FAMILIES looking for a low-cost day out this half term can enjoy dozens of activities in Leicester that won’t break the bank.
The city council’s online guide to half-term fun lists events organised by Leicester’s libraries, museums and children’s centres, as well as free activities taking place elsewhere in the city.
During their week off school, children and young people will be able to delve into a cabinet of curiosity, try their hand at stand-up comedy, take a ride on a steam locomotive or join a Lego coding club.
Details of all the activities can be found at families.leicester.gov.uk/half-term-fun
On Saturday (15 February), the team from Leicester Museums will be bringing their Cabinet of Curiosity to Beaumont Shopping Centre. Visitors can drop in any time between 11am and 4pm to discover fascinating items from Leicester’s natural history and technology collections.
Also on Saturday, young cyclists aged 16+ can find out more about the Leicester playwright Joe Orton. A nine-mile guided bike ride takes in the area where the writer grew up and the theatre that inspired his passion for drama. Places on the free tour must be booked in advance at letsride.co.uk
On Monday (17 Feb), any child who wants to learn how to be a dog’s best friend can join a free event at Beaumont Leys Library.
Organised by The Dogs’ Trust, the session runs from 10am-11am and is aimed at children aged 7-11. Places must be booked in advance by calling the library on 0116 454 3270. Please note that no dogs will be involved in the session.
Later that day, at Highfields Library, there’s a free event inspired by David Walliams’ Gangsta Granny. Those aged 7+ can join a Simple Science session and create an alarm system to protect the Crown Jewels.
The Gangsta Granny sessions will be repeated at Fosse Library on Tuesday (18 Feb) and at Belgrave Library on Wednesday (19 Feb). Places must be booked in advance by contacting the libraries directly.
On Tuesday (18 Feb, Newarke Houses Museum hosts a Puppets’ Playtime (tickets £4), while those looking for outdoor activities should head for the Abbey Pumping Station, where the steam train on the narrow gauge railway will be offering rides. Admission to the pumping station’s Railway Day – which runs from 11.30am-4pm – is free of charge, with train rides costing 50p.
The Haymarket shopping centre has got lots going on for youngsters on Wednesday (19 Feb). As part of its Blast Off To Fun event, there will be free space-themed crafts and an alien walkabout from 11am-3pm, with activities provided by the National Space Centre. There will also be King Richard III-themed crafts for those aged three and over.
Leicester Museum & Art Gallery is inviting families to make their own museum in a box on Wednesday (19 Feb), while the Central Library is running a six-week Lego Coding Club for those aged 8-12, starting on Wednesday (19 Feb). Booking for both events is required.
On Thursday (20 Feb), it’s the Guildhall’s annual ‘snowball’ fight – part of the museum’s Frosty Fun Day. Whatever the weather, there’ll be wintry-themed arts and crafts between 11am-3pm. Tickets are £4 when bought in advance.
Children who like to play with clay can drop in to Leicester Cathedral on both Tuesday (18 Feb) and Thursday (20 Feb) and make their very own mythical grotesque. Aimed at those aged three and over, the craft sessions are free of charge.
On both Thursday (20 Feb) and Friday (21 Feb), young people can join a zine making workshop at Leicester Museum & Art Gallery, working with professional artists to create a Leicester Legends zine. Part of the Tell Tall Tales heritage project, the free drop-in sessions run from 2pm-4pm.
All week, there’ll be lots going on at Leicester’s libraries. Free activities include Undersea Crafts at Aylestone Library (1.30pm-3pm on Monday 17 Feb), The Aliens are Coming at Westcotes Library (11am-1pm on Tuesday 18 Feb), Fabulous Frivolous Fun at the Pork Pie Library (2pm-3.30pm on Wednesday 19 Feb), Ramadan and Eid-themed crafts at St Matthew’s Library (2pm-4pm on Wednesday 19 Feb), Make a Dreamcatcher at St Barnabas Library (1pm-2pm on Thursday 20 Feb), Year of the Snake crafts at Rushey Mead Library (2pm-3.30pm on Thursday 20 Feb) and fun paper crafts at Belgrave Library (1pm-4pm on Friday 21 Feb).
And all week, children and young people can get involved in the UK Kids’ Comedy Festival by telling their favourite jokes at libraries across the city.
Joke Spots take place at Highfields Library on Monday (17 Feb), Aylestone Library on Tuesday (18 Feb), Braunstone and Hamilton libraries on Wednesday (19 Feb), Beaumont Leys Library on Thursday (20 Feb), New Parks Library on Friday (21 Feb) and Belgrave Library on Saturday (22 Feb).
All the activities taking place at Leicester’s libraries can be found here
Assistant city mayor Cllr Vi Dempster said: “Keeping children busy over the half-term break doesn’t have to cost the earth, as we’ve got plenty of free and low-cost activities in our libraries and museums.
“I hope families will find our online guide useful and will enjoy discovering the many free educational, creative and activity-based events taking place in Leicester this half term.”
Details of activities taking place in Leicester this half term can be found at families.leicester.gov.uk/half-term-fun