Top things to do in Derby this Half Term

Half Term Activities

Fri 2 Feb 2018

Families can look forward to a fun-filled, action-packed week in Derby this February half term at Derby City Council’s leisure centres, parks, libraries and venues.

Queen’s Leisure Centre has plenty on for those looking to get in the water. Family Splash sessions will be running on Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 1-3pm, on Saturday from 2-4pm and on Sunday from 9am-2:30pm. These sessions offer families the chance to enjoy the pool through a fun and easy going session with floats and pool toys. Families can take advantage of the Family Swim Offer paying just £9 for a family of 4 to swim, saving £5.90 for each session!

Kids can have great fun at the pool party on Saturday from 2:30pm-3.30pm, Tuesday 1pm-3pm and Thursday 1pm-3pm. There’ll be music, floats and inflatables, and the chance to have fun with family and friends! For any families that just want to swim, there will be daily public swim sessions, our This Girl Can sessions on Mondays and Thursdays held for women and girls, and our new men only sessions on Mondays.

For other ways to keep kids active during half-term Springwood Leisure Centre has a full programme of fun activities. On Monday kids aged 4 to 10 years can take part in a Giant Games Session, with games such as Connect Four, Tumblr Tower, Parachute, Twister, Race the Mat and more for just £4.50 each. For the younger kids Springwood has Bouncy Castle and Soft Play sessions on Thursdays between 9:30am and 11:30am, from age crawling to 6 years kids, for just £3 with parents participating for free.

Any children looking for something a bit different to do this half-term will love Springwood’s Ninja Warrior style circuit session. On Friday children will have the chance to complete the fun and challenging obstacle course, trying time trials on their own and as part of a team. It’ll cost just £5 for parents to give their kids the chance to be mini ninjas. Throughout the whole week Springwood is also offering drop in table tennis, anyone can call in any time between 9am and 4pm to play in these open sessions for just £2.

Derby County Community Trust are offering the opportunity to attend multi-sport activity camps at Derby Arena, from Tuesday to Thursday, which is promised to be fun, educational and all within a safe environment. Ages from reception to year six children can grow and try new sports such as football, cricket and rounders in Derby Arena indoor courts. Pay just £35 for all 3 days, or £13.50 per day in advance, or £42 for all 3 days, or £15 per day, on the day.

Derby Arena is offering racket sports for half price throughout half-term, families can book table tennis, badminton or pickleball courts for half the usual price.

Movement gym sessions will be available for young people aged 12-16 at Derby Arena, Queen’s Leisure Centre and Springwood Leisure Centre. These sessions give young people the opportunity to use gym facilities for just £1.20.

Keen cyclists, or those just getting on a bike, won’t be short of activities this half term. Derby Arena will be running Youth Beginner Cycling sessions on Monday, Tuesday and Friday for young people aged 9 to 15 years to try out track cycling for the first time for just £11. Family Track Cycling sessions will also be running on these days for those aged 9 and over, for a chance for the whole family to get on the track. On Friday 9 to 16 year olds can take part in Track Day, a chance to learn new skills for just £25. Cycle Derby will also be running Learn to Ride sessions on Tuesday to Wednesday in Markeaton Park, for those just getting onto two wheels for the first time. This will cost £15 for a 50 minute lesson.

There will be plenty for families to do in the parks across the city during this week, including a Bird Walk for bird spotting beginners in Markeaton Park on Sunday 18, and the opportunity to make a bird box for the park on Sunday 25 February.

If the weather isn’t very kind then families can find plenty to do in the libraries across Derby. On Saturday 24 February families can attend a free Family Lego club at Alvaston Library, from 10:30am-12 noon. Babies and toddlers up to 3 years can enjoy free half hour sessions of music and rhymes at Rhymetime in libraries across Derby. 

Parents who are looking for a fun evening with the kids can take them along to Guildhall Theatre from Wednesday to Saturday to see amateur theatre group Belper Musical Theatre’s Sister Act. The feel-good, gospel-filled musical comedy based on the hit 1992 film is guaranteed to make the whole family smile.

On Saturday 17 February parents can take their kids to see the thrilling HSBC UK’s National Men’s and Women’s Omnium Championships at Derby Arena. The omnium will be made up of 4 events and is disputed over a single day held under British Cycling and UCI rules, and it promises to be fun for all the family for just £10 a ticket.

Everyone can look forward to the Valentine’s Fun Fair in Market Place throughout the whole week. This event will see the return of the ever popular Tango ride, the exhilarating Speed XXL ride plus family favourites such as the Twister and Beach Party Miami. The will also be children’s attractions for the smaller kids. Prices vary depending on the ride and we will be open from 12 noon to late every day.