FREE E-GUIDE: Top Attractions - Your guide to the best half term days out in Yorkshire and the region
Looking for brilliant family days out this February half-term in Yorkshire and the region? Look no further – we’ve picked the very best, all in one free guide.
FREE E-GUIDE: Top Attractions - Your guide to family days out in our latest free page-turning online guide, packed with things to do. Read it below, or open it in a new browser window by clicking here .
FULL SCREEN: For the best computer screen reader experience click on the three dots, at the bottom right of the e-Guide, and then on full screen.
You will find no shortage of inspiration across the region, with a packed programme of attractions, events and experiences for all ages – whatever the weather, writes Graham Walker.
From polar bears and dinosaurs at Yorkshire Wildlife Park to live shows and ice skating at Stockeld Park, hands-on maths fun at MathsCity, animal encounters at Matlock Farm Park, steampunk spectacle in Wakefield and matchday excitement at Harrogate Town AFC, Yorkshire is packed with brilliant family-friendly things to do this February half-term.
Families looking to make the most of February half-term will find no shortage of inspiration across Yorkshire, with a packed programme of attractions, events and experiences designed to entertain children of all ages – whatever the weather.
Leading the way is Yorkshire Wildlife Park, which offers a full day out combining conservation, education and adventure. Visitors can come face to face with some of the world’s most endangered species, including the UK’s largest group of polar bears in the award-winning Project Polar reserve.
New arrival Brodie has already become a firm favourite with visitors, alongside established residents enjoying the park’s expansive lakes and habitats.
Elsewhere in the park, Lion Country is home to rescued lions from Romania and the Ukrainian war zone, now thriving in spacious reserves.
Families can also meet giraffes, rhinos, meerkats, sea lions and enjoy walk-through encounters with wallabies and lemurs. Younger visitors can let off steam in indoor and outdoor play areas, while ranger talks and daily carnivore feeding sessions add to the experience. The immersive dinosaur attraction, Pangea, brings more than 30 life-sized prehistoric creatures roaring into life, and The Hive offers shopping, dining and entertainment, alongside the on-site Hex Wildlife Hotel.
Over in Wetherby, Stockeld Park is gearing up for a busy half-term with a jam-packed calendar of seasonal events. Exclusive to February half-term is Once Upon a Showdown, a high-energy live show featuring a musical face-off between Fairy Godmother and Captain Hook.
Families can also enjoy the park’s covered ice rink, open throughout the school holidays, alongside unlimited access options via the Winter Membership. The award-winning Playhive – Europe’s largest indoor play centre – remains a major draw, offering a weather-proof escape filled with imaginative and sensory play.
In Leeds city centre, MathsCity is inviting families to explore the surprising fun behind numbers with a special half-term programme themed around origami.
Children can discover how simple paper folds are used in space exploration, robotics and healthcare, while enjoying more than 50 interactive exhibits. From climbing inside giant bubbles to tackling puzzles and laser challenges, the experience combines learning and play in equal measure.
Animal lovers can head to Matlock Farm Park, where hands-on encounters are the order of the day.
Children can meet Highland cattle, goats, wallabies, pigs, meerkats and more, take part in sheep racing, reptile encounters and small animal petting sessions, and enjoy indoor and outdoor play areas including the UK’s largest jumping pillow. Pony rides and alpaca trekking add to the appeal, making it a popular choice for memorable half-term days out.
For something a little different, The Wakefield Steampunk & Alternative Fair returns in March, offering a colourful celebration of creativity and alternative culture. Hosted at The Ridings Shopping Centre, the event brings together traders, artists and performers from steampunk, gothic, fantasy, sci-fi and vintage worlds, creating a family-friendly spectacle full of curiosities and character.
Sporting fans are also catered for, with Harrogate Town AFC welcoming families to The Exercise Stadium during half-term.
With home fixtures against Bromley and Cheltenham, matchdays promise affordable entertainment and a lively atmosphere, ideal for introducing young supporters to live football.
With so much on offer – from wildlife and live shows to interactive learning, outdoor fun and sport – Yorkshire and the region is firmly on the map for families looking to create lasting half-term memories close to home.