February Half Term 2027: School Dates by Nation and Ski Planning Tips
The February 2027 school break is not one week across the UK. Here are the dates by nation, the resorts that cope well with a busy half term, and what to book before the chalet sells out.
February half term is the week most UK families go skiing, so it is also the week they are all chasing the same chalets. Flights, transfers and ski-school places are at their tightest. It is still a very good week to ski, as long as you plan it early and get the details right.
This guide sets out the February 2027 dates by nation, explains why "half term" is not the same week across the UK, and suggests resorts that handle a busy February well. When you are ready to look at properties, browse our February half term ski chalets.
February half term 2027 dates
There is no single UK half term. Each nation sets its own calendar. In England and Scotland the dates are set council by council, and academies, free schools and independent schools can choose their own. Treat the table as a starting point, not a substitute for your child's school calendar.
| Nation | February 2027 break | What to check |
|---|---|---|
| England | Many councils: Monday 15 to Friday 19 February | Set locally; some areas and many academies differ |
| Wales | Monday 8 to Friday 12 February | Welsh Government calendar; individual schools can vary |
| Scotland | Varies by council, from a long weekend to a full week | Your council and school calendar |
| Northern Ireland | Thursday 11 and Friday 12 February | Schools can add their own discretionary days |
England
The council calendars we checked, including Ealing, Croydon and Peterborough, list Monday 15 to Friday 19 February 2027. That is the usual pattern, but no law requires it. Use the GOV.UK term dates finder to reach your council's page, then check the school itself, especially if it is an academy.
For many English families that means a Saturday-to-Saturday chalet week from 13 to 20 February 2027.
Wales
The Welsh Government's approved school term dates for 2026 to 2027 put spring half term in the week of Monday 8 February 2027, a week earlier than most of England. If you are sharing a chalet with friends from over the border, check both calendars before anyone pays a deposit. The two weeks do not overlap.
Scotland
Scottish councils usually take a shorter February break, and they do not all choose the same dates. The City of Edinburgh Council's term dates page lists a mid-term break from Monday 15 to Friday 19 February 2027. Confirm the exact days with your school. Glasgow and many other councils give only a few days.
If a full week in the Alps means asking for extra days off school, sort that out with the school before you book anything.
Northern Ireland
The Department of Education's list of common school holidays for 2026/27 includes 11 and 12 February 2027. Schools add their own discretionary days, so many families get a longer weekend than those two dates suggest. Get the school's calendar before you choose a week.
Why half term is busy in the Alps
It is not only UK families. French schools take their winter holidays in staggered zones through February and into early March, and many other European countries have school breaks at the same time. Arriving on a Saturday can mean airport queues and slow roads. In many resorts the main gondola is busiest between nine and ten, and ski-school classes fill up weeks before you arrive.
You cannot avoid the crowds in a peak week, but you can make them matter less. Pick a chalet near the lift and the ski-school meeting point, so the morning is a walk rather than a shuttle-bus queue. Where to stay in an Austrian ski resort explains how to think about location, and the same rules work in France and Italy.
Which resorts suit a February half term?
Look for four things:
- a ski-school meeting point that is easy to reach from the chalet;
- a nursery area close to the village, not a gondola ride away;
- enough altitude, or enough snowmaking, to keep the lower runs open;
- a transfer short enough that a delayed Saturday flight does not cost you Sunday's lesson.
Austria: short transfers and organised ski schools
Serfaus and Fiss are hard to beat for young families. Serfaus keeps cars out of the village centre, and both villages are built around children's ski areas. Alpbach is a smaller, traditional village with a calmer feel. Zell am See and Kaprun work for mixed groups who want a town as well as the slopes. The Zell am See or Kaprun comparison explains the difference.
The best family ski resorts in Austria and best-value Austrian resorts for families are longer shortlists if you want more choice.
France: altitude for a busy week
Alpe d'Huez is sunny and high, with plenty of easy skiing near the resort. Flaine is purpose-built, so in many properties the pistes really are close to the door. Tignes and Val d'Isère are high and reliable, but they suit families with confident children better than first-timers. The Val d'Isère vs Tignes guide explains why.
Morzine and nearby resorts have short transfers from Geneva but sit lower. They can be lovely in a good snow year, so check the higher sectors are easy to reach. The Geneva long-weekend guide covers transfer times.
Italy: worth pricing alongside the Alps' big names
Italian resorts deserve a place on a half term shortlist. Livigno is high and has wide, easy slopes near the village. The Dolomites combine famous scenery with plenty of gentle skiing. Where to stay in the Dolomites covers the villages. If anyone in the group is new to skiing, read a first ski holiday in Italy before you choose.
Booking tips for February 2027
Book the week, then everything else, the same day
Half term chalets, ski-school places and children's equipment all sell out. Once the dates are confirmed, book in this order:
- the chalet, with a written note of which beds are bunks;
- ski school, for the right age group and level;
- equipment hire, including helmets;
- lift passes, if the resort sells them in advance;
- transfers, with child seats confirmed.
Check the changeover day
Most chalets change over on a Saturday, but not all. A Sunday or midweek arrival can mean quieter roads and, sometimes, more availability. Make sure the week still covers the school dates. Do not book a week that finishes on the Monday your children are due back at school.
Read the age bands
Children's lift passes and ski-school groups use age bands. Some resorts work out a child's age from their date of birth on a fixed date, not on the day you arrive. Check the resort's rules if your child has a birthday near the cut-off.
Plan for a busy Saturday
Book flights that land early enough to allow for a slow transfer. If the chalet is self-catered, arrange a grocery delivery or know where the nearest supermarket is before you arrive. Catered vs self-catered chalets in Austria covers the questions to ask either way.
Insurance
Make sure your travel insurance includes winter sports cover for everyone in the group, and check what it says about mountain rescue, off-piste and equipment.
Search half term chalets
Start with the resort that suits your least confident skier, then search for the exact dates of your child's school break.
- Find me a chalet
- Search flights and chalets side by side with the Flights + Stay tab on our home page. Flights and accommodation are booked separately with our partners, so check each provider's terms.
- Best family ski resorts in Austria
- How to choose a ski chalet for a large group
Frequently asked questions
When is February half term 2027 in England?
Many English councils have set Monday 15 to Friday 19 February 2027, so a Saturday-to-Saturday chalet week would run from 13 to 20 February. Councils set their own dates and academies can differ, so check your child's school calendar before you book.
Is Welsh half term the same week as England?
No. The Welsh Government's approved calendar puts spring half term in the week of Monday 8 February 2027, a week earlier than most of England. Individual schools can vary, so check with the school.
How long is the February break in Scotland and Northern Ireland?
Shorter than in England, and it varies. Scottish councils set anything from a long weekend to a full week. Northern Ireland's common holidays list 11 and 12 February 2027, and schools may add their own days.
Which resorts are best for a February half term ski holiday?
Resorts where the ski school, the nursery slope and the chalet are close together, with enough altitude to hold the snow in a busy week. Serfaus, Alpbach, Alpe d'Huez, Flaine and Livigno are good places to start your shortlist.
When should we book a half term ski chalet?
As soon as the school dates are confirmed. Half term is the busiest week of the winter for UK families, and ski-school places and well-placed chalets go first. Book lessons and equipment hire at the same time as the accommodation.
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