February half term is finally here and Britain is bursting with brilliant ideas for family days out. From stately homes with sprawling grounds to immersive museums and nature reserves, and even a couple of theme parks, there’s no shortage of options to fill your calendar with, wherever you are located. Opt for adventure with zip wires in Cornwall and trips down an old mine in Midlands, try a scavenger hunt in one of the country’s best museums or simply head out on a historical walk. Note that half-term dates differ around the country, but most schools will be out either the week beginning February 14 or February 21.

If you’ve not had time to plan any day trips and are searching for inspiration, look no further. Here are 40 of the UK’s best days out.

The Midlands

1. Black Country Living Museum, West Midlands

A 26-acre, open-air site onto which more than 40 buildings have been moved from various parts of the area. Exhibits include a pub and chapel, as well as a Twenties cinema and Thirties fish and chip shop. Trolley buses and trams link the site, and you can take a 35-minute tour into a drift mine to experience the life of an 1850s miner. 

Contact: 0121 557 9643; bclm.co.uk

2. Ironbridge, Shropshire

The birthplace of the Industrial Revolution now houses 10 museums alongside the famous iron bridge over the River Severn. Of these the most popular with children are Enginuity, a science and technology centre full of hands-on activities and interactive exhibits, and Blists Hill, a lively reconstructed Victorian town with old-style shops (taking old-style money) and fairground.

Contact: 01952 433424; ironbridge.org.uk