Things To Do in October Half-Term

Looking for things to do this October half term? From spooky events and exciting Halloween events to stunning light displays and gorgeous lanterns, there are plenty of fun family days out and events in the October half-term!

If you’re wondering what the school term holiday dates are – we’ve detailed the school holidays for you. But your location may have its own individual school holidays, so please check with your school.

Top October Half-term Activities

Stroll Spooky Treasure Trails for Fearless Families!

If you’re looking for fang-tastic outdoor activities that are family-friendly, we’ve got something you can sink your teeth into.

Exploring with Treasure Trails! Did you know there are over 1,2000 self-guided Treasure Trails across the UK, which are only £9.99? That means you can find loads near you and won’t break the bank… Can you crack cryptic codes en route to unlocking scary stories from the past? And can you solve the mystery at the end?

Put on your spooky costumes and get going!

Go Pumpkin Picking

What better way to celebrate the October half-term than go pumpkin picking? It’s the perfect autumnal and Halloween activity, and you can enjoy some fresh air too. We’ve even rounded up a list of over 50 great places to go pumpkin picking for you too!

It’s a family activity that can involve everyone! From grandparents and little tots to your furry friends. Find the perfect pumpkin for you and start pumpkin decorating! Whether you kick off your Halloween with pumpkin carving a spooky smile, popping the pumpkins around the house or making a pumpkin soup!

Attend Creepily Cool Halloween Events

Fancy doing something spooky this half-term? We’ve got a list of lots of family Halloween events for kids and families that you can enjoy over half term, and it’s the perfect way to get into the spooky spirit! With spooky stories, creative face painting and more!

You’ll find bags of fun activities to do this half-term at any Halloween event! From spooky trails and a thrilling adventure for ages to match the whole family, you can bet your Halloween will be spookily cool!

Half Term in the North East

little girl with a bat puppet

Spooky Autumn at Life Science Centre

Enjoy a whole week packed full of hands-on activities, live shows and awesome experiments at the Life Science Centre.

Make your own ‘crankenstein monster’, scary slime and more with some arts and crafts! Keep your eyes peeled as you explore the spooky trail…You might even find some life-sized skeletons that are out of the closet! Enjoy the brand new science show where you can discover a fire that burns underwater and ice boiling water! How is that possible!?!!

discover incredible stories with the new live show Light Up the Dark and treat your senses in the Experiment Zone. All before heading up to Space! Watch the night sky as you sit back and experience a tour in the Planetarium, or stare in awe at the seven-metre wide replica of our planet…

Shape Location Get directions

Life Science Centre International Centre for Life Times Square,
Newcastle upon Tyne
NE1 4EP

Opening Times

28th - 5th November 2023

Pricing

Adults £12.27
Child £9.09
Child under 2 free

Find out more
halloween at magna

Wicked Week at Magna Science Centre

Explore the 4 pavilions – Earth, Air, Fire and Water on the Trick or Treat trail! Unscramble letters to discover a secret word. Then wander over to Halloween Hideout where you create some really creepy crafts.

Not to mention the special Trick or Treat trail to enjoy this half-term, the family Halloween workshops and the Sci-Tek outdoor adventure!!

If you don your spookiest costumes you can win a Halloween Hamper…

Shape Location Get directions

Magna,
Sheffield Road,
Templeborough,
Rotherham,
S60 1DX

Opening Times

23rd October - 3rd November 2023

Pricing

Adults £15.95
Child £13.95

Find out more

Half Term in the North West

illuminated trails

The Glorious Glowing Lantern Parade at BeWILDerwood Cheshire, Cheshire

See the woods in a sparkly new way at the Glorious Glowing Lantern Parade at BeWILDerwood Cheshire!

Watch as the magical story unfolds as you wander through the illumination and mysterious woodland paths. Make marvellous memories with the family and light up the woods at Haze’s Hideaway! Don’t forget to munch on some yummy grub and dress in your spookiest costumes!

Shape Location Get directions

BeWILDerwood Cheshire,
Bickley Moss,
Whitchurch,
Cheshire,
SY13 4JF

Opening Times

14th and 15th
19th - 31st October 2023

Pricing

Tickets from £12.50

Find out more
brick or treat

BRICK OR TREAT MONSTER PARTY at LEGOLAND® Discovery Centre Manchester

You’re invited to a fang-tastic Monster Party this Halloween! The Monsters are taking over to celebrate the release of their fang-tastic 4D movieThe Great Monster Chase!

 

Embark on a scavenger hunt, meet scarily good characters like Lord Vampyre and build your own LEGO® pumpkin! Spin the wheel of fortune and see if you’ve won any tricks or treats!

Don’t forget to dress in your beastly costumes and snap some pics!

Shape Location Get directions

Trafford Palazzo in Trafford City next to The Trafford Centre,
Manchester
M17 8AS

Opening Times

23rd September - 31st October 2023

Pricing

Tickets from £17.50

Find out more

Half Term in the Midlands

wmsp pumpkin

Spooky Spectacular at West Midland Safari Park, Worcestershire

It’s time to tame the wild and perilous pumpkin patch! Would you and your family dare to tread on the spooky safari ground?

For frightful fun head to the West Midlands Safari Park’s Pumpkin Patch where Patch, the new pumpkin scarecrow, and his live Pumpkin Party stage show awaits…

Spooky adventurers can also take part in the free Spooky Trail to locate magical missing potion ingredients. Follow the clues and find all the items for a special prize!

Fun for all the family, sink your teeth into this spooktacular event!

Psst…they have extended their hours on certain days so brave explorers can discover something prehistoric…in the dark.

Shape Location Get directions

Spring Grove,
Bewdley,
DY12 1LF

Opening Times

21st October – 5th November 2023

Pricing

Tickets £24.00
Child (under 2) free

Find out more
scarefest at alton towers

Scarefest at Alton Towers, Stoke-on-Trent

Join Alton Towers as they celebrate another frightful Scarefest! Enjoy some scarily spine-tingling scares as you explore the park after dark. You’ll be in for a shock with all the spooky surprises and spine-chilling activities for kids.

For kids, you can explore the creepy maze after park, enjoy live entertainment and hair-raising rides in the dark!

If the adults are brave enough, you can venture into the Alton Towers Mine for an extra spooky experience…there may be a skin snatcher on the loose. Accept The Invitation as you wear headphones in this audio led adventure by the lakeside cemetery…

Shape Location Get directions

Farley Ln,
Alton,
Stoke-on-Trent,
ST10 4DB

Opening Times

7th, 8th & 13th - 31st October 2023

Pricing

Scare attractions start from £34.00
Child (under 3) free

Find out more

Half Term in the South East

two children dressed up as witches

Halloween at Leeds Castle, Kent

Fancy a Halloween-themed half-term day out at Leeds Castle?

The Guardians of the Grounds welcome you to their haunted Halloween quest… Young adventurers become spell seekers on an interactive journey through Leeds Caslte. Equipped with a special quest sheet, you’ll need to collect missing pieces of a powerful spell that will unlock the secrets of the enchantered castle and break the curse!

Are you up to it?

Discover the Autumnal Witch, Bramble the Tree Goblin, Rocky the Stone Monster and even more mystical creatures and characters!

Shape Location Get directions

Broomfield,
Maidstone,
ME17 1PL

Opening Times

21st - 29th October 2023

Pricing

Adults £30.00
Child £22.50

Find out more

Pumpkins n' Pirates at Fairytale Farm

Arrghh you ready for a frighteningly fun Halloween adventure and spooky activities?

Meet the pumpkin pirates on Patch Island and learn the ways of the sea with shanties, dances and swashbuckling!

Carve your very own pumpkin, find the hidden treasure along the Pumpkin Pirates trail and receive a Scarily Ever After treat! Plus, if you come after dark you can enjoy the magical illuminations that spark up the night!

Shape Location Get directions

Fairytale Farm,
Southcombe,
Chipping Norton,
Oxfordshire,
OX7 5QH

Opening Times

21st - 29th October 2023

Pricing

Adult from £7.19
Child from £7.19

Find out more

Half Term in the South West

kids in the boot of a car dressed up for halloween

Pumpkinfest at Noah’s Ark Zoo Farm, Bristol

Celebrate all things autumnal as the farm turns a bright orange colour! Explore the pumpkin patch corner and listen to creepy crawly talks… How many teeth does a snail have? Find out!

Then embark on an animal myth busting trail, as you learn really cool facts about misunderstood animals, before watching a Birds of Prey display!

Shape Location Get directions

Noah's Ark Zoo Farm,
Clevedon Road,
Wraxall,
Bristol,
BS48 1PG

Opening Times

9th October - 5th November 2023

Pricing

Adult from £16.50
Child from £13.35

Find out more
a little girl sitting on a pumpkin dressed as a witch

Spook-fest at Crealy, Devon

Things are getting spooky over at Crealy… From NEW spooky attractions to excellent live shows!

Your favourite attractions are back and spookier than ever. From the brand new Creaky Hotel full of spooky surprises and the scarecrow scare maze! Be on the lookout for what’s lurking around the corner though. Then travel back in time to the prehistoric era with the Dino Jeepers Creepers for some roar-some adventures!

Settle down for an all-new pop-up street entertainment featuring frighteningly scary characters like the Halloween Sooty Show.

Shape Location Get directions

Crealy Theme Park & Resort,
Sidmouth Road,
Clyst St Mary,
Exeter,
Devon,
EX5 1D

Opening Times

14th, 15th and 20th – 29th October 2023

Pricing

Tickets from £18.00
Child (under 90cm) free

Find out more

Half Term in Wales

two girls as witches pulling a face

SpookWood at Greenwood Family Park

Head into the great outdoors at Greenwood Family Park this half term and take a trip down to SpookWood, where you may even meet some witches and wizards…

A forest full of family fun and adventure awaits you, where you can wander through the scare maze for some friendly frights or head to the pumpkin patch to pick your favourite pumpkin, carve it and take it home! Explore the ghostly woods on a spine-tingling adventure where you may find things lurking in the dark…

It wouldn’t be Halloween without sweet treats! There’s plenty to sink your teeth into.

Make sure to dress up BOO-tifully (parents are included too!)

Shape Location Get directions

Bush Rd,
Y Felinheli,
LL56 4QN

Opening Times

21st October – 5th November 2023

Pricing

Adult £12.00
Child £14.00
Child (under 3) free

Find out more

Half Term in Scotland

kids in halloween costumes

Edinburgh Horror Festival, Edinburgh

Join a multi-art festival that brings together all forms of art to celebrate Halloween!

From theatre shows, comedy, magical mayhems, scary movies, games, creepy workshops, interactive events and much more!

Prepared to be spooked and enjoy spine-tingling chills.

Shape Location Get directions

City Art Centre,
2 Market Street,
Edinburgh,
EH1 1DE

Opening Times

26th - 31st October 2023

Pricing

Price TBC

Find out more

Half Term in Northern Ireland

two kids running through a pumpkin patch

A Hallow's Eve at Castle Ward, County Down

Travel back in time to a traditional Halloween celebration! Join in with spooky fun activities and discover how people in the 18th and 19th centuries celebrated Halloween!

Explore the grounds and be on the lookout for shadows lurking within the trees… From enchanted trail adventures and spook-tacular treats to horse carriages and theatres! There’s so much to get stuck into this Halloween.

Shape Location Get directions

Strangford,
Downpatrick,
BT30 7BA

Opening Times

28th October 2023

Pricing

Adult £12.00
Child £6.00

Find out more

Found something epic to do this half term? Whether you dress up and attend some fang-tastic events or you stay home and carve pumpkins – October half-term is the best time to sit back and relax. You’ll find plenty of family-friendly events with spooky goings to really put a fright into your Halloween adventures. Make sure to take part in the fancy dress competitions – there may be some treats in it for you!

If you’re looking for some scarily good Halloween activities to do this year, check out Halloween colouring activities, and head out on an autumn adventure with Halloween trails near you!

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