It feels like the Christmas holidays only finished the other day but the kids are off school again. Here is a round-up of what to do this half term week across Kent.

Diggerland, Strood

Children and adults can drive real construction machinery on more than 15 rides. Daredevils will be flung about on the Spindizzy and families can test their excavating skills on the giant dirt diggers or drive a monster JCB 3CX. Visitors can also take in the views from 50 feet in the air from the Skyshuttle.

Open: Every weekend and from Saturday, February 11 to Sunday, February 19.

Cost: Anyone taller than 90cm £17, anyone shorter than 90cm free, seniors £8.50.

Where: Diggerland, Roman Way, Medway Valley Leisure Park, Strood ME2 2NU

Contact: 0871 227 7007 orwww.diggerland.com

Dover Castle

A week of medieval adventure descends on the Great Tower as young visitors go on a quest to find King Henry’s stolen treasure. Their journey will see them trained in the manners of the court and the fighting skills needed to defend the King. As they meet the high ladies of court, the great knights, hunters and servants along their way, they will finally face the terrifying dragon in battle. The reward for returning the treasure is being dubbed a knight of the realm. Families can also visit the Secret Wartime Tunnels, Operation Dynamo: Rescue From Dunkirk, the medieval tunnels and the Roman lighthouse.

Open: Medieval quest runs from Saturday, February 11, to Sunday, February 19, with six sessions each day. Castle open 10am to 4pm.

Cost: Adults £16, concessions £14.40, children £9.60, families £41.60.

Where: Dover Castle, Castle Hill, Dover CT16 1HU

Contact: 0870 333 1181 orwww.english-heritage.org.uk

Hazlitt Theatre, Maidstone

Film workshops for children aged six to 11 will teach youngsters how to become a star. Budding actors will make their own movie and learn what it takes to produce a film, from directing to special effects and camera work. The workshops culminate in the film’s premiere. There will also be puppetry and music shows which parents can take their children to.

Open: Monday, February 13, to Saturday, February 18. Puppetry shows Sunday, February 12, and Wednesday, February 15. Music show Friday, February 17.

Cost: Film workshop costs £75, including two tickets for the film screening. Puppetry and music shows £8.50, concessions £6.50.

Where: Hazlitt Arts Centre, Earl Street,

Maidstone ME14 1PL

Contact: 01622 758611 orwww.hazlittartscentre.co.uk

Hempstead Valley, Gillingham

A unicyclist, stilt walker, juggler and magician will entertain children at the centre. Marketing manager Su Button said: “We know the half-term holidays can be expensive for parents when they are looking to find good quality activities and entertainment for their children. Hempstead Valley has become renowned for providing free entertainment benefiting thousands of children over the past 32 years.”

Open: Activities run from Wednesday, February 15, to Friday, February 17.

Cost: Free.

Where: Hempstead Valley Shopping Centre, Gillingham ME7 3PD

Contact: 01634 387076 orwww.hempsteadvalley.com

Fast and furious thrills await round every corner of the 1,000m international outdoor kart circuit. The track celebrates its 50th anniversary next year and was where former British F1 champions Lewis Hamilton and Jenson Button learnt their trade. Different age groups go out in different sessions, with cars suitable for ages four to seven, eight to 11 and 12 to 16. The circuit also hosts kids’ karting parties for ages four to 16.

Open: Daily. Sales office open 9am to 6pm weekdays and until 5.30pm on weekends.

Cost: From £15 per session.

Where: Buckmore Park Karting, Maidstone Road, Chatham ME5 9QG

Contact: 01634 201562 orwww.buckmore.co.uk

Hever Castle

Delicate snowdrops are emerging from the winter frost, the first sign that spring is just around the corner. A snowdrop trail has been set up at the castle through the carpets of white around the grounds, giving visitors facts about the origins of the flower’s name, its preferred habitat and the number of different species. The Lady of the Wildwood will tell stories to children and hold workshops. Seasoned ramblers can take the challenge of the one hour walk around the boating lake.

Open: The snowdrop trail runs from Monday, February 13, to Sunday, February 19, from 10.30am to 5pm (castle opens at noon.)

Cost: Castle and gardens admission is £14.50 for adults, seniors £12.50, children £8.30, families £37.30.

Where: Hever Castle, Hever, near Edenbridge TN8 7NG

Contact: 01732 865224 orwww.hevercastle.co.uk

Hop Farm Family Park, near Paddock Wood

A pirates and princesses week will send children on a swashbuckling adventure or to a royal pampering. Aimed at under-11s, the activities pit budding Jack Sparrows against promising Snow Whites. They will take on the giant jumping pillows, children’s driving school and the indoor and outdoor play areas. They can check out the animal farm and Magic Factory and there will also be sing-a-longs, party dances and games indoors if the weather turns sour.

Open: Saturday, February 11, to Sunday, February 19, from 10am to 5pm.

Cost: Adults £14.90, children £12.80, seniors £8.70, families £44.95.

Where: The Hop Farm Family Park, Paddock Wood, Tonbridge TN12 6PY

Contact: 01622 872068 orwww.thehopfarm.co.uk

Howletts Wild Animal Park, Canterbury

Port Lympne Wild Animal Park, near Folkestone

See the UK’s largest African elephant herd or walk with the lemurs inside their enclosure at Howletts. Then on another day at Port Lympne, be whizzed round the carnivore territory and the African Experience inside safari trucks, before monkeying around in the play areas.

Every weekend throughout February at Howletts and Port Lympne, there will be a self-guided trail where visitors can learn about animal courtship. There will also be special talks based on how the heart works in the education centre.

Howletts’ animal director Neil Spooner said: “February’s theme had to be about the heart as it is the month for romance. Visitors will be able to learn all about how some animals have specialised hearts to help them survive. The education team will also throw some light on the intricacies of animal courtship – it’s very different in the animal kingdom.”

Open: Daily from 9.30am to 5pm.

Cost: Adults £22.95, children £17.95, under threes free.

Where: Howletts Wild Animal Park, Bekesbourne, near Canterbury CT4 5EL or Port Lympne Wild Animal Park, Lympne, near Hythe CT21 4PD

Contact: 0844 842 4647 orwww.aspinallfoundation.org

Kent and East Sussex Railway, Tenterden

Choo-chooing his way onto the Wealden line will be Thomas the Tank Engine and his friends, including Sir Topham Hatt, the Fat Controller. Families can enjoy a one hour train ride to Wittersham Road from Tenterden station as well as face painting, roundabout rides, skittles, hoopla, face painting and colouring. There will be regular Annie and Clarabel rides at the station behind Thomas, a free sticker for every child and an A5 size Junior Engineer’s certificate, available from Mrs Kindley. Children can also help to fill an engine’s boiler with water. There will be sing-a-long sessions and a presentation of a coal cake for Thomas each day. There will also be Punch and Judy shows as well as Uncle Myles and Billy the Magic Rabbit’s magic show. Also check out the Thomas model railway.

Open: Saturday and Sunday, February 11 and 12, 18 and 19.

Cost: Adults £13.50, children £10.50, including a one- hour train journey and all activities. First class an extra £3 per adult and £2 per child. Booking recommended.

Where: Tenterden Town Station, Station Road, Tenterden TN30 6HE

Contact: 01580 765155 orwww.kesr.org.uk

Kent Life, Maidstone

The farm attraction has welcomed its first three alpacas in time for the holiday. One is white, one black, one brown, all are male and 18 months old. None of the three has a name yet, with the park encouraging visitors to give their suggestions and be in with a chance of winning an adoption pack and the chance to meet the three new arrivals personally. Kent Life general manager Emily Hirons said: “The whole team here at Kent Life are really excited to be able to welcome the new residents and these amazing animals provide the opportunity for our visitors to experience something completely different from the normal here, and provide an extra Wow factor for a day out at Kent Life.”

Open: Daily from 10am to 4pm for half-term.

Cost: Adults £5, concessions £4, children £3, under threes free.

Where: Kent Life, Lock Lane, Sandling, Maidstone ME14 3AU

Contact: 01622 763936 orwww.kentlife.org.uk

Penshurst Place, near Tonbridge

The grounds open throughout the week especially for the school break, with the house also opening every weekend until the full opening for the summer on Sunday, April 1. Children visiting over this half term can take part in a free treasure hunt around the adventure playground. They must follow clues to find the buried treasure, what’s more young swashbucklers dressing up as a pirate or princess will also receive a gift.

Penshurst Place has just become one of the Seven Wonders of the Weald, joining Bedgebury National Pinetum & Forest, Marle Place Gardens & Gallery, Biddenden Vineyards, Merriments Gardens, Kent & East Sussex Railway and Chiddingstone Castle & Gardens. Tourists who buy a 2012 pass can get entry to all seven attractions for £25. More than a mile of yew hedging separates the 11-acre walled garden into a series of rooms. The Garden Tea Room serves hot and cold lunches as well as afternoon tea.

In the house, alongside the Baron’s Hall, built in 1341, there are a series of staterooms containing a collection of portraits, tapestries, furniture, porcelain and armour. Visitors can also remember their childhood in the Toy Museum. Now the residence of Viscount De L’Isle, the estate has stood on the banks of the River Medway since the 14th century. Henry VIII used it as a hunting lodge.

Open: Saturday, February 11, to Sunday, February 19, from 10.30am to 6pm.

Cost: House and grounds is £9.80 for adults, children £6.20, families £26.

Where: Penshurst Place, Penshurst, near Tonbridge TN11 8DG

Contact: 01892 870307 orwww.penshurstplace.com

Wildwood, Herne Bay

From animal stories to the arrival of the Vikings, a range of activities will be run over the week. Mondays sees shadow puppets and crafts sessions run for children aged seven and over, then on Tuesday there is mask-making especially for little ones to take home. More storytelling and crafts take place on Wednesday with author Jacqueline Nicoll and illustrator Pam Rees. Thursday sees new versions of classic fairytales told in storytelling sessions, as well as crafts to make and take home. The Viking myths and legends will be told on Friday.

Open: Monday, February 13, to Friday, February 17. Events start times vary.

Cost: All events must be booked and cost £2.

Where: Wildwood Trust, Herne Common, Herne Bay CT6 7LQ

Contact: 01227 712 111 orwww.wildwoodtrust.org

Woodville Halls, Gravesend

British act Zippo’s circus bring daredevil trapeze artists, acrobats and jugglers to Kent for a week-long residency. Hosted by ringmaster David Hibling, the show’s star is magician Guy Barrett, who has performed his illusions across Europe and the Middle East. Another top performer is Clown Tweedy, who has been with the circus on and off since 1994 and been nominated for a Perrier Comedy Award at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival.

Open: Monday, February 13, toTuesday, February 21.

Cost: Adults £14, children £12, families £45.

Where: Woodville Halls, Civic Centre, Windmill Street, Gravesend DA12 1AU

Contact: 01474 337774 orwww.gravesham.gov.uk

Historic Dockyard, Chatham

This year’s big anniversaries of Charles Dickens and Punch and Judy will bring the atmosphere of 19th century England to the Dockyard over half term. There will be a week of activities inspired by the Victorian author and children’s stage show. The celebrations of Dickens 200th anniversary and Punch and Judy’s 350th, will all take place indoors, out of the cold.

Pam Wood, from the Dockyard, said: “Come rain or shine, we are really looking forward to parents bringing along their cheeky Dodgers to take part in our indoor Victorian fun and games.

“The Punch and Judy shows will have parents and children laughing all day. They will love our wonderful, magical Dickensian story time, Victorian toys and games to play and the chance to make their very own bespoke skipping rope, plus a daily tug o’ war to test parents’ strength.

“With all tickets lasting for 12 months and a really great changing programme of exhibition and activities, the Historic Dockyard has everything you need for a great family day out.”

Half term sees the launch of a weekly guided tour with a costumed leader who will take visitors on a walk to discover Dickens’ Dockyard. Visitors will get an insight into why he considered it a “place of wonderment”. This walking tour goes past the place where Dickens’ father, John, once worked and continues with descriptions of the Dockyard, as it was seen through the writer’s eyes, based on extracts from his journal The Uncommercial Traveller.

Open: Monday, February 13, to Friday, February 19, from 10am to 4pm. Dickens tour, every Sunday from February 19, at 2.30pm.

Cost: Adults £16.50, concessions £14, children £11, families £45. Tours £3.50 for adults, children £1.

Where: The Historic Dockyard, Chatham ME4 4TZ

Contact: 01634 823807 orwww.thedockyard.co.uk