Looking for some early spring fun? You’ll find a fantastic programme of events in the town centre along with plenty of other indoor activities and outdoor trails in the borough to keep you and your family well entertained.  

Let’s Glow!  

Love Basingstoke presents is back with a range of free activities to keep you entertained this February half term including candle making, shadow puppets and lantern making all inside businesses at the Top of The Town. You’ll also find free face-painting on Thursday and Friday afternoons in Willows Coffee House. All activities although free require prebooking.

Create Your Own Disco at Festival Place (Upper Level, opposite the Customer Lounge, 13- 19 Feb, Mon – Sat 9.30am – 7pm, Sun 11am – 5pm). Get hands on and light up Festival Place in your very own way! Take control on the colours, lighting effects, sounds and see how many people you can get to boogey.

Extend your day into the evening as Love Basingstoke have partnered with Festival Place to bring a light trail to Basingstoke town centre this February half term. The light trail will span The Malls, Anvil Arts, Festival Place and Top of the Town from 13 to 19 February. From 16 to 19 February in War Memorial Park you will find illuminative LED neon murals which provide a wonderful rainbow glow and fabulous selfie opportunities. 

A day out in the town centre  

Head to The Malls Shopping Centre this Valentine's day for some make and takes and get a chocolate heart from the Queen of Hearts on stilts! Throughout the week children can also enjoy the moving cup and saucer ride and enjoy donuts and crepes from the wooden hut.  

Celebrate “Puppy Love” this Valentine’s weekend at Festival Place. Expect a whole host of dog themed fun in Porchester Square from 11am to 4pm on Saturday 11 and Sunday 12 February.

As part of your day out you could design your own shoes at The Willis Museum, take part in the Discovery Centre’s Festival of Climate Change events or enjoy an escape room. 

For some relaxed family-friendly fun head to Proteus Creation Space on Thursday 16 February for their ‘Don’t be bored day’. They will have lots of board games and colouring set up throughout the rooms in the morning, then a Fancy Dress Disco and to finish off the day, they’ll be showing a family film. Perfect for kids aged 4 to 11 years accompanied by parents. You can buy tickets on their website. 

The Anvil will be showing Sing-a-long-a Encanto on Friday 17 February. Fancy dress is strongly encouraged and audience participation is essential! 

You can enjoy a whole day of gaming at The Dice Tower for just £3 per person, Monday to Thursday. This board game café and restaurant has a library of over 350 game titles. 

Take a walk and discover more about local history by taking part in two trails. Explore the architecture of the towns buildings, learn more about local famous residents from the past and more interesting historical facts in the Basingstoke Town Trail, a 90 minute self-guided trail around Basingstoke town centre. Discover Basingstoke’s very own outdoor art gallery with the Street’s Alive trail. 

Beyond the town centre 

Whitchurch Silk Mill have a week filled with lots of events including make and takes, a miniature garden workshop, a print workshop and enjoy fun with Lego with The Brick People. 

You can easily spend a day at the Leisure Park enjoying a variety of experiences. Enjoy the lagoon pool Basingstoke Aquadrome with it’s rapids, flumes and baby beach!  If you have thrill seekers in the family you can experience the feeling of freefall at iFLY Indoor Skydiving as you float on a smooth cushion of air. Ten screens of film magic await you at the Odeon cinema, wrap up warm for ice skating at Planet Ice or book at bowling lane at Hollywood Bowl Basingstoke. This February half term, enjoy history and heritage with an array of games throughout time at Play Days: Games at the Museum which runs 11 – 19 February at Milestones Museum. Take in the fun of the fair, play giant board games and much, much more! Many of the venues serve food and drink but you will also find McDonalds, KFC and The Spruce Goose if you want a bite to eat. 

If you are seeking something active to fill a few hours then take a look at Flip Out Trampoline Park, Atmosphere Trampoline Park and Hampshire Boulder. 

Outdoor days out 

You can easily spend a day visiting The Vyne. Explore the house and the gardens, enjoy a bite to eat in the tea-room and browse the shop. This half term you can take part in their bug hotel naming competition. 

Both Four Kingdoms Adventure Park and Family Farm and Millers Ark will have lambing events this half term. Take a look at their websites for opening times and dates.  

If the weather permits, check out a local park or open space for a walk. If you are looking for places where your dog can join the fun this half term take a look at our Dog Friendly Basingstoke and Deane guide. 

Have we left anything out?  Please let us know at hello@LoveBasingstoke.co.uk if you know of any other events in the borough and we’d be happy to help promote it on our channels. 

Please note the inclusion of any business within this listing should not be seen as an endorsement of their services. Whilst the information is considered to be true and correct at the date of publication, changes in circumstances after the time of publication may impact on the accuracy of the information.   

 February 2023