THIS February half-term, keep kids busy without blowing the budget.
There are deals and offers nationwide on activities, entertainment, days out and meals so you can plan an action-packed itinerary for all ages without spending a family fortune.
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From cut-price venues to local fun, here’s our round-up of the best school holiday savers.
Free food
ASDA CAFÉS: From February 9-22 children get a free bowl of porridge between 8am to noon every day in cafes.
Plus under-16s can eat off the £1 kids menu all day, every day until the end of March 2023. No adult purchase required.
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MORRISONS CAFÉS: Under-16s can eat free from the kids menu, with each adult meal costing £4.49 purchased.
M&S CAFÉS: Kids Eat Free, from February 13-24, gives a free Munch Meal (usually £4) when an accompanying adult spends £5.
TESCO CAFÉS: Under-16s eat free on weekdays when an accompanying adult makes a purchase and scans their Clubcard. Dael available February 13-24.
DUNELM: Eat for free from the Kids Menu on Monday to Friday when an adult spends £4 or more in Dunelm’s Pausa coffee shops. Includes a drink.
PREMIER INN: Up to two under-16s can eat breakfast for free when an adult orders a full Premier Inn Breakfast (£9.99) – and you don’t need to be a guest.
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BEEFEATER AND BREWERS FAYRE: Get a free breakfast for two children up to 16 years old when you order an adult cooked breakfast (£9.99). 6.30-10.30am weekdays and 7-11am at weekends.
HUNGRY HORSE: From 8am to noon, February 13-27, up to two children get a free breakfast worth up to £2.49 with every adult’s purchasing a £3.49 breakfast.
BILL’S: Up to two children eat free from the kids’ menu all day Monday to Friday alongside an adult order. From February 13-24.
YO! SUSHI: An under 10 can eat for free for every adult spending £10 on Monday to Friday between February 13-24.
Food under £1
IKEA: From 11am daily children can order pasta with a drink for just 95p.
Alternatively order breakfast roll and hot drink for just 95p between 9.30-11am.
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BELLA ITALIA: The pasta chain is offering three-course children’s meals suitable for two to 11-year-olds for £1 with every adult main ordered between 4pm and 6pm, Mondays to Thursdays.
CAFÉ ROUGE: Choose from the children’s menu for just £1 at French restaurant Café Rouge from midday onwards.
Applies with every adult who purchases a main course from February 13-26.
CARLUCCIO’S: Enjoy cuisine for £1 from February 10-26 for children with an adult who orders a main meal.
Use discount code provided on the chain’s website.
Cheap movie tickets
CINEWORLD: Children’s tickets are just £2.50 when accompanied by an adult in the Movies For Juniors offer.
Screenings include Roald Dahl’s Matilda the Musical.
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VUE: Half-term Mini Mornings screenings offer pre-booked tickets for both adults and children for just £2.49. From 10am daily.
ODEON: Adult and Child tickets mean grown-ups pay kids’ prices for family movies every day during half-term. Currently showing feline caper Puss In Boots.
Discount theatre seats
PANTO TIME: Panto in February? Oh yes it is! Many regional theatres now run half-term pantomimes.
Mother Goose in Sheffield stars comedian John Bishop or there’s Alice In Wonderland in Derby.
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DISNEY: Each Monday at noon, limited £29.50 tickets for Disney West End shows are released.
Those in the Magical Monday offer include Frozen and The Lion King.
WEST END SAVERS: Shows including School Of Rock and Matilda The Musical run cheap ticket lotteries with performances from just £10 if you can go at short notice.
See venues for details.
Free museums and exhibitions
DIPPY THE DINOSAUR: From February 20 visit Jurassic legend Dippy the dinosaur, in Coventry.
The Natural History Museum’s giant Diplodocus cast will be free to see at the Herbert Art Gallery & Museum. Book in advance online.
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IMAGINE FESTIVAL, LONDON: Until February 18, London’s Southbank Centre is running the Imagine Festival with lots of free activities for kids up to 11 years old, including crafting, beatboxing and hip-hop.
YO WOLVES: Free workshops and activities in Wolverhampton from February 20-24, including drama and sports for school-age kids.
SPARKS FESTIVAL: From February 13-19 this Leicester festival has free workshops and activities including poster printing and a tea party.
JORVIK VIKING FESTIVAL: Taking place in York from February 11-19, free or cut-price kids’ fun includes battle bootcamps.
NATIONAL SCIENCE AND MEDIA MUSEUM, BRADFORD: Go interstellar with free space-themed workshops at this Yorkshire attraction over half-term.
THE MANCHESTER MUSEUM: Having reopened following a £15million revamp, the museum has free exhibits including Egyptian Golden Mummies.
WE ARE WEYMOUTH DINOSAUR HALF-TERM: Weymouth in Dorset has a programme of free dino-themed activities for kids this half term.
They include Ammonite workshops, Jurassic installations and a Dino-trail across town with prizes. Costumes are encouraged.
Stay-at-home ideas
STILL stuck for ideas?
Parenting expert and childcare professional Kirsty Ketley (kirstyketley.com) gives her suggestions on how kids can enjoy some at-home entertainment on a shoestring.
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- Dress up and put on a show. Copy a plot from your favourite book or film or let imaginations run wild.
- Learn a magic trick. Try YouTube for suggestions or buy a box of tricks (from £10, amazon.co.uk)
- Build a fort or a den – inside or outdoors, depending on the weather.
- Play hopscotch. Simply chalk up a board outside and you’re away.
- Write a story or poem.
- Learn how to make the bed properly – parents will appreciate this one too.
- Learn how to count to ten in another language.
Discount days out
NATIONAL RAIL TWO-FOR-ONE: Get half-term two-for-one entry tickets at attractions around the UK when you book through National Rail and travel by train.
Venues include SeaLife. Madame Tussauds and Legoland Windsor.
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CRYSTAL MAZE EXPERIENCE: This attraction in London and Manchester is offering 40 per cent off family tickets from February 13-24. Book in advance online.
STORECARD SAVERS: Tesco Clubcard holders can convert points into vouchers for reduced family attractions including Longleat in Wiltshire, Warwick Castle and the Eden Project in Cornwall.
CEREAL CODES: Kellogg’s cereals is offering codes on selected boxes redeemable for free adult tickets for attractions including SeaLife Aquariums and Legoland. Must be pre-booked.
LONDON ZOO: This animal-packed attraction has half-term family entry for just £3 until the end of March for those receiving some benefits including Universal Credit, Income Support or Jobseeker’s Allowance. From 11am daily. Pay on the gate.
MEET MEERKATS: Days out with a half-term discount at website Buy A Gift include meeting meerkats, visiting alpaca farms or a tree-top adventure.
Free days out
SPRING FUN: Lambing season is coming so check out the spring frolics at your local city or rural farm, or take a countryside walk for free.
BLENHEIM PALACE: Meet farm animals, enjoy wildlife walks and a Mouse trail at this Oxfordshire attraction. Kids go free until March 31 with an adult pass.
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PET WORKSHOPS: Pets At Home is hosting free pet workshops in stores across the country over half-term featuring fun, interactive activities run by animal advisors. Book online.
NATIONAL TRUST: Free outdoor activities, from crafting to nature trails, across the UK this half-term. You don’t need to be a member, but you may have to pay to park.
