February half term fun in Basingstoke and Deane

If you are after some exciting spring fun this half-term, Basingstoke and Deane has plenty of indoor and outdoor activities, for a wide range of ages, to keep you and your family entertained. Take a look at what we’ve found below.

Free and low cost fun

Let's Glow will be back again for February half-term! This fantastic FREE interactive light trail is sure to be a hit with all ages. It will take place for three nights in War Memorial Park and across the Top of The Town. Head down for one day or every day, between Thursday 19 February to Saturday 21 February 2026 from 6pm to 9pm. Keep your eyes peeled on our Love Basingstoke social media pages and our website for more information.

In Festival Place, the Basingstoke Discovery Centre has many activities on offer throughout the week, such as family chess coaching, which are free for all to attend. Local favourite Junk Jodie will be performing her Tree-TASTIC Show there on Monday 16 February. Book a free ticket to see Tree-TASTIC here.

Pop along to The Willis Museum and Sainsbury Gallery at The Top of Town, where you will find the Beyond the Bonnets exhibition running through half term. Admission is free.  Visit the lovely café and sit and relax before or after exploring the museum, with a tasty snack and a hot drink. 

You’ll find Dino Mayhem at the Roger Morris Centre and Toot Toot Town at Viables Community Centre on Monday 16 February. Get creative with some ceramic painting at Viables Community Centre on Wednesday or try Mini Makers at Roger Morris Centre on Friday. Westside Community Centre and Kings Café will have a Superheroes and Princesses Afternoon Tea on Thursday and Friday which includes mini sandwiches, savoury bites, homemade fairy-tale cakes and superhero sweet treats. It’s £8 per child and you’ll need to pre-book.

New Projects Association Performing Arts have two free workshops over the half term week. Enjoy a Wicked Day in Oz on Monday 16 February at Rucstall Community Centre or a Jukebox Show in a Day on Friday 20 February at Brighton Hill Community School. Workshops are suitable for children aged seven to 12 but places are limited so you’ll need to get booking to secure a place!

Arts, culture and heritage

Milestones Museum is back with Play Days, a teddy bear takeover, which runs from Saturday 14 to Sunday 22 February at Milestones Museum. Expect fairground games, board games, arcade games and bar games, teddy bear clinic and teddy bear trail.

In Whitchurch, the historic Whitchurch Silk Mill, is certainly worth a visit. Scenic, historic, educational and with the chance of a lovely piece of cake in the café afterwards, what's not to love! At the beginning of the week they’ll have a workshop where those aged five to 10 can design their own vibrant portrait and make it pop with loads of creative ideas: think comic-style speech bubbles, tie-dye flowers, glitter accents and more.

Swash-buckling fun awaits on an interactive family puzzle trail at The Vyne, ideal for kids over six. Collect your trail sheet from visitor reception, work together to find and solve six pirate-themed puzzles hidden in The Vyne’s gardens. Whilst visiting enjoy a bite to eat in the tea room and browse the shop. Normal admission applies.

Indoor fun

Trainmaster will be at Oakridge Hall for All on Monday 16 February, perfect for young train enthusiasts.

For a creative outlet, visit Pots 2 Paint at Viables Craft Centre and paint your own pottery. ArtDen will be running a Northern Lights Painting on Canvas for 11 to16 year olds on Monday 16 February and an Ocean Scene Workshop for six to 11 year olds on Tuesday 17 February. Head to LUSH in Festival Place for half term bath bomb making. Find out more and book a place for this here.

If you fancy undertaking some puzzles and working as a team to escape the room then take a look at Exciting Escapes in Wote Street who have multiple rooms suitable for family groups with kids over the age of seven. For those with children aged 10 and above, try Escape Hunt Basingstoke in Festival Place.

Catch the latest blockbuster at the Odeon or Vue cinemas or The Dice Tower is well worth a visit for those looking to pass the time with a board game or two.

For some friendly competition book a bowling lane at Hollywood Bowl or Superbowl. And for some water fun visit the lagoon pool at the Aquadrome.

If you are seeking something active to fill a few hours then take a look at Flip Out Trampoline Park and Atmosphere Trampoline Park, great for kids and adults to burn of energy! Furthermore, Hampshire Boulder in Whitchurch has a fun climbing wall; sure to challenge and be a hit with visitors. Younger children might enjoy the soft plays at Basingstoke Sports Centre or Superbowl.

Thrill seekers can experience the adrenaline rush of an incredible indoor skydiving experience at iFLY, where you can undertake freefall conditions with the help of an instructor. From age three to 103 and no experience necessary, make sure to book for a day out you will never forget.

Outdoor days out 

For an adventure filled day out, 4 Kingdoms Adventure Park has many attractions to explore such as laser tag, tractor rides, soft play and the dinosaur kingdom. There will also be Lambing Live during February half term, where visitors can meet newborn lambs and learn about lambing season.

For some outside excitement take a look at Baboon Adventures in Kingsclere. Kids over 12 years can drive these electric scooters themselves and those five and over can be a passenger. It’s a different way to see the countryside.

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

Take in a show

Anvil Arts have a number of shows on over half-term. Find out more about fossils, time scales and how our planet has changed over hundreds of millions of years at The Natural History Museum presents the Dinosaurs Live! show on Sunday 15 February. For a breathtaking winter spectacle for all ages book to see Cirque Enchantment on Tuesday 17 February. Younger kids might enjoy a show that will have them dancing along - Justin Live - Justin Time to Rock! on Thursday 19 February.  Tom Gates EPIC Stage Show brings alive the bestselling books by Liz Pichon – that’s on Friday 20 February.

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.   

January 2026