Kids

Looking for half-term inspiration? See our guide to shows, best museums for kids and days out in London. For more ideas, see our half-term index page or Kids homepage.

Future Film Festival
Feb 13-15
A collaboration between BBC Blast (the BBC learning strand that gives young people opportunities to develop their creative talents) and the BFI, the Future Film Festival offers three packed days of workshops, screenings and debates for 13- to 25-year-olds with an interest in film. Pitching ideas, costume design, editing and raising finance are just a few of the topics on offer. There’s also an all-day Bollywood skills workshop and an opportunity to work with members of the National Youth Theatre and a team of filmmakers to create a short film based on Mary Shelley’s ‘Frankenstein’ and learn how to shoot it in a variety of different ways, using CCT, headcams and stills camera. Writer, actor and director Noel Clarke, filmmaker Asif Kapadia and executive producer of 'EastEnders' Diederick Santer are among the industry professionals who’ll be taking part in Q&A sessions. On Friday night Radio 1 film critic James King and presenter Gemma G will introduce the Future Film Awards, a celebration of winning films from the BBC Blast bursary competition, and afterwards there will be a live set from DJ Excalibah.
BFI Southbank, Belvedere Rd, Southbank, SE1 8XT (7928 3232/www.bbc.co.uk/blast). Waterloo tube/rail. Future Film Festival Feb 13-15. Full details and bookings www.bbc.co.uk/blast. All workshops are free. Feature continues

Animal Magic Weekend at London Wetland Centre
Feb 14 & 15
It’s surprising how few people realise that there’s a superb place to see wetland birds in London. You can get to the Wetland Trust’s Barnes site by public transport (the 283 bus from Hammersmith bus station goes to the centre between 9.30am and 5pm) or there’s free parking on site. The highlight of the centre’s Animal Magic Weekend (Feb 14-15, noon-4pm) is the chance to meet friendly guinea pigs and rabbits from Miller’s Ark, watch pony grooming and piglet-bathing demos and listen to a talk from the Wolf Conservation Trust. If you can’t make it at the weekend – or the weather’s less than obliging – there are daily activities  to demonstrate how wetlands influence the water cycle and  introduce slimy pondlife to appreciative children.
London Wetland Centre, Queen Elizabeth’s Walk, SW13 9WT (8409 4400/www.wwt.org.uk). Winter opening 9.30am-5pm daily (last admission 4pm). £9.50, concs £7.10, children (4-16 years) £5.25, family ticket £26.55, children under four and essential helpers assisting disabled visitors free.

Ultimate Thrill Chill at Thorpe Park
Feb 14-22 and weekends to Mar 14
Not for the tiddlers, of course, but worth knowing about for older children celebrating a birthday. Taking place during half-term and then each weekend in the run-up to its main 2009 season, which opens on March 14, Thorpe Park’s Ultimate Thrill Chill is an opportunity for adrenaline junkies to ride the ten-loop Colossus, and the 4.5 G-force experience Nemesis Inferno. Also open for hardy types who relish the thought of being cold and scared witless at the same time will be the following rides: Rush, Detonator, Vortex, Time Voyagers, X:\No Way Out, Zodiac, Mr Monkey’s Banana Ride, Chief Ranger’s Carousel, Octopus Garden and Quantum. It’s worth booking in advance before February 13: the cost of a day pass is £15, less than half the normal fee.
Thorpe Park, Staines Road, Chertsey, Surrey, KT16 8PN (0870 444 4466/www.thorpepark.com). Staines rail, then shuttle bus 950. Adm £35, under-12s £21, in advance £24/£16, family ticket (two adults and two under-12s) £72 on the web, £92 on the gate. Ultimate Thrill Chill Feb 14-22 and weekends prior to Mar 14.

More half-term ideas