This February half term People’s History Museum (PHM) will be rolling out the red carpet for families with lots to love at the national museum of democracy. PHM will be open seven days a week for the first time since the Covid-19 pandemic began; there will be plenty of Family Friendly activities to enjoy; Open Kitchen will be serving a special Family Friendly menu and PHM shop will be stocked with Family Friendly ideas to take home.

On the top of every family’s ‘to do’ list during their half term visit to PHM should be the brand new 2022 Banner Exhibition, which takes in groundbreaking moments of protest accompanied by the stories of their role in history. This colourful and creative display is an amazing visual scene; many of the banners are vast in size, some are intricate pieces of artwork in their own right, and brought together they take you through centuries of calls for change, representation and solidarity. 26 banners form the exhibition and all come from PHM’s internationally-renowned collection, which features the world’s largest number of political and trade union banners.

Family trails are one of the best ways to spend time at the museum and there are three to choose from. PHM’s Passport Trail is designed for children aged 9+ and their families to explore stories of migration either as a refugee, asylum seeker or economic migrant. This is a really interactive journey with a passport to complete, animated films to watch and real life stories to discover. More in Common: in memory of Jo Cox has been one of the most impactful exhibitions ever seen at PHM. Jo’s life, legacy, values and how she lived her life as an MP and personally are explored in a way that’s meaningful to families in a trail created by the museum’s learning team aimed at children aged 5-10. Finally, you can enjoy the full museum experience with a fun game of I Spy that’s suitable for anyone aged 5+. With an array of fascinating stories and objects you’ll need to be eagle-eyed to follow the clues and find the treasures. And great news!…all the interactive features at the museum are back in operation (having been removed as part of Covid-19 guidelines), so you can once again have a go at playing shop, making a badge, dressing up, completing puzzles and much more.

Adding a very special flavour to a visit to People’s History Museum is Open Kitchen Cafe & Bar at PHM, where sustainability, scrumptious dishes and locally sourced ingredients are always on the menu. And the added bonus for families is that the lunchtime menu for kids starts from just £1 – with sandwiches £1 and mains £2.

A visit to PHM is inspiring for visitors of all ages and you can join the march for a fairer world in a small way by taking home a Mini Banner Kit (£12.00) available from PHM shop. Created by PHM partners the Craftivist Collective you can have some creative family fun, stitch a message of change and make your mark. PHM shop is also full of children’s books, puzzles and activities sharing the stories of those who have inspired movements like the suffragettes, stood up for equality and championed ideas worth fighting for.

People’s History Museum’s opening hours are Wednesday to Sunday, from 10.00am to 4.00pm, but for the weeks commencing 14 February 2022 and 21 February 2022 it will be open seven days a week. The museum and its exhibitions are free to visit with a suggested donation of £5.