Free places to go with kids this February half-term
February half-term is nearly here, and many families are on the lookout for ways to keep the kids entertained while they’re off school. To help you plan a week of fun, we’ve rounded up some free or low-cost activities to do and places to eat.
Cheap places to eat with kids
Here’s a list of places offering a ‘kids eat free’ or ‘kids eat for £1’ deal.
- Asda: Kids eat for £1, no minimum spend needed.
- Hungry Horse: Kids eat from £1 when an adult buys a main meal.
- The Real Greek: Kids eat free on Sundays when an adult spends £10.
- Bella Italia: Kids eat free on Thursdays (and for £1 Sunday to Wednesday between 4-6pm) when an adult buys a main meal.
- Beefeater: Get a free kid’s breakfast when you buy an adult cooked breakfast.
- Dunelm: Kids eat free when an adult spends £4 in the Pausa Cafe.
- Brewers Fayre: Get a free kid’s breakfast when you buy an adult cooked breakfast.
- Dobbies: Kids eat free when an adult buys a main meal.
- Morrisons: Kids eat free at the Morrisons Cafe when an adult buys a main meal.
- Table Table: Get a free kid’s breakfast when you buy an adult cooked breakfast.
Free and low-cost half-term activities
As well as treating the kids to a tasty meal out during half-term, why not plan in a few of these fun activities? All are either free or very low-cost.
Chelmsford Museum
Chelmsford Museum is located in Oaklands Park on Moulsham Street. It’s free to enter and there’s also free parking on-site. Once you’ve looked through the interesting exhibits on offer, the kids can let off some steam in the two fantastic playgrounds next door.
Southend Museums
Visit one of the four venues that make up Southend Museums, including Beecroft Art Gallery, Central Museum and Planetarium, Prittlewell Priory, and Southchurch Hall. All branches are free entry, but they gratefully receive donations if you enjoy your visit.
Junior parkrun, Chelmsford
Head to Central Park on Sunday at 9am for the weekly 2k junior parkrun for 4-14 year olds. It’s a fun and friendly free event, and you’ll only need to register once (before your first visit). It’s on every Sunday.
Great Notley Discovery Park, Braintree
Great Notley Country Park is home to Essex’s longest play trail with plenty of interactive play equipment to explore. Entry is free, and parking prices start at £2.80.
Free Beano comics
If the weather isn’t holding up, you can download six digital issues of Golden Beano for free and enjoy some time cosied up at home. These free issues are full of comic strips, puzzles, and jokes from the Beano archives and are sure to entertain.
Essex Police Museum, Chelmsford
With over 25,000 historical artefacts in the collection, Essex Police Museum tells the story of the local service from the Victorian era to today. It’s usually open to the public on Saturdays, and during February half-term it will also be open on Wednesday 19, 10am-4pm.
Brambly Hedge Sculpture Trail at Abberton Reservoir, Colchester
The characters from the classic children’s stories Brambly Hedge are brought to life at Abberton Reservoir in Colchester. Find seven of the characters along the sculpture trail using the Bramly Hedge map, available for £1 from the Nature Discovery Centre.
Turf Maze, Saffron Walden
The Saffron Walden Turf Maze is the largest example of its type in the world and is one of only eight surviving turf labyrinths in England. It’s publicly owned so it’s free to explore. There are also three other mazes in Saffron Walden to enjoy, including the Victorian yew hedge maze in Bridge End Garden, the Jubilee Garden Bandstand Labyrinth, and the Swan Meadow Maze.
Promenade Park, Maldon
With a sand pit, play fort, zip-wire, and a large activity feature in the shape of an old sailing ship, children can climb, slide, and run around to their heart’s content at Promenade Park. Entry is free, and parking prices start from £1.60.