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February half-term holiday 2025 at the museums!

This February, a brand-new Victorian-themed exhibition arrives at The Commandery and Living History is back! Discover pop art at Worcester City Art Gallery and Museum, and get crafty at Worcestershire County Museum at Hartlebury Castle.

Check out what’s on in the half-term break…

The Commandery

Victorians exhibition

This February half-term holiday, enjoy fun family mornings to celebrate the opening of The Commandery’s brand-new exhibition Wyldgate Lane – A Walk Through Victorian Worcester.

Pick up your rag rugging tools and learn how to make a rug, Victorian style! Then, create your very own thaumatrope, a toy popular in the 1800s that magically blends together two drawings.

And (if you’re brave enough), play “what’s that whiff” to see if you can guess what all the pongy Victorian smells are!

Every session includes a story, drink, and a biscuit. Aimed at children from pre-school ages to 11 years.

Be sure to check out the exhibition which takes you through a Victorian backstreet where you can have a go at sweeping a chimney, pop into the pub, sniff a stinky privy, and discover the darker side of this era in Worcester. [Exhibition entry is included in general admission.]

Admission info

The family morning is £5 per child. General admission also applies and can be paid for on arrival or booked online.

You can get free admission to The Commandery if you have a season or Worcester Residents’ pass (£5 for the session still applies) – find out more and plan your visit.

Come face to face with the past at The Commandery’s biggest weekend of the year!

Explore living history encampments and watch marvellous military displays at Worcester’s historic Commandery.

The site will be alive with performances by musicians and dancers, and you can learn about traditional crafts too.

Encounter reenactors throughout the beautiful Grade-1 listed building and gardens, where they’ll be demonstrating and displaying historical weaponry.

There will be a full schedule of timed displays and drills throughout the day.

  • Saturday 22 February – 10am – 5pm.
  • Sunday 23 February – 10am – 4pm.

Living History 2025 is organised in partnership with The Worcester Re-enactors.

Admission info

General admission applies; free admission to those with a season or residents’ pass. Find out more.

Booking in advance is not essential, you can just turn up and enjoy!

At Worcestershire County Museum, Hartlebury Castle

February half term Hartlebury Castle

Enjoy a fantastic family day out at Hartlebury Castle in the February half-term holiday.

Discover 1,000 years of Worcestershire’s history, explore the Bishop’s Palace and the County Museum, and have fun playing on the woodland adventure playground.

There are crafts to enjoy during the week where you can make pirate ships on Tuesday, superhero puppets on Wednesday and rockets on Thursday!

Whole-site admission to Hartlebury Castle applies + £3.50 for crafts (includes the February half-term holiday family trail).

Book online in advance at hartleburycastle.com or drop in on the day.

At Worcester City Art Gallery and Museum

Pop Art family trail

Make a pop art masterpiece inspired by artist Eduardo Paolozzi!

See lots of kaleidoscopic, colourful prints by pop art pioneer Paolozzi in exhibition General Dynamic F.U.N. when you visit – the best inspiration for you to create your own in this fun family workshop.

Get creative on paper first – what colours, shapes and patterns will you come up with? Then, transfer your design onto a canvas pencil case or bag that you can take home.

This workshop runs twice on Wednesday 19 February:

  • 10.30 – 11.30am
  • 1 – 2pm

Aimed at ages 5-11 years. Adult supervision needed.

£4.50. Book this workshop online (limited spaces). Free entry to the Art Gallery and Museum (pop art exhibition Eduardo Paolozzi: General Dynamic F.U.N. is also free to visit with no booking required). Plan your visit.

Limited spaces; please book via the link below.

Inspired by pop art exhibition Eduardo Paolozzi: General Dynamic F.U.N., follow a playful family trail around the Art Gallery and Museum.

Using your silhouette clues, can you match up the shapes to the artists?

The trail is £1 from the shop. Free entry to the Art Gallery and Museum (the exhibition is also free to visit with no booking required).

Plan your visit.

Get stuck into pop art during the February half-term holiday!

Make your own vibrant, colourful pop art picture by tearing strips of paper, drawing everyday items, adding bold black outlines and creating patterns such as dots, zigzags or stripes.

Each activity bag has themed activities inside, and the Art Gallery and Museum is fully equipped for young creatives to get going on their making.

£1.50 from the shop. Free entry to the Art Gallery and Museum (pop art exhibition Eduardo Paolozzi: General Dynamic F.U.N. is also free to visit with no booking required). Plan your visit.

The Art Gallery and Museum is getting even better! Work is taking place from 2024 to 2027 to improve visitor facilities, introduce new displays and create brand-new galleries for the permanent collection.

Please note that the lift is unavailable while upgrade work is carried out. The lift will be unavailable until March 2025.

During this period, access to the ground and first floors will be by stairs only.

We apologise that these improvements will temporarily limit access for some visitors and aim to complete the development as quickly as possible.

Please get in touch with the team if you have any questions before your visit or if we can help you with access by carrying buggies or walking aids:

Phone: 01905 25371.

Have fun! 

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