Quirky things for Feb half term in London

[maggiethecat]

Will be visiting this half term, having moved away from North London 5 years ago. Girls are now 13 and 10 so will revisit some of the old haunts - Southbank, Covent Garden but would like to do a few quirkier things (or stuff that we didn't do when they were younger e.g. Ripleys Believe it or not).
Could also consider interesting suburban places that we never really experienced when we lived there.
Any suggestions welcome.

Possibly not quirky enough, but you might like at least some of the suggestions in www.mumsnet.com/Talk/london/2832738-Maybe-going-London-for-half-term-whats-on

Look on piqniq or littlebird for cheaper tickets for Ripleys - the mirror maze is fun. Combine with a trip to china town and trip to National Gallery or National Portrait Gallery.

You have the Queen Elizabeth park over in Stratford - westfields for food/shopping and the park and Orbital are fun. You can also go swimming in the Aquatics centre.

The Southbank Centre is running the imagine festival over half term - check out their website for sessions going on. The Globe theatre also has loads of kids events going on - check their website too.

Ghost Bus Tour. My kids love that. They were 10,13,15 at the time.

London dungeon? ghost walking tour? ripleys isn't for the faint hearted my teens loved it.

Orbit slide
London Eye
Sky garden
Tunnel under Thames to Greenwich
Spitalfields

Maybe a trip up to Camden Market as they are probably old enough to enjoy the "sights" there now.

London Dungeon and Ripleys goes down well.

At The O2 you can abseil over the "tent" and then get a boat down the River to the London Eye/Dungeons.

They are doing kids-go-free up theshard which looks good but is still bloody expensive imo...

We have brilliant family fun festival taking place at Camden Market for half term. There are several events to keep the littles ones busy -

cooking decorating, face-painting, clay workshops, glitter pancake making, lego mask building, family yoga, storytime, street dance and magic school

All info here:
www.camdenmarket.com/journal/camden-market-minis-a-family-festival-of-fun

camdenmarket thanks for the post - we'll be taking a look!

This is all good stuff - am looking at all of this!
The weather is loloking to be good and will plan to be outdoors sometimes - can anyone recommend any nice walks?

You can walk from Camden Lock over through Primrose Hill (check out the London skyline the top) down through Regents Park (past the zoo) into Marylebone. Also love wandering around Hampstead Heath.

Wander along the Southbank is great.

Over in Greenwich meander through the market to the meridian line and Greenwich Park.

The sky garden is good and free! A great view over London.

We did our own harry potter walking tour a couple of years ago. The kids still talk about this and favourite bit was stopping at Hardy's sweet shop to buy a special harry potter gift bag. If you google search you can get a detailed itinery and map to follow.

Little venice is another quirky place and there is a place to do canal boat ride but not sure if this is summer only.

that Camden lock walk sound good; we never ever really did H heath either - will look at these.

mrsglow - wish my lot were into HP

This is perfect! My lot are 13/10 & 8 so loads of ideas here thank you!