Have a whale of a time at Winchester Cathedral

Winchester Cathedral will see three monumental sperm whale sculptures, by artist Tessa Campbell Frazer, suspended from the nave from 22 January to 26 February. This spectacular immersive art installation will be the centrepiece for a programme of fantastic family events.

Take part in an interactive and educational performance featuring life-size puppets, comedy, and music with The Whale: Plastic Ocean on Wednesday 19 February. Bold explorers will squeeze into the belly of an enormous inflatable sperm whale and learn how to protect the vulnerable aquatic world. Tickets cost £10 per person, plus admission to Winchester Cathedral with an annual pass. Book now.

Dance under the whales and bust some moves to sea-themed tunes at the Silent Disco for Families on Saturday 15 February at 7pm. The whole family will receive their own pair of headphones to choose between three different channels of music during the night. Tickets cost £13 for children (under 16 years old) and £25 per adult. Book now.

Free with your annual pass, explore the Ocean Commotion interactive family trail. As you journey around the cathedral, find where characters have been washed up and complete various challenges to get them out of deep water! Collect your trail from the Welcome Desk and set sail for your adventure.

Get creative at venues across the city

Winchester College is hosting a FREE family craft morning on Wednesday 19 February in the Treasury Museum. Budding artists will be able to use sustainable materials to create crafts inspired by the museum’s objects from around the world. Pop into one of the 1-hour sessions at 10am or 11am.

At The Arc, young inventors are invited to Invent and Inspire Week, which promises an abundance of imagination and hands-on creativity throughout half term. Build and decorate your own robot, make a giant eco bubble wand, and meet Britain’s Got Talent semi-finalist, Mama G. Crafters will also have the chance to experiment with acrylics, tools and techniques to create their own cosmic scene in the ‘paint your own galaxy on canvas’ workshop. Explore all events and book tickets here.

Join BellaCrafts for their February Half Term Holiday Club, Monday to Friday from 14 to 24 February. They will be offering a variety of projects to suit all ages and interests including salt dough, miniature gardens, mobiles, garlands, bookmarks, painting and more! Find out more.

Step back in time at Historic Winchester attractions

Historic mysteries are afoot in Winchester! In the Quest for Camelot at the iconic Great Hall, young visitors can undertake a challenge to join the Knights of the Round Table. Meanwhile, at Westgate Museum, there is a mysterious secret to discover in the Escape the Westgate challenge. Book tickets for The Great Hall with Westgate Museum here.

A short walk from The Great Hall takes visitors to City Museum where the hunt is on to locate stolen Viking treasure. Mysteries of the City is a thrilling series of events where young historians can dive into the shadows of ancient legends, treacherous plots and long-lost treasures to uncover the secrets of Winchester’s past. Book tickets to City Museum here.

At 878 AD, the immersive and interactive Anglo-Saxon experience, guests must identify the spy who has been passing crucial information onto Alfred the Great’s enemy. With the Historic Winchester Super Explorer Ticket, visitors can visit all four Historic Winchester attractions for a year!