, water garden and medieval deer park to find out about the simple life of the monks who used to live here - could you have followed their strict rules? Then be a grand guest in the water gardens, following clues and finding out about the glamorous Georgian times when the gardens were made. Solve all the clues and you could win a prize.
Normal admission charges apply.
Fountains Abbey and Studley Royal Water Garden, North Yorkshire – 01765 608888
Funky flying things, 15 – 22 February, 10am – 4pm
Get your craft hats on as we give you all the necessary materials to make your own pet dragonfly! Make it as simple or as fabulous as you like and whizz them home when you’re done.
Normal admission charges apply.
Gibside, Tyne & Wear – 01207 541820
Spring into spring: half term family fun, 17 to 21 February, 11am to 3pm
There’s lots going on this half term at Gibside, a stunning landscape park and nature reserve nestled on the edge of the city. Take part in the free springtime family activities and outdoor escapades every day of half term. Join us for explorer Monday, foodie Tuesday, wild Wednesday, adventure Thursday and fab Friday.
Normal admission charges apply.
Kedleston Hall, Derbyshire – 01332 84219
Bird box building, 11 to 13 February, 11am to 3pm
Bring all the family to Kedleston Hall this half term and enjoy this spectacular mansion and parkland. Make a bird box with our outdoors team for the feathered friends visiting your garden this spring. All materials provided.
Normal admission charges apply – £7.50 per bird box.
Knightshayes Court, Devon – 01884 254665
Family fun whatever the weather, 15 – 23 February, 11am – 5pm
Knightshayes Court is a country estate on a grand scale. Enjoy the glorious gardens surrounding the gothic revival house over the February half term as we celebrate the great outdoors. Fancy a gander at golf? A dabble in croquet? Find out about the unusual sports linking to Knightshayes in our trail and take the chance to give a couple of them a go. Round everything off with a locally sourced lunch in our café, as we do our best to help you eat well, move more and live longer.
Normal admission charges apply – ticket price £2 per child.
Lacock Abbey, Fox Talbot Museum and Village, Wiltshire – 01249 730459
Dark sky discovery day, 17 February, 10.30am to 3.30pm
Lacock Abbey is looking to the stars this half-term. Discover the wonderful world of space and star photography with experts from the Science and Technologies Facilities Council. This is a drop in event with lots of hands-on exploration and fun craft activities. Plus, meet Nick Howes, an award winning star photographer and find out how to look at the skies with Wiltshire Astronomical Society. This event is inspired by the "Earth and Sky" photographic exhibition currently showing in the Fox Talbot Museum. The exhibition displays pictures of beautiful starry skies, close-ups of planets, and breath-taking images taken by the Hubble telescope.
Normal admission charges apply.
Mottisfont, Hampshire – 01794 344020
Wildlife week, 15 to 23 February, 10am to 11am
Learn about the hard work local groups do to look after our wildlife. See what you can discover amongst the crystal clear river, babbling brook and ancient trees. Pick up a trail from visitor reception and meet the wildlife experts each day in the stables.
Normal admission charges apply.
Newark Park, Gloucestershire – 01793 817666
Snowdrop week, 15, 16, 19, 20, 21, 22 & 23 February, 11am to 4pm
Newark has a fantastic show of snowdrops in a lovely setting. Take a walk through the glade to see spectacular snowdrop displays, then grab a hot drink and warm up with a walk around the house. With real snowdrops and other flowers carpeting our woodland, there will also be a snowdrop trail for children. The Cotswold estate has three marked trails to explore too. The house will be open, so come inside to warm up and enjoy our quirky interiors and spectacular views.
Normal admission charges apply.
Nunnington Hall, North Yorkshire – 01439 748283
Half term fun, 15 to 23 February, 11am to 5pm
Discover Nunnington's beasts among the Yorkshire manor house and gardens. Themed family activities will be happening throughout half term, including a children's trail to keep all family members entertained.
Normal admission charges apply - ticket price £8.25 per adult
Booking is required.
Packwood House, West Midlands – 01564 782024
Family fun days to February half term, 15 to 23 February, 10am to 3pm
Take the family to this Tudor house, park and gardens for half term. Pull on your wellies and head off on the welly walk through the woods - build a den, play hoop-la, splash in the puddles and have your own family adventure. Take a stroll around the lake and see if you can spot our Canada geese.
Normal admission charges apply.