For inspiring days close to home, check out our round-up of activities and events to enjoy with your kids in East London.
February may be cold and the weather dreadful but at least it has the decency to be a short month! The days are getting longer and the first signs of spring are already here. Challenge the kids to notice daffodils and blossoms on your way to check out one of these events!
1 Squirrel -London Bridge
A gentle, interactive puppet show perfect for the very young, Squirrel invites little ones on a cosy adventure through playful storytelling and charming visuals. Follow a fussy squirrel on its quest for the perfect acorn, with simple movement, music and audience participation helping to bring this heartwarming tale to life. Designed specifically for babies and toddlers, this uplifting production is a lovely introduction to live theatre for ages 6 months – 4 years.
Saturday 17th January – Sunday 22nd February 2026 with shows at various times (approx. 40 min)
Unicorn Theatre (Clore),147 Tooley St, London, SE1 2HZ
£20.50 1 parent and child £10 child
2 Little Red Riding Hood at Discover Children’s Story Centre
Discover Children’s Story Centre is wrapping up for some renovations at the end of February but not before the put on some brilliant activities for half term. Dinosaurs, costume making, dancing, pirate mums and more. There’s a new Story World playspace, bringing the classic Little Red Riding Hood to life as an interactive play experience inside the Story World. Wander through Grandma’s cottage hidden among the trees, dress up as Little Red, seek out the Big Bad Wolf and explore sensory surprises inspired by the classic tale.
Various dates in February until 22nd
Discover Children’s Story Centre, 383–387 High Street, Stratford, London E15 4QZ
Adults & children approx. £10
3 I Want My Hat Back Trilogy at Little Angel Theatre
Join Bear, Fish and the Turtles in this delightful live puppet adaptation of Jon Klassen’s beloved hat stories. I Want My Hat Back Trilogy weaves three clever, visual tales of loss, discovery and friendship with luminous cardboard puppetry and humour, making it a joyful theatre experience for young audiences and their families.
Thursday 5th February – Saturday 9th May 2026 various times
Little Angel Theatre, Little Angel Studios, Sebbon Street, London N1 2EH
Adult £15.50 and Child £13.50; discounted prices on selected Thursday/Friday shows (£8.50–£10)
4 Boroughs United 2026 at Hackney Empire
Celebrate creativity, culture and community at Boroughs United 2026, London’s liveliest youth talent showcase. Over 1,000 young people, families and friends from across the city come together for this inspiring urban variety performance, featuring powerful singers, rappers, dance crews and more. This energetic annual event, presented by The Crib Youth Team, champions unity and positive expression across London’s boroughs.
Saturday 7th February 2026 at 5:00 pm 3 hours with a 20 minute interval
Hackney Empire, 291 Mare Street, London E8 1EJ
All ages
Tickets £7 (plus booking fee £1.20 online / £1.40 by phone)
5 Brave Bettie at Half Moon Theatre
Brave Bettie is a magical woodland adventure told through poetry, songs and live music as Bettie learns about courage, friendship and standing up for what she loves. This playful yet powerful show explores resilience, self-belief and our bond with nature in a way that’s perfect for young audiences and their families.
Thursday 5th – Tuesday 10th February 2026 10:30 am, 1:30 pm and 4:30 pm depending on date
Half Moon Theatre, 43 White Horse Road, London E1 0ND
Tickets £9 per person
6 UNIQLO Tate Play: Make Studio – Beauty at Tate Modern
Explore ideas of beauty, creativity and self-expression at this free, drop-in family studio at Tate Modern. Part of the UNIQLO Tate Play programme, Make Studio: Beauty invites children and their grown-ups to experiment with materials, textures and colours, encouraging open-ended making inspired by artworks in the gallery. A relaxed, creative space that’s perfect for hands-on play and imagination during a gallery visit. On the 1st, 7th, 8th and 21st you can also book a 30 minute family tour.
Weekends until the 11th February 2026
Tate Modern, Bankside, London SE1 9TG
Free drop in
7 Imagine Children’s Festival – Southbank
Imagine returns to the Southbank Centre this February half term, transforming the riverside venue into a vibrant cultural playground for families. Now in its 24th year, the festival offers an exciting mix of theatre, dance, music, puppetry and book events, with thoughtfully designed experiences for babies, toddlers and children up to 11. From sensory early-years shows to high-energy dance, parkour and live author appearances. Highlights include: Andy and the Oddsocks, world premiere of Mrs Armitage on Wheels inspired by Sir Quentin Blake, and live book events with beloved authors including Liz Pichon, RAMZEE and Katie Kirby.
Wednesday 11th – Saturday 21st February 2026 with events at various times throughout the day
Southbank Centre, Belvedere Road, London SE1 8XX
Ticket prices vary by event
8 LGBTQ+ History Month – Greenwich
Drop into a lively programme of free family activities at the National Maritime Museum this February half term. Inspired by love, fashion and LGBTQ+ History Month, the series includes storytelling, singing, crafts and creative workshops for all ages, from making colourful rainbow fish to storytelling and dress-up sessions. All activities are drop-in and free with no need to book in advance.
Sunday 15th – Friday 20th February 2026 | 11 am – 4 pm each day
National Maritime Museum, Romney Rd, London SE10 9NF
Free – Ahoy the indoor playspace and should be booked in advance
9 Space by Luxmuralis at St Martin-in-the-Fields
A breathtaking immersive sound and light experience, Space by Luxmuralis invites visitors to walk amongst the stars as St Martin-in-the-Fields is transformed into a glowing cosmic landscape. Through vibrant projections and an atmospheric soundscape, audiences journey across the universe from the Big Bang and the birth of Earth to humanity’s place among the stars. The journey ends beneath twinkling lights in the church’s atmospheric crypt. A truly magical experience for art, music and space lovers.
Tuesday 17th – Saturday 21st February 2026 with timed entry sessions
Space Silent Disco: Wednesday 18th February 2026
St Martin-in-the-Fields, Trafalgar Square, London WC2N 4JJ
Tickets from £8
10 February Half Term at the Museum of London Docklands
Dig into history this February half term with a week of hands-on family activities at the London Museum Docklands. From shaping your own Roman clay pots to crafting Viking brooches, storytelling adventures and creative pattern-making workshops, there’s plenty to explore for curious young minds. Most activities are free and drop-in but a few are ticketed.
Saturday 14th – Friday 20th February 2026
Museum of London Docklands, No.1 Warehouse, West India Quay, London E14 4AL.
FREE
11 Inside Aardman: Wallace & Gromit and Friends
Step into the whimsical world of Aardman’s beloved stop-motion animation with this immersive exhibition at the Young V&A. Explore how iconic characters like Wallace & Gromit, Shaun the Sheep and Morph are brought to life through model making, storyboards, sets and interactive displays that reveal the secrets behind the craft of animation. Celebrating Aardman’s creative legacy, the exhibition is packed with objects from its 50-year history and hands-on activities that inspire visitors of all ages to imagine and create.
Thursday 12th February – Sunday 15th November 2026 daily during museum opening hours
Young V&A, Cambridge Heath Road, Bethnal Green, London, E2 9PA
Tickets £11
12 February Half-Term: Fan Making Workshop at The Brunel Museum
Get creative at The Brunel Museum this February half-term with a drop-in fan making workshop inspired by a historic painted fan on display as part of the museum’s French Révolution season. Choose sustainable materials and decorate your own fan to take home. If you’ve not been to the Brunel Museum for a while, there’s been a refurbishment. Definitely worth checking out.
Saturday 14th – Sunday 22nd February 2026 | 10:30 am – 3:30 pm daily
Drop-in session throughout museum opening hours (no need to book in advance).
The Brunel Museum, Railway Avenue, Rotherhithe, London SE16 4LF
Adults around £10, Under-16s free
13 Mudchute Farm Half Term Animal Experiences – Isle of Dogs
Get up close and personal with some furry friends this February Half Term and support your local city farm. Sessions can be booked with Small Animals – Rabbits, Guinea pigs and Chickens. 30 minutes of cuteness to delight animal loving children aged 5+. While you’re there be sure to visit all the other animals too. You can plan your day to coincide with feeding times and make sure you get the most out of your visit. And when it’s feeding time for the smalls, the farm cafe offers delicious farm fresh food.
Weekends
Mudchute Farm, Pier St, London E14 3HP
Farm is free but appointments with animals are £40 for 2 people, £50 for 3 people, £60 for 4 people.
14 Nooks Cardboard Installation at Poplar Union
Explore a gentle, sensory-led cardboard installation designed especially for young children and families at Poplar Union. Nooks invites little ones to climb, discover and interact with evolving cardboard structures, sparking imagination, creative play and tactile fun — especially great for early years and SEND-inclusive family visits.
Saturdays 10 am – 12 pm (check Poplar Union calendar for dates)
Poplar Union, 2 Cotall Street, Poplar, London E14 6TL
Free drop-in activity (check venue for latest workshop details)
15 Lunar New Year at Greenwich Peninsula
Celebrate the Year of the Horse with a lively, family-friendly Lunar New Year festival at Greenwich Peninsula. Expect colourful Dragon and Lion dances, live music and DJs, hands-on cultural workshops, street food and creative activities spread across the Peninsula Square and Design District. Make a day of it with a cable care over the Thames if you live North of the river and soak up the celebrations.
Saturday 21st February 2026 | 12pm – 5pm
Greenwich Peninsula
Free – Some workshops are paid for and will need to be prebooked
16 Bow Families: printing with turmeric with Ayesha Sureya
Join artist and designer Ayesha Sureya for a sensory family art workshop exploring the stories and colours found in everyday food stains. Using spices such as turmeric, children and grown-ups will transform natural ingredients into vibrant pigments to print, stain and decorate fabric, creating your own wearable art pieces inspired by culture, memory and joy. All materials are provided and the session is open to families of all ages and abilities.
Sunday 22nd February 2026 11:00 am – 1:00 pm
Bow Arts Trust Courtyard Room, 183 Bow Road, London E3 2SJ
Open to children and families of all ages
Free drop-in workshop
17 Chinese New Year
Join the city’s biggest and brightest Lunar New Year celebrations as Chinatown and central London come alive for the Year of the Horse. Europe’s largest Chinatown hosts vibrant cultural festivities with traditional lion dance performances, pop-up stalls, festive menus and the annual Chinese New Year parade, a colourful procession through central London that brings music, dance and community spirit to the streets. The parade and main celebrations will happen on the Sunday although you may be able to catch earlier lion dances and build-up activities in the days leading up to Sunday’s big celebration.
Sunday 22nd February 2026
Chinatown & Central London, starting east of Trafalgar Square and ending in Chinatown, London W1D (streets including Charing Cross Road, Shaftesbury Avenue and Wardour Street)
Free
18 Ice Rink Canary Wharf – Tower Hamlets
While Christmas may be over there is still wintery festive fun to be had. Get your skates on and enjoy the covered yet still open air Canary Wharf Ice rink, rain or shine! Apres skate you can head to The Grandstand Bar, where you can enjoy watching the tumbles and twirls of those skating on the rink while tucking into delicious churros. All children must be attended by an adult. Ages 4+
Until 22nd February 2026
Ice Rink Canary Wharf, Canada Square Park, Canary Wharf, London, E14 5AB
4-13 yrs £13.50 -£15.95, 13+ £17.95-£20.95 family from £53.95
19 Last Chance to Experience the Phantom Peak Immersive Adventure
Step into a whimsical, steampunk-inspired open-world experience at Phantom Peak, where you and your family can explore a fully realised frontier-style town, meet quirky characters, solve interactive mysteries and uncover story trails at your own pace. Part immersive theatre, part real-life adventure, this unique outing combines curious puzzles, live actors, food & drink stops and plenty of surprises.
Must End 28th February 2026
Phantom Peak, Canada Street & Surrey Quays Road, London SE16 7PJ
Approx £42 adults, £25 under 17s (under 4s go free)
20 Curling in Canary Wharf
Try something a little different with a visit to The Curling Club Canary Wharf. Sometimes referred to as Chess on Ice, Curling is an inclusive Olympic sport. With friendly hosts showing you the ropes, it’s easy to pick up and surprisingly competitive, making it a great activity for older children, teens and parents to enjoy together.
Runs seasonally – winter dates with bookable sessions throughout the day and evening
Canary Wharf, London E14 (outdoor pop-up location within the estate)
Best for 8+ (age guidance may vary by session)
Price from £15 for 30 minutes