Railway rides and pop-up pastimes for the holidays

HALF-TERM ACTIVITIES THIS WEEK

A POP-UP museum is opening inside Highcross shopping centre for the half-term holidays.

Leicester Museums and Galleries has taken over an empty shop unit to offer activities and history in the theme of cities.

In the upper mall, opposite the Apple store, it will be open from tomorrow until Sunday, from 10am to 3pm.

Youngsters can get involved by creating their own street models, making their dream car out of cardboard and learning how Leicester’s streets have changed over the past 100 years.

There will also be a virtual reality experience, called Paint to Pixels, thanks to a partnership with Metro Boulot Dodo, Graffwerk, and Arts Council England. The experience will offer a graffiti wall where budding artists can try out their spray painting skills.

The pop-up museum ties in with a new city-themed exhibition, The World We Live In, at Leicester Museum & Art Gallery, in New Walk. Deputy city mayor Councillor Piara Singh Clair said: “There will be lots going on and I hope families will pop in to our pop-up museum to enjoy the many free activities.” Other half-term events being held at Leicester’s museums include a Railway Day at Abbey Pumping Station tomorrow, from noon to 4pm, when families can enjoy a ride on a narrow gauge railway for 50p

A Frosty Fun Day takes place at the Guildhall on Wednesday, from 11am to 3pm. Youngsters can enjoy “snowball” fun in the Great Hall and have a go at some creative crafts. Tickets are £3. Festive exhibition The Snowman and the Snowdog can be seen at Newarke Houses Museum until Sunday, February 20.

There will be more train treats fun for youngsters at Great central Rail

At a Railway Day at Abbey Pumping Station tomorrow, families can enjoy a narrow gauge railway ride for 50p

way on Wednesday, when loveable characters from children’s TV favourite Paw Patrol drop by, while in Loughborough town centre, activities will be taking place throughout the week. Saturday’s line-up will include face painting, live music, balloon modelling and street performers.

In the run up to next month’s Light Up Leicester festival, featuring illuminated artworks, a series of Lighting the Way workshops is being held this week.

Primary-aged children and their parents can learn how to make a light sculpture from old drinks bottles using a battery-powered LED light kit, while older children can learn how to make an interactive light sculpture by controlling a light kit containing LED pixels with a BBC Micro:bit.

The workshops are free but must be booked, and will take place at the Beta X hub at 72 Church Gate, Leicester, each day until Friday. Book at: