If you're looking for things to do in Durham February half term, we've had a look around at what's on to keep the children occupied for their week off.

Durham February half term starts on Friday February 15 2019, with the children back at school on Monday February 25. While the children love a bit of time off, we know it's not always easy to keep them occupied and happy for the full nine days.

Thankfully, there's always lots going on in Durham if you know where to look, both in Durham city and across the county. Here's our list of ideas for child-friendly events and things to do in Durham February half term 2019.

Diggerland reopens

After being closed for the winter, Diggerland Durham will be open for the first time in its 2019 season, giving thankful parents a useful option if they're looking for Durham February half term things to do.

Diggerland Durham activities include operating diggers, JCBs and dumper trucks as well as rides based on diggers, such as the Skyshuttle and Spindizzy.

Diggerland Durham is open 10am and closes at 4pm, from Saturday February 16 until Sunday February 24. It then closes again until Saturday March 2. Diggerland Durham tickets are partially based on height rather than age; it costs £23.95 for adults and for children over 90cm tall (or £19.95 if booked online a day or more in advance). Children under 90cm go free. If you're 65 or over (you can use the excuse of taking the children, but we know you love Diggerland Durham too), you can get a ticket for £11.95 (£9.95 online), but you'll need proof of age. Online bookings carry a £1 booking fee.

Crook Hall Fairytale Adventures

Family favourite venue Crook Hall is holding a series of events based around fairytales, including a treasure hunt, games and stories. It will be held on two days over the Durham February half term: Sunday and Monday February 17-18.

It's not necessary to prebook, and if you have a Crook Hall annual pass it's included in the price. Otherwise tickets are £6 for adults and £3 children.

Tanfield Railway

Freight in February is a month-long Tanfield Railway event looking into how so many of our goods were transported by rail in days gone by. There'll be a family treasure hunt and activities in the 1854 built Marley Hill engine shed, where you can learn about how the local railway station was the key hub of activity for a community.

There's also North Sunderland Sunday on Sunday February 17, which will recreate a typical journey on the North Sunderland Railway, which was a four mile light railway in Northumberland running from Chathill to Seahouses.

Finally, at the end of February half term there's On the Waggon, on Sunday February 24, when you can take a space in a brake van.

Tanfield Railway tickets - or fares, to use the railway terminology - are £27.50 for a family ticket (two adults, two children), £10.50 for adults, £6.50 for children's tickets (under fives go free) and senior citizens £8.50. This allows unlimited travel for a day.

Durham Castle family fun tour

If you love heritage as much as we do, then this is the Durham February half term activity for you. Durham Castle on Palace Green in the centre of Durham is holding a family fun day which includes a tour of Durham Castle to learn about how people used to live and work there, and children's activities.

The Durham Castle family fun tour takes place twice over Durham February half term - Tuesday and Thursday February 19 and 21. You must prebook as Durham Castle Tours are always popular. To book, call Palace Green Library on 0191 334 2932.

Durham Castle Tour tickets cost £5 for adults, £4 for children over five and for over 60s, and £15 for a family ticket (two adults and three children).

Craft activities: Bowes Museum, Palace Green Library or Durham Oriental Museum

If your children enjoy getting involved with crafts, then here are three Durham February half term things to do with a craft theme.

The Bowes Museum February half term event is Super Saturday, which includes 'sparkly' surprise activities.

It takes place on the first day of Durham February half term, which is Saturday February 16, 3-5pm. It's free for Bowes Museum ticket holders; if you're going with children then the best Bowes Museum admission ticket is the family pass, which costs £16 for one adult accompanying up to four under 18s, or £30 if there's a second adult in the group.

Meanwhile, Palace Green Library in the centre of Durham is hosting an activity to make your own party blowers. It takes place on Saturday and Sunday, February 16-17, 1-3pm. It's suitable for children aged 5-11 and is included in the exhibition admission price, which is adult tickets £7.50, concessions and children five and over £6.50, family ticket (two adults and two children) £25. You can contact pg.library@durham.ac.uk for more information.

The other Durham February half term craft activity is the Oriental Museum Super Seafarers, where you can make a boat out of recycled materials to fit in with the Oriental Museum's photography exhibition about the Cham people. Oriental Museum Super Seafarers takes place on Saturday February 16 1-3pm. Durham Oriental Museum tickets cost £1.50 adults, 75p over fives and over 60s, and £3.50 for a family ticket (two adults and three children).

Farm animals at Adventure Valley and Hall Hill

Two County Durham farms are holding family-friendly things to do for Durham February half term. Hall Hill Farm in Lanchester is opening especially for February half term and has craft activities in the playbarn, as well as an opportunity to see the animals in their winter quarters, plus chicks and pygmy goats. Hall Hill Farm is open 10.30am-4pm Monday to Sunday and tickets cost £8.50 adults, £7.75 children two to 15, £8.20 students and over 60s, and family tickets £29.95 (two adults and two children or one adult and three children) or £37.50 (two adults and three children or one adult and four children). Contact Hall Hill Farm on 01388 731333 for more information.

Adventure Valley at Brasside just to the north of Durham is holding Baby Goats Galore, where you can feed baby goats and follow the Giddy Goats Trail. It runs for the whole of Durham February half term, Saturday 16 to Sunday 24.

Entry tickets to Durham Adventure Valley cost £11.45 adults and children two-16, £10.45 for senior citizen and disabled tickets, and £7.45 for carer tickets. Booking online saves £1 per ticket.