A Guide To Soho in London: Neon, Nightlife And Naughtiness

Soho is a brilliant place to stay if you’re heading to London.

This is the busiest square mile in the capital over 24 hours. You’re bang in the middle of the city, it’s neon-bright at night and the pavement cafes and bars are excellent people-watching spots during the day.

We’re not going to lie, it’s a bit grubby in places but that’s part of its unique charm.

You can’t say you’ve really seen London until you’ve had a saunter round Soho – so here’s our guide to get you started.

Where is Soho?

What’s Soho like?

Shop signs by neon artist Chris Bracey (c) Gods Own Junkyard

It’s distinctive. You definitely know you’re in Soho come sunset thanks to the thousands of neon signs lighting up the dark, narrow streets.

And you’ve got the late neon artist, Chris Bracey to thank for some of the most iconic signs. He created provocative signage from the 1970s onward, not only for Soho but for futuristic films like Blade Runner.

By neon artist Chris Bracey (c) Gods Own Junkyard

As well as seeing some of his signage in Soho – you can visit the family-run Gods Own Junkyard in Wathamstow and buy your own bit of neon history.

Soho used to be one of the most notorious and densely populated parts of London in the nineteenth century. You can still see the evidence in the streets, with their tightly-packed buildings and network of alleyways (see Great Windmill Street below).

Great Windmill Street. Image byPedro Szekely via Flickr Creative Commons

Shaftesbury Avenue snakes through central London. It marks the south Soho border with Chinatown and Leicester Square.

Shaftesbury Avenue. Image by Pedro Szekely via Flickr Creative Commons

If you’ve got theatre tickets chances are you’ll be heading to this street, as there’s five major theatres on the Soho stretch.

Soho Theatre (c) Soho Theatre

If you’re after some new theatre, cabaret or comedy, then the Soho Theatre on Dean Street offers an alternative to the big West End productions.

Old Compton Street. Image by stu smith via Flickr Creative Commons

Old Compton Street is at the heart of Soho’s LGBT+ scene, and you’ll find plenty of gay-friendly venues along here and the surrounding streets.

The Village on Wardour Street is one of the oldest gay bars in Soho, while The Yard‘s Victorian courtyard on Rupert Street is a great place for a cocktail.

Old Compton Street. Image by Garry Knight via Flickr Creative Commons

Soho is the spiritual home of Pride in London. It now runs for two weeks in more than 40 venues across the neighbourhood.

Pride usually takes place in June if you want to time your trip and see Soho at its vibrant best.

Pride in London (c) Lauren Anderson

Soho Square is one of those rare things – a bit of open space in central London.

People have been hanging out here since the 1790s and it’s a good spot to sit on the grass or benches and have your sandwiches.

There’s also a strong cafe culture here, possibly due to the French influx in the late 19th century and then the Italians and Greeks in the 20th century – bringing with them continental-style eating and drinking.

Image by Alan Light via Flickr Creative Commons

The French House on Dean Street retains a bit of Bohemia. Its no music and machines rule make it a great place to hang out and chat with friends (you can even do bit of celebrity spotting).

In neighbouring Frith Street, Bar Italia is an institution and was one of the UK’s first coffee bars when it opened in 1949. It’s also open from 7am until 5am the next day making it the perfect place for an early (or late) caffeine hit.

Carnaby Street Eat

Kingly Court is a relatively new addition just off Carnaby Street. It has more than 20 cafes and restaurants, including Dirty Bones, The Rum Kitchen and Cinnamon Soho.

Every street has a pub or club and Soho has some of the best late night bars in the city, so you can get a drink more or less anytime of day or night.

Soho streets. Image by Alper Çuğun via Flickr Creative Commons

Proper pubs include The Sun & 13 Cantons, The Crown & Two Chairmen and The Dog and Duck.

There’s also no shortage of bars. 68 & Boston on Greek Street has a separate cocktail and wine bar (all the bottles are £20 so it’s easy) and you can get a great Martini in Mele e Pere on Brewer Street.

 

Image by Pedro Szekely via Flickr Creative Commons

There are loads of restaurants here too, with new ones popping up all the time.

Many of the restaurants don’t take bookings so you might see a line of people waiting their turn outside Dishoom (Indian), Bone Daddies (Ramen) and Polpo (Italian).

On Greek Street you’ll find London’s oldest patisserie, Maison Bertaux and you must visit the Gay Hussar on the same street. This unusual Hungarian restaurant looks like someone’s library – and you have to check out the political cartoons on the wall.

Image by Alan Light via Flickr Creative Commons (2)

It’s no secret that Soho is where the sex industry in London has thrived for more than 200 years. Its notoriety has made it high on visitors’ lists, looking to peak behind the curtains of polite society.

Soho’s moved on a bit since its 1960s “heyday”, and now there are only around a dozen licensed sex shops in the area.

Photo by Ray Stevenson / Rex Features. Sex Pistols – Glen Matlock, Steve Jones, Johnny Rotten and Paul Cook, Carnaby Street. 1976

Music has long been the bedrock of life in Soho – and no more so than in Carnaby Street.

The first jazz clubs were set up in the basements during the Swinging Sixties (think the Austin Powers opening segment). Then the 1970s came along with the introduction of punk and the Sex Pistols.

There’s still plenty of live music in Soho –Ronnie Scott’s is probably one of the best known jazz clubs in the world.

It’s been going since 1959, you can see live music here every night of the week – but it’s best to book in advance.

You can see more jazz at the PizzaExpress Jazz Club on Dean Street, rock music at Crobar on Manette Street and blues in Ain’t Nothing But on Kingly Street.

Liberty. Image by Stig Nygaard via Flickr Creative Commons

You can’t miss one of London’s best stores – Liberty. It’s fronted by the huge mock-Tudor building on Great Marlborough Street (just behind Oxford Street).

You could spend hours in here and its Christmas displays are famous.

Of course Oxford Street marks the northern boundary of Soho and they have all the major stores, including the flagship Topshop.

The western boundary is Regent Street which has more flagship, designer stores.

Image by Gregg Tavares via Flickr Creative Commons

Soho is particularly noted for its independent book stores, especially on Charing Cross Road.

Foyles has been on Charing Cross Road since 1906 when it started in a basement. It’s now four-stories worth of book-browsing heaven.

The Society Club in Ingestre Place has rare, limited editions to buy.

If you’re after premium alcohol, try Gerry’s Wines & Spirits on Old Compton Street or Whisky specialists, Milroy’s of Soho.

Chinatown London. Image by leo.wan via Fickr Creative Commons

Chinatown might not be strictly Soho – but it’s so close we can’t not mention it.

While the Chinese community have been established here since the 1960s, it only got its famous gates in the 1980s.

It may only be a few, extremely colourful, streets, but in this split between Soho and Leicester Square you’ll find a lot of authentic Chinese restaurants.

Places to stay in Soho

We’ve got lots of great hotels in Soho to choose from – here’s a few of our favourites.

Z Hotel Soho

Z Hotel Soho

Stay here and you’ll be on Moor Street, right next to the Cambridge Theatre and the Charing Cross Road. This famous thoroughfare is flanked by theatres, restaurants and book shops all the way down to Trafalgar Square.

Cafe Royale

Cafe Royal

Right in the south west corner of Soho, this five star hotel is close to Piccadilly Circus and the beautiful Georgian curve of Regent Street.

Radisson Blu Edwardian Hampshire

Radisson Blu Edwardian Hampshire

Slightly more Chinatown and towards Leicester Square, you’re in the heart of Theatreland here.

The Courthouse

The Courthouse

This is the best place to be for carrying your shopping home. You’re two minutes away from Oxford Street, Regent Street and trendy Carnaby.

What’s nearby?

Vista from The Trafalgar

If you head east to the other side of Charing Cross Road you’ll find Covent Garden, famous for its market, street entertainers and shopping.

Five minutes walk in a southerly direction will see you arrive in Trafalgar Square – where you can visit the National Gallery and get your picture in front of Nelson’s Column.

If you’re feeling adventurous jump on the tube and head west – Notting Hill is ten minutes away on the Central Line.

Or get on the Northern Line and go to Camden – it only takes 20 minutes and is another great place for people watching, live music and browsing the markets.

We’ve also put together some ways to spend the day in London if you’re looking for further inspiration.

Got any great Soho stories?

We’d love to know where your favourite Soho spots are.

Tell us your top tips in the comment section below and we might add them to our guide to Soho.

 

 

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13 Of The Most Spine Chillingly Scary Places In The World

We’re taught terrible tales of haunted houses and places from fairy tales at an early age.

But if our appetite for horror films is anything to go by, we love a good fright. And when it comes to travel, a lot of us still want to go and have an eerie experience for ourselves.

So we asked 5,000 people* which of the following “scary” places they’d most like to visit in the world.

And our spooky survey said…

1. England’s most haunted village, Pluckley

There are some places you might want to stay indoors with the curtains shut. And this is especially true in Pluckley, England’s most haunted village.

This place is more haunted than Hogwarts, with 12 “official” ghosts in residence – including a Highwayman and a Red Lady.

2. The Island of Dolls, Mexico

Island of the Dolls. Image Esparta Palma via Flickr Creative Commons

The beautiful man-made canals of Xochimico (chinampas), near Mexico City were declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1987. However, they harbour a macabre secret.

Hanging from the trees of one of the floating islands you’ll see the blank eyes of hundreds of decaying dolls staring soullessly back at you, many with severed limbs.

According to local legend, the Isla de las Munecas (Island of the Dolls) was created by its caretaker. He discovered the body of a young girl who had drowned, and hung her washed-up doll on a tree to pay his respects.

He spent the next fifty years adding to the number of dolls. Since his death in 2001, people have kept the place as he left it.

3. Hashima Island, Japan

Hashima Island. Image by Alexander Granholm via Flickr Creative Commons

Also known as Battleship Island, this creepy, abandoned place popped up as a James Bond baddie’s lair in Skyfall.

As well as a mine, it served as a brutal prisoner of war camp. It was abandoned so rapidly in 1974 it has an almost Marie Celeste like quality, with the workers just upping sticks. It’s also believed to be haunted.

You can take a guided boat tour from nearby Nagasaki – don’t worry, it’s a return trip.

If you don’t want to visit in person – this website was created using Google Street View (the music’s a little creepy, mind you).

Did you know? Just over 14% of people surveyed said they were scared of ghosts.

4. The Tower of London, England

If you fancy a bit of ghost-hunting, here’s where the most haunted places are in London – including theatres and tube stations.

Of course the Tower of London, being a royal palace, has a distinctly different class of ghosts. Both the Princes in the Tower – that’s Edward V (age 12) and younger brother, Richard (age 10) – are believed to have been murdered by their uncle (the Duke of Gloucester, later Richard III) here in 1483.

King Henry VIII also did away with his wife, Queen Anne Boleyn, at the Tower in 1536.

The most bizarre ghost sighted here is that of a bear. The poor Beefeater who clocked sight of him near the Martin Tower dropped dead of fright.

5. Catacombs of Paris, France

The Catacombs

‘Skulls as far as the eye can see’ might be a fair description of Paris’ famous Catacombs (their alternative name of  Municipal Ossuary is a lot less evocative).

This underground labyrinth houses the young from the original Cemetery of the Innocents.

We’re not saying it’s scary – but people of a nervous disposition are advised not to head down there.

Visiting here is one of our favourite things to in Paris when it rains – and it’s a good option if you’re doing a day trip.

DID YOU KNOW? The “welcome” message at the entrance “Arrête, c’est ici l’empire de la mort” means “Halt, this is the realm of Death”

6. Edinburgh Castle, Scotland

View of Edinburgh Castle from Princes Street (c) Historic Scotland

Scotland has its share of spooky sites, what tith all its isolated castles (like Fyvie Castle and Glamis Castle) and bleak abandoned battlefields (Culloden).

But the historic city of Edinburgh is supposed to be the most haunted in Europe.

Visitors to Edinburgh Castle have claimed to have paranormal experiences, with musicians particularly fond of reappearing (there’s been sightings of ghostly pipers and drummers).

Make sure you go on a Edinburgh ghost tour when you visit. Haunted places to tick off the list include creepy cemeteries and underground vaults.

FACE YOUR FEAR: Just over 12% of people surveyed said they were scared of flying.

7. Australia’s most haunted house, Monte Cristo Homestead

Monte Cristo Homestead. Image by Framton Goodman via Flickr Creative Commons

As anyone who’s watched a horror film knows, nothing good comes from buying an abandoned home in the middle of nowhere.

However in this case, the owners of the Monte Cristo Homestead (just under three hours drive from Canberra) managed to transform a Victorian house into a popular tourist attraction. The Ryan family have lived there since 1963, and have been haunted by the previous owners, a stable boy and a pregnant maid among other spooky visitors.

If you fancy joining them, you can stay the night, or just take one of the Saturday ghost tours.

8. Castle of Good Hope, South Africa

Castle of Goold Hope. Image by Victor Bergmann, via Flickr Creative Commons

The Casteel de Goede Hoop (1666) is the oldest building in South Africa. As a fort and prison, it’s got hundreds of years of history and hauntings behind it – so go take the tour.

The former Governor,  Pieter van Noodt, is supposedly cursed to roam the castle walls, and a big, black dog is said to greet visitors before disappearing into thin air.

9. America’s most haunted house, The Myrtles Plantation, Louisiana

Myrtles Plantation. Image by Shanna Riley via Flickr Creative Commons

We love somewhere scary where you can stay the night. And there’s plenty of things that could go bump in the night at the Myrtles Plantation.

Chief among the ghosts is the Legend of Chloe – the ghost of a slave who appeared in 1992 on a photograph taken for fire insurance purposes (imagine being a fly on the wall during that claim meeting).

They’ve also got another ghostly girl apparition at a window in the house – both captured on camera.

10. Brocellande Forest, France

Le val sans retour. Image by Kévin Veau via Flickr Creative Commons

Anywhere that’s near a place called the Valley of No Return (Val Sans Retour) should be considered with care.

Throw in a little magic – Merlin was apparently imprisoned here in a stone – and you’ve got the makings of a truly frightening forest.

The Forest of Brocéliande is known as King Arthur’s Forest, and Morgan Le Fay (the King’s half sister) used the area to capture unfaithful youths.

11. Transylvania, Romania

Hunyad Castle, Transylvania. Image by fusion-of-horizons via Flickr Creative Commons

While the rest of the world reveres the legend of Dracula and all things vampiric, in his homeland – it’s not so much the case.

He’s almost treated like an embarrassing uncle at a wedding.

However Vlad the Impaler’s homeland  (the man the Count was based on) is fairytale-like beautiful so well worth visiting, bloodsucking aside.

12. Hell Fire Club, Ireland

Hell Fire Caves in England

Halloween was said to have been invented in Ireland, so it’s fitting we include somewhere in the Emerald Isle.

Montpelier Hill near Dublin is where you’ll find the supposedly haunted ruin of a hunting lodge. Built in 1725 by parliamentarian William Connolly, it was originally built as a site for the Dublin branch of the Hell Fire club.

Take a torch and take a night-time guided tour of the hilltop and lodge – just don’t look behind you.

They’ve also got some Hell Fire Caves in England – High Wycombe to be precise. They are believed to have been built in the 18th century as the original home of the Hell Fire Club for carousing aristocrats, authors and artists.

13. Poveglia Island, Italy

Poveglia. Image by Cameron Lidde✝l via Flickr Creative Commons

An island that once housed an asylum, a quarantine station and was a mass burial ground for plague victims doesn’t sound the most enticing.

It’s been described as a real life Shutter Island –  however it is on a Venetian lagoon – so at least you’ll have lovely Venice to visit next door.

FACE YOUR FEAR OF THIRTEEN: There’s a reason we’ve left Italy until last. While in many countries the number 13 is considered unlucky – quite the opposite is true here. Especially when it comes to gambling. The number 17 on the other hand…*shudder*.

Want to celebrate Halloween somewhere else?

Head to Ireland, where Halloween was invented, or try the USA where the event is almost as big as Christmas – here’s our guide to how other countries celebrate Halloween.

We’d also love to know if you’d be brave enough to visit any of the places on our spine-chilling list.

Let us know where you would dare to go, by leaving a comment below.

*5,000 people too part in the survey, 1,000 each in UK, France, Germany, Spain and Italy

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How Is Halloween Celebrated Around The World?

We know the USA do Halloween in a big way, but other countries are brilliant to visit at this time of year too.

Halloween began as a pagan Celtic festival called Samhain, in Ireland. Over the years, it morphed into the modern Halloween we know on 31st October – but remarkably many of the spooky traditions we know and love have lasted thousands of years.

So pack your fancy dress outfit, if you dare, and find out where the paranormal parties are happening. Who knows? You could be feeding hungry ghosts in Hong Kong or going trick or treating Swedish-style…

Here’s how different countries mark Halloween, or their equivalent festivals.

Republic of Ireland

County Meath is where many Halloween legends were said to have come from. One of the main ancient Celtic sites was the Hill of Ward near Athboy, which druids called sacred.

They now hold the Spirits of Meath Halloween Festival, blending some of the old traditions, like torchlight parades with new events.

The City of Bones, Derry City and Strabane, put on the biggest Halloween street carnival in Europe along the banks of the River Mourne and River Foyle.

The long-weekend celebrations are so good they were named best Halloween destination in the world by newspaper USA Today in 2015.

While they might have used turnips instead of pumpkins to make their Jack O’Lantern’s (named after an Irish wandering spirit who tried to trick the devil). But they took many more of the traditions, like guising – accepting gifts for singing, jokes and poetry – over to the USA in the 18th century.

When: 31st October – 1st November 

Getting there: Latest Dublin flights

Best Halloween destination – river fireworks on Halloween. Courtesy of Derry City and Strabane District Council

England and Scotland

The good folks of Hinton St George, a village in Somerset, created the early versions of Halloween classics – pumpkin carving and night-time walks.

Punkie Night is held there on the last Thursday in October, when they take their lanterns and walk about the village singing the Punkie Song.

The Yorkshire coastal town of Whitby has a Bram Stoker Film Weekend and a famous Whitby Goth Weekend around Halloween.

 

USA

A whopping 2.5 billion is spent on Halloween costumes every year in America – superheroes currently top the list. It’s their second biggest holiday of the year after Christmas.

Major events include the New York Parade, which sees 50,000 costumed-clad people make their way along Sixth Avenue on October 31.

The West Hollywood Carnival is one of the biggest free events in the world, with more than 500,000 attending its spooky street party.

When: 31st October – 1st November

Getting there: Flights to New York and LA Flights

Courtesy of the West Hollywood Halloween Carnival

Austria

They call All Saints Week, Seleenwoche. This is where you pay tribute to loved ones you’ve lost. The Austrians are a hospitable bunch – they leave water, bread and a lamp lit for the dead for one night.

Retzerland is the place to be, though. That’s where their annual Pumpkin Festival takes place at the end of October.

Try and squash in pumpkin goulash, pancakes and risotto before watching the famous parade with thousands of glowing pumpkins.

When: 31st October – 1st November

Getting there: Flights to Austria

Hong Kong

Hong Kong has perhaps one of the most evocatively titled festivals: “Yue Lan” or “Yulan”, aka the Festival of the Hungry Ghosts.

The date changes each year – it’s September 5th in 2017 – and it’s a great time to visit. They have roadside fires where they burn pretend money in tribute and cook food for the peckish spirits.

The most famous version is the Yu Lan Ghost Festival of the Hong Kong Chiu Chow Community – which as been a cultural highlight for a hundred years.

When: September 5th 2017

Getting there: Flights to Hong Kong

Italy

The Italians get a day off work for Tutti i Santi (All Saints Day) on 1st November. It’s an important religious festival when families visit cemeteries and leave fresh flowers for their loved ones.

They do the same on All Souls Day when the departed are honoured and children are often given presents.

Although they don’t really celebrate Halloween, they’ve got loads of spooky places to visit.

Visit the Capella Mortiri (the chapel of the dead) in Otranto Cathedral – there you’ll find more than 800 skulls of martyrs on grisly display beheaded by a Turkish invasion in the 15th century.

Or grab a broomstick and go to Benevento near Naples – its known as the City of Witches.

When: 31st October – 1st November 

Getting there: Flights to Italy

Japan

You’ll see lanterns outside homes to guide spirits home during the Obon Festival. These lanterns are then placed on water (usually a river) so their ancestors can find their away back to the other side.

This week-long festival is one of the biggest events in Japan, and this year it takes place around mid July to mid-August.

Families visit relatives graves and leave offerings as well as do the bon odori (Obon Dance).

When: Mid July to mid-August

Getting there: Flights to Japan

Mexico

Day of the Dead – Mexico City. Image by jazbeck via Flickr Creative Commons

Latin America, particularly Mexico, and Spain all celebrate All Souls Day – Dia de los Meurtos (The Day of the Dead)

On the 1st November children who have lost their lives are celebrated – they call it Día de los Inocentes. It’s the adults turn on the next day.

It’s all about getting together as a family and making ofrendas (shrines) to the deceased – with their favourite foods and drinks being left there and on their graves.

Marigolds (fresh and paper ones) are known as the “flower of the dead” and you’ll see these yellow and orange flowers everywhere.

Mexico City hosts one of the biggest carnivals in the world at this time.

When: 31st October – 1st November

Getting there: Flights to Mexico City

Republic of Korea

Korea’s Halloween equivalent is Chuseok and families get together to remember their ancestors over plenty of food and drink. 

This is a good time for a visit as you’ll get to see plenty of traditional customs and dresses.

The Ganggangsullae (Circle dance) sees women dressed in their Hanbok (national dress) – and, well, dancing in a circle.

Ssireum is their own version of wrestling and the best fighters can earn a lot of money – they used to take home a calf or cotton as a prize in the old days.

When: September

Getting there: Flights to the Republic of Korea

Sweden

The largest cemetery in Stockholm, Skogskyrkogården, sees thousands of people arrive to remember their loved ones, often decorating their relatives’ graves with candles and other winter decorations the week before All Saints’ Day (Alla Helgons Dag) at the end of October

The closest traditional event to Halloween is during Easter, when children dress up as påskkärring (witches or hags) on Maundy Thursday and go knocking for treats.

When: 31st October – 1st November

Getting there: Flights to Stockholm

Romania

Surprisingly, they don’t really celebrate Halloween in Vlad the Impaler’s Transylvanian homeland.

This medieval monarch is probably best known as the basis for Count Dracula.

There’s a few places claiming to be Dracula’s home – but Bran Castle is probably the best known if you fancy paying homage to the world famous coffin-dweller.

When: 31st October -1st November

Getting there: Romania flights

Ten places with terrifying titles

1. Tombstone, Arizona, USA
2. Upper and Lower Slaughter, Cotswolds, England
3. Hell Hole (various), England
4. Mystic, Connecticut, USA
5. Witch Crags, Northumberland, England
6. Gorebridge, near Edinburgh, Scotland
7. World’s End, Hampshire, England
8. Sleepy Hollow, New York State, USA
9. Devil’s Dyke, near Brighton, England
10. Dead Mans Crossing, Indiana, USA

How are you planning on spending Halloween?

We’d love to know where you’re going to spirit yourself off for a spine-tingling night out on October 31.

Let us know where your plan on celebrating by leaving a comment below.

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50 Ways To Keep The Kids Busy In October Half Term

Autumn half term is the first break after the summerand there are loads of great things to do all over the country during October- even if the weather is cold.

If you live in the capital, we’ve put together 50 great day trip ideas from London to take during the week off.

If you want to pack up the family for a longer road-trip, we’ve researched where you can go for the best weekend breaks in the UK, from Scotland right down to Lands End in Cornwall.

And if you fancy flying away from the winter and grabbing some much needed sun – here’s where’s hot in October.

But if you’re staying at home, whatever your budget and location, here are some other things to do (including freebies).

What’s on in London

The Great Court at the British Museum

1. The British Museum has recently become one of the most popular places to visit in London and it has free workshops over half term too.

2. The V&A Museum of Childhood is a great place to go in East London and it’s also free. It has great collections of toys throughout the ages and oodles of interactive exhibits to tinker with. Adults can also get all nostalgic.

The cavernous V & A Museum of Childhood, which has a cafe & meeting area right at its heart

3. Go see a matinee – with plenty of family friendly shows on across the Octoberhalf term. Try The Lion King – brilliant music, stunning sets, fantastic cast and an array of amazing costumes, while the magical Matilda with have your kids rolling in the aisles with laughter.

4. Children’s character, Paddington Bear, is now a major movie star, but you don’t have to travel all the way to deepest, darkest Peru to find out more about him, Take the Paddington guided bus tour round London, featuring all the film locations and other pretty parts of the city.

5. Grab the kids for a James Bond-esque experience on the Thames Jet Boat Rush. Get the adrenaline flowing this half term with the latest aquatic experience on the Thames. Along with the speedy bits there is also a bit of irreverent commentary on the London riverside landmarks.

Or head up high and visit the View from the Shard

St James’s Park

6. Use your loaf and feed the ducks in St James’s Park for free and pick up a few conkers on the way round. The Royal Parks always have some half-term wildlife activities on offer, many of them free. To discover our picks and find out what’s on – visit our London parks post.

7. The Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park in Stratford is home to the London Aquatics Centre, and you and the whole family can enjoy making a splash in one of the finest swimming pools in the world. You can also try cycling, badminton, tennis and scores of other sports over the school holidays.

8. While you are in the park, get a birds eye view of the area from the UK’s tallest sculpture. Take the lift up to the top of the ArcelorMittal Orbit, take in the sights, and then climb back down the sensory part of the structure.

Night View from ArcelorMittal Orbit

9. Head to the Discover Children’s Story Centre in Stratford for the fantastic world of Dr. Seuss.

10. Enjoy some indoor ice-skating at Alexandra Palace.

11. Hit the South Bank and wander down London’s cultural Thames walk or see what children’s arts activities are on at the Southbank Centre. There are plenty of family-friendly cafes and restaurants alongside the river.

12. Spend a memorable day in the Tower of London and learn all about the great history of this place (more than a thousand years of it ) and meet the people that actually live and work there too.

13. Take the kids to see the latest blockbuster at one of London’s independent cinemas. A lot of the venues run special kids clubs during half term or screenings for toddlers groups.

Ritzy (c) Picturehouse Cinema Group

14. Challenge the kids to some vintage board games at Draughts in Haggerston – they have more than 500 games to select from.

15. There’s loads of free half-term activities at the Museum of London – especially around the Great Fire of London anniversary celebrations.

16. Take a jaunt around ZSL London Zoo and get to know over 650 species of wildlife, including many exotic and endangered species. Make sure you check out when the feeding times and daily demonstrations are by the keepers.

Science Museum (c) V&A estates department.

17. Experiment in your week off at the Science Museum in London’s South Kensington.

18. Pop along to the Natural History Museum, South Ken. There’s lots of interesting exhibits to capture the imagination of kids and adults alike – and they have a host of half-term activities for the children to get involved with.

19. While you are in the area – explore the magical and historical collections in the Victoria & Albert Museum with 1000s of items of cultural significance from all over the world.

V&A Exterior (c) Victoria and Albert Museum, London

20. Get the guided Harry Potter Bus Tour of London for Two and visit the sites used in the film – including Gringotts Bank and Kngs Cross and Platform 9¾.

21. Don’t forget to buy an Oyster card and spend the day taking the bus and tube around town.

22. Make sure you visit your local library to pick up some inspirational books to help you with your half term homework. Even better, make a day of it and visit the world renowned British Library, it’s fabulously modern and right near St Pancras – they’ve got a special, and free, Alice in Wonderland exhibition on at the moment.

23. Head out of town to Surrey and visit The Maze, Henry VIII’s State Apartments, the vast Tudor kitchens and more at Hampton Court Palace.

Sunken Garden at Hampton Court

24. Take a walk along the Thames and take in the sights – get your free walking guide here.

25. And don’t worry if the weather is wet – we’ve got plenty of suggestions for things to do in London when it rains.

Head out of town

Beds
26. Stroll across acres of beautiful English countryside and watch lions, tigers, elephants, hippos and giraffes out and about in one of Europe’s largest conservation areas at ZSL Whipsnade Zoo, in Dunstable, Beds

27. Get out of the cold and visit Bodyflight near Milton Keynes, where you can try indoor skydiving and fly around the specially-built chamber. You could go for an adventure pass and also try indoor surfing and climbing on a day expereince pass.

Birmingham

28. @ Think Tank is the is a series of events for kids at the Birmingham Science Museum, with loads of workshops and fun to be had including animation and story telling. Lots of them are free or under £10.

East Sussex

29. Meet racoons, meerkats, lemurs and snakes at the animal experiences at Drusillas Park in Alfriston. Some of the animals you can feed, while others you have the chance to pet and get to know on your behind-the-scenes tour.

Dorset & Hampshire
30. Saddle up this half-term and mosey on down to the New Forest and try the Cowboy Riding Trail. This two-hour horse trail will give you a chance to discover more about the wildlife in the forest as well as having a barbecue at the end to share your experiences.

If you fancy making at longer break out of it with your posse – we’ve found plenty of things to do in this beautiful county, including Poole Harbour, Bournemouth and more things going on in the New Forest – Dorset weekend breaks.

View from Alum Chine of Bournemouth Pier. VisitEngland & Bournemouth Tourism

Oxford

31. The famous university city has several world class museums to visit this half-term and keep out of the cold – and here’s nine other suggestions of things to do in Oxford.

Brighton
32. We’ve found the best places to have breakfast with the kids, and also picked out 15 of our favourite Brighton hotels to stay in. If that’s not all here are 44 things to do in Brighton to keep you entertained.

Brighton Pavilion

Peterborough
33. Every half term there are a host of activities on offer at the Peterborough Museum, for youngsters of all ages. Whisper it quietly near Halloween, but it’s supposed to be haunted by eight ghosts.

Cumbria
34. Get your walking boots on, grab a packed lunch and take the kids for a stroll around The Lake District – home to the famous children’s book writer Beatrix Potter. The World of Beatrix Potter has scores of activities for all ages to enjoy.

If you are planning on going for more than a day – check out our suggested places to visit in the Lake District – England’s largest National Park.

West Somerset

35. Get the family on board with a visit on the historic West Somerset Railway train. You’ll visit the Exmoor Coast and Quantock Hills on your tour as well as Dunster Castle and Minehead on this hop-on-off steam train.

Durham
36. Diggerland is a fun-packed theme park with 18 different rides, drives and attractions using real full sized construction machinery set in 15 acres of adventure park surroundings. They also have parks in Devon, Kent or Yorkshire.

East Yorks
37. The Deep in Hull is one of the biggest aquariums in the UK and has more than 3,500 fish including sharks and rays. If you have small children and live fairly locally – get a day plus pass which allows unlimnted entry for a year (some t&c’s apply).

The Making of Harry Potter (c) Warner Bros. Studio Tour

Hertfordshire
38. Head to Herts and Kings Langley for The Warner Bros. Studio Tours – the Making of Harry Potter. See for yourself the Great Hall, Hagrid’s Hut and the Knight Bus. You can discuss all this over a butter beer at the end of the tour.

West Yorks
39. Eureka! The National Children’s Museum in Halifax have a whole range of activities for disabled children, with their Access all Areas programme.

Spinnaker Tower (c) Portsmouth City Council

Portsmouth
40. The Blue Reef Aquarium has more than 30 living displays bring the wonders of the aquatic world to life. With informative talks and feeding demonstrations the aquarium is a spectacular experience whatever the weather. They also have Aquariums in Hastings, Newquay and Tynemouth. If you’re in the area – here are our 15 things to do in Portsmouth.

Ripon, North Yorkshire
41. The Lightwater Valley Theme Park has a thrilling line-up which comprises some amazing rides, including Europe’s longest rollercoaster -The Ultimate, as well as the stomach churning, mighty Eagle’s Claw and The Hornet’s Nest – the ride with a sting in its tail!

Scotland
42. We’ve found 100 Things To Do In Edinburgh, from visiting the zoo to seeing the city in a whole new light at the Camera Obscura experience. If you want to make it a longer trip – here are our suggestions for a week or weekend break in Scotland.

Cairngorm National Park Highlands
Picture Credit : P.Tomkins / VisitScotland / Scottish Viewpoint

Staffs

43. Head to Drayton Manor, packed with a host of great rides and attractions set in 280 acres of lakes and parkland, featuring some of the biggest, wettest and scariest rides around including Apocalypse, the world’s first stand up tower drop and Shockwave is Europe’s only stand up rollercoaster.

Gloucestershire

44. See winter at it’s best at Westonbirt, The National Arboretum near Tetbury. There are more than 15,000 tree and shrub specimens to admire, from around the world, on nature walks or specially created trails for different age groups.

Warwick
45. Find out how they battled it out in the medieval days on a trip to Warwick Castle.

Windsor
46. Enjoy the perennial favourite Legoland Windsor. Plus take a stroll around town too – you’ll easily spot the castle and just walk over the bridge to Eton riverside – we’ve put together 18 Royally Good Things TO Do In Windsor to keep you and the kids entertained.

View from York Minster

York
47. Have a grand old day in York and choose from over 50 Attractions in and beyond York to visit with a York Pass – including Europe’s largest Gothic Cathedral York Minster, Jorvik Viking Museum and the world famous Castle Museum. Tickets from £20.

Wales
48. SeeWales Gower Walking Tour includes glorious golden stretches of sandy beaches, spectacular cliff top views and ancient monuments which are all part of the UK’s first Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

Venues all over the UK
49. Try a visit to Sea Life– with venues all over the UK including Scarborough, Loch Lomond, Brighton, Birmingham, Blackpool, Great Yarmouth Great and Weymouth .

50. Take to the treetops this half term at Go Ape, with family tickets available. They have nearly 30 locations up and down the country from Aberdeen in Scotland to Exeter in Devon. Just strap on the safety harness and roam across the forest canopy.

Feeling inspired?

Walking in London

We have plenty of places to stay in London if you are thinking of heading down for the week or weekend during February half term.

For the latest London events – check out our weekly “what’s on in London” round-up.

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