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 try their hand at spray-painting, join a guided bike ride, take a ride on a steam locomotive or join a Lego coding club.
They can also go on a dragonfly safari, enjoy some dinosaur mayhem and even wear their pyjamas to the library!
On Saturday (24 May), archaeologists of all ages can bring their metal, stone or ceramic finds to Newarke Houses Museum, where the local finds liaison officer will help identify their treasure, while those aged eight and under can enjoy some soft play beneath a gigantic representation of the planet Mars at Leicester Cathedral.
Sunday 25 May sees the return of Open Streets – Leicester’s monthly celebration of walking, wheeling and cycling. This time, the free family event has a creative theme and takes place at Graffwerk’s HQ on Jarvis Street, offering spray paint workshops, graffiti name tag sessions and painting on mini canvases.
On Tuesday 27 May, there’s lots going on at Leicester’s libraries, including a games afternoon at St Barnabas and Garden Bugs Craft at New Parks. Families will also be able jump aboard the steam locomotive at Abbey Pumping Station’s Half-Term Railway Day or can pop in to the Haymarket shopping centre for a jungle-themed adventure, featuring a life-sized elephant puppet and a fabulous stilt-walking giraffe.
Youngsters are invited to bling up their bikes and jazz up their scooters for the annual Funky Feet and Wacky Wheels event on Wednesday 28 May. The fun starts at 11am and includes a grand parade around Abbey Park’s Oval.
Events at Leicester’s libraries on Wednesday include a workshop at Beaumont Leys library, where youngsters can learn how to be a dog’s best friend, and Pyjamarama at Braunstone library, where children can make a cover for a bedtime story while wearing their pyjamas!
Newarke Houses Museum invites families to enjoy its beautiful garden on Wednesday 28 May with garden-themed crafts. Tickets for Garden Delights cost £4 when bought in advance (£5 at the door).
On Thursday (29 May), the Guildhall goes ‘Under the Sea’, with lots of nautical-themed family fun. Children will be able to make a baby shark, a coral reef hat and some mermaid treasure. Tickets are £4 for children (no charge for adults) when bought online.
There’s free green-themed fun in Abbey Park on Friday 30 May, with environmental storytelling, tree trails and a treasure hunt, while Fosse Library is inviting children to make their own turtle puppet at a free drop-in event from 11am-1pm.
A full list of all the activities taking place at Leicester’s libraries is available here
A round-up of all the free or low-cost activities taking place in Leicester this half-term can be found at families.leicester.gov.uk