Winter Activities for Families

It might be tempting to hibernate when winter rolls around, but there’s so much fun to be had if you know where to look! Winter is a great time of year to get out and about with your nearest and dearest to enjoy some incredible winter activities for families.

From electrifying indoor skydiving experiences to wonderful West End theatre trips and exciting escape room challenges, we’ve put together the best of the best fun things to do in the winter for the whole family. Expect big laughs, cherished memories and a strong dose of team bonding!

Head to the Theatre

If you’re looking for fun things to do in the winter as a family, a trip to the theatre is just the ticket to create some happy memories together! From side-splitting comedies to marvellous musicals and award-winning West End shows, our incredible selection of theatre experiences are guaranteed to have you all giving a standing ovation at the end of an exciting, culture-filled day out.

Plus, as well as being action-packed and entertaining, research has found that taking youngsters to see performances on stage has a host of developmental benefits, from improving emotional intelligence, to providing opportunities to discuss difficult subjects and encouraging some seriously fun parent-child bonding time. Did someone say win-win? Encore!

Explore Nature Outdoors

Do you have a mini David Attenborough on your hands? Make them giddy with green-fingered glee with a visit to the Eden Project. Home to one of the world’s most amazing collections of plants from all corners of the globe, this horticultural phenomenon boasts its very own microclimate and a myriad of tropical biomes, all nestled in a crater the size of 30 football pitches!

With ‘chocolate-flavoured’ rainforest foodie tours on offer, to skywire thrills with Hangloose at the Eden Project, our delightful days out at the Eden Project experiences are perfect for families who love to explore the great outdoors. Dubbed by some as the Eighth Wonder of the World, why not take a trip to this Cornish gem and learn all about the mind-blowing wonders of the natural world this winter?

Book an Escape Room

If your brood relishes a good challenge and are on the hunt for the best indoor winter activities for families in chillier months, you can’t go wrong with a thrilling escape room experience against the clock. The ideal excuse to unleash your competitive streak, get ready to fix your detective hat firmly in place and solve some mind-boggling puzzles together!

With themed escape room challenges including Sherlock: The Official Live Game, Alice in Wonderland VR escape rooms and even an Ace Ventura themed experience, we’re sure to have a clue-riddled day out to satisfy your codebreaking curiosities. Hilarious, addictive and oh-so-quirky, our family-friendly escape rooms are great for kids (and adults) of all ages.

Visit the Making of Harry Potter

Are you a family of brave Gryffindors, wise Ravenclaws, loyal Hufflepuffs or ambitious Slytherins? It’s time to find out with a spellbinding trip to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry at the Warner Bros. Studio Tour London – The Making of Harry Potter.

Experience the magic of the Wizarding World, explore iconic sets including Diagon Alley, The Great Hall and The Forbidden Forest, have your picture taken flying a Firebolt broomstick and enjoy your first delicious Butterbeer! And, as if your day at Leavesden Studios wasn’t enchanting enough, you’ll end your family day out with a scrumptious afternoon tea – complete with tasty cakes, finger sandwiches and stunning pastries. Accio fluffy scones with jam and clotted cream!

Hit the Slopes

Family activity days don’t get more wintry than an afternoon on the slopes! Live like there’s snow tomorrow with an exhilarating indoor ski or snowboard lesson with a BASI qualified instructor. You and your little ones will be taught all the basic fundamental tips and tricks, from getting a feel for the snow to learning how to steer yourself along the course.

With boots, skis and snowboards available for hire, your exciting lesson will last just under two hours and kids as young as 10 years old are able to get involved. No matter your skill level, this brilliant introduction to the world of snowsports is sure to take a piste of your heart!

Go Bowling

If you’re searching for winter activities for families that will guarantee some quality bonding time, fun and a whole lot of laughs, a day out bowling will be right up your alley. With locations available across the UK, head down to your local Namco Funscape venue for an action-packed hour of tenpin bowling and get ready to strike it lucky!

With bumpers and ramps available and friendly staff on hand to help, bowling is a great and accessible game for the whole family. So, why not get Granny and Grandad in on the fun as well to show the youngsters how to really rock and bowl?

Experience KidZania

School might be out for Christmas, but that doesn’t mean your child has to stop learning come wintertime. Let their imagination run wild at the incredible KidZania London – a 75,000 square-foot indoor city built and run by kids!

They’ll explore this unbelievable interactive metropolis, having the chance to roleplay at a whole host of unique and real-life activities, becoming a doctor, a pilot, a dancer, or even a firefighter along the way. At KidZania, the possibilities are endless – just remember to pack some tissues, your little angel’s about to grow up right before your eyes!

Get Cooking

You’ve put your heart and soul into raising your child, so when the time comes for you to wave them off to university, you don’t want to be the parent who forgot to teach them how to boil an egg! So, this winter, why not team up with your little one for a family cooking experience and brush up on your cooking skills together?

At the fabulous Harts Barn Cookery School, you’ll both pop on your aprons and enjoy a fun and informative cooking class before preparing a delicious three-course meal to tuck into in the Apple Barn dining venue for lunch! Who’s hungry?

Take a Stadium Tour

If your household is full of sports-mad fanatics, why not treat yourselves to a behind-the-scenes visit to some of the best stadiums in the business?

From Premier League stadiums including Old Trafford and Anfield, to the home of English rugby at Twickenham and cricket’s iconic Kia Oval, you’ll head backstage and walk in the footsteps of all your favourite sporting legends. Immerse yourself in the history of the UK’s most renowned sports grounds, explore dressing rooms and dugouts and even practice your post-match speeches in the press room. With so much family fun on offer, it would be an own goal to miss out on one of our electrifying stadium tour experiences!

Go Skydiving

For a family of daredevils on the lookout for their next thrill this winter, an indoor skydiving experience is guaranteed to be a truly unforgettable – and gravity-defying – day out!

Indoor skydiving is an amazing adrenaline-pumping experience for all those who are adventurous at heart. And brilliant for your nerves too, as an indoor flight swaps high altitude for an intense wind tunnel, saving you from the stress of watching your kids make a knee-trembling jump from a plane! So, what are you waiting for? Get ready for take off with our incredible selection of indoor skydiving experiences with iFLY.