What's On for Kids & Teens across North East England | February Half Term 2023

(ad) - Some attractions have paid to be included in this post and this post contains affiliate links.    February Half Term seems to be split across two weeks this year with some of the North East breaking up on 10/2 and some on 17/11. This guide will try and cover both weeks. Do check when your school breaks up before booking anything and always check info with venues direct before heading out.  This post has been split into the following sections:  February Half Term Highlights  Drop In Events  FREE Events  Kids Eat Free / for £1  Bookable Events  Top Picks for Little Ones  Ideas for Teens  Dog friendly events  If you're looking for a school holiday camp,  check out my guide to North East School Holiday Clubs & Camps here.  Looking for places to enjoy pancakes this week? Check out our guide to the best pancakes in the North East.  New Website Features  I'm really excited to share some new FREE features which have been added to my website recently. To access them, click the share button / heart in the bottom corner of this post.  NEW FEATURES INCLUDE:  A Search Box - Quickly and easily search for posts using this button  Save Posts - Click the heart to save a post to come back to at any time. To find your saved posts, simply click the heart again and select 'my bookmarks' and you can quickly find them all in one place Share Post - Easily share posts with friends and family at the click of a button  To access all of these features, you do need to 'sign up' to my website which is quick and easy to do the first time you click the button. You should stay signed in once you have signed up. There will also be a prompt to sign up to my new monthly newsletter which will focus on key ideas for this to do in the upcoming school holidays. I really hope you sign up and make the most of these features.  February Half Term Highlights  FREE Ancient Egypt Under 7s Play Area at Dorman Museum  February half term is the last chance to enjoy the FREE drop in Egypt themed play area which has been specifically designed for under 7s. Highlights include:  Discover hidden treasures  Dressing up area Puzzles and games  Interactive marketplace with object, weighing and measuring  Activities to encourage imaginative and creative play Open daily until 26 February (closed Mondays). Free to just drop in from 10am-4pm (use postcode TS5 6LA). Find out more here.  FREE Ancient Egyptians : secrets of the afterlife at Dorman Museum  February Half Term is the last chance to enjoy this FREE exhibition which ties in very nicely to the KS2 curriculum (ages 7-11). Highlights include:  View 12 exciting objects from the British Museum which give an insight into ancient Egyptians and their belief that we live forever  An exhibition in partnership with the British Museum - the first of it's kind for Middlesbrough  Explore the process of mummification  Learn about mummy masks and canopic jar which were used to store various body parts Interactive fun, puzzles and themed memory games  Discover inscribing curses and the original book of spells, the Book of the Dead  Learn about casting spells against enemies   FREE to visit and enjoy with no booking required. Open daily between 10am-4pm (closed Mondays) until 26 February. Use postcode TS5 6LA. Find out more here.  FREE Fire and Ice Durham  Fire and Ice Durham is a FREE Ice Trail taking place on Friday 24th and Saturday 25th February across Durham City. Find out more here.  FREE New Zog Trail at Hamsterley Forest and Kielder UPDATE - A few readers have travelled to these trails and mentioned they are either not open or there is only the first board available. Rather than make a specific trip, I would probably wait until Easter to visit. Hopefully the teething problems will have been ironed out by then.   A brand new ZOG trail launches at Kielder and Hamsterley Forest on 18 February. Download the FREE 'Zog : A Forest Adventure' app before your visit. Drop in event. You can also purchase a trail bag for £4 which includes additional activities and crafts although this is not compulsory.  Read our guide to the ZOG trail at Kielder here.  Pancake Day  Don't forget pancake day on Tuesday 21 February. Check out our round up of the best pancake places in the North East.  Lambing at Spilmans  I don't know about you but the arrival of lambs fills me with so much hope. Spring is finally on it's way! This February, Spilmans Farm is hosting a special 'Lambing Live' event. Designed to encourage little farmers to learn all about this special event, there are a range of activities included:  Lambs born every day - visitors can watch and take it all in. I have been lucky to see this once and I can't explain how emotional it is! It's something we will never forget  Hourly educational talks by the farm's sheep farmer and shepherd across the day where you will learn lots of lambing facts  Visit the other farm animals including the farm's friendly Alpacas and Rare Breed Sheep  You can touch the animals but it is at your own risk and please use the handwashing facilities on site and supervise children. Pregnant women should read guidance before visiting Visit newly born lambs in the lambing shed  Create your own wool crafts to take home and remember the day Photo opportunities around the site Food and drinks will be available to purchase on the day This event takes place daily from 11 - 20 February. Tickets are £6.50 per person and under 2s are free (but still require a ticket.  Find out more and book here.  Transport Week at Discovery Museum  Credit : Colin Davison  February Half Term will see a week full of transport-themed fun at Discovery Museum, Newcastle with a range of bookable and drop in activities based around the transport themed objects you can find in the museum - from trains to ships and even a Victorian Fire Engine.  Discovery Museum is open daily this half term from 10am-4pm and museum entry is free with no need to book in advance. There's lots to explore from the interactive Science Maze to 'Newcastle Story' which shares the story of our city from the Roman era up to modern times.  The museum is super easy to get to by Metro (just a short walk from Central Station) and remember, up to three children aged 11 or under can travel free with a fare paying adult.  Discovery Museum is accessible for wheelchairs and pushchairs with a changing places toilet and baby change facilities. There is a cafe and an indoor picnic area too.  What's On:   18 - 26 February - FREE Transport Trail (drop-in, collect on arrival) . Tuesday 21 February - Discovery Days : Locomotives Free and low cost train-themed crafts including decoarate a locomotive engine toy, create a hanging train decoration or decorate a train driver's hat (booking recommended as this event will be popular, drop in may be available subject to space).  Wednesday 22 February - Newcastle University's Street Scientists will be roaming the Turbinia Atrium with experiments and demonstations (free & drop-in). Wednesday 22 February - The Cat, the Mouse & the Runaway Train Storytime & Crafts (ideal for ages 3-5 years - accompanying adults and babies go free). Booking is essentail for this one.  Daily - RAF Red Arrows Simulator - Experience the thrill of the cockpit with this 4 minute immersive ride with stunning visuals, surround sound and dynamic motion,. £3.50 per person (minimum height 1.07m). T&Cs apply. Book your ride at museum reception on the day. Find out more here:  discoverymuseum.org.uk Want to make a day of it? Check out 75 things to do in Newcastle with Kids.  FREE Family Fun Days at The Common Room Newcastle  Join the Common Room on 23/24/25 February for some FREE family fun / STEM workshops based around the Bicentenary of Robert Stephenson & Co. These workshops are suitable for ages 5+ and you will need to reserve a free ticket in advance. Under 12s need to be supervised by an adult. FREE Activities include:  Make a train whistle  Assemble a LEGO train  Discover the challenge of driving a train using Scaletrix Visit the Robert Stephenson Exhibition  Find out more and reserve your free tickets here.  The Common Room is located next to Newcastle Central Station so super easy to get to by public transport and if you'd like to make a day of it, it's easy to combine with a trip to Life or Discovery Museum (who are also running a transport themed week). The building is accessible. 
Crimes of the Centuries Week at Beamish