Westgate Oxford has announced a programme of free family activities for February half term, including an Alice in Wonderland-themed treasure trail, daily crafts, and story and rhyme sessions in Leiden Square.
The centre’s Hatter’s Hunt trail, created in partnership with The Story Museum, invites visitors to follow clues and riddles to find five plaques hidden around the centre. Families can pick up a free trail map from the Hatter’s Hunt kiosk, complete the route, then return the map to the Guest Experience team to receive a prize, including books and other items.
Alongside the trail, Westgate will also run a Crafting Club with themed activities and a schedule of Story Time and Rhyme Time sessions in partnership with the Westgate Library.
Clare Martin, Acting Centre Director at Westgate Oxford, said:
“We know how difficult it is to keep the little ones entertained during the school holidays, especially considering the unpredictable British weather, so we’re thrilled to be offering a full programme of free, family-friendly activities throughout the week.”
What’s on
Hatter’s Hunt trail (Alice in Wonderland themed)
- Cost: Free
- How it works: Pick up a trail map at the kiosk, find the five plaques, then return the completed map to claim a prize.
Crafting Club (Alice in Wonderland themed)
- Dates: Monday 16 – Friday 20 February
- Times: 11am – 5pm
- Activities include: mask decorating, bookmark and coaster making (and other themed crafts).
Story and rhyme sessions (Westgate Library partnership)
Westgate says families can drop in for:
- Story Time: 1pm on Monday, Wednesday and Friday
- Rhyme Time: 11am on Tuesday and Thursday
‘ART and PLAY’ installation
Families can also visit the ART and PLAY interactive installation — a 3D play space with colourful cubes, archways and slides designed for people of all ages to play and explore.
At a glance schedule
| Day | What’s on | Time |
| Monday 16 Feb | Crafting Club + Story Time | 11am–5pm + 1pm |
| Tuesday 17 Feb | Crafting Club + Rhyme Time | 11am–5pm + 11am |
| Wednesday 18 Feb | Crafting Club + Story Time | 11am–5pm + 1pm |
| Thursday 19 Feb | Crafting Club + Rhyme Time | 11am–5pm + 11am |
| Friday 20 Feb | Crafting Club + Story Time | 11am–5pm + 1pm |
Practical notes for families
- Westgate says it remains dog-friendly, so visitors can bring dogs along (on leads and following centre guidance).
- Families looking to make a full day of it can combine the free activities with shopping and leisure, with cinemas and indoor attractions available on site.
More information is available at: https://www.westgateoxford.co.uk/en
