It's half-term again and the kids are home for a week. Perhaps you haven't booked a holiday this year due to the recession or other commitments, but there's no reason for you or your little ones to have to sit at home, bored out of your skulls. Why not take a day trip or weekend away in London?

No matter what your budget is, there are lots of great events and activities happening in London, and a day return with a family railcard on the National Rail can be quite affordable, so why not give it some thought?

Here is our Guide to Half-Term Events for you and your family!

 

Imagine Children's Festival 2010

The Imagine Children's Festival is an annual month-long event hosted at the Southbank Centre and the Royal Festival Hall. Expect wonderful readings, storytelling and poetry featuring some of today’s leading children’s writers, as well as comedy, visual arts, magic and music. Some of the performances and workshops are free, with many others very affordable, so hurry and book your tickets before they run out! The free events don't require booking, just be sure to turn up early.

 

Street Performers at Covent Garden Market

Covent Garden Market is a great place to walk around at the weekend, with lots of stalls and shops to browse around selling everything from antiques to crafts, accessories, jewellery, fashion and other knick-knacks, give or take the occasional fortune-teller and palm-reader. But even if you don't want to do much besides window-shop, Covent Garden's Piazza is also street performer central, and it's all free. Watch top magicians, jugglers, acrobats and stand-up comedians galore ply their trades in a series of thrilling performances throughout the day each weekend.

 

Weekend Evensong Service at Westminster Abbey

The Evensong Service at Westminster Abbey, held at 5pm on weekdays and 3pm on Saturdays and Sundays, is one of the most beautiful church services you'll ever experience, and we highly recommend it. While entry to look around Westminster Abbey is usually £15 for adults and £6 for children, if you visit the Abbey to worship and attend a service, you can get in for free, just make sure to be on time and dressed appropriately. You'll get to hear one of the most famous boys' choirs in the world sing live, there will be a short period of time for you to look around the various tombs and memorials at the end of the service, and if you're lucky you might even get to see a special ceremony inducting a new boy into the choir!

 

Take in a Museum or Gallery

You might not be able to do too many of these before the children get bored and complain that their feet hurt, but you should be able to fit in at least one. Kill three birds with one stone by going to Trafalgar Square, which is also home to the National Gallery and National Portrait Gallery, all within a stone's throw of each other.

There are many museums you can visit in central London, but not all of them are free. The British Museum, which has free admission, is always worth a visit and great fun for the kids, with the myriad of amazing artefacts from around the world (including Egyptian, Greek, Mesopotamian, Mayan and Middle-Eastern treasures).

Also check out the V&A, Natural History Museum, Imperial War Museum, Museum of London, Tate Modern and Tate Britain.

 

Explore the Shakespeare Globe

The famous playhouse for which William Shakespeare wrote and staged his greatest works has been lovingly reconstructed on the Bankside of the River Thames, near London Bridge. The new Shakespeare Globe serves as an international resource which celebrates his work and educates through performances and exhibitions on Shakespeare and theatre of his day. Besides getting a to watch a Shakespeare play staged the way it once would have been, there are also lots of Half Term activities available this week, such as storytelling, live demonstrations of Elizabethan swordplay and book-printing methods.

 

Visit The Tower of London

Come explore nearly 1,000 years' worth of history at the Tower of London. Join the Yeoman Warders (or Beefeaters) on an exciting tour with tales of ghosts, intrigue, treachery and torture, walk back in time in the Medieval Palace, view Henry VIII's armoury collection and catch a glimpse of the crown jewels. There are lots of family activities and free activity sheets you can pick up at the Tower, and even a special Family Ticket, so what're you waiting for?

By Mary-Ann Russon