Peak District February half term 2026: what’s on

• Facebook
• Instagram

February half term is probably the trickiest school holiday to keep kids busy. The days are still short and the weather is far from warm. So if you’re looking for some inspiration to keep your little ones entertained for the Peak District February half term, you’ve come to the right place.

February half term 2026 dates for schools in Derbyshire, Staffordshire, Cheshire East and Sheffield are: 14th to 22nd February.

If you are looking for ideas for general days out, rather than specific events, please check out our guide to Family Days Out in the Peak District, which provides lots of inspiration. Some attractions around Matlock are still closed for the winter months (including Gulliver’s Kingdom and Peak Rail). However, all the caverns are open, Heights of Abraham re-opens from the winter, and Matlock Farm Park stays open pretty much year round.

Also, not much beats a long family walk in the Peak District armed with hot chocolate in your flask during winter. Do check out our safe winter walking tips.

As always, we’ll be keeping this page updated as much as possible with news from these Peak District February half term events. But also keep an eye on the Peak District Kids Facebook Group and also our Instagram. Feel free to email us if you know of an event not listed here.

Paid advertising may affect placement on this page

1. Family Day Rock Climbing with Peak Lines

Available dates throughout February half term
Click here for further information and to book
Click here for the Peak District Kids review

Spend quality time with your family, discover stunning locations in the Peak District, and create memories to last a lifetime with the family rock climbing sessions over the half term holidays.

Peak Lines offer private half-day and full-day climbing experiences in the Peak District. 

• The sessions are friendly, encouraging, and aimed to get you working together as a family
• You will have a go at climbing and abseiling, learn how to hold each other’s ropes and even learn some of the techniques essential to climbing independently
• The session will be tailored to you and your family based on experience, age, and fitness level
• Top-of-the-range safety equipment is provided

Half Day (3 Hours) £200 for a family of up to 6 people, any additional person is £55.

Full Day (6 hours) £299 for a family of up to 6 people, any additional person is £80.

2. Family activities at White Hall Outdoor Activity Centre

Check this Eventbrite page for dates and to book online
Click here for our review of White Hall Outdoor Centre

Use code PEAKKIDS15 to get 15% off when booking White Hall activities

Looking for something different for the kids during the holidays? Why not book one of the activity days at White Hall Outdoor Centre running throughout the Easter holidays?

Courses range from one-day to five-day adventures filled with fun and challenge. Children aged 6–18 years old are welcome.

There are also family activity days where parents can join in activities with their children, as well as SEND family activity days specifically designed for families and children with special educational needs and disabilities.

Activities on offer include:

• High and low ropes
• Zip wires
• Climbing walls
• Mountain biking
• Orienteering
• Artificial cave
• Problem solving
• Shelter building
• Canoeing
• SUP
• Caving
• Abseiling
• Stream Scrambling

Prices start at £39.40 per person. Each day begins at 9:30 a.m. at White Hall Centre. With pick-up at 4:30 p.m.

3. Pirates and Princess party at Buxton Pottery Painting

18th February, 11am to 1pm 
£30 per child, £50 for 2 children 
Click here to book online
Click here for the Peak District Kids review

Set sail for a magical adventure where swashbuckling pirates meet royal princesses.

Dress to impress – the best dressed wins a special prize.

What’s Included:

• Max 2 accompanying adults
• Pirate hats and sparkling tiaras provided
• Royal Jewellery or treasure making station
• Make your own sea slime station
• Paint your own princess or pirate skull
• Fun party games with Blackbeard
• A free cold refreshment on arrival
• 10% off any extra pottery painted on the day

4. Thingamabobas at LEVEL Centre, Rowsley

17th to 21st February
FREE
Click here for more information and to book

Roll up, roll up, join the Circus! For one week only come and experience Thingamabobas, a fantastical installation that’s hands-on, interactive and one-of-a-kind! Visitors of all ages are invited into a whimsical, sensory world, to meet a circus troupe of bizarrely wonderful machines inspired by acrobats, jugglers, and unicyclists.

But that’s not all!

• On Wednesday 18th February you can join in the free ‘Build a Bot’ workshop!
• On Saturday 21st February join the Open Day! Combine a visit to Thingamabobas with lots of other fun, free creative activities!

Thingamabobas is brought to you by Makers of Imaginary Worlds, a Nottingham based creative organisation. They deliver innovative and immersive experiences that captivate young audiences and adults, spark curiosity, and inspire creativity.

All activities are FREE!

7. February half term at Buxton Opera House

FRIENDS!, princesses, Chinese New Year celebrations and more are coming to Buxton Opera House this February half term…

Friends! The Musical Parody

Tuesday 10th to Sat 14th February
Buxton Opera House
Click here for more information

FRIENDS! The Musical Parody, the hit New York and Las Vegas sensation, is a side-splitting musical comedy packed with iconic moments from all ten seasons of the beloved television series. Featuring an entirely original musical score, the show follows the
escapades of the world’s most famous group of twenty-somethings.

Age guidance: 13+ (suitable for families with older children and teenagers)

Lions and Tigers and Bears with Gordon Buchanan

Tuesday 27th Feb, 7.30pm
Buxton Opera House
Click here for more information

Award winning wildlife photographer and filmmaker Gordon Buchanan will hit the road again in 2026 with his biggest ever live tour – Lions and Tigers and Bears with Gordon Buchanan.

Learn about the heart-stopping moments, the mud, sweat, and tears, and the tender interactions that have shaped his extraordinary career.

Children/students discount: £4 off

Chinese New Year Extravaganza

Thursday 19th February, 2.30pm & 7pm
Pavilion Arts Centre
Click here for more information

This kaleidoscope of Chinese cultural traditions offers something for everyone, making it the perfect outing for families, friends, and culture enthusiasts alike. Suitable for all ages, the Chinese New Year Extravaganza promises an extraordinary experience on this auspicious occasion. Join us for a celebration like no other!

Children/students discount: £2 off
Family ticket available

Pop Princesses World Tour

Thursday 19th February, 6pm
Buxton Opera House
Click here for more information

This is the children’s pop concert with a big difference. The four fabulous fairy tale Princesses are back, and this time they are on their first World Tour! Come and join them on this epic around-the-globe show.

Featuring a soundtrack of top pop hits from artists such as Taylor Swift, Meghan Trainor and Miley Cyrus, Dua Lipa and Lizzo, plus a few of the best songs from all your favourite films and musicals.

Meet & Greet tickets available

Contemporary Youth Dance Company

Various dates
Suitable for school years 8-13
Click here for more information

A fun and creative performance-based group creating a new piece for Making Space 2026. Sessions will include a technique class to build stamina, strength, and performance skills, as well as choreography sessions. The Youth Dance Company will open Making Space Dance Festival on Mon 23 and Tue 24 Mar with their brand-new piece of choreography, performing on the Opera House stage.

8. Peaks and Paddles Abseiling / Family Canoe trips / Canoe Swan Along / Caving

Running sessions throughout the February Half Term
Click here for further information and to book
Minimum age of 5yrs for all activities

Use code KIDS10% to get 10% off when booking

Peaks and Paddles will have the following activities available through the Half Term in February:

9. Pirate Takeover at Alton Towers

14th to 22nd February (10am – 4pm)
Areas open: Mutiny Bay, Towers Street and CBeebies Land
Click here for more information

Ahoy swashbucklers! Discover buried treasure this February Half Term when you set sail to Pirate Takeover at Alton Towers Resort or be prepared to walk the plank! ​

Live out your own pirate story, whether you’re visiting us for swashbuckling days out or staying over for an unforgettable short break, as the infamous pirates of Mutiny Bay take over the Resort from the 14th to 22nd February 2026.

Budding buccaneers can join in the fun on an exciting pirate adventure with galleons of fun for the whole family to enjoy including the UK’s only CBeebies Land where families can make fantabulous memories and meet some of their favourite CBeebies friends!  

Note that kids under 90cm are FREE!

10. February half term at Thornbridge

15th to 22nd February (10am-4pm)
Adults £8, children £4, under 3s FREE
Pre’-book save 20%
Click here to book tickets
Click here for our review

Set across 10 acres of gardens as early spring begins to emerge, families can enjoy a full programme activities at Thornbridge Gardens this February half term.

Visitors can follow nature trails, explore the HobbleGobble Woods, take part in arts and crafts in the Carriage House, relax at the film club, and join children’s craft workshops with Sombrero Printmaking on 18th and 19th February (extra charges apply). The Rubber Duck Fountain will also be returning.

All activities are included with standard garden entry. Pre-booking online saves 20%.

11. Thrive Winter Family Sessions in Edensor

Friday 20th February (4-7pm)
Cavendish Hall, Edensor Village
Tickets: adults from £5, children 11-17 £10, children 2-10 £15
Click here to book tickets

Thrive Winter Family Sessions are relaxed, family-friendly events open to all ages. They are designed to give parents the chance to relax while children enjoy a range of supervised activities and entertainment.

Highlights include a large inflatable double slide, a kids’ club run by the experienced Thrive childcare team with crafts and games, retro arcade games, and face painting. A Silent Disco is also available on request.

Live music will be provided by singer Lola Peacock-Phillips, making her Thrive debut with feel-good, laid-back vocals suitable for the whole family.

Food and drink will be available throughout the session, including artisan wood-fired pizzas, Gio’s Ice Cream Van, and drinks for all.

12. February half term at Matlock Farm Park

14th to 22nd February (10am – 4.30pm)
Click here for more information
Click here for our review

Come and join in with the half-term fun at Matlock Farm Park! There’ll be lovely new life in the form of fluffy chicks and gorgeous rare breed Swiss Valais lambs due any time. Continuing on the baby front, there’ll be bottle feeding of adopted calves to watch and learn more about too.

Each day of the hols, we’ll also have our Highland cattle family feeding time; meeting the clan and seeing which baby belongs to which mum; the return of sheep and ferret racing (place your free bet!) and the fabulous meet the reptiles at staff-guided sessions.

Along with small animal petting, meerkat talks, wallaby encounters, daily children’s pony rides*, super indoor and outdoor playtime and a delightful café to cosy up in, what’s not to love!

Pony rides from 2.5 years, £3.50 a go.

13. Victorian Week at the Heights of Abraham

14th to 20th February
Click here for more information
Click here for our review

The Victorians are back! Meet them at the summit of the Heights of Abraham, a hilltop park popular with visitors since 1787. Take an overland tour with Victorian owner of the estate, Mr Benjamin Bryan, and discover all the local gossip with a conversation with Mrs Brassington.

Alongside Victorian antics, toast a gooey marshmallow on the firepits and enjoy a range of special hot chocolates, including Biscoff and chocolate orange – perfect for keeping warm in February!

14. Longshaw Estate National Trust events

14th to 22nd February
Click here for further information and to book

Bring your curiosity, eagle eyes and a sense of adventure to uncover secrets about the fantastic bird species of Longshaw, on The Bird Box Detectives Trail. Find 6 secret bird boxes hidden around the estate. Lift the lids to hear their calls, solve the puzzles, and tick off each bird as you go. £3 per trail sheet.

On 22nd February Longshaw’s rangers host a very special event; Family Bird Box Building – to celebrate National Nest Box week. Using simple hand tools, each family or group will be instructed on how to build their own bird box to take home. £15 per bird box.

Special family crafts celebrating the birds of Longshaw are also being hosted on 18th and 19th February, at Longshaw’s Moorland Discovery Centre. Suitable for children aged 4-11, £8 per child.

Combine your visit to Longshaw with one the the Peak District Kids walks:
Padley Gorge and Longshaw Estate walk
Longhaw Estate pram-friendly walk
Longshaw Estate toddle walk

15. Ilam Park National Trust events

14th to 22nd February
Click here for further information and to book

Get ready for a feather-filled adventure, between 14th and 22nd February, on the Bird Box Detectives Trail.  Secret bird boxes are hidden around Ilam Park and it’s your job to find them. Each box has a clue about the amazing bird that lives there, on this treasure hunt – but with more feathers! £3 per trail sheet, with a prize at the end!

Fly down to the Dovedale National Nature Reserve for the Big Bird Count, from 14th to 21st February. You can climb Thorpe Cloud to search the skies or follow the river Dove to spot birds along the valley. With every £3 trail sheet you’ll get your own DIY binoculars and help count the different species you see, to add to the Big Dovedale Bird Count Board.

Learn About the Birds Pop Up station: learn about the fascinating birdlife of the White Peak, on 21st February in Milldale. Drop into the National Trust information barn to meet our team of guides. Share your sightings on our community spotter’s board as you explore this beautiful part of the Peak District.

Combine your visit to Ilam Park with one the the Peak District Kids walks:
Ilam Park to Dovedale Stepping Stones
Ilam Park toddler walk

16. Go Ape in Buxton

Visit the Go Ape website for more information.
Click here for our review

Whether you’re looking for things to do with family or friends, Go Ape Buxton have adventure covered. Join them in Buxton Country Park, Poole’s Cavern for 2-3 hours of action-packed fun. Climb up rope ladders, tackle tricky crossings, leap off Tarzan Swings and experience high-speed ziplines in the great outdoors. Come rain or shine, whatever the weather.

Please note that as this is one of the bigger and more challenging Go Ape courses, there is a minimum age restriction of 10 years and a minimum height restriction of 1.4 metres. One adult (18+) can supervise up to two children aged between 10-15 while on the course with them. 16 and 17-year-olds can supervise themselves (but not younger children).

The parking for Go Ape is shared with Poole’s Cavern, so you can combine your visit to the cavern, and/or venture up to Solomon’s Temple.

SAVE 15% with FAMILY15.

17. Visit a show cavern

Over the Peak District February half term, it’s pretty much guaranteed that it will rain at least one day. And what’s the top thing to do in the Peak District on a rainy day (if you don’t fancy donning the waterproofs for a family walk, that is)? Well it’s a visit to one of the show caverns, as the weather on the surface doesn’t matter when you’re underground. And thankfully ALL the show caverns are open this February half term.

Where are the show caverns?

• Heights of Abraham (Matlock Bath)
• Peak Cavern – aka Devil’s Arse! (Castleton)
• Speedwell Cavern (Castleton)
• Blue John Cavern (Castleton)
• Treak Cliff Cavern (Castleton)
• Poole’s Cavern (Buxton)

18. Chatsworth farmyard and playground opens for February half term

14th to 22nd February (10.30am – 4.30pm)
Click here for more information

Chatsworth farmyard and playground reopens for the Peak District February half term. In the farmyard you’ll meet friendly animals, from pigs and horses to mischievous goats and guinea pigs, as well as a number of rare breeds including Suffolk Punch horses, Shire horses, Albion cattle, Gloucestershire Old Spot pigs, Bagot goats and Cream Legbar chickens.

There will be animal handling and feeding, craft activities, and tractor rides into Stand Wood.

From the farmyard, take the secret tunnel to the children’s playground. Fetch water from the stream using the Archimedes screw, and enjoy the huge sand play area (pack wellies and waterproofs!)

Please note that the house and garden remain closed for conservation until 19th March.

Combine your visit to Chatsworth farmyard and adventure playground with our Peak District Kids walk to Chatsworth Hunting Tower and Aqueduct in Stand Wood. We’ve also got a pram friendly version of this walk. Click here to read our full guide to visiting Chatsworth with kids.

19. Find the mallards at Carsington Water

During February half term, families are invited to join a special “missing mallards” trail at Carsington Water, where Sally and Martin’s ducks have gone missing. Children can become duck detectives, follow clues around the site, and help track them down to return them safely. A small reward is available for every successful search, making it a fun and engaging activity for younger visitors.

Pick up your trail sheet from the Visitor Centre.

Combine this trail with a walk or bike ride around Carsington Water:
Carsington Water pram-friendly walk
Carsington Water cycle route

20. Go for a family walk

A family walk in the Peak District is really number one reason to visit the National Park, and you should at least fit in one of our family walks into your February half term.

With hundreds of public footpaths criss-crossing the National Park and gentle rolling hills that aren’t too taxing on little legs, it’s the perfect free activity.

On this website we have over 80 family walks, including pram friendly walks and toddler walks, to more challenging walks such as Stanage Edge or Win Hill. Or you may even want to take on our Kinder Scout walk from Edale.

21. Get out on the bikes

February half term is a good time to dust off the bikes stored away over the winter months, and head out on one of our Peak District cycle routes.

There are lots of old railway tracks that have been transformed into traffic free routes for walkers, cyclists, horse riders and wheelchair users through some of the Peak District’s most spectacular limestone dales.  As these are traffic free and relatively flat, they’re a great place to go for a family bike ride.

Plus, there are also some lovely routes around the reservoirs (including Ladybower cycle route and Carsington cycle route), although kids will need bikes with gears for these ones.

Below are our top tried and tested Peak District family bike routes. Though remember, you don’t have to do the whole route, you can always cut it short for tired legs.