Half-term starts this week and whether your family is craving fresh air, new skills or creative adventures, there’s plenty happening right here in Islington. From cycling confidence to library magic and outdoor exploring, here are some brilliant ways to keep the kids busy this February. 

Learn to ride a bike for free!

Islington Council offers free Bikeability cycle training for children aged 5-17 years old at Highbury Fields (N5) and Spa Fields (EC1R). 

There are different courses happening to suit your child’s age and cycling experience. 

Sessions run from Monday 16 – Thursday 19 February at Highbury Fields and Monday 16 – Tuesday 17 February at Spa Fields.  

Head over to Islington Council Bikeability to find out more and book your child on to a free session!  

Celebrating National Year of Reading

It’s a big year of reading!  

To mark National Year of Reading, libraries across the borough are hosting lots of events to get involved with! From comic book heroes to making your own bookmarks, there’s something to suit every child. 

Find out more about what is on this week here.  

Little Angel Theatre are also running free family fun workshops to celebrate reading from 17 – 19 February. See more details about these events here.  

Explore the great outdoors

Islington might be London’s smallest borough, but it’s packed with green spaces for families to explore. 

Discover: 

• 127 parks and green spaces 

• 10 adventure playgrounds 

• 3 nature reserves 

• one urban farm 

As well as our wonderful parks and green spaces, our streets have been transformed into greener, healthier spaces to explore – perfect for strolling, scooting or cycling your way through half-term.  

In-door fun in our community spaces

Rainy day? No problem!  

Islington is home to a huge network of community spaces, offering free and low-cost activities.  

Why not explore our: 

• 10 libraries 

• 63 community centres 

• youth hubs and clubs 

Whether you’re after storytelling, arts and crafts, or simply a warm, welcoming spaces, there’s plenty happening indoors too.  

Swimming lessons all year round

Islington has 4 swimming pools and 7 leisure centres offering swimming lessons throughout the year, including during school holidays! A great way for kids to build confidence and stay active during the break.  

For the under-5s

There are all sorts going on for babies, toddlers and their parents or carers. Check out the free Bright Start activities programme, including indoor and outdoor stay-and-play sessions and activities in parks and community venues. 

Useful information for families

Here are a few more ways we can support you this half-term and beyond:  

• Family Hubs – our three welcoming Family Hubs are your ‘front door’ to dedicated support and information, with everything in one place for families with children aged 0 to 19, or up to 25 for special educational needs and disabilities. 

• Childcare this summer holiday – Islington Family Information Service (FIS) can help you find suitable holiday childcare. 

• Mental wellbeing – you can help your children stay healthy by checking in on their mental wellbeing  

• Health check – make sure your children are up to date on their immunisations to help protect them against serious diseases