Leicester City Council announces free half-term activities

Abbey Pumping Station’s Railway Day is among the activites

Leicester’s libraries, museums and children’s centres are offering families lots of affordable days out this half-term. Kids can meet a famous polar bear, explore a cabinet of curiosity, try stand-up comedy, ride a steam locomotive, and even join a pancake cycle ride.

Details of all the activities can be found at families.leicester.gov.uk/half-term-activities. One highlight is The Famous Pancake Ride a five-mile bike ride suitable for all ages that starts at Victoria Park and heads to Oadby. Those who want to sign up for the ride which takes place on Saturday, February 17, should do so on the link above and bring £3 for a pancake and drink.

Leicester’s museums will be taking some fascinating items from their collections to the BRITE Centre during half term. Visitors will have the chance to meet Peppy the Polar Bear the famous Fox’s Glacier Mints’ mascot and discover objects and artefacts from the natural world in a Cabinet of Curiosities. There’ll also be storytelling, craft activities and a walkabout by Inka, the animatronic polar bear. The Doorstep Museum will be at the BRITE Centre between 11am and 4pm on Sunday, February 18 and Monday, February 19.

The Leicester Adult Education College is offering free half-term activities. Their Family Learning Roadshows will let parents and kids have fun while learning together. You can join in at the Old Library Cafe at the college on Monday, February 19 from 12.30pm-3.30pm.

On Tuesday, February 20, there’s a craft day themed around Ancient Egypt at Leicester Museum & Art Gallery (11am-3pm). If you prefer being outdoors, head to the Abbey Pumping Station for Railway Day from 1.30pm-4pm, where train rides cost 50p.

Kids can take part in the UK Kids’ Comedy Festival by telling their favourite jokes at Evington Library on Wednesday 21 February. The Joke Spot runs from 1pm-4pm and lets youngsters try out being a stand-up comedian. Other libraries across the city will also host Joke Spots between Saturday, February 17 and Saturday, February 24. Check the website for more details.

On Thursday, February 22, the King Richard III Visitor Centre is offering a special ‘Kids Go Free’ deal. Up to three children, aged 15 and under, can learn about the king found under a Leicester car park for free, when with a paying adult.

Also on February 22, the Guildhall is hosting its annual ‘snowball’ fight as part of their Frosty Fun Day. From 11am-3pm, there will be winter-themed arts and crafts. A £3 charge applies.

On Friday, February 23, the Haymarket Shopping Centre is celebrating International Polar Bear Day with a visit from Big Pip, an eight-foot bear. There will be comedy, cheeky Emperor penguins, and free craft activities between 11am and 3pm.

At the same time, the Highcross Shopping Centre is hosting a pop-up museum. It will feature games, artefacts, an interactive dinosaur display and performances of ‘Dinotopia’ at 12 noon, 1.30pm and 3pm.

Leicester’s libraries are buzzing with activities. Highfields Library is hosting plant pot decorating on Monday from 1pm-4pm. Fosse Library invites you to try painting with a spin bike on Tuesday between 11am and 3pm. St Matthews Library has a finger-puppet making session on Wednesday from 2pm-4pm. Beaumont Leys Library is offering outer space-themed crafts on Wednesday from 2pm-3.30pm. Pork Pie Library is having a family fun afternoon on Wednesday from 2pm-3.30pm. Aylestone Library is organising half-term crafts on Thursday from 10am-6pm.

For children who need help with swimming, intensive coaching is available this half term. Spence Street sports centre, Aylestone leisure centre and Evington leisure centre are offering five 30-minute group sessions for £31.20. One-to-one lessons are also available at an extra cost. You can contact the centres directly for more information.

Babies and very young children haven’t been forgotten this half term. Stay and Play sessions are happening at Leicester’s children’s centres. Some sessions, like the one at Netherhall children’s centre on Thursday, will include activities for older children too. Check the website for details.

Deputy city mayor Cllr Sarah Russell said: “Keeping children busy over the half-term break doesn’t have to cost the earth, as there are plenty of free and low-cost activities taking place in the city that families can enjoy together.

“We’ve tried to make it easy for people to find affordable things to do by pulling the details together and listing them on our dedicated families’ website. I hope families will find the webpage a useful guide to some of the many free educational, creative and activity-based events taking place in Leicester this half term.”

More information can be found on the Leicester City Council half term website.