Free or low cost things to do in Bradford this half term

Schools under Bradford Council are closed between February 11 to February 18 this year. 

From a giant adventure map and puppet shows to creating your own space rockets or screenprints, there’s no need to spend a fortune. 

Here’s a list of free or low cost activities, workshops and events this half term. 

Museums and galleries

Bradford Council’s Museums and Galleries Service is hosting a series of free events as part of its ‘We Built this City’ series. 

Each event will celebrate the people and inventions of the city’s past and present. 

It includes hands-on activities and workshops at four venues: Cliffe Castle in Keighley, Bolling Hall Museum and Library, Cartwright Hall Art Gallery, and Bradford Industrial Museum. 

Cliffe Castle 

Inspired by the building’s fabulous stained glass, children can make their own creation, check out the clogs in the workshop and design their own shoes.

Read more: From two-headed lambs to ancient urns - visit one of Yorkshire's quirkiest museums

Other activities include screen printing, using recycled materials to create a fairytale castle, the Bradford Stories Bus, learning how to play the musical stones, create your own badge and pick up your very own tree at the free tree give away.

Bolling Hall Museum and Library 

Families will get the opportunity to meet historic astronomer Abraham Sharp from Little Horton and learn about his marvellous inventions. 

His creations helped us to explore the globe and space and now you can have a go at making your own. 

You can also jump on the Bradford Stories Bus to grab a book, interview your family, or enjoy storytelling sessions with themed craft activities.

Cartwright Hall Art Gallery 

Join the 50 Things team to make a giant adventure map, create portraits with a local artist, explore the collections and take part in a self-led printing activity.

You can also meet ‘Samuel Lister’, a local historic inventor and mill owner and challenge your family to build the tallest chimney.

Bradford Industrial Museum 

Here you can hop on board the Bradford Stories Bus, make your own Jowett Car, and discover the past with the team from Undercliffe Cemetery. 

There will also be another chimney building challenge and chance to ‘wreck some tech’ and make some art.

The 50 Things team will also be on hand to make paper planes and take part in a 1940s wash day.

Bradford Libraries half-term activities

A new theatre production from Hoglets Theatre “Wood Owl & The Box of Wonders” will take place in Shipley and Keighley Libraries. The show is suitable for children aged 4-8 years and involves original songs, handmade puppets, music and an age-old message that the love we show to others comes back to us in time.

The performances will be held at Keighley Library on Tuesday, February 14, at 10am and Shipley Library on Tuesday, February 14, at 2pm.

To book for Shipley’s showing, call 01274 437150 or email shipley.library@bradford.gov.uk

For Keighley Library call 01535 618212 or email keighley.library@bradford.gov.uk

Both adults and children need tickets to enter the performance. None collection may result in tickets being offered to the waiting list.

On the day, after the performance, there will also be an additional £1 puppet workshop for children 5+ at both venues.  Booking for the puppet workshop is in person only at the appropriate library.

Wilsden Library is hosting a freestyle craft session for under 11s with parental guidance on Tuesday, February 14, between 11am and 4pm. 

Jack and The Beanstalk is the theme for Wyke Libraries’ half-term session on Tuesday, February 14, at 2pm.

There will be a story sack of Jack and The Beanstalk, followed by vegetable planting and Giant making craft. Booking is essential. It is aimed at children aged between 0-16 years.

Menston Library will be offering a games afternoon on Wednesday, February 15, for customers aged 7+. This includes table top word games and board games from 2.30pm.

There will be a Stay and Play session from 11am at Great Horton Library on Thursday, February 16, for under-fives along with the Bookstart Story Time at 12pm.  Little bookworms can also join the reading group for children aged 4-7 years.

Laisterdyke Library is celebrating Mother’s Day early with a special craft session for all ages on Thursday,  February 16 from 2pm. City Library is also creating crafts at a Making Fun Bugs session for children of all ages. It starts at 2pm on Thursday, February 16.

Regular rhyme time and story time sessions will also be taking place. 

National Science and Media Museum

Families can explore the wonders of space at the National Science and Media Museum this February half term with free activities and an out of this world film programme.

There’s something for the whole family to enjoy this February half term.  

Mission Patches: Every space mission needs a good logo, meaning you can now create your very own mission patch or stickers to go on your rocket. Free event between 10.30am and 4.30pm, February 11-19. 

Bodies in Space: How does zero gravity affect the body? Does blood boil in space? How do Astronauts cope with the stress of take off? Pop along to the Astronaut Training Centre and discover the answers to these and many other questions about space travel. Free event between 10.30am and 4.30pm, February 11–19. 

Buzz Off: Astronauts practise manipulating tools quickly and accurately in their thick bulky gloves to improve dexterity and hand-eye coordination. Can you use your dexterity and hand-eye coordination to compete the buzzwire challenge? 

Rocket Launchers: Free event where you can make and launch your very own space rocket and learn about aerodynamics, between 10.30am and 4.30pm on February 11–19. Compete against each other to see if you can land your rocket on a distant planet. 

Exploring Space: Experience space and light in a whole new way with this interactive live show. Discover how we use telescopes, satellites and rockets to explore our universe and how science helps us discover more about the planets and stars within our own galaxy and those further afield. Free from February 11 to February 19 at 11.30am, 1pm, 2pm, 3pm, 4pm (times may vary each day). 

Quiet Hour: Quiet hour will see the museum reduce the number of tickets on sale and turn down some of the loud sounds in the museum. A BSL Interpreter will also be available all afternoon for those who need it. Free. Quiet hour will take place on February 14 between 4pm and 5pm.

Kids’ Club: Explore the universe at Pictureville Cinema with a family film every Saturday and Sunday morning during February half term, for the reduced price of £3. Kids' Club screenings are aimed at families with children under 12. Screenings include Wall-E (U), Lightyear (PG) and Space Jam (PG).  

Beyond Earth: Blast off to new worlds with a season of iconic space films at Pictureville Cinema. From Forbidden Planet to Gravity, the epic frontiers of space have provided a setting for some of the greatest and most visually spectacular films of all time.  

Stephen Hawking at Work: The Stephen Hawking at Work exhibition will give an insight into the working life of the world-renowned theoretical physicist. Highlights of the display will include a rare copy of Hawking’s PhD thesis, his spectacles, which were specially adapted to aid communication, and even an invitation to the time travellers' party Hawking hosted. 

The museum is open 10am to 5pm, seven days a week. 

Entry to the museum and February half term activities are free. To pre-book a free museum admission ticket, visit the museum’s website. To book cinema tickets, visit Pictureville.

Want to know what’s on in Bradford? Visit our local events page for listings and to add your own events for free.

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