Budget-friendly activities in the south of England this half term

With schools across the South off for February half term, museums, libraries and attractions are offering a range of activities to help keep children entertained.

Many of the events are free or low-cost, giving families options for days out that do not stretch budget.

From creative workshops and storytelling sessions to trails, crafts and indoor exhibitions, there is something taking place in towns and cities across the region.

Here are a selection of activities happening in Oxfordshire, Berkshire, Hampshire, Dorset and the Isle of Wight during the week.

In Oxford, Pitt Rivers Museum is offering free drop-in sessions during the week. Children can play games from across the world and make their own from recycled materials on 18 and 19 February between 13:00 and 16:00 GMT. There is also a Family Activity Corner on 21 February with trails, crafts and hands-on activities.

The Ashmolean Museum is hosting free family workshops from 11:00 to 15:00 on 21 and 22 February, offering people of all ages the chance to make their own "textured treasure" .

Banbury Library is holding a free Spring Storytime and Craft Session on 18 February (11:00 to 11:30), combining a short story reading with simple craft activities suitable for younger children.

Abingdon County Hall Museum has scheduled a half-term craft session on 18 February (10:30 to 15:30), offering free museum entry and creative activities (with a suggested £1 donation per child).

At Abingdon Library, children can take part in a Storytime and Drawing session with author Bethan Woollvin on 18 February at 13:30.

Chipping Norton Library will host a Story time session on 21 February at 11:00.

For slightly younger children, Half-Term Storytime is taking place at Woodstock Library on 21 February from 14:30 to 15:15, with stories read aloud for ages children aged three to nine.

A free Family Fun Day is taking place at Wantage Leisure Centre on 17 February from 09:30 to 15:00, featuring a bouncy castle, dance sessions, pickleball and football.

Reading Museum is hosting The BIG Artwork Event on 17 February, a free creative session for families between 10:30 and 15:30. A Rhymetime session is taking place at the museum on 18 February (10:30 to 11:00), encouraging young children to join in with songs and movement.

Libraries in Reading will offer free crafts and activities for children throughout the week. That includes Chinese New Year Crafts at Reading Central Museum on 16 February between 10:30 and 11:30 and illuminated bookmark making at Palmer Park Library from 14:00 to 15:00 on 17 February.

At PLAY Art Space in Broad Street Mall, children aged three to 16 can take part in a school holiday art session on 17 February with workshops running from 10:00 to 11:00 and 11:30 to 12:30. It's not free but tickets are subsidised by the Earley Charity and available for £3 to £5.

At West Berkshire Museum, Museum Explorers will give families the chance to look around the museum without the usual hustle and bustle on 17 February between 10:30 and 12:00. Places must be booked in advance.

For a free outdoor day out, Windsor Great Park is open throughout half term, offering woodland walks, picnic spots and wide open spaces.

In Southampton, John Hansard Gallery is running its free Space to Create! workshop on 21 February (11:00 to 13:00) themed around DIY punk culture.

In Portsmouth, The Mary Rose Museum has a week of half term activities that are free to those with a Portsmouth Historic Dockyard ticket. That includes sessions on candle holder-making between 11:00 and 15:00 running from 16 to 20 February.

For a straightforward free day out, Portsmouth Museum and Art Gallery is free entry and has family facilities and trails available.

Across the county, Hampshire libraries have bookable free children's sessions during half term, including "Junk Jodie: Tree-TASTIC!" at Winchester Library from 14:30 to 15:30 on 16 February - an interactive, eco-themed storytelling show with songs and dancing.

Families can also book Animals and Facts at Waterlooville Library on 16 February between 14:00 and 15:00, a free animal-themed session supported by the Household Support Fund.

And Eastleigh Library is hosting Wonderseekers: Climate Trackers on 19 February between 13:00 and 14:30, where children build a satellite from recycled materials and learn about protecting the planet.

At Gillingham Library, children can explore animal signs such as tracks and droppings during a free nature-themed session on 16 February between 10:30 and 12:30.

In Corfe Mullen, families can take part in Pawsome Story Time on 18 February between 14:00 and 15:30, combining stories and practical advice to help children feel safe around dogs. Places must be booked.

Also on 18 February, Upton Library is hosting a Create Your Own Superhero craft workshop from 15:30 to 16:30, aimed at children aged four and over.

On the same day in Swanage, Durlston Country Park is running Wild Wednesdays creative activities inspired by wildlife and the Jurassic Coast between 11:00 and 15:00, alongside a Pirates of Purbeck children's trail available throughout the week.

Poole Museum offers free year-round admission and interactive maritime displays suitable for children.

Highcliffe Castle is running an indoor trail until 19 February which includes a range of activities. Crafts are available on 17 February and 19 February and are included in Castle admission. On 18 February, admission is 50% off as the castle hosts a special family day. Tickets must be booked in advance.

The IW Story Festival returns to Quay Arts in Newport from 19 to 21 February to (10:00 to 17:00 each day), with storytellers, children's authors, performances, mask-making, origami, shadow puppet activities and more for families to enjoy together across the three days.

At Newport Library, there's a Half-Term Magic and Creativity programme running from 16-20 February, including sessions on designing and decorating your own bag and magic workshops.

For prehistoric fun, the team from Dinosaur Isle Museum is preparing community-focused prehistoric activities at libraries during half term. Children can handle real fossils at sessions at Lord Louis Library (on 16 February between 14:00 and 16:00), Ventor Library (on 17 February between 14:00 and 16:00) and Ryde Library (on 18 February between 14:00 and 16:00.

And many Isle of Wight libraries hold regular storytime, Lego and games club sessions during school holidays which are free to attend and run at varying times across the week.

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