Science and Industry Museum
Working steam engines, the story of Cottonopolis, and hands-on galleries in the world's oldest surviving passenger railway station. Free, and the live demonstrations are the bit kids actually remember.
February half term 2027 in North West England
13 February to 21 February. Term dates are set council by council, so treat the edges as approximate. February half term is the year's most honest break: cold, short and badly served by outdoor attractions, which is exactly why the free museums, the soft play tier and the aquariums earn their keep now.
0 dated events so far
The programmes are not out yet
Venues publish their February half term events four to eight weeks ahead. This page collects them automatically as they appear, so it is worth a bookmark now and a second look nearer the time.
The wet-day bankers
Assume indoors and let a dry day be the surprise. These are the reliable indoor days, ranked by the venues families rate most.
World Museum, Liverpool
Five floors, free, and it covers three things small children reliably love: giant dinosaurs, an aquarium and a space gallery. The best wet-weather day within half an hour.
Museum of Liverpool
The city's story with an overhead railway carriage to climb aboard and Little Liverpool, a dedicated hands-on gallery for under-6s. Free, on the waterfront, and the window views are half the fun.
Manchester Art Gallery
Free, right in the city centre, and properly set up for children: the Lion's Den family gallery has its own play space and the family activity programme costs nothing. Closed Mondays.
Manchester Museum
A T. rex skeleton cast, live frogs in the vivarium, Egyptian mummies and a genuinely good natural history floor. Free, university-run, and less overwhelming than the big London equivalents.
The Ice Cream Farm
A small entry fee now, then a pay-per-play card for the attractions: a giant sand and water quarry, mini golf, go-karts and play areas, funded by a world-record ice cream shop. Cheap after 3.30pm, glorious in any weather.
Planning further ahead? The rolling school holidays page always shows the current or next break, and the what's on board has everything dated across the region.