Half-term fun in the North East

Come rain or shine there’ll be plenty of family fun on offer during February half term in the North East.

Adults and two children taking an autumn walk amongst the trees

Which places are open and what you need to know before you visit 

You'll find lots of places open now - over 40 houses, 135 gardens and parks, and hundreds of coastal and countryside sites. To avoid disappointment please book in advance, especially at busier times such as weekends and bank holidays. Please check the property webpage of the place you wish to visit before you travel. Read this article to find out how to book and what to expect from your visit.

Plan your visit
Children walking in their wellies

Plodge through mud at Cragside 

It’s all about plodging at Cragside. Pull on your wellies, wet those waterproofs and get outdoors- whatever the weather. Throughout half-term hunt for the muddiest spots, find the biggest puddles to splash in, make the sloppiest of mud pies and try your hand at welly wanging.

Embrace the weather at Cragside
Half-term fun at Wallington

February half-term fun at Wallington 

Become part of the team and help plant 100,000 snowdrop bulbs at Wallington this February half term. The gardeners will show you the ropes, and you’ll soon see a magical carpet of white emerge in the woodland. After lending a hand in the garden, head to Toobelz house for crafty fun and warm up with a tasty hot chocolate in the Clocktower café.

February half-term fun at Wallington
a girl plays on a swing at gibside

Get active in the great outdoors at Gibside 

Keep those New Year’s resolutions with sports and games at Gibside this half term. Stretch your legs on the West Wood Workout, test your balance on the low ropes course and challenge your family to a game or two in the Activity Zone.

Plan a sporty adventure
Girl holding a frozen leaf

Tick off some 50 Things activities at Seaton Delaval Hall 

Wrap up warm and don your wellies for some half-term fun at Seaton Delaval Hall. Tick off some of your 50 Things to Do Before You’re 11¾ activities by creating the muddiest of mud pies, building a den in the woods or trying a spot of geocaching.

Pull on your wellies and head to Seaton Delaval Hall
A man holds a little girl up to see the view from Souter's Lantern Room

Family fun at Souter Lighthouse 

It's all about nature and outdoor fun at Souter this half-term. Brush up on your joinery skills and build a bird box to take home, and find out about the birds that might visit your garden. There's also free balance bike hire to help your little ones learn how to cycle.

Build a bird box at Souter Lighthouse
Child in fancy dress.

Dress up as your favourite character at Ormesby Hall 

Escape into your favourite stories and fairy tales this half term. Follow the trail and see if you can spot items from some of your favourite tales. Can you find the three chairs that Goldilocks tested, Jack's beanstalk or which bed the wolf is lying in waiting for Little Red Riding Hood to arrive? Take a piece of the magic home and plant your very own beanstalk.

It's story time
Boy looking to see what he has caught in his pond dipping net

Explore the outdoors at Washington Old Hall 

Explore the outdoors this half term at Washington Old Hall. Hunt for bugs, beast and birds in the gardens and find out how you can give nature a helping hand with bug hotel, bird feeder and pond building workshops.

Give nature a helping hand
Girl cartwheeling by Fountains Abbey
Fountains Abbey and Studley Royal Water Garden   North Yorkshire

February half term adventures

Do you need an action plan for keeping the kids entertained this February half term? You can sit back and relax knowing there's a full day out with the kids to be had here at Fountains Abbey with the big adventure play ground, crafts and getting close to nature.

Find out what's on