Our White Cliffs Country guide to February half term is here to help beat any boredom. Whether you live locally or are visiting for the school holidays, check out our guide for what's on in the area, things to do and places to visit to keep everyone entertained.
Join characters from the past for historical hijinks and hands-on shenanigans at Dover Castle this half-term. Be transported back in time by medieval storytellers, before enrolling into an outrageously fun sword school. As well as all the February Half Term fun:
- discover the story of Dunkirk in an immersive exhibition in Secret Wartime Tunnels
- take a tour of the Underground Hospital
- explore the Great Tower and climb to the roof for amazing views across Dover and
- get hands on in the Port War Signalling Station to try your hand at Morse Code
- roam 80 acres of castle grounds with mighty battlements, a Roman lighthouse and medieval tunnels.
© English Heritage
There's so much to do at Betteshanger Park this half term that you'll be spoiled for choice. Choose from an outdoor Activity Club (ages 9-14), Wild Ones Forest School (ages 5-11), target archery, bushcraft, learning to bike ride sessions and mountain biking coaching, fossil-hunting, orienteering and geocaching!
For an amazing day out, head to Wingham Wildlife Park, Kent's Best Family Attraction (Muddy Stilettos 2022). See rare animals, such as tigers, moon bears, red pandas and orangutans, To make the day extra-special, book onto one of their experiences - meet the tigers, feed the penguins, spend time with Arctic wolves. As well as real live animals, you can step back millions of years to the time of the dinosaurs in the Dinosaur Area and let off steam in the indoor and outdoor play areas.
There's a new carved table of medieval games to play at Sandwich Medieval Centre, which will be open on 18 and 19 February from 11am to 3pm. Join the knowledgeable volunteers to play a variety of medieval board games such as Nine Men’s Morris, Fox and Geese, Alquerque, Horseshoe and Seega. All activities are free but donations are always welcome. The Sandwich Medieval Centre is an educational trust helping to keep alive a variety of crafts from the Middle Ages and their reconstruction of a seaworthy Cog called the Nicholas is moored on Sandwich Quayside just outside the centre.
Join the Green Gang at Samphire Hoe from 10am-12pm on Sunday 12 February for Beach Art - a walk to the beach, looking out for wildlife along the way. Have a go at making beach sculptures using natural and found objects. Their other half-term event is Bird Bingo at Fort Burgoyne on Friday 17 February from 10am-12pm. Bring your binoculars for a walk, keeping eyes peeled for winter visitors and try to achieve a full house in bird bingo! Children must be accompanied at all times.
Adventure golf isn't just for summer - Roman Landings Adventure Golf on Walmer seafront has a special offer on for half term where children go free with a paying adult before 11am. Water features run through the course and players need to pull themselves across some of the water areas using a raft! There's also a Roman Galley and a miniature recreation of Walmer Castle where players can battle through the towers and ramparts playing four different holes on the way. As well as adventure golf, there is a car track for younger children and a cafe.
© Wingham Wildlife Park
The Battle of Britain Memorial at Capel-le-Ferne is running its 'buy one, get one free' offer on tickets for the Scramble Experience, which has lots of hands-on things to do for children. There are also interactive exhibitions, the memorial grounds to explore and the Cockpit Cafe. There's no need to book - it's open from Tuesday to Sunday, 10am to 4pm.
If all that activity tires you out, how about a sauna on Dover Beach?! Dover Town Council is hosting a week long Health & Leisure Consultation featuring an authentic Finnish sauna inviting you to experience the warmth and culture of the Finnish pop-up sauna from 14 to 19 February between 7.30am and 6pm on Dover Seafront. Book here.
Browse our website for information on loads of other places to visit and things to do this half term. And don't forget to tag us @visitdover and use #whitecliffscountry in any social media posts that you're happy to share. Have a great time!