Scrambling for fun and entertaining activities to engage your children this February half term? We’ve got you covered with over 10 genius ideas in and around Chelsea to help keep your little ones busy while school’s out. 

From a mind-blowing immersive science-fiction adventure and a historical encounter with a WWII nurse, to meeting the descendants of dinosaurs and Korean calligraphy, there’s something to amuse every taste.

At the storied Chelsea Physic Garden, there’s a whole host of fun activities on offer for the little ones. In time for Valentine’s Day, children can create V-Day cards with paint they make from plants (Monday, 13 February, 2023), or join in a family chocolate workshop to learn some facts about the cacao tree and make your own chocolate treats to take home with you (Tuesday, 14 February). There’s also a rainbow plant-drawing session for families (Wednesday, 15 February) that will celebrate the wonderful diversity in plants through art.

On Sunday, 12 February, children can meet Sister Evelyn Morgan, a nurse newly arrived in France as part of the 1944 Normandy landings, and listen as she prepares a field hospital and gets ready to treat wounded soldiers. From Tuesday to Friday, kids can discover what soldiers’ rations are really like and how they have changed throughout time on a fascinating interactive family tour, Marching Orders: Food and Rations. They can also join a fun, creative workshop and travel back to WWII, when rationing was used to keep track of what each person got – even children (both 14-17 February).

Science Fiction: Voyage to the Edge of Imagination, is the Science Museum’s most ambitious exhibition yet. It places visitors at the heart of an interactive story and features over 70 objects, including set-pieces and props from iconic films and TV shows like Star Trek and Doctor Who. Kids will love the immersive experience on board an alien spaceship, designed by BAFTA and Academy award-winning creative studio Framestore, featuring an AI guide and new alien language created exclusively for the exhibition. On Friday, 10 February, kids aged 7 to 11 can have an unforgettable sleepover at the museum at Science Fiction Astronights, a night of exploration among the Museum’s most iconic objects, with workshops, shows and activities – rounded off with breakfast and a trip to the Science Fiction exhibition.

Take part in a family K-pop dance workshop and get moving to the energetic sounds of K-pop music. Inspired by the Hallyu! The Korean Wave exhibition, the workshops will be led by dancer Coco (Yeonsoo Do) from K-pop Planet UK Ltd. All abilities are welcome to take part in dance routines set to K-pop hits from groups such as BTS, Blackpink and PSY. Or find out more about Korean calligraphy with artists Kilchan Lee and Taeyoung Lee, who will guide creative young hands in how to use traditional brushes and inks as they explore what it takes to make the perfect brushstrokes (both 13-14 February).

Children can get up close and personal with the modern-day creatures whose ancestors roamed the Earth with Dippy and the other dinosaurs during the Jurassic Encounters animal show. Kids will meet and have the opportunity to handle animals including snakes, lizards and tarantulas, and learn more about them in an ethical 45-minute experience (13 and 17 February).