Top Picks
Cornwall 365’s February Half Term Top Picks
Looking for fun things to do with the kids over the February half term in Cornwall? Here's our guide to half term events and activities to get you inspired!
Read on for our pick of the best family-friendly activities in Cornwall, from piratical adventures to outdoor exploration and chances to get up close and personal with local wildlife. We’ll see you out there!
1. Nearby Nature at Newquay Zoo
Saturday 10th – Sunday 18th February
Newquay Zoo
Join Newquay Zoo for a week of fun and discovery with a special trail, activities and more. Experience ‘creepy encounters’ outside the tropical house and watch the animals go wild for some tasty treats!
2. Pirate and Fairies Week at Paradise Park
Saturday 10th – Sunday 18th February
Paradise Park, Hayle
There’s lots of family fun to be had at Paradise Park this half term. Complete the quiz and claim a sweet treat – a choice of golden chocolate coins, the pinkest of fairy sweets or little lollipops to reward pirates and fairies.
You’ll also have the chance to meet Long John Tredinnick and his loyal band of parrots whilst you chart your quest to find the hidden treasure, and you may well find a rainbow lorikeet perching on your shoulder at feeding time. Get the cameras at the ready!
3. Tate Create
Saturday 10th – Sunday 18th February
Tate St Ives
Play, make and get creative at Tate’s Art Zone where you can explore light in the Dark Den, get ripping and sticking making modern art collages, or chill out together in the relaxation area.
4. Early Man at Eden
Saturday 10th – Sunday 18th February
Eden Project, St Austell
Bring your tribe to Eden for intrepid adventures and behind-the-scenes fun based on the latest adventure by the creators of Chicken Run and Wallace & Gromit.
Grab your map and go on an exciting quest in the Rainforest Biome as you journey along a timeline of civilizations, learning about their discoveries and how they adapted to changing environments. Try your hand at making your very own model in the workshop, and get involved in an archaeological dig using brushes to uncover replica tools and artifacts from the Stone Age. Finally, head for the fire pit in the Orchard for some Early Man Bushcraft and learn the skills that Stone Age people needed to survive.
5. Aardman Presents: A Grand Experience at Land’s End
Saturday 10th – Sunday 18th February
Land’s End
Another one for Aardman fans, Land’s End opens for half term with a new baaa-rilliantly interactive experience featuring iconic characters Wallace and Gromit, Morph and Shaun the Sheep. The new site gives visitors the chance to step into Wallace & Gromit’s living room, explore Wallace’s workshop and help build one of his Cracking Contraptions, before climbing on board a rocket to the moon!
6. Science of the Sea at National Maritime Museum
Saturday 10th – Sunday 18th February
National Maritime Museum, Falmouth
Some amazing hands-on science shows are coming to the National Maritime Museum this half term! Discover the wonderful world of chemistry through the everyday life of water with Explorer Dome’s show, a live, expert-led science show with entertaining demonstrations and audience interaction. Shows are at 11am, 12pm, 2pm and 3pm on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday.
Throughout the week there will also be daily craft making activities, the Awesome Adventurers Play Zone, sailing miniature sailing boats on the boat pool and lots more!
7. Love Birds at The Lost Gardens of Heligan
Saturday 10th – Sunday 18th February
The Lost Gardens of Heligan, near St Austell
This half term, Heligan invites you to meet the owls from Screech Owl Sanctuary, explore the garden bird life and discover the lives of our feathered friends! Take the fun family outdoor trail and explore the gardens to find all the bird sound boxes.
Visitors can meet the owls every day in the barn from 11am-4pm, and join the Great Heligan Bird Watch to see how many different types of birds you can spot. There will also be the chance to make your own hanging bird treat to attract birds to your own garden, as well as owl mask and origami bird making activities. It’ll be a hoot! (Sorry…)
8. Become a Forest Ranger at the Cornish Seal Sanctuary
Saturday 10th – Sunday 18th February
Cornish Seal Sanctuary, Gweek
Learn all about our local wildlife, test your nature knowledge and take part in exciting activities to earn your Forest Ranger badge at the Cornish Seal Sanctuary this half term! Throughout the week there will also be daily talks, feeding times and a chance to meet the seals, sea lions, otters and penguins.
9. Pirate's Quest February Half Term Special Previews
Saturday 10th – Saturday 17th February
Pirate’s Quest, Newquay
Be one of the first to come and try out Pirate Quest’s new walk through experience which premieres this February half term! Visitors will be transported back almost 300 years, where they’ll begin their adventure on board a Pirate Hunter’s Ship called the ‘Royal Anne’ – a vessel that left England in 1721 with the intention of sailing to the Caribbean, but wrecked off the south coast of Cornwall.
Explore the mystical caves and murky streets of eighteenth century Cornwall as live actors escort you through secret passageways. After arriving at Towan Blystra Docks, visitors will be invited into the local tavern, a safe haven for pirates, before deciding whether they’re brave enough to enter The Locker of Davy Jones.
10. February Half-term at Trengwainton
Sunday 11th – Sunday 18th February
Trengwainton Garden, near Penzance
Trengwainton is waking up after a long winter sleep, and when the garden opens its gates for the 2018 season you might find some light-hearted inspiration for your keep-fit resolutions with a fun family fitness trail!
Spring is just around the corner (we promise!) so it’s a great time to grab a spotter sheet, pop on some wellies and have an adventure exploring winding wooded paths, crossing bridges and streams and discovering what plants are stirring first.
11. Geevor’s sparkling Valentine’s Week
Sunday 11th – Friday 16th February
Geevor, Pendeen
Geevor invite one and all to join them for a Sparkling Valentines Week this half term, with mineral games, miners talks, plus rocks, minerals, games, music Valentine’s badge making. Rock on!
12. Half Term at Bodmin Keep
Sunday 11th – Sunday 18th February
Cornwall’s Regimental Museum, Bodmin
Explore a Victorian Army Keep this half term with family activities and events all week including crafts, military dressing up and weekday gun handling sessions. The Living History group, The 32nd Regiment of Foot, will be making an appearance for their Drill Practice Day on Sunday 11th February.
13. Half-term fun at Cotehele: bushcraft for kids
Monday 12th – Wednesday 14th February
Cotehele House and Gardens, Saltash
Wrap up warm and gets hands on with bushcraft at Cotehele! Children aged 7-15 years can learn how to build a shelter, light a controlled fire and how to survive in the wild.
14. Train the Troops at Pendennis Castle
Monday 12th – Friday 16th February
Pendennis Castle, Falmouth
Attention! Join Pendennis Castle for a packed day of action and soldier training. Shape up before you ship out and be put through your paces in commando training. Step back to the time of the Second World War and face the Drill Sergeant. Sign up to the training camp and see if you have what it takes to conquer the obstacle course…
15. Badger Forest School February Family Fun Day
Friday 16th February
Wheal Martyn, St Austell
Get hands on at Wheal Martyn with nature trails, campfire cooking, nature crafts, den building, mini beast hunts storytelling and more at Badger Forest School’s Family Fun Day!
16. Ahoy There!
Saturday 17th February
South Street, Fowey
Help raise funds for the RNLI and have a whale of a time at this nautical themed family fun day. You’ll find games and activities including a raffle, tombola, Name the Bear and face painting, live music and sea shanties, plus a chance to meet The Little Mermaid and Captain Jack!
17. Half term at Royal Cornwall Museum
Saturday 10th – Wednesday 14th February
Royal Cornwall Museum, Truro
Join in the fun with Royal Cornwall Museum’s 200 year celebrations this half term! The week starts with a family day on 10th February where visitors can see the new interactive exhibits and meet living history characters – with free entry to the museum.
Get creative at Messy Monday, or learn how to make screen printed postcards with Kiwi Printmaking Studio on Tuesday. On Wednesday, join the museum staff for Hands on Handling at 11am where you can handle real artifacts and transport yourself back into the past.
18. A Winter Wonderland: February Half-Term Rock Pool Ramble
Saturday 17th February
Hannafore Beach, West Looe
Wrap up warm and don your wellies to discover the extraordinary winter rock pool residents of Cornwall’s coastline with Looe Marine Conversation Group. Even in February there is an amazing variety of seaweeds and creatures to be found in Looe’s beautiful rock pools, and you never know what you might find.
19. Cornwall Air Ambulance Open Day
Sunday 18th February
Cornwall Air Ambulance HQ, Newquay
Ever wanted to know what’s inside a Cornwall Air Ambulance? Finish half term with a bang at an exclusive behind-the-scenes view of the helicopter and specialist equipment used by the crew every day. Ask the crew your burning questions, see the helicopter up close and watch demonstrations of the equipment used to save lives throughout Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly.
You can also enjoy fun and games, delicious treats and grab a bargain at the pop-up charity shop. Have any unwanted gifts? Bring them along as a donation and help save a life.
