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.

Explore the natural world in the heart of Hampshire

Step into the shoes of Agents Kit Casey and Sam Snow from Netflix’s hit series The Creature Cases to solve The Case of the Missing Pebble at Marwell Zoo. One of the penguins’ prized pebbles has gone missing and the colony is in a flap. Can you track down the culprit and find the location of the missing pebble? The Creature Cases Trail is running from Saturday 15 February to Monday 24 February, free with admission to the zoo! After you’ve cracked the case, collect your pebble and add it to the giant penguin mural by Penguin Cove.

While you visit, be sure to get up close to the zoo's hundreds of animals, find out how conservationists are making a difference for future generations, and explore the 5 adventure play areas, cafes and a gift shop on this 140-acre site. There is something for all the family to enjoy!

At Gilbert White's House, see what it takes to it takes to be an Antarctic Explorer on Wednesday 19 February. At Take Me on The Terra Nova, young expeditioners will be put through their paces with a series of challenges to see if they would make the grade and find out more about what life was like for explorers such as Scott and Shackleton 100 years ago.

Dust off the winter cobwebs with a Winchester walk

Experience panoramic views of Winchester from St Catherine’s Hill, an iron age hill fort on the edge of the South Downs with this family-friendly trail. Or, you can carry on past Hockley Viaduct to The Bridge Inn in Shawford, an idyllic riverside pub offering delicious food and a stunning terrace.

If you are only in the city for the day and don’t want to miss a thing, the City Walk is the perfect place to start. You will meander along the bank of River Itchen towards Kingsgate Village. Stop here for some lunch at the award-winning Wykeham Arms, shop for books in the wonderfully quaint P&G Wells, and perhaps go for a tour of the medieval Winchester College.

Whether you’re a family of seasoned ramblers looking for your next big hike or a city stroller wanting to take in the sights more sustainably, the Winchester district has something for everyone. Discover more in our guide to walking in Winchester.