Take part in free and affordable family adventures at North East Museums this February half term

The popular Ways to Play programme invites children to get active, creative and imaginative with a variety of engaging, affordable experiences designed to make the school holidays memorable.  

This February half term, families can enjoy a varied programme of family events, from creative workshops to one-of-a-kind experiences, offering something to engage children of all ages. 
Highlights from February’s half term events programme include:  

• Great North Museum: Hancock’s Viking Experience Day 
• South Shields Museum & Art Gallery’s Wellness Weekends 
• Discovery Museum’s Chinese New Year Celebrations  

With rising costs affecting many households, the opportunity for families to make savings on travel costs makes visiting museums and galleries more affordable.  

Many North East Museums venues are easily accessible via Metro, Bus or Shields Ferry. During school holidays children under 11 can travel free on Tyne and Wear Metro, the Shields Ferry and buses when accompanied by a fare-paying adult.  

Ways to Play has won several awards, including the Best Arts and Business Partnership at the North East Culture Awards in 2022 and the Not-for-Profit Marketing Award at the North East Marketing Awards the same year. It was also shortlisted for Partnership of the Year at the Museum + Heritage Awards in 2023. 

ENDS -  

Media contact: sallie.ball@northeastmuseums.org.uk 
 
Editor’s notes: 
About North East Museums 
North East Museums (formerly Tyne & Wear Archives & Museums) is a regional museum, art gallery and archives service.   

We manage 12 museums and galleries across North East England and the Archives for Tyne and Wear, attracting around 1 million visits a year. We run these venues and services on behalf of the local authorities of Gateshead, Newcastle, Northumberland, North and South Tyneside, and Newcastle University.   
We are partially funded by these partners and also by Arts Council England (as a National Portfolio Organisation). The rest of our income is generated through our commercial enterprises including our shops, cafes and venue hire, and via fundraising.  

We care for over 1.1 million objects - many of international importance - in archives, art, science and technology, archaeology, military and social history, fashion and natural sciences. 

Our award-winning formal and informal learning activities focus on natural history, local heritage, art, science, technology, engineering and maths, and inspire over 100,000 children and young people each year. 

We work with partners to engage local communities, offering creative activities inspired by our collections to help them to improve their health and wellbeing. 

February Event Programme by venue:   

Discovery Museum: 

Chinese Lunar New Year 

• This February during half-term holidays at Discovery Museum, join us to welcome the Year of the Horse with a day of family making activities, crafts and tasty treats. Help us decorate the museum and celebrate the traditions of the festival.  

Chinese New Year is a key celebration for Chinese and British Chinese communities, including here in Newcastle. The city’s annual Chinese New Year parade has become a much-loved community event. 
Tuesday 17 February | 11am - 2pm | Free, drop in | Find out more 

Discover a Story 

• This February during half-term holidays at Discovery Museum, join us to welcome the Year of the Horse with a day of family making activities, crafts and tasty treats. Help us decorate the museum and celebrate the traditions of the festival.  

Chinese New Year is a key celebration for Chinese and British Chinese communities, including here in Newcastle. The city’s annual Chinese New Year parade has become a much-loved community event. 
Tuesday 17 and Tuesday 24 February | Various times available | Tickets £3.50, book now 

Time Travel Club 

• This half term meet Gillian from The National Archives to find out all about the Mauretania, the most famous ship ever built on Tyneside (you can see the magnificent ship model in the Tyneside Challenge gallery). 

Get hands-on with historical documents to discover what made the Mauretania so special, and then have a go at making your own pin-wheel turbine to take home. 
Thursday 19  February | Various times available | Free, drop in | Learn more 
 
Great North Museum: Hancock: 

Viking Experience Day 

• Come and meet some real-life Vikings and Viking experts at the museum in our Natural Northumbria gallery. Storytellers will weave tales of magic and heroism drawn from the sagas of the Vikings. Try your hand at untangling fiendish riddles and mysterious runes, and make your own rune stone to take away with you. 

Tuesday 20 and Tuesday 27 February |10.30am - 2.30pm  | Free, drop in | Learn more 
Mouse Tales - Storytime for under 5s and their families 

• Join us for an interactive story, songs, related playtime, and a special opportunity to handle a museum object. 

Tuesday 28 October |11-11.45am and 1-2pm | Free, booking required | Book your Mouse Tales session 

Time Odyssey: A Family Adventure 

• A new interactive learning experience which takes families on a quest through the museum. 

Wednesday 29 October | Various times slots available | Free, booking required | Book your Time Odyssey 

Messy Mice 

• Our Messy Mice sessions are designed for children under 5, and are the perfect place for your little one to socialise with new people and make friends, whilst exploring our Museum collections though messy play. The sessions will begin with songs, followed by free time to explore some messy activities within the space and an opportunity to have a closer look at some of our museum handling collections. You may wish to dress in old clothing and bring a change of clothes and towel with you. 

Friday 6 February | 10.30-11.30am | Free, booking required | Book now 
 
Half Term Drop in Crafts 

Come and see the newly renovated interactive Egypt tunnel in the Ancient Egypt gallery, and while you are here, make a piece of hieroglyphic art on a real piece of papyrus. 
Wednesday 18 and Wednesday 25 February  | 11am - 3pm | Free, booking required | Find out more 

Mindful Colouring  

• Get creative and unwind at our colouring-in tables in the Living Planet gallery. 

Monday 16 February - Friday 27 February | Free, drop in | Learn more 

Big Beasts, Little Beasts Museum Trail 

• Big Beasts, Little Beasts is an interactive family trail that invites you to explore the museum and its collections with engaging activities, fun prizes, and more!  

Until Thursday 2 April | Free, drop in | Learn more 
 
Shipley Art Gallery:

Crafty Kids 

• In the spirit of the season, you will be taught by a professional artist to create your own spooky Halloween mask, using collage and card. 

Tuesday 28 February | 10.30am -12 noon, 1 - 2.30pm | Tickets £4.50 | Book for Family Art Class 

Family Art Class 

• At each session you'll be taught by a professional artist, and will try different techniques such as watercolours, ceramics, mixed media, drawing and more. Accompanying adults are encouraged to join in - the class is a great opportunity for families to enjoy creative time together. 

Tuesday 28 February | 10.30am -12 noon, 1 - 2.30pm | Tickets £4.50 | Find out more and book 

Family Crafting 

• Roll out the clay and sculpt features to make a face. Press it together with your fingers and a dab of water. Will you make a portrait of yourself, someone you're with, or a face inspired by the artworks in the gallery? 

Tuesday 28 February | 10.30 - 11.45am | Tickets £3 | Find out more 

Lego Coding Workshop 

• Use Lego and plastic components to build a model, then programme it using an iPad. Using Scratch block coding, you’ll be able to make your model move, make noise, light up, play music, and more. You’ll learn coding, digital literacy, problem solving, and critical thinking – all through play! 

Tuesday 28 February | 10.30am -12 noon, 1 - 2.30pm | Tickets £10 | Book Lego Coding Workshop 

Holiday Art Class 

• Our friendly tutor, Steph will guide you in making an 'explosion book'. These small, square books 'explode' into a series of square and triangular pages when you open them. You'll make your book from card and paper, with colourful abstract patterns drawn on each page. 

Thursday 26 February | 10.30am -12 noon, 1 - 2.30pm | Tickets £4.50 | Book for Family Art Class 

South Shields Museum & Art Gallery: 

Wellness Weekends: Qi Gong Sessions 

• Visitors can take part in a 30-minute Qi Gong class led by a professional instructor, held in front of Monet’s iconic artwork - creating a calming and immersive start to the morning that blends movement with mindfulness.   Saturday 24, 31 January, Saturday 14, 21, 28 February  | 9.30 - 10am | Free, booking essential | Find out more 

Wellness Weekends: Slow Looking Sessions 

• In these slow looking sessions, visitors can enjoy a relaxed and reflective atmosphere, with guided observation followed by sensory experiences. 

Saturday 24, 31 January, Saturday 7, 14, 21, 28 February | 10.15 - 10.45am | Free, booking essential | Find out more 

Wellness Weekends: Afternoon Craft Sessions =

• Every Saturday afternoon, throughout the exhibition running period, families can drop into the learning room to take part in creative workshops where children and adults can explore art-inspired crafts together. 

Saturday 24, 31 January, Saturday 7, 14, 21, 28 February, Saturday 7, 14, 21 March | From 11.30am | Free, drop in | Find out more 

Stephenson Steam Railway:  

Heritage Train Rides 

• Take a nostalgic journey with a four-mile return trip along the historic route once taken by coal trains from the collieries to the River Tyne. Step back in time as you travel in a vintage 1950s passenger carriage and soak up the sights and sounds of a bygone era. 

Sunday 15, Thursday 19, Sunday 22 February | 11.30am, 12.30pm, 2pm and 3pm | Tickets £7 | Book for Heritage Train Rides 

Big Schools Birdwatch 

• Celebrate the Big Schools Birdwatch and create your own bird artwork inspired by what you've seen around our site. Follow our bird trail through the museum and woodland walk, and use the Merlin Bird ID app to spot and identify birds you can see and hear. 

Thursday 19 February | 11am - 3pm | Free, drop in | Find out more 

Woodhorn Museum:  

Early Years Storytime Group 

• The museum’s popular Early Years Storytime Group gives families and carers with pre-school children the opportunity to meet regularly throughout the year. Join the team every Friday (during term time) to read a story together and take part in a hands-on activity. 

Woodhorn Museum | Friday 6, 13, 27 February | Included with Annual Pass | Find out more 
Learn to Proggy 

• Discover how people of the past made the most of the materials available to them by reusing old textiles. Learn basic proggy mat making techniques and start your own sample piece to take home. 

Friday 6 February | Tickets £4 | Find out more 

The Hungry Miner 

• For miners, dinnertime underground was a welcome break from the hard graft of digging coal. Each carried a bait box filled with simple food like jam sandwiches or bread and dripping. In this fun family activity, imagine what would go inside your miner’s bait box and then make your own. 

Saturday 14 – Saturday 22 February | Included with Annual Pass | Find out more 

Early Years Storytime Group 

• The museum’s popular Early Years Storytime Group gives families and carers with pre-school children the opportunity to meet regularly throughout the year. Join the team every Friday (during term time) to read a story together and take part in a hands-on activity. 

Friday 6, 13, 27 February | Included with Annual Pass | Find out more 

Segedunum Roman Fort:  

Step Outdoors – Stay and Play 

• Come down to the Fort for free, fun, and inclusive activities for children under five and their parents or carers, with exciting outdoor play, cosy indoor spaces, free refreshments, and the chance to meet other local families. 

Thursday 19 February | Free, drop in | 11am – 3pm | Find out more 

Mosaic Monday 

• Get creative this February Half Term with Mosaic Monday, inspired by the colourful designs the Romans once used to decorate their homes. Children can design and craft their very own mosaic coaster to take home. 

Thursday 19 February | Free, drop in | 11am – 3pm | Find out more 

Laing Art Gallery: 

Little Artists  

• Discover the Laing with your little ones and support their early development in a fun and relaxed way, exploring a different theme each week. Each session involves a warm up with movement and motion, gallery exploration with fun interactive activities, a practical art activity with various materials, and a short story time.   

Monday 2 and 9, Friday 6 and 13 February |10.30 - 11.30am | Tickets £6 | Book your space 
 
Saturday Art Class (10-15 year-olds) 

• An inclusive art class held on the first Saturday of every month for 10-15 year olds.  

Participants will have the opportunity to work with professional art educators, working in a different medium or with a different technique each month. 

Monday 2 and 9, Friday 6 and 13 February |10.30 - 11.30am | Tickets £7 | Book your space 
Art Camp (7-10 year-olds) 

• Young people are welcome to explore the galleries, talk about art, and create their own work in sessions led by a professional arts educator. Experiment with materials, learn new skills, and create a dynamic set of works in the Laing's Art Studio. 

Monday 2 and 9, Friday 6 and 13 February |10am - 3pm | £35 per day | Book your space 
Art Club (11-16 year-olds) 

• Enjoy a full day at the gallery where young people are welcome to explore the galleries, talk about art, and create their own work in sessions led by a professional arts educator. Experiment with materials, learn new skills, and create a dynamic set of works in the Laing's Art Studio. 

Monday 2 and 9, Friday 6 and 13 February |10.30 - 11.30am | Tickets £6 | Book your space 

Make and Muse Family Crafting (7-12 year-olds) 

• Make and Muse takes place in the Laing’s unique gallery setting. Parents and kids will learn about art surrounded by our collections, then enjoy a dynamic craft activity in the exhibition space. 

Monday 2 and 9, Friday 6 and 13 February |10.30 - 11.30am | Tickets £7 | Book your space 

Little Artists + 

• Discover the Laing with your little ones and support their early development in a fun and relaxed way, exploring a different theme each week. Each session involves a warm up with movement and motion, gallery exploration with fun interactive activities, a practical art activity with various materials. 

Monday 2 and 9, Friday 6 and 13 February |10.30 - 11.30am | Tickets £6 | Book your space